Industry Politics
WB Plans New Direction for DC Comics Films
Posted by Joe Ngo (joe@filmschoolrejects.com) on July 15, 2008
Over the past couple of weeks, honchos over at Warner Brothers, such as Jeff Robinov and Kevin McCormick have been meeting with DC comics executives to discuss a potential new direction for DC Film adapatations.
Previously, the comic book based films featured more of a thrown together plan of action. However, with the recent success of both Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk, with Marvel linking those two films together, Warner Brothers has been forced to consider something new.
With The Dark Knight’s release date coming soon, the new plan is to develop DC characters with more priority, and with a goal in mind when introducing each character. Though these plans have been set in motion, there are no definite deals or announcements that have been made. Warner themselves were hesitant to say anything about the project:
“While we are not going to go into the specifics of the meetings, we’re constantly looking at how best to exploit the DC Comics characters and properties. DC is an incredibly valuable asset to Warner Bros. and plays an important role across the entire studio by providing development and franchise opportunities for all media, including films, television, home entertainment, animation, consumer products, video games and digital platforms.”
I personally think that Marvel had the right idea in mind when they linked together Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk. It was a very strategic move that will allow them much more creativity when developing future ideas involving those heroes, as well as provide endless new marketing plans. Warner Brothers, with this potential move, is also taking a step in the right direction, but is this small step that they have fallen behind too much to recover from? I don’t know.
I just hope that they’ve got something great in mind, because that means more great movies for us! What heroes would you like to see linked together in film?
Source: Hollywood Reporter
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8 Comments
July 15th, 2008 at 10:27 am
I think it’s funny Warner Bros. used the term “exploit” because that’s what I think this is going to be. With Marvel, the move to link the movies together was good because advertising/marketing for a movie that’s going to cost well over 200M. Particularly difficult for the new studio that Marvel is, but not too hard if you’ve seen what was capable already. Because they have final cut, the Marvel world can stay consistent between films.
On the other hand, Warner Bros. can’t place Superman in dark Gotham. Could you image the world of Bryan Singer and Christopher Nolan? Maybe Michael Bay’s script for The Dark Knight will see the light of day.
July 15th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Give me a Lobo/Guy Gardner team up like in “Guy Gardner: Reborn”, and that would make me happy. Heck, give me Lobo appearing in ANY DC superhero movie as the ass kickin’ villain and I’d be happy.
Another kinda cool idea… have Spider Jerusalem from “Transmetropolitan” show up in a Nolan Batman movie. I think that would be kinda neat, having ‘em be all angry toward Batman, and trying to get the citizens of Gotham to turn against him, stating that he’s the reason crime is in the streets ’cause he attracts it. Granted yeah, the way Jerusalem writes and speaks would garner the film an instand NC-17, it would still be a blast to see.
July 16th, 2008 at 12:29 am
Ok, I am a DC man all the way, and although I love Marvel, and the success of their films,
it makes me sad to see DC trail behind, and although its not the end, I think they have a
long way to go.
Batman is not the only solution, and I think Superman can still come back. This new
Justice league film sounds like a pile of sacrilege, so thats nooooo way to go. The Flash,
Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, are all good ventures, but I’d like to see some more
Vertigo films, and I don’t mean a sequel to that Constantine/Keanu Reeves trash, what
about Sandman!!! That book series deserves to be made into film. Also I think if done
appropriately, John Constantine could be re-approached.
Eventually I think the Elseworlds series could be approached. But I think DC’s main game
plan should be to release the Flash, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, and a sequal to
Singers Superman Returns (with Brainiac) and then start the bridges to The Justice League
through that. SLOWLY! Milk it.
Eh, that is all a fan of the Multi-verse can hope for I guess.
July 16th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
They ought to stick to the big guns. A Superman / Wonder Woman crossover can get them going. I’m sure that they already know that need to get going with something. Anime live action movies are just around the corner and they’re competing for the same movie goers.
July 25th, 2008 at 5:52 am
v for vendetta 2!!!!!!
July 27th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
I say, Lets complete the classic trinity. They have been trying to get a Wonder Woman movie started and fizzled. Make Princess Diana priority one on the DC/Warner Brothers movie line-up.
July 31st, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Legendary Picture and Warner Bros. should get started with Superman: Man Of Steel already cause Superman deserves a sequel and I would like and Superman and Batman crossover.
August 15th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
WTF? How is The Incredible Hulk considered a
success when it’s made slightly less than the 2003
Ang Lee’s Hulk and also receiving similar mixed
reviews?