http://nikkifinke.com/comic-con/

What Warner Bros/DC Comics Is Planning At Comic-Con In July
Posted by Nikki FinkeThu Jun 12, 2014 | 12:41pm PDTBreaking, Exclusive!, Film, Uncategorized

We know that Warner Bros Pictures is way behind Marvel Studios when it comes to making movies out of its comic book properties. But I have intel on what is coming up at this July�s Comic-Con from the studio. A lot of stuff remains in flux but my sources have so far:

May 2016 � Batman v Superman
July 2016 � Shazam
Xmas 2016 � Sandman
May 2017 � Justice League
July 2017 � Wonder Woman
Xmas 2017 � Flash and Green Lantern team-up
May 2018 � Man Of Steel 2

There had been talk of a Metal Men and Suicide Squad movie for sometime in 2016 but that project fell off the schedule.

Meanwhile, if you were wondering why Batman v Superman was delayed, it wasn�t the script or Ben Affleck or Jesse Eisenberg but with the fact that this pic will act as a launching pad for the Justice League. According to my source, �Like Marvel�s The Avengers, there will be cameos of superheroes for future installments. The cameos will include the already known Cyborg and Flash. Green Lantern (not played by Ryan Reynolds, thank god) may be introduced. And Aquaman will be seen in the Justice League movie. Problem is, Warner Bros Pictures was still negotiating with the actors for those cameos and future roles, meaning major contracts for multiple JL/character films to follow. The studio didn�t want to move forward until they had more of this secure so they held off starting production for a few months. Seemingly simple reason, but the implications are pretty darn huge.�

�Like Marvel�s The Avengers, there will be cameos of superheroes for future installments."

The Avengers were all set-up in the earlier movies. The movie that set-up Avengers the most was Iron Man 2 and the movie was much worse for it, which might not bode well for Bats v. Supes: Inherit the Wind

I'd still drop B v S in 2015, re-boot Green Lantern and Wonder Woman in 2016. And I'd pull The Flash from the TV show, and introduce Aquaman in that series (I don't think he can hold a movie on his own). Then drop JL in 2017

They have already introduced a number of characters, some majors, but why recast? I mean, they should have just used Joseph Gordon Levitt's new hero from DKR and Christian Bale Batman, but that's a story for another day.

agreed, if they start re-casting for those roles it'd be a waste.

Or when we have more info. It seems to me dropping three DC movies in seven months is... not smart.

and kind of a bad choice

1)It's too literary, some story arcs nothing really happens with heavy allegory
2)Dream is a pretty shitty protagonist to root for; a surly God.

That Death movie that's been flying around in the hollywood grinder's a MUCH better choice

If they don't reach Marvel numbers with those first three movies, I'm thinking they pull the plug and reboot Batman.

I can dig it.

http://www.hitfix.com/motion-captured/jason-momoa-will-play-aquaman-in-dawn-of-justice-and-we-know-how-it-will-happen

.

I mean theres an easy in for them

TV

i dont get why they insist on trying to copy the Marvel method (and doing it badly)

In fact, it didn't even make it to TV.

It's not like DC is killing it outside of the CW (Arrow, Smallville)

Let's see how they do with their five shows premiering this year.

their competitors in the theatrical comic-book race, save for the CW, which WB half owns but can only afford so many DC shows.

http://comicbook.com/blog/2014/07/21/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-strongly-hints-at-shazam-as-his-dc-comic/

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson Strongly Hints At Shazam As His DC Comics Role 8

By Jamie Lovett
07/21/2014
Shazam The Rock

Rumors have been circulating for some time that Dwayne �The Rock� Johnson will play one of DC Entertainment�s iconic superheroes in an upcoming film. Johnson previously confirmed that he was talking to DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. about an upcoming project, but stopped short of naming the character. As such, various rumors about which character he would play have sprung up, ranging from John Stewart, to Lobo, to Aquaman, to Black Adam.

In an interview with Total Film, while promoting his new film Hercules, Johnson very heavily hinted at which character he will play, doing everything but actually naming him.



�DC and I have been talking for a couple of years now about trying to find whatever the right character is,,� Johnson says, �and it�s tricky too, because there�s baggage, and its good baggage, that I have. I am a certain way, and my wiring is my wiring, my DNA is my DNA, and when I step on set and on screen, I�m aware of what I�m able to bring to a character. And so is DC too, so it�s not the easiest thing, do you know what I�m saying?�

Johnson then gets a lot more specific about who he and DC have narrowed it down to.

�There�s a character out there that we�re going to announce very soon, that I�m going to play, and�I�ll just say this, he has the power of Superman, and it�s not Green Lantern, by the way. And believe me, John Stewart, he was a character I wanted to play, but there was already a version of Green Lantern, and so we�ve gone in a different direction. But this character has the power of Superman, he can throw down�just say the word. That�s all I�m going say.�

As most DC Comics fans can probably figure out, Johnson is almost certainly talking about Shazam (formerly known as Captain Marvel). Shazam is one of the few DC Comics character who can stand toe-to-toe with Superman (in fact, DC Comics originally came into possession of the character after suing the original publisher, Fawcett Comics, because he was so similar to Superman). There�s also that last hint, �just say the word.� Billy Batson, Shazam�s alter ego, turns into Shazam by saying the hero�s name, a magical word of power. That�s a trait that�s almost entirely unique to Shazam, leaving little doubt as to who Johnson is talking about.

It�s also an interesting choice to get around some of Johnson�s self-described �baggage.� If they go with Shazam�s traditional origin and powers, they�ll need someone else to play the young Billy Batson, allowing Johnson to do what he does best � intense action and humor � while leaving someone else to carry the character during slower moments.

It�s also interesting to note that Johnson was in line to play Green Lantern John Stewart. Apparently the previous Green Lantern film, which starred Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan, dashed those plans, likely thanks to its poor reception and fears that another Green Lantern film would suffer due to its ties to the previous film.

So if Johnson is going to be playing Shazam, it seems now we�re left waiting for confirmation as to whether or not he will be part of the upcoming shared DC Entertainment film universe, and if so, will he debut in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice on May 6, 2016, or in Justice League in 2017.

A standalone Rock-Shazam flick with the tone of Iron Man 1 COULD be fantastic. But Warners thinks everything needs to be "gritty" so I expect it to blow.

>Warners thinks everything needs to be
>"gritty"

Or Jonah Hex, etc.

WB/DC doesn't ONLY do serious. But they're really shitty at 'light'.

For a movie in which the hero has a color in his name, Green Lantern has some of the drabbest and least colorful visuals imaginable. (I am one of the few defenders of Jonah Hex, but it too has "dark" visuals for a movie with a surprising number of quips-- it probably has more jokes in it than Green Lantern.)

I think the "gritty" thing people jump to is just in response to the assumption that Nolan and Snyder will have their hands in the cookie jar for almost every coming release. I do agree it's unfair to assume something like Shazam would be dark and murderous.

>I think the "gritty" thing people jump to is just in response
>to the assumption that Nolan and Snyder will have their hands
>in the cookie jar for almost every coming release. I do agree
>it's unfair to assume something like Shazam would be dark and
>murderous.

Depends on how much the picture is in Black Adam's wheelhouse vs. Billy Batson's:
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd247/kjs1982/Black%20Adam/BlackAdamKillsAmpedDeath4.jpg

"Oh no. How are we going to stop them?"

"I'll tell you how? I'm gonna find those evil sum bitches and Shazam the hell out of them!"

DC announced they will not use any of the characters from their TV shows in their Movies... I think this is a bad idea, having two Flashes, two Green Arrows... And will you ever introduce another Bats or Supes in the TV world?

Marvel is still winning...


****************************
I don't even love life no more, my niggas I just live it.... Jean Grae

Which sucks, because Stephen Amell is so goddamn good, it's a shame they won't take a chance on him. And I agree, dumb move.

Though, AGENTS OF SHIELD is terrible and I wish it weren't part of the movie universe, so....

I don't think they'll put a TV version of Batman or Superman (wish the exception of the young Bruce Wayne in GOTHAM).

but cameos, sort of like Marvel did with AoS. Or follow along with the movie universe, also like AoS. I thought that could have been a good move to keep folks interested in the TV and movies.


****************************
I don't even love life no more, my niggas I just live it.... Jean Grae

I like Rock for Black Adam, I hope they don't make him Shazam - I STILL think Momoa as Aquaman is a waste, but *shrug* Oh well.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=56322

WB ANNOUNCES DC FILM SLATE THROUGH 2020; MOMOA IS AQUAMAN, MILLER IS FLASH
Steve Sunu, Staff Writer/Reviews Editor

Warner Bros. CEO Kevin Tsujihara revealed Wednesday the current planned film slate for DC Comics-based properties, which includes "at least" 10 films spread through 2020, not including potential new standalone Superman and Batman movies.

DC's ambitious upcoming wave of releases will kick off with "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" in 2016 as expected, but Tsujihara, speaking during a Time Warner investors meeting covered live by Deadline (http://deadline.com/2014/10/kevin-tsujihara-time-warner-investor-day-warner-bros-ceo-presentation-851823/), confirmed the existence of the previously reported David Ayer-directed "Suicide Squad" film, also in 2016. According to Deadline, WB is "in discussions with four A-list stars" for "Suicide Squad."

2017 brings "Wonder Woman" -- with Gal Gadot reprising her "Batman v Superman" role -- and a standalone "Justice League" film. In 2018, the studio plans to expand the DC cinematic landscape with two individual films, "The Flash" and "Aquaman," with Jason Momoa -- long rumored to be taking the role -- officially confirmed to star. 2019 slates the previously reported "Shazam" film and a "Justice League" sequel. 2020 will consist of "Cyborg" and a new "Green Lantern" film, nine years after the 2011 original.

Warner Bros. putting a "The Flash" film on the slate in 2018 is of particular note, considering that Warner Bros. Television has just launched a "The Flash" television series starring Grant Gustin. The film will feature a different person playing the fastest man alive -- Ezra Miller. Also of note is that there are no other standalone Superman or Batman films listed other than "Batman v Superman," though both Henry Cavill and Ben Affleck are confirmed to reprise their roles in the first standalone "Justice League" film, and a tweet from Warner Bros. states that more Superman and Batman movies are on the way outside of the plan revealed Wednesday:

https://twitter.com/twxcorp/status/522414273604370432

The full descriptions of films, via press release from Warner Bros., is below.

“Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” directed by Zack Snyder (2016)
“Suicide Squad,” directed by David Ayer (2016)
“Wonder Woman,” starring Gal Gadot (2017)
“Justice League Part One,” directed by Zack Snyder, with Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill and Amy Adams reprising their roles (2017)
“The Flash,” starring Ezra Miller (2018)
“Aquaman,” starring Jason Momoa (2018)
“Shazam” (2019)
“Justice League Part Two,” directed by Zack Snyder (2019)
“Cyborg,” starring Ray Fisher (2020)
“Green Lantern” (2020)

http://www.comicbookresources.com/prev_img.php?pid=29573&disp=ilib&oty=1&oid=56322

They've got the first two JLA movies two years apart. The first of which is a year after Batman vs. Superman. That's a lot of continuous work, even for a "hack" like Synder. And that's a pretty huge commitment for a guy like Affleck too. They at least gave Bale decent sized breaks between films.

I mean with a break between Batman v Superman and the first JL installment, they could potentially film both JL's back to back. But if the films in between JL 1 and 2 are supposed to impact the plot of the second JL film, there's gotta be some tight script/plot/trajectory planning that filming breaks just won't allow and that needs to begin now.

And regarding Affleck, WB is claiming this schedule doesn't take into account standalone Bats (and Supes) films they have planned. Good luck with that WB.

Honestly, if they succeed and the films are good, I'm happy for 'em. But the direction/tone of Man of Steel doesn't give me much hope. And yeah, I know Snyder won't direct/influence all of these films.

How are you going to have a plan like this and leave Superman and Batman off to the side? You'd think their movies would be tied directly to the plan. In fact, the plan would kind of revolve around it a bit.

Having Aquaman, Flash, and Shazam before Justice League 2 is a big risk IMO.

Also, Suicide Squad seems like kind of a random addition so early on.

Who can act as foils in the other films. Because one of the most glaring weaknesses of the Marvel movies (and most comic book movies in general) is the relative weakness of the villains not played by Tom Hiddelston.

And I'm also not sure if introducing villains as anti-heroes is the best way to work them into future movies.

Wonder Woman is next, and that's still a big risk.

From there, it gets dicey.

Suicide Squad could be cool though, if it's rated R.

Sony already knew they messed up with Spider-Man, which is why they are talking with Marvel. I still can't believe Sinister Six is next on their slate.

The only ones who will be OK are Fox with the X-Men.

Lotta people convinced it'll suck because 'not like the comics!' Meanwhile, there's decent talent involved and most of the rumors were bullshit.

... is in a world in which people promote superhero films nearly a decade in advance, all we have for F4 is one unofficial Doom picture. No official image, no teaser, no nothing. And it comes out in nine months! Avengers: AOU and Ant-Man are at least putting out posters and showcasing at Comicon. Where's the FF hype?

Days of Future Past had a couple things early on but the real push came in January which was only like 5 months before the release date. The first teaser for The Wolverine was only three or four months before the release date.

And given the response to the Doom photo and the lackluster first two movies, I'm sure that Fox wants to make sure that all of the FX are looking good before they release anything to the world and that is going to take some time and they just finished shooting in August.

but Marvel has set the template of how the public expects comic book (or rather, superhero) movies to be... and that is torn directly from the pages of the floppies.

I don't think that should be the only approach. Especially for a property like FF which, let's face it, is starting to feel a little dated and in need of total reinvigoration.

Marvel's been lapping them for a while now.

So even though this is a massive massive risk for roughly a billion reasons, they absolutely have to do SOMETHING to try to level the playing field.

They won't. But they have to try.

F
U
D
G
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E

or that's just operating backwards, unless the first JLA will only include Supes, Bats & WW.


****************************
I don't even love life no more, my niggas I just live it.... Jean Grae

I didn’t think they can pull it off then but I had no idea how right I was gonna be. Wow they imploded between where they wanted to be and where they ended up. I don’t think Aquaman has that much buzz. If that breaks 150 million domestic, that’d be a good break. Shazam might pop with the family appeal

Peace,

Spirit (Alan)
http://wutangbook.com

Exec 1: So, should we tell the world about The Flash?
Exec 2: Our new TV show out this month or the one in theaters years away?
1: The latter.
2: Sure! Then, we'll tell the world later that the role will be played by Ezra Miller. That way, we can let the TV show do its own thing, then next year give Miller a proper introduction at Comicon, where he can do interviews and talk about the role. It'll be great! We're obviously in no rush!
1: How about instead we simply drop his name as The Flash in the middle of a press release, giving him the least amount of fanfare imaginable and potentially confusing the layman regarding the TV Flash versus the film Flash?
2: That sounds great too! Let's do that!

http://www.superherohype.com/news/318969-suicide-squad-targets-ryan-gosling-will-smith-margot-robbie-and-tom-hardy

"On the heels of this morning’s massive update to Warner Bros. Pictures’ schedule of DC Comics adaptations comes word, via The Hollywood Reporter, that the first of the newly-announced films, David Ayer’s Suicide Squad, is already courting some serious talent. According to the outlet, Ryan Gosling, Tom Hardy, Margot Robbie and Will Smith have all been approached for roles.

Created by Robert Kanigher and Ross Andru back in 1959, the Suicide Squad team has included countless DC villains among its ranks, including Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, Bane, Killer Frost, Poison Ivy, Count Vertigo, Deathstroke, and Harley Quinn. The CW’s “Arrow” introduced their own version of the team in the most recent season of the series and the recent animated film, Batman: Assault on Arkham, offered another version of the team.

Of course, just because Warner Bros. is interested in these names, that doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll be seeing any of them actually sign on. Gosling, too, is also said to have met for Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange as well.

Who do you want to see in the Suicide Squad lineup? Which actors would you cast in those roles?"

It'll definitely include Harley Quinn, but also Amanda Waller and Deadshot.

Others could be Captain Boomerang (he's a Flash villain), Bronze Tiger, Black Manta (that would be easy to tie in to Aquaman), maybe even Deathstroke.

And Waller. But Latino Review hasn't been very good when it comes to DC rumors so it could be completely wrong.
And if you're going with a big budget movie like this seems to be given the names thrown out in the rumor, you'd assume Harley Quinn would be involved.

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/JoshWildingNewsAndReviews/news/?a=109431

Honestly that's a pretty frickin' solid cast.

...the first couple movies won't do what they'll expect them to do in the box office and then they'll shelve most of the rest of this roster...in fact, all of this is off the contingent that B vs S does well, which i'm not convinced will happen....i'll see it, but i bet it won't do the box office bidness they'll hope for...

Marvel can back up what they say they'll do movie wise...DC still has issues with making good live action movies that make the money they want...

people saying the DC movies suck act like BB, TDK, and even MoS don't exist...


but anyway eff alla dat, when are they gonna make a Scalped movie???

The rumor is, Robert Downey Jr. is signing on to co-star in Cap 3 and they'll do the Civil War storyline.

Cap v Iron Man

versus

Batman (Ben Affleck box office unproven) versus Superman

=

Marvel wins

DC better change that date, man...

Peace,

Spirit (Alan)
http://wutangbook.com

Avoided Cap 3 and the whole mess of summer movies. Smart move IMO.

http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/comicsalliance.com/files/2014/10/CA_Supermovies2.jpg

http://comicsalliance.com/supermovies-this-is-what-the-next-few-years-of-your-life-looks-like-infographic/

A number of these are likely to get postponed or pulled before going into production.

Instead, focus on good movies in theaters now.

#TheMoreYouKnow

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/michelle-maclaren-signs-develop-direct-752055

Michelle MacLaren Signs to Develop and Direct 'Wonder Woman' Movie (Exclusive)
2:39 PM PST 11/24/2014 by Borys Kit

Charles Roven, Zack Snyder and Deborah Snyder are among those producing the movie

Michelle MacLaren has signed on to develop and direct Wonder Woman, Warner Bros’ big-screen take on the iconic DC character.

According to insiders, MacLaren will work with the project’s writers, who remain unnamed at this stage, to lasso together a script for the movie, which would star Gal Gadot. The actress will make her debut as the heroine in 2016's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Charles Roven, Zack Snyder and Deborah Snyder are among those producing the Wonder Woman movie, which is set for a 2017 release.
MacLaren was a top choice for the project due to her muscular work on Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead, although she is perhaps most associated with her directing and executive producing work on the much-loved Breaking Bad.
MacLaren’s signing caps off a director search that began in the summer, and her deal culminates an on-and-off-again dance with the Amazonian princess.
MacLaren became a favorite back in August, taking several meetings with Warners execs. Things cooled over the autumn as the studio widened its search. Sources say there was pressure from within to hire a woman for the job as the character has such a strong association with the notion of female empowerment. But at the same time, Hollywood realities were forcing producers and execs to acknowledge that while women directors increasingly work in the indie drama spheres or in TV comedy, few have taken on big-budget, CG-laden tentpoles. In fact, in recent history of comic book movies, no project has been directed by a woman. (Patty Jenkins came close on Thor: The Dark World, but left the project and was replaced by Alan Taylor.)
A Wonder Woman movie has been in development, on and off, for close to two decades. The last director attached was Joss Whedon, who left the project in 2007.
The studio did meet with several women directors: Jennifer Kent, of the well-regarded female-centric horror film The Babadook, was one, while Lesli Linka Glatter, a director and co-executive producer on Homeland, also was on the list.
MacClaren is repped by ICM Partners.

Jared Leto – The Joker

Will Smith – Deadshot

Tom Hardy – Rick Flagg

Margot Robbie – Harley Quinn

Jai Courtney – Boomerang

Cara Delevingne – Enchantress

And possibly Eisenberg as Lex Luthor

Pretty damn impressive lineup.

He's a nice choice for the Joker though

...and not some performance piece that only resembles the Joker in name.

EDIT: And are the nerds mad that Deadshot's black yet?

That's a LOADED cast. Seems weird to have big names like Smith and Hardy be attached to small roles, but I'm very game for this.

The first two are safer bets, but a part of me would love to see what O would do with it.

I kinda like this.

octavia seems too motherly and wellmeaning

I don't know why Will Smith or Tom Hardy are doing this, but I'm not going to complain.

For a Suicide Squad movie!

I don't even hate Courtney like some do, but he CONSTANTLY gets franchise gigs. Wtf.

I know nothing about Suicide Squad, but I trust Ayer. It'd rule if they let him roll with an R rating. They won't but it would rule.

Fuck. I'm old. lol

I don't hate him but I have no idea how he's cast or in the running for so many of these roles. He's a forgettable actor who hasn't shown much of anything to me but Hollywood is giving him a push regardless.

I will say this is a role that will be no different that the rest he's had, given the fact that all eyes will be on Leto.

... Kyle Reese in the new Terminator. And one of those fuckers in the Divergent movies.

And now this.

Again, I don't think he's bad. I'm just stunned that after Die Hard 5 he continues to book big name shit.

in the ads.

How good those were is debatable (I'd argue Dances With Blue Wolf People was very good, Terminator was so-so, and Clash/Wrath were terrible), but Jai really hasn't had roles like that just yet. He's had supporting roles in those types of titles, but even then... Die Hard 5? Generic Lead Goon in Jack Reacher?

Nah

Sam was the legit lead in four big time releases. Jai has been a supporting player in all of his franchise films, whereas Sam was the lead. You could argue that James Cameron/3D/Visuals were the draw for Avatar, and you'd be right, but that doesn't change the fact he was the lead. At worst you could argue he co-headlined T:Salvation with Bale, because Marcus was really the central character in that.

He's actually the best part of Terminator 4 by a healthy margin, and he doesn't do a bad job at all in the most successful movie ever made. The Titans movies were bad, but they weren't bad because of him at all.

Worthington can definitely act. It's been apparent from day one.

Courtney was intriguing in Jack Reacher, but he didn't show anything in Die Hard 5-- and not just because of the movie, but because I'm not convinced he connects with an audience yet. He was cold and creepy in Jack Reacher, and I totally get that as his appeal... so in that regard, maybe he's well-suited to play a young villain in something like Suicide Squad.

I'm mostly still just stunned he got a major role in the new Terminator movie, and that stun has carried over to this.

>I don't even hate Courtney like some do, but he CONSTANTLY
>gets franchise gigs. Wtf.

Shit Jai is FUCKING every male AND female exec in Hollywood and has pics of ALL of them NUDE and in very scary looking S&M scenarios. Don't even play.

I don't hate him at all. He just doesn't scream leading man to me...or even intriguing character actor.

I mean, Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, two examples of men who could be leading men (and basically are), but are WAY more better as character actors....

Courtney isn't even at the level of being a solid character actor.

I mean, rent aussie crime drama FELONY (on VOD now) Joel Edgerton wrote it and it's a very solid character crime drama. you have Courtney BARELY holding on as the third lead behind Edgerton and Tom Wilkinson.

I dig FELONY but Courtney barely registers....Melissa George, who has ALWAYS BEEN more miss than hit, was way better playing Joel's wife and she is someone who RARELY registers in films...

Jai could become a decent character actor...but one of the leads in the Terminator reboot, a supporting role in Unbroken (lord, I know he MUST feel some kind of way Jack O'Connell and Domhall Gleeson are getting ALL of that GOOD Oscar press and NO ONE is checking for him AT ALL), and now the Suicide Squad (I see the studio SMARTLY switched Smith and Courtney for Deadshot and Captain Boomerang, cause there was no damn way Smith was doing a bit part, which is what Captain Boomerang will be...)? Dude hasn't even done anything interesting enough to warrant being CONSIDERED for some of these films...

>
>I know nothing about Suicide Squad, but I trust Ayer. It'd
>rule if they let him roll with an R rating. They won't but it
>would rule.


TRUE....a R-rated Suicide Squad would be brilliant as hell....

I read Gosling was the guy they wanted who they couldn't get out of this dream casting. Good for Ryan Gosling.

But seriously why the fuck is Will Smith doing this? Odd choice.

Guess Tom Hardy definitely didn't get the Dr Strange gig. Seems Cumberbatch probably will be confirmed soon.

Did Marvel have no decent character left Hardy could play?

All the Suicide Squad actors must be promised huge pay days

he didn't want to be tied down to a multi-pic/multi-year franchise. He wants to makes his own decisions about what roles to take on and not worry about scheduling conflicts. Don't know if that is the true reason he turned the Suicide Squad role down or if it was something else.

>I read Gosling was the guy they wanted who they couldn't get
>out of this dream casting. Good for Ryan Gosling.
>
>But seriously why the fuck is Will Smith doing this? Odd
>choice.

MONEY? Maybe he wants to do a superhero movie but Marvel is considering him so DC is?

Who knows really?

>Guess Tom Hardy definitely didn't get the Dr Strange gig.
>Seems Cumberbatch probably will be confirmed soon.
>

Cumberbatch was confirmed over a month and a half ago. And Hardy was being "considered" but I suspect talks didn't go that much further than just early talks. I got the impression Cumberbatch may have been the number one choice for Dr. Strange..

http://deadline.com/2014/10/benedict-cumberbatch-doctor-strange-movie-cast-862815/

>Did Marvel have no decent character left Hardy could play?
>
>All the Suicide Squad actors must be promised huge pay days


how do you know Hardy was even in the running for other Marvel characters?

He wasn't. Dr. Strange was the only one he was up for. I doubt Marvel looks at him seriously since he's already done a DC Comics character.

of course they've been promised huge pay days with Smith most definitely getting the largest one ($20 million + backend). I mean, their characters aren't even guaranteed spinoffs or appearances in other DC Universe movies...so it has to be the huge paydays....

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/tom-hardy-drops-suicide-squad-764095

Tom Hardy Drops Out of 'Suicide Squad' (Exclusive)
Hardy was to have been part of an all-star cast that includes Will Smith, Jared Leto and Margot Robbie.
by Borys Kit
11:32 AM PST 1/15/2015

The Squad has a man down.

Tom Hardy has dropped out of Suicide Squad, Warner Bros.’s all-star comic book movie being directed by David Ayer. Not losing a beat, the studio has made overtures to Jake Gyllenhaal, who has generated heat for his performance in Nightcrawer, to replace him.

Based on DC Entertainment’s villains-forced-to-be-heroes characters, the cast boasts a nefarious line-up that includes Will Smith, Margot Robbie, and Jared Leto, along with Jai Courtney and Cara Delevingne.

Hardy was to have played Rick Flagg, the leader of the group that consisted of Batman villains Deadshot (Smith), Joker (Leto), and Harley Quinn (Robbie), plus Boomerang (Courtney) and Enchantress (Delevigne).

Hardy’s exit is due to scheduling, according to sources. The actor is currently shooting The Revenant, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s frontier drama that also stars Leonardo DiCaprio, and that shoot is now looking to go longer than initially planned.

Hardy is also starring in Mad Max: Fury Road for Warners and that movie opens May 15, smack in the middle of Suicide filming. Suicide is due to begin shooting mid-April in Toronto but Hardy will have press commitments for Fury Road that will take him around the world.

Gyllenhaal has an offer to replace Hardy but it's unclear whether or not the actor will take it on. Gyllenhaal, who worked with Ayer on the acclaimed police thriller End of Watch, is currently on Broadway for his play Constellations. The play runs until mid-March. It's unknown whether that gives the actor enough prep time or down time for a prolonged shoot.

Suicide has an Aug. 5, 2016 release date.

I hope this doesn't start a trend with this movie, b/c the stacked cast they got for this thing is one of the most impressive aspects.

There is only one true King. #unitetheseven

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B-RAWTjCcAAF81b.jpg

https://twitter.com/ZackSnyder/status/568650209581858817

But whatever. I'll wait till I see him in motion.

I didn't mind the redesign of Aquaman with the beard and long hair, which is the way they decided to go. In that case, Mamoa fits the very well. I was originally thinking they were going to chop off his hair and beard and be a blonde, which would have looked a bit weird.

I get the impression from the tattoos and Momoa's interviews that his movie origin is gonna be strongly tied to Pacific Island culture. Which would be interesting if they pull it off well.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/director-michelle-maclaren-leaves-wonder-woman-following-creative-differences

DIRECTOR MICHELLE MACLAREN LEAVES "WONDER WOMAN" FOLLOWING 'CREATIVE DIFFERENCES'

Posted: 1 hour ago | Updated: 37 minutes ago


Director Michelle MacLaren has left Warner Bros.' in-development "Wonder Woman" film, according to The Hollywood Reporter, due to cited "creative differences." THR has a statement from the studio: "Given creative differences, Warner Bros. and Michelle MacLaren have decided not to move forward with plans to develop and direct Wonder Woman together."

MacLaren, a noted television director with experience on "Breaking Bad," "The Walking Dead" and "Game of Thrones," was reported in November as signed on to direct and develop "Wonder Woman," planned for 2017 and starring Gal Gadot in the title role. It would have been MacLaren's feature debut, and is the first live-action film starring the long-running DC Comics icon, though Gadot is set to be introduced in the role in 2016's "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice."

As noted by THR, this is the second time a woman director has left a major superhero film in its development -- "Monster" director Patty Jenkins was originally on board to helm Marvel Studios' "Thor" sequel, before leaving the production. Female directors on superhero films has been a rare occurrence, with 2008's "Punisher: War Zone," directed by Lexi Alexander, standing as the most prominent recent example.

The Wrap reports MacLaren may not be out of the superhero circle for long, now rumored as a frontrunner to helm Marvel's "Captain Marvel" film currently being written by Nicole Perlman & Meg LeFauve.

"Wonder Woman" is part of a robust slate of DC-based superhero films in development at Warner Bros., all part of the shared universe that started with 2013's "Man of Steel."

"The Wrap reports MacLaren may not be out of the superhero circle for long, now rumored as a frontrunner to helm Marvel's "Captain Marvel" film currently being written by Nicole Perlman & Meg LeFauve."

So she defecting to Creedmoor?

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/wonder-woman-movie-finds-a-789099

'Wonder Woman' Movie Finds a New Director (Exclusive)
APRIL 15, 2015 4:10pm PT by Borys Kit

Patty Jenkins, who at one point was to direct 'Thor 2' for rival Marvel Studios, has closed a deal to helm Warner Bros.’ female superhero movie.

Warners moved at lightning speed to sew up another director after parting ways Monday with Michelle MacLaren, the experienced TV director and producer who was to have made her feature directorial debut with Wonder Woman. Creative differences were cited as the reasons for MacLaren's departure.

Selecting Jenkins helps Warners avoid what some saw as a gender bias against women directors helming superhero tentpoles. Ironically, Jenkins would have been the first female director on a Marvel movie if she had continued on Thor 2. She will now become the first female director to handle a big project in Warner's developing DC universe.

The studio needed to move quickly in order not to lose momentum on the project, which has been slotted for 2017 and has Gal Gadot attached to star.

Jenkins is also another experienced TV filmmaker, although she actually got her start in movies. Her debut film was Monster, the indie that won Charlize Theron a best acting Oscar. But showing how hard the film world can be for female directors, Jenkins has had a tough time finding a follow-up feature. She did, however, make a mark in TV, including directing the pilot for AMC’s acclaimed crime drama The Killing.

Jenkins is repped by CAA, Anonymous Content and Jackoway Tyerman.

>. Ironically, Jenkins would have been the first
>female director on a Marvel movie if she had continued on Thor
>2.

I will not let them pretend Lexi Alexander doesn't exist. And save the "Marvel studios" shit. P:WZ is still a goddamn Marvel film even if it isn't a Marvel Studio release.

>I will not let them pretend Lexi Alexander doesn't exist. And
>save the "Marvel studios" shit. P:WZ is still a goddamn Marvel
>film even if it isn't a Marvel Studio release.

Well, those are two completely different things. It's kinda not up for debate.

Could he be playing John Stewart?

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/common-joins-suicide-squad-790824

David Ayer is directing the feature, which already boasts actors Jared Leto as the Joker, Will Smith as Deadshot and Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn. Also in the lineup are Joel Kinnaman, Cara Delevingne, Viola David, Adam Beach, Ike Barinholtz, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and Scott Eastwood.

There will also possibly be cameos of Jesse Eisenberg who plays Lex Luthor and Ben Affleck as Batman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, who are rumored to appear as Warners builds its own cinematic universe.

The story tells of imprisoned villains recruited by a government agency to perform covert operations. Details for Common’s role have not been revealed.

Warners had no comment on the deal. The movie is in production in Toronto.

Common is currently on screen with Warners’ Liam Neeson thriller Run All Night and was part of the cast for acclaimed civil rights movie Selma. For the latter he won an Oscar for best original song, which he shared with John Legend. He is due to shoot Relativity's Hunter Killer with Gerard Butler in July.

He is repped by CAA and Myman Greenspan.

http://twitter.com/MrCamW/status/591765341778284545/photo/1

I'm a man out of time. This looks like shit. And before people envoke Holy Heath, let me say he looked like shit too. I guess I'm just gonna have to accept I'm never going to see anything live action that comes anything close to looking like its comic counterpart.

The success of this look really hinges on Leto's delivery. Ledgers look fit the character he played in his movie and played very true to certain iterations of the Joker character.

This look can work well if played in a way that justifies the look, if that makes sense.

Personally, I prefer a new visual interpretation over an attempt to recreate some of his comic iterations, especially if the "soul" of the Joker is respectfully present.

I will say this look can certainly land with a thud if Leto doesn't deliver a compelling take that lends credence to his appearance. I have enough faith in him to give us something good so I'll hold off on my judgment.

I just wanna say I'm so glad I have nothing to do this shit anymore. I really have no idea what the fuck the plug is up to, but someone needs to grab the wheel quickly.

http://badassdigest.com/2015/04/29/crisis-on-infinite-dc-movie-plans/

We're still a year out from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice* but there's already rumblings about the future of the DC Movieverse it is supposed to spawn. Not good rumblings. The trailer for the film was released to mixed reaction, Michelle MacLaren jumped off Wonder Woman and the first look at The Joker from Suicide Squad was so disastrous that there is a contingent of fans who - I shit you not - think the photo is fake or a joke and that The Joker will not be all tatted up in the movie. Meanwhile, Warner Bros' approach to these movies has been bizarre - they hired five writers to compete on a Wonder Woman script, and three to compete on an Aquaman script. There's no vision directing the writers, and it's not working out behind the scenes.

The Hollywood Reporter has done some digging into the situation at Warner Bros, and they've come back with some interesting stuff - including things that readers of this site would already know (like the fact that there's a power vacuum in the DC Movieverse, and that Zack Snyder is jostling with Geoff Johns for position at the top of the heap).

Grumbling among talent reps came especially in response to the studio's strategy of hiring five writers to compete for a job on Wonder Woman, which has a June 2017 release date. On Aquaman, set for 2018, sources say Warners commissioned scripts from three writers, one of whom followed the studio's direction only to be told the rules governing the universe had changed and his work no longer was usable. Another writer has been on hold for the film for months as the studio works to define its vision. "They just haven't been thorough about their whole world and how each character fits and how to get the most out of each writer's time by giving them direction," says a rep with knowledge of the process. "Obviously, Marvel's very good at that."

That seems crazy - they had a script they couldn't use because their vision for the universe just keeps changing. Warner Bros has learned the wrong lesson from Marvel's success - they're chasing a shared universe, but they don't have a Kevin Feige overseeing it all. That is vital; Marvel Studios is producer-driven, and it allows the films to work together and for the entire system to move like a machine. Speaking to THR a WB insider called the DC Movieverse plan 'filmmaker-driven,' which is clearly a dig at what many see as a samey quality to the Marvel films. That's a nice concept, but the reality is that the filmmakers all need a centralized person (or persons) to lean on when the universe is shared.

Look at Star Wars - that's shaping up to be a 'filmmaker-driven' shared universe, but everybody answers to the Lucasfilm Story Group, who coordinate everything and make sure all the films fit together and work towards a common goal. This is what WB is missing.

Is it too late? Can Warner Bros pull together its slate in a way that makes sense and is cohesive? I suspect that, when it all shakes out, Zack Snyder is the guy holding the reins. After all, he sort of already is - he is setting up the expanded universe in BvS, which will introduce most members of the Justice League. He's cast those roles with WB, he's created the tone into which they will be introduced, and his fingerprints will be all over their look. Hell, it's clear that Aquaman's design is prime Snyder. I don't think Snyder is a Kevin Feige, and he certainly won't have the time that Feige has to focus (after all, Snyder is directing Justice League next), but he seems like the only choice WB truly has.

* a movie title decided upon by adults.

>(like the fact that there's a power vacuum
>in the DC Movieverse, and that Zack Snyder is jostling with
>Geoff Johns for position at the top of the heap).
>

>I suspect that, when it all shakes out, Zack Snyder is the guy >holding the reins.

Any situation where a major film company allows Zack Synder to have the most control is a disaster waiting to happen.

DC's got two successful places to draw 'world building' talent from; their comics AND their animation...particularly their animation.

Having directors/producers fight it out who are thinking of their projects (and therefore power) first is a problem. At least Kevin Feige is Marvel do or die, as both a positive and negative (possibly downplaying creator vision, playing hardball with the cash)


>>(like the fact that there's a power vacuum
>>in the DC Movieverse, and that Zack Snyder is jostling with
>>Geoff Johns for position at the top of the heap).
>>
>
>>I suspect that, when it all shakes out, Zack Snyder is the
>guy >holding the reins.
>
>Any situation where a major film company allows Zack Synder to
>have the most control is a disaster waiting to happen.

Geoff Johns is a comic guy.

Came up under Richard Donner and is now one of the Dons on the comics side.

He's also one of the driving forces behind both of their largely successful TV shows and is developing a third.

I dunno, maybe they think Johns is too devoted to the comic side of things.

>Came up under Richard Donner and is now one of the Dons on
>the comics side.
>
>He's also one of the driving forces behind both of their
>largely successful TV shows and is developing a third.
>
>I dunno, maybe they think Johns is too devoted to the comic
>side of things.

AND a fourth and a fifth, because Berlanti is developing Vixen comics as a cartoon show, the Arrow-Flash spinoff *AND* Supergirl (which looks like it going to series on CBS and they are looking to possibly slot it on Sunday nights at 8pm....WOW)

But, you may be right, re. Johns being too devoted to the comic side of things and being involved in the TV side (but that really *IS* Showrunner Greg Berlanti's terrain, since he got Arrow, The Flash, the spinoff and Supergirl greenlit *AND* Berlanti will be Executive Producer on *ALL* of those shows...)

But, DC/Warner Bros. putting their dollars/superhero development into Snyder's hands = MASSIVE FAILS ALL AROUND...

With their two soon to be three CW shows.

How are they so good when it comes to TV and so awful when it comes to movies?

http://variety.com/2015/film/news/wonder-woman-chris-pine-steve-trevor-1201472335/

Chris Pine in Talks to Co-Star in ‘Wonder Woman’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Justin Kroll
Film Reporter
MAY 27, 2015 | 01:47PM PT

Wonder Woman is about to get hot and heavy with Chris Pine. Sources tell Variety the “Star Trek” actor is in negotiations to join Gal Gadot in the upcoming superhero pic for Warner Bros.

Pine would play Gadot’s love interest Steve Trevor in the origin story. Warner Bros. had no comment.

Patty Jenkins, who recently replaced Michelle MacLaren, is directing from a script by Jason Fuchs. “Wonder Woman” will be released on June 23, 2017.

Charles Roven is exec producing the DC Comics tentpole for Atlas Entertainment. Zack Snyder, director of “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” is also producing.

In the comics, Steve Trevor was an intelligence officer in the United States Army during World War II whose plane crashed on Paradise Island, the isolated homeland of the Amazons. He was nursed back to health by the Amazon princess Diana, who fell in love with him and followed him when he returned to the outside world. There she became Wonder Woman (and also his co-worker, Diana Prince).

Rumors had suggested that Scott Eastwood had landed the part, but insiders tell Variety that Eastwood was given a choice to test for the Trevor role or sign on for a guaranteed supporting part in “Suicide Squad,” which he opted to take.

Warners tested a handful of other actors but later decided to look at more high-profile names and go with a straight offer. Pine won over production execs and Gadot at his meeting, leading the studio to pursue him for the role.

Pine, having starred as Captain Kirk in the last two “Star Trek” movies, is no stranger to the fanboy world, but “Wonder Woman” will mark his first venture into cinema’s most popular genre and should lead to more opportunities in DC’s Justice League universe. Gadot’s Wonder Woman, of course, plays a key role in Snyder’s forthcoming “Batman v Superman,” which arrives next March.

The CAA-repped Pine is currently in production on the thriller “Comancheria” and will immediately jump into production on “Star Trek 3″ afterward. He can be seen next in “Z for Zacharia” this August and co-stars in the Disney adventure pic “The Finest Hours” bowing next year.

He is also repped by John Carrabino Management and attorney Michael Gendler.

http://deadline.com/2015/07/ben-affleck-geoff-johns-batman-dc-entertainment-warner-bros-comic-con-1201472921/

Ben Affleck To Team With DC’s Geoff Johns On Stand-Alone ‘Batman’ Film: Comic Con
by Mike Fleming Jr
July 9, 2015 3:27pm

EXCLUSIVE: Here’s one for the Comic-Con crowd to gnaw on. I’m told that Ben Affleck is teaming up with Geoff Johns to co-write a stand-alone Batman movie that Affleck will direct and star in after he completes his longstanding plan to helm his scripted adaptation of the Dennis Lehane novel Live By Night. Johns has about as much comic cred as anybody around. He’s DC Comics’ chief creative officer and has written some of its best remembered comic book series including Green Lantern, Aquaman, Batman, Justice League, The Flash and Superman. He also has written TV series superhero transfers Smallville, Arrow and The Flash, as well as the Supergirl project with Greg Berlanti for CBS.

My studio sources tell me that Affleck and Johns are well in synch and have more than found their rhythm. In fact, they are likely to turn in a script before the end of the summer, prior to Affleck going off to direct Live By Night in November. Affleck postponed that pic to star in Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice. The Batman movie would shoot after he finishes Live By Night, and the plot would reflect the Batman character that emerges after Batman V Superman and Justice League, the latter of which comes out November 17, 2017. DC and Warner Bros have set a long list of superhero movies that take the Marvel formula of interspersing characters from one film to the next, so it’s unclear when Affleck’s Batfilm will be slotted.

But it clearly will take priority, and other movies might have to move to get out of its way. While Marvel’s Kevin Feige has defied the odds and turned one Marvel character after another into hit films, I have been somewhat skeptical about the DC films that Warner Bros has made a top priority. This is a confidence booster. The best Batman blockbusters had a real sense of visual authorship, originated by Tim Burton, with the latest arc by Christopher Nolan. Now it falls to Affleck, who’ll creatively steer the Batman franchise after directing the Best Picture winner Argo and co-scripting and directing the gems The Town and Gone Baby Gone. Helped by the collaboration with DC-savvy Johns, this might be the most exciting news to hit the Con this weekend.

Probably not an origin story, unless they want to put Affleck in some crazy prosthetics.

http://www.thewrap.com/nicole-kidman-in-talks-to-join-gal-gadot-in-wonder-woman-exclusive/

Nicole Kidman in Talks to Join Gal Gadot in ‘Wonder Woman’ (Exclusive)
By Jeff Sneider on November 2, 2015 @ 3:26 pm

Patty Jenkins is directing the comic book movie for Warner Bros., which will release the film in 2017

Oscar winner Nicole Kidman is in ongoing negotiations to play a high-ranking Amazonian warrior alongside Gal Gadot in WB’s “Wonder Woman,” an individual familiar with the project has told TheWrap.

A representative for Warner Bros. had no comment.

Patty Jenkins is directing the comic book movie, which will co-star Chris Pine as Wonder Woman’s love interest Steve Trevor — who isn’t around to just send flowers and kill spiders.

While Kidman’s potential role has yet to be confirmed, the Queen of the Amazons in the “Wonder Woman” comics is Hyppolyta, who also happens to be Diana Prince’s biological mother — though it’s unclear whether the film will remain faithful to that storyline.

Zack Snyder and Deborah Snyder are producing “Wonder Woman” with Charles Roven and Richard Suckle of Atlas Entertainment. Jason Fuchs (“Pan”) wrote the script.

Wonder Woman will be introduced in next year’s “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” before her solo movie hits theaters on June 23, 2017.

Kidman, who is coming off the hit family film “Paddington,” next stars in “The Secret In Their Eyes” alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor and Julia Roberts. She has also wrapped Garth Davis‘ drama “Lion,” which co-stars Rooney Mara and Dev Patel. Kidman is attached to star in Adrian Lyne’s thriller “The Silent Wife” and Jean-Marc Vallee‘s limited series at HBO, “Big Little Lies,” which co-stars Reese Witherspoon. Kidman is also producing “Big Little Lies,” which could be beneficial for her in navigating the tricky shooting schedule for “Wonder Woman.”

The Australian actress, who is nearly six-feet-tall, is no stranger to comic book movies, having played Val Kilmer‘s love interest in “Batman Forever.”

As you know Kidman's dates didn't work out so they are trying to figure out whether to just give Robin Wright that role or find another star

https://twitter.com/krolljvar/status/677985386300227584


Don't know what role Wright currently has but it isn't Hippolyta like others believed, it's actually another role

https://twitter.com/krolljvar/status/677985805000773632


In fact Wright's deal for her unknown role had closed before Kidman even had an offer, so we'll just have to see what ends up happening

https://twitter.com/krolljvar/status/677986116973101056

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/warner-bros-casts-wonder-womans-856255

Warner Bros. Casts Wonder Woman's Mother
JANUARY 15, 2016 12:42pm PT by Borys Kit

The movie is currently shooting in the U.K. and Italy.

Connie Nielsen, the Danish actress best known for playing a Roman queen in Gladiator, has joined the cast of Wonder Woman, Warner Bros.’ highly anticipated take on the DC icon.

Gal Gadot is playing the Amazonian princess and the cast already includes Chris Pine (portraying love interest Captain Steve Trevor), Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis and Ewen Bremner. Pine recently said the movie is set during World War I.

Nielsen will play Hippoyta, the queen of the Amazons and mother of Princess Diana, aka Wonder Woman.

The movie, currently shooting in the U.K. and Italy, is set to be released June 23, 2017.

Nielsen’s recent credits include a stint on Fox's The Following as well as CBS' The Good Wife. She also appeared in the film Nymphomanic Vol. 1.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/justice-league-adds-jk-simmons-873227

'Justice League' Adds J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon
by Rebecca Ford
MARCH 07, 2016 11:52am PT

The Warner Bros. film will star Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Ben Affleck, Jason Momoa and Amy Adams.

The Justice League has found its Commissioner Gordon.

Oscar winner J.K. Simmons has been cast as the Gotham City police commissioner.

Justice League, which will be directed by Zack Snyder, sees heroes Batman (Ben Affleck), Superman (Henry Cavill), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), Aquaman (Jason Momoa), the Flash (Ezra Miller) and Cyborg (Ray Fisher) teaming up to combat a threat beyond each member's capabilities.

Chris Terrio wrote the screenplay for Justice League, which will be released in two parts by Warner Bros. It is produced by Charles Roven, Zack Snyder and Deborah Snyder.

Justice League: Part One will start shooting in mid-April and is set to hit theaters on Nov. 17, 2017, while Part Two is slated for release on June 14, 2019. Warner Bros.' next DC film is Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, which will bow March 25.

The DC Comics character Commissioner James Gordon has been played by a slew of actors over the years, including Lyle Talbot in the 1949 series Batman and Robin, Neil Hamilton in the TV series Batman in the 1960s, Pat Hingle in the Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher Batman movie franchise and, most recently, by Gary Oldman in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight films. The character is an integral part of the Batman literary mythos and is the lead character in Gotham, Fox's take on Gordon's early days, where he is played by Ben McKenzie.

Simmons is already a familiar face in the superhero world as he played publisher J. Jonah Jameson in the Sam Raimi Spider-Man movies.

Simmons has been very busy since winning the best supporting actor Oscar for Whiplash in 2015. He is reteaming with Damien Chazelle for the musical La La Land, and he voices a character in the just-released animated hit film Zootopia. He recently joined Mark Wahlberg in the Boston bombing film Patriots’ Day, and he’ll be seen in The Meddler with Susan Sarandon and Rose Byrne, which is due out in April. His other projects in post include The Accountant with Ben Affleck, Bastards with Owen Wilson and Ed Helms, and The Snowman with Michael Fassbender. Simmons is repped by Gersh.

There's an underlying, inescapable comedy/camp element to him in everything he does. The dosage varies but it's pretty much there in everything.

I don't think he works as Gordon. I don't have an alternative off top but I don't think he's the right guy.

The 'Flash' Movie Loses Its Director

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/flash-movie-loses-director-888994

DC sounds like a mess but handing The Flash over to a first time director seems like a terrible idea. And I'm not wild about James Wan as a director either but he has a lot of box office backing him up.

THE FLASH loses a director. Will more filmmakers leave?

http://birthmoviesdeath.com/2016/04/29/crisis-on-finite-dc-movieverses

Director Seth Grahame-Smith has left The Flash. The official explanation: "creative differences."

Sources at WB tell me that this is just one part of what's going on behind the scenes at the DC movieverse. Zack Snyder and Geoff Johns were taken aback at critical and audience reaction to Batman v Superman, I'm told, and WB execs have found themselves at odds with Snyder over his vision for Justice League and the DC movieverse going forward. Of course Justice League was scheduled to start shooting mere days after BvS was released, which meant WB couldn't take any definitive action - like removing Snyder or delaying the movie to make changes - without poisoning the box office for BvS. The result? Lots of fights between Snyder and the WB execs, and lots of pressure from Burbank on Snyder, who is shooting in London.

I'm not sure what the exact nature of the creative differences on The Flash are, but I'm being told that this may not be the only movie impacted by the aftermath of BvS. According to multiple, reliable sources James Wan is feeling a tremendous amount of trepidation about Aquaman. It's important to remember two things - Fast 7 was a very difficult process for him, even without Paul Walker's tragic death, and James Wan doesn't really need Aquaman. With The Conjuring 2 and Lights Out (which he produced), Wan will be owning WB's summer slate, bringing in a lot of money with movies that cost a fraction of Aquaman. Aquaman needs Wan, and right now Wan is trying to decide if he needs that hassle.

It will be interesting to see how things shake out. Wan has the upper hand on Aquaman, so maybe he'll be able to make that work in his favor. I keep hearing that it could be delayed in an attempt to get the film right, but who knows. Justice League is going to be Justice League, no matter how hard the studio rides Snyder. As for the rest of the slate - Suicide Squad, the weird side movie, looks like it's the hail mary pass for the DC Movieverse, at least until guaranteed winner The Batman gets here.

.

~~~~~~~~~
"This is the streets, and I am the trap." � Jay Bilas
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/archive/contributor/517
Hip Hop Handbook: http://tinyurl.com/ll4kzz

He stressed over and over again how the movie would stand out and be fun. He kept saying that it'd be fun.

He also said that it was supposed to be an underwater version of LORD OF THE RINGS, with the various sea creatures.

Directors leaving a movie ain't nothing new. Edgar wright anyone?

Wan ain't going nowhere. And Faraci should check his colesterol levels asap

Someone HAS to to have seen that throwing multiple villains is a recipe for a mess.

Previous reports stated that the next Batman would adapt the “Under the Red Hood” storyline in which the second Robin, Jason Todd, is resurrected and takes the mantle of the ‘Red Hood’ to seek revenge against the Joker who is responsible for his death all while clashing with Batman. The plan for Affleck’s Batman film is:

"It's going to be crammed with Bat villains, which means that just about every major bad guy you've ever wanted to see in a movie will be in this movie. According to my sources Affleck and Geoff Johns, who has been working with him on the film, want to make the definitive Batman film. They want to tell the ultimate Batman story, and to do so they're going to bring in all the big guns. They're going to have a big, sprawling Bat universe already in place."

http://www.latino-review.com/news/ben-affleck-and-geoff-johns-to-make-the-definitive-batman-film?utm_content=buffer4f752&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Only way that works.

Although I doubt they'd ever do a straight/not-epic film, which is a pet peeve of mine. The world doesn't always have to be at risk. There can be lesser stakes and still a great movie.

*pounds head into wall until dead*

it's safe to say faraci is full of shit and folks should avoid posting his laughable rumors from now on

So which Aquaman rumor was the one that was way offbase?

Also, Umberto Gonzalez, is hearing the same shit I've been hearing for a while. Kevin Tsujihara and Greg Silverman are out. Thank God.

http://birthmoviesdeath.com/2016/05/06/ben-affleck-is-now-executive-producer-of-justice-league

The drama continues.

By Evan Saathoff May. 06, 2016

As Civil War hits theaters and flies its way to the kind of box office Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice should have earned without much trouble, things continue to reshuffle at Warner Bros. This one is big. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ben Affleck has become executive producer on the already-filming Justice League movie.

Affleck and writer Chris Terrio are going to shape up the script to make sure it’s something people might actually want to see. Once filming is complete, Affleck will have some say in post-production concerns. This means Affleck is now creatively involved in the film on a very real level.

Hold up, the red phone is ringing. Oh hey, it’s Devin Faraci, who has this to add:

My sources have told me that Affleck was incredibly unhappy about the reception of BvS. He felt humiliated after spending so much of the press tour saying how much better this film would be than Daredevil. On top of that his agent was furious when Kevin Tsujihara jumped the gun and announced him as the director of The Batman - there were still negotiations happening.

This move seems to help placate Affleck while also edging Zack Snyder out of a controlling central position in the DC Movieverse.

This is just the latest step in an ongoing shakeup at Warner Bros in response to Batman v Superman’s poor reception (which Devin wrote more about here). While it’s certainly fascinating to see played out in public like this, the bottom line is a hope that these movies will actually get good. With the help of Affleck, an honestly talented filmmaker, that comes closer to being a reality.

> My sources have told me that Affleck was incredibly
>unhappy about the reception of BvS. He felt humiliated after
>spending so much of the press tour saying how much better this
>film would be than Daredevil.

That's gotta hurt (along with the Sad Affleck meme) since he's a comic fan and this is two ehh comic movies he was associated with.


Considering Ben Affleck is a superior film maker by a large margin, him hopefully taking over the Snider spot as director supreme in the DC Universe is a good thing.

...right direction.

Once JL1 wraps first things fucking first is get rid of Snyder period. Some of the blame has to be put on Kevin and Greg and the rest of the suits for pushing forward with Snyder's vision and greenlighting his wannabe Nolan shit in the first place.

he said commissioner gordon was dead in the dceu= wrong

suicide squad reshoots for humor= wrong

aquaman director leaving= wrong

so, where and when did he say affleck was going to be executive producer of JL ?

i'll be waiting for them links. you're the fugazi expert here

>he said commissioner gordon was dead in the dceu= wrong

I don't know about this one, but...

>suicide squad reshoots for humor= wrong

This definitely isn't wrong.

>aquaman director leaving= wrong

He definitely never said that.

>so, where and when did he say affleck was going to be
>executive producer of JL ?

He said that WB was unhappy with Snyder in charge and we're looking to shift power elsewhere.

I'm not even a big Faraci fan, but he gets a *lot* of his "scoops" right.

and in the meantime they dropped the "blitz" trailer with LOTS of fucking humor in it. damn they were super quick to add ALL THEM NEW JOKES in the new trailer. LOL

and between the lines david fugazi was telling his public that Wan was considering leaving. he can twist it all day long but he made a fool out of himself, again.

You have an obvious anti-Faraci, presumably pro-DC agenda to sell, and no one on this board is buying. If this sort of shit is all you want to post about, have fun, I guess.

.

...it was announced.

They dropped that trailer in mid-January. By late January, early February, they started reshooting due to the response of the first trailer and the fact that all of humor in the film (I saw a good portion of it before reshoots and confirm it was more of a crime thriller).

But since you know so much you can keep embarrassing yourself.

your "sources" didn't tell you that?

The trailer with Queen's "Bohemian Raphasody" dropped in January.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AwUdTIbA8I

date: april 10th

that's the trailer that dropped during the scheduled reshoots for "humor".

you're a bit misinformed for being an insider. but you're also a fugazi fan after all

https://youtu.be/CmRih_VtVAs

But you know everything right?

That first trailer had humor and jokes and a tone that had a postive reaction. Responding to that positive reaction WB mandates reshoots. They've added some of that humor to the Blitz trailer they released in April.

Pretty fucking simple.

http://heroichollywood.com/suicide-squad-reshoots-add-fun-to-dceu/

"The reshoots are happening currently" > article from march 31st

the trailer was released shortly after

you're wrong, move-the-fuck-on.

They started in late January - early February and continued on.

They are redoing the entire third act in addition to other added bits throughout the film.

Please stop talking like you know what you're talking about.

"In a few additional tweets, tech consultant Brett Schulte added that reshoots were to last 3 weeks, with 2 days on location and the rest at a sound stage."

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/suicide_squad/update-2-suicide-squad-reshoots-underway-in-la-a133142

fucking wannabe industry insider. go find a real job an grow up

Everyone is laughing at you my G.

You playing yourself.

You have not a clue.

character like you

I'm wrong, you're right. Happy bitch?

Nigga, you riding hard on the WBwave like they you cutting checks.

it ain't like i'm here all day making threads about rumors from unreliable sources

>he said commissioner gordon was dead in the dceu= wrong

Acutally he wasn't. OG plan was for Gordon to be dead. I guess they changed their minds. I can confirm that as fact.

>
>suicide squad reshoots for humor= wrong
>

I've had multiple people email me about how they're doing reshoots for humor and to beef up character interaction in the third act. Ayer is trying to save face.

>aquaman director leaving= wrong

He never said that. So either you can't read or your very fucking stupid. It's probably a combination of both.

>
>so, where and when did he say affleck was going to be
>executive producer of JL ?

Yo mean the multiple articles reporting it yesterday. It's no secret that they're handing over the keys of the kingdom to Affleck.

>
>i'll be waiting for them links. you're the fugazi expert here

And you're the fuckboy. I mean it sucks that a majority of people hate BvS a movie you love, but that's facts. Also facts, it's underperformance. But I'll let you do you.

are emailing me "rumors" about upcoming blockbusters.

i will be a fucking internet legend in a couple weeks and all the bwoods will make me fucking rich with them clicks.

it's so fucking easy. it will be all fun and games until studios start suing left & right

Your so mad for no fucking it's insane.

you're probably counting the days to smoke some weed with the boyz while watching that new alice movie.

now that's something to be embarassed about

I wish I could be like you embarrassing myself constantly and jerking off to DC films, but hey like I said keep doing you by being mad, wrong, and stupid.

Let him and Kevin Smith fuck off with that shit.

It really can't be any worse.

http://birthmoviesdeath.com/2016/05/11/we-know-the-villain-of-justice-league

If you're going to assemble the greatest superheros on your earth you're gonna need a threat to fight. So what - or who - is the threat that the Justice League will face in Justice League? Is it Darkseid, who was heavily hinted at in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice? Is it an evil Superman, as also heavily hinted at in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice? Or is it... a minor character who only showed up in BvS' deleted scenes?

Yup, it's Steppenwolf. When the deleted scene of Lex Luthor meeting a monster in his Kryptonian warm bath first popped up online the internet thought that monster was Steppenwolf. I couldn't believe it - the monster barely looked like Steppenwolf, and in fact his whole aesthetic was nothing like that of the New Gods, the corner of the DC Comics universe from which Steppenwolf arises. But I was wrong! Boy was I wrong.

In the comics Steppenwolf is the uncle of Darkseid and the military leader of Apokolips. He has a cool energy axe and rides an even cooler hoverbike. I assume those elements will not make it through Zack Snyder unscathed. In terms of the coolest characters from the Fourth World books he's pretty low on totem pole - he was once killed by Clock King, fer chrissakes In the more recent "New 52" continuity of DC, Steppenwolf actually sees some action and invades Earth - I'm assuming that's the run they're basing Justice League on, at least lightly. On some levels that makes him a fairly blank slate for the movies, and keeps Zack Snyder's hands off cool characters like Granny Goodness and Glorious Godfrey and Orion and Metron and Big Barda and Mister Miracle. I'm pretty okay with them burning Steppenwolf off on what I hope is the last Zack Snyder film in the DC Universe.

In Justice League Steppenwolf has a contentious history with Darkseid, which could be why he's invading the Earth. But stopping him - and, I'm assuming, his Parademon hordes - requires more power than the members of the Justice League can muster, and so they must turn to a dead friend for help...

Darkseid is a presence in the movie, and fully appears at the end of the film, but don't expect him to do much. The other DC solo movies between Justice League and Justice League 2 take place in realish time - ie, The Flash takes place after Justice League - so whatever evil plan Darkseid has will wait until Justice League 2 to be revealed.

Rumored to be produced by Greg Berlanti, si don't expect the dark and gritty vibe for BvS.

Because his Green Lantern movie (which supposedly got tweaked to death by Johns and WB) was an absolute disaster.

But this sounds like a cool concept.

THR: You've had tremendous success in TV but have struggled a bit in film …

Berlanti: I've had a lot of stuff not work on TV, too. I've had as much failure in this business as I've had success, across both spectrums. We can count pillows! (Laughs.) But Green Lantern is a great one to point to. I got fired from that movie as a writer and as a director, and yet my name was all over it. I still get blamed for it, even though I had nothing to do with the finished product. As Marc Guggenheim always says, there's a very Google-able script that we did write that was not executed that I still stand by. But at the time, I thought, "Oh God, that noose will hang around my neck my whole life."

Gonna take a look at this tonight: http://www.digititles.com/movies/green-lantern-2011/scripts/script-first-draft-june-2008

Harley Quinn Movie in the Works at Warner Bros. With Margot Robbie

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/margot-robbies-harley-quinn-movie-894486

Not sure why it's so hard to understand that that is a bad plan.

'Batman v. Superman' Fallout: Warner Bros. Shakes Up Executive Roles

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/batman-v-superman-fallout-warner-895174

Jon Berg and Geoff Johns will co-run the newly created DC Films in an attempt to course-correct Warners' comic book movies.

The fallout from Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice continues to ripple through Warner Bros.

The Burbank-based studio is making changes to the way it handles its DC Entertainment-centered films, giving oversight of the feature projects to a pair of executives and creating a dedicated division for the films. Current executive vp Jon Berg and Geoff Johns, DC's chief content officer who successfully launched the comics label's foray into television, will co-run the newly created DC Films, according to multiple sources.

This move is part of a broader refinement of executive roles at Warners, which has suffered a disappointing run of movies and has vexed producers and filmmakers, some of whom complain about a murky greenlight process.

Now, instead of a broad range of movies to oversee, executives will be charged with managing “genre streams" while reporting to Warner Bros. Pictures president Greg Silverman. In many cases, these streams formalize interests and specialties for specific executives. Courtenay Valenti, for example, will now oversee all Lego projects as well as the Harry Potter line that begins with November's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Senior production execs Jesse Ehrman and Niija Kuykendall will focus more on comedy/family and sci-fi/action, respectively, according to sources.

Further executive changes are anticipated, including a potential hire at the senior level.

Berg was already working on BvS, Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman and Justice League. He also is a conduit to Ben Affleck, having worked with the actor-filmmaker on Argo and Live by Night, the crime thriller Affleck recently wrapped as director, writer and star for the studio.

Comics writer-turned-exec Johns, meanwhile, was key in working with showrunner Greg Berlanti on the ascension of superhero shows such as Arrow, The Flash and Supergirl and is the writer behind DC's upcoming Rebirth, the publishing side's reboot of its titles that will play out over the summer months. He is not leaving DC, according to sources, but adding film to his portfolio.

Johns will still report to DC Entertainment president Diane Nelson, while Berg will report to Silverman.

With Berg and Johns, Warner Bros. is attempting to unify the disparate elements of the DC movies with a seasoned film exec and a comics veteran that together hopefully can emulate the way Marvel Studios has produced its films under the vision of president Kevin Feige. But sources also say Warners still wants to remain a filmmaker-driven studio. As part of their new jobs, Berg and Johns will become producers on the Justice League movies.

The muted reception of BvS, from a box-office and critical point of view, is the flashpoint for the changes. The studio had high hopes for the movie, which pitted its top heroes against each other. The door was opened for director Zack Snyder to be involved in shaping the look and content of the entire DC line, which is scheduled through 2020. But critics and fans ripped into the first pic and especially Snyder for perceived missteps, including its heroes' unheroic behavior and the dark tone. BvS, which cost at least $300 million to make, has grossed less than $870 million worldwide since its March 25 release. Warners has said the film will be profitable but it was hardly the home run the studio had wanted.

In stark contrast, Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Civil War is heading towards $1 billion in less than two weeks of release. The movie also pitted heroes against each other, but Marvel's lighter tone and bright colors (while tackling more serious themes) are clearly resonating with audiences. So Warners is attempting a course correction.

The shuffle, as well as Berg and Johns' new positions, come as other changes are being implemented on the DC movies. For example, Affleck was recently made executive producer on Justice League, upping his creative involvement when it comes to all things Batman and perhaps beyond.

Warner Bros. parted ways with screenwriter Seth Grahame-Smith, who was to have made his directorial debut with The Flash. In another example of post-BvS fallout, the studio didn’t feel confident in a first-time helmer and is now looking for a more seasoned filmmaker who can not only handle a large $150 million-plus movie but who can also have an authoritative stamp.

And the studio is working to smooth out the third act of Suicide Squad, its big August movie from director David Ayer that could change the perception of its DC line. The pic’s trailers have generated massive positive interest in the all-star actioner that features DC villains, and the studio wants to make sure audiences’ expectations are not only met but exceeded.

Suicide Squad recently went under major additional photography (multiple sources say it was not to add humor) to clear up the issues. Sources say it was Suicide Squad that escalated Johns’ involvement in DC movies (he was already co-writing the next Batman standalone with Affleck) and he is involved in the film’s post-production.

I'm a little confused because I thought they have had input on DC films up to this point. Weren't they the ones who were putting the long term DC plan together along with Snyder?

I guess I'm not seeing how giving people already involved new titles represents a huge shift in what DC has been doing. Besides maybe being another sign that Snyder isn't long for this universe.

I'll post more tomorrow

http://www.vulture.com/2016/05/geoff-johns-dc-films.html#

So are they ditching the whole Superman goes crazy angle that they apparently were setting up in Bats V Supes?

http://birthmoviesdeath.com/2016/05/19/geoff-johns-promises-hope-and-optimism-in-the-dc-universe



This past week we lost Darwyn Cooke, one of the great comic book artists of our time. Cooke was an artist who did everything from superheroes to crime comics, but he'll likely be best remembered for his DC Comics work. His DC stuff, including the iconic The New Frontier, presented the classic characters of the DC Universe as bright, bold and exciting figures, usually with big smiles on their faces. His DC heroes had one foot in the mythic and the eternal and one foot in the every day. The New Frontier itself was a gorgeous paean to the hope and joy that had once defined the DC Universe; set between the Golden and Silver Ages of comics, The New Frontier follows Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman through years where superheroes decline and then through the beginning of a new age of colorful, positive characters. Filled to the brim with Space Age optimism (filtered through a clear-eyed real world understanding of the time period), The New Frontier is a mission statement for superhero comics.

For whatever reason the executives at Warner Bros opted not to use The New Frontier as their mission statement when it came to the DC Movies. They didn't use the animated Justice League that helped define the DC characters for a new generation. They, at the behest of Zack Snyder, skipped past hope and optimism to grab at deconstruction. Paul Dini and Darwyn Cooke weren't the DNA of the DC movieverse, Frank Miller and Alan Moore were. Which isn't to bring down those writers, as they're two of the greatest to ever work in the medium. But their best and most iconic work is dedicated to probing the dark corners and disturbing problems of superheroes. The comics that defined the DC movieverse were comics that were often cynical about superheroes, a weird place to launch your blockbuster franchise. That kind of stuff makes sense after years of stories that cover the same ground, but coming out of the gate that way? Defining your films that way? A baffling choice at best.

It's been disheartening to see this happen to the DC characters, and to recognize that it was all because some of the best comic books ever made had been profoundly misunderstood. The people in charge of the DC movies were, fundamentally, people who did not get the DC characters. Anyone whose default Batman tale is The Dark Knight Returns is not a person who really understands Batman. Anyone who portrays Superman as an alien who is reluctant about helping out doesn't understand Superman. A person like that could definitely create an interesting 'take' on the characters - sometimes outsiders bring needed clarity to characters who have become stagnant - but that's no way to launch a cinematic universe. You create the icons first, and then you examine them from unique - and sometimes critical - angles.

This past week the power structure that oversees these DC movies has changed. Geoff Johns and Jon Berg have become the heads of a new entity known as DC Films, a silo within Warner Bros that will focus exclusively on DC properties. On paper this doesn't change much, but my understanding is that behind the scenes this means that Zack Snyder's influence has been curbed. If that's the case what Geoff Johns said recently in an interview can only make us happy.

Talking to the press about his upcoming DC Universe: Rebirth, which is going to shake up the status quo of DC Comics and its five year old stumble The New 52, Johns avoided questions about DC Films. But he did talk about his vision of the DC Comics universe, and it doesn't take a "Jump to Conclusions Mat" to guess that this attitude will be what he brings to DC Films. A reporter from Vulture summed up what Johns had to say about the DC Universe:

One phrase came out of his mouth over and over again as he talked about DC’s comics: “hope and optimism.”

And here's a quote from Johns about Superman, the character who has been most mishandled by the movies:

“I think people make a mistake when they say, ‘Superman’s not relatable because he’s so powerful,’” he said. “I’m like, ‘Are you kidding me? He’s a farmboy from Kansas who moves to the city and just wants to do the best he can with what he’s got.’ That’s the most relatable character in the world."

That attitude could not be more different from how Snyder has approached Superman, who has been a brooding and confused hero unsure of his place in the world. And the words "hope and optimism?" That describes an attitude that is 180 degrees away from films like Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Back in January I called on Warner Bros to make Geoff Johns the face of the DC movieverse, and it's because of stuff like this. As with any creative person you can like or dislike Johns' output but you cannot deny that he truly loves these characters. He lives and breathes DC characters in a way that none of the other decision-makers at WB do, and he's the guy who understands them the best. Johns, ever a loyal DC soldier, has supported BvS in public but I simply cannot believe the guy who says the above about Superman is completely happy with how that film treated DC's most iconic character.

Hope and optimism. A new frontier, if you will. There are many who think I hate DC, but they couldn't be more wrong. I grew up reading both DC and Marvel, and in fact during my prime comic book years - when I was old enough to spend hundreds of bucks a month on comics - I was buying almost exclusively DC. I have fallen out of DC in recent years - the grim New 52 gave me a good jumping off point, and the movies have betrayed the spirit of the comics - but my criticisms of DC in recent times have come from a place of honest love for these characters. And now I hear "hope and optimism" and I get filled with exactly those feelings.

Look, the DC movieverse is going to be a pain in the ass to turn around. Justice League is already filming, Wonder Woman and Suicide Squad are in the can. Johns has a lot of work cut out for him if hope and optimism will be his rallying cry at DC Films. But I'll tell you, for the first time since those early Man of Steel trailers (which captured hope and optimism so well) I'm feeling good about the DC movieverse. What's more, this turn of events is very much like a classic DC crossover - the heroes look defeated, the universe is all but destroyed, but at the last second the sheer willpower of a Superman or a Batman (or the Phantom Stranger and the Spectre holding hands or Damage recreating the Big Bang or...) turns the tide. It would be pretty fitting if this Crisis In The DC Movieverse has a happy ending, just pages after it seems like all hope is lost.

And the fallout's not done either.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/batman-v-superman-fallout-producer-897071

The veteran could move to an executive producer position on some films instead of day-to-day manager as Warner Bros. seeks to revamp its superhero slate.
Charles Roven, the veteran producer who has worked on every DC Comics movie at Warner Bros. since 2005’s Batman Begins, is no longer producing certain DC movies, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter.

Talks are underway to have Roven — who was a producer on Zack Snyder's Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, as well as the recently completed Suicide Squad, next year's Wonder Woman and Justice League — segue to a different role going forward, likely that of an executive producer who is not involved in day-to-day production. However, he potentially could continue to be a producer on some sequels to the movies he's currently producing.

The extent of Roven's involvement, and which titles he would work on, is "evolving," according to multiple sources, who also stress that no final decisions have been made.

"Roven is a key member of not only the DC slate but of the Warner Bros. family," says a studio spokesman.

The move comes as Warner Bros. continues to scrutinize its DC movies in the wake of BvS’s so-so performance at the box office and chilly reception from audiences. The movie, released March 25, wrapped its run with $871 million worldwide with a production budget of at least $300 million. While Warners insists the pic will be profitable, it was meant to kick off the studio’s DC cinematic universe with a billion-dollar bang, but instead was met with an unenthusiastic response from fans for being too dark and unheroic.

In stark contrast, Marvel Studios, well into its cinematic universe with 13 movies, has seen outsized success for its similarly themed Captain America: Civil War, which pits its heroes against each other. Civil War has earned raves from fans and critics alike and has grossed more than $1 billion in about three weeks.

Warner Bros., which leverages its DC IP across multiple channels, among them publishing and video games, now is taking steps to course-correct its approach as it develops its superhero slate. It recently shuffled its executive ranks to have executive vp Jon Berg and Geoff Johns, DC's chief content officer, co-run the newly created DC Films. It also is seeking to hire a more established director for The Flash, set for 2018, after parting ways with screenwriter Seth Grahame-Smith, who initially was attached to make his directorial debut with the project.

Roven, an experienced producer whose career dates back to the 1980s, has a producer credit on the three Batman movies directed by Christopher Nolan and 2013’s Man of Steel. He also is a producer on Suicide Squad, which Warners hopes will re-energize its DC movies when it opens in August; Wonder Woman, which is set to be released in June 2017; and Justice League, scheduled for November 2017.

Roven has established himself as a savvy player who knows how to manage the armies it takes to make modern, big-budget, visual effects-heavy tentpoles. But he was part of the unofficial brain trust with Snyder on the DC movies, an approach Warners seems to be rethinking in the wake of BvS's less than stellar performance.

One reason for the shift in thinking is that Warner Bros. wants to ramp up the number of DC productions, and sources say it would be physically impossible for one man to handle pre-, post- and production on multiple movies in locations ranging from Australia to Los Angeles to Louisiana to London.

Roven was slated to be a producer on The Flash and Aquaman, two DC films that have yet to go into production and could end up shooting on opposite ends of the planet. Sources tell THR he will no longer serve in that capacity on those films.

Roven remains on set for Justice League: Part 1, currently shooting in London, although Warners now has sent Berg to also oversee the day-to-day production of that movie.

http://www.tracking-board.com/dope-director-rick-famuyiwa-replaces-seth-grahame-smith-on-the-flash/

Off the heels of its recent shake-up at the executive level, Warner Bros. has found its replacement for the vacancy in the director’s chair left by Seth Grahame-Smith, who exited THE FLASH over creative differences.

Dope helmer Rick Famuyiwa will take the reigns on the studio’s latest DC Extended Universe project, steering Ezra Miller as the titular superhero.

Famuyiwa will work from a script by Grahame-Smith, who based his story on a treatment from Phil Lord and Chris Miller. The pedigree on the film suggests that, tonally, the story of Barry Allen and his powers of super speed will be more comedic – a departure from the Zack Snyder-directed DC films, which have been criticized for having a lack of humor.

Famuyiwa’s 2015 Sundance favorite Dope, which he wrote and directed, certainly balanced a sense of humor as it saw a young geek attempt to make it in a rough LA neighborhood. Famuyiwa’s additional credits include Our Family Wedding, Brown Sugar, and his breakthrough feature, The Wood. He is currently in development with Men Who Kill starring Michael B. Jordan.

With all the shakeup I hope that Warner isn't 'just make the movies lighter and funnier' but actually focused on a short term and long term vision with the movies.

Was hoping Lord & Miller wrote the script but I'd have to think they and Graeme-Smith were always taking more of a humorous spin on things.

http://www.thewrap.com/deathstroke-will-be-main-villain-in-ben-afflecks-batman-movie-exclusive/

Slade Wilson, a.k.a. Deathstroke, will face off against Bruce Wayne in “The Batman”
Umberto Gonzalez | August 29, 2016 @ 8:36 AM

Ben Affleck wasn’t just teasing: Deathstroke will, in fact, be the main antagonist of the Batman standalone movie he’s directing, TheWrap has exclusively learned from an individual with knowledge of the situation.

Earlier this morning, the actor who plays the Dark Knight posted a cryptic tweet of the new villain walking toward the camera in very cinematic fashion, which sent fanboys into a frenzy of speculation.

Deathstroke was created by Marv Wolfman and George Perez. He is a mercenary and assassin who first appeared in “The New Teen Titans” #2 back in 1980. Wizard magazine rated him the 24th greatest villain of all time.

Also, in 2009, Deathstroke was ranked as IGN’s 32nd greatest comic book villain of all time. Deathstroke, or commonly referred to as Deathstroke the Terminator or simply Slade, is known to be the greatest assassin in all of DC Comics. He has encountered Batman on several occasions in the comics.

Their first encounter was in the 1991 Deathstroke standalone DC comic in the story arc “City of Assassins” where Deathstroke pounded Batman to a bloody pulp.


Suspicions arose that we would be seeing Deathstroke in the DC Cinematic universe when “Arrow” creator Marc Guggenheim was asked earlier this year why Deathsroke wasn’t returning to the television series. “The character of Slade Wilson is currently tied up in another DC project. Walter is more likely,” he said in a Tumblr post.

This will definitely ease the need for CGI villains. Hopefully making it more grounded like the Dark Knight, but will add more martial arts and a Batman thats actually a detective..

http://io9.gizmodo.com/the-flash-just-lost-its-dope-director-but-could-that-b-1788421878?rev=1477950448639&utm_campaign=socialflow_io9_twitter&utm_source=io9_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow

Director Rick Famuyiwa, who made last year’s underrated gem Dope, has left the Warner Bros and DC film The Flash due to “creative differences.” And while that news definitely sucks, maybe there’s a silver lining.

In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Famuyiwa said he pitched “a version of the film in line with my voice, humor, and heart.” That vision was edgier than what the studio wanted, according to the magazine. So he decided to leave.

“When I was approached by Warner Bros and DC about the possibility of directing The Flash, I was excited about the opportunity to enter this amazing world of characters that I loved growing up, and still do to this day,” the director said in a statement, which also praised star Ezra Miller.

“While it’s disappointing that we couldn’t come together creatively on the project,” he continued, “I remain grateful for the opportunity. I will continue to look for opportunities to tell stories that speak to a fresh generational, topical, and multicultural point of view. I wish Warner Brothers, DC, Jon Berg, Geoff Johns, and Ezra Miller all the best as they continue their journey into the speed force.”

As a result of Famuyiwa’s departure, it’s likely The Flash, which was scheduled for release March 2018, will be delayed. He’s now the second director to leave the project, following screenwriter Seth Grahame-Smith.

So here’s the question: Is this as bad as it sounds? Yes and no. It’s bad for the obvious reason that Famuyiwa is a talented filmmaker with a unique voice and his take on The Flash was very enticing. Now we’ll never see it.

On the other hand, fans and critics have long hammered Warner Bros. over their superhero films being too dark. If Famuyiwa’s take was “edgy,” as The Hollywood Reporter states, maybe it was a bit too in line with the tone of Suicide Squad and Batman v Superman. Maybe this is the first sign of DC Films gaining some much-needed optimism. It’s just sad it has to be buried under such unfortunate circumstances.

...that "edgy" means dark and gritty especially with what Rick said in his statement:

“I pitched a version of the film in line with my voice, humor, and heart. While it’s disappointing that we couldn’t come together creatively on the project, I remain grateful for the opportunity. I will continue to look for opportunities to tell stories that speak to a fresh generational, topical, and multicultural point of view."

I get trying to see a silver lining but it seems to be incongruous with what we know and what was said.

Also, the real issue IMO is that losing two writer/directors over creative differences means that we don't even have a script yet. At this point, WB/DC should consider just hiring a screenwriter to get the script they like, and then find a director. At least get the foundation of the film solid rather than having everything be a rush to a release date. They can't delay it THAT long.

Rick tweeted out a picture of it, but you'd think the suits would be happy with what Rick pitched MONTHS ago. Dude was at Comic Con talking about his vision which sounded hella fun. But I know the situation. So many people have worked on a Flash movie for years.

Filmmaker driven my ass.

Maybe they will and someone new will come in and make the changes that they probably asked to be made that pushed Rick over the edge (ala Ant-Man) but I just feel that it's more likely that anyone new they bring in will want to put a significant polish of their own on the script.

We shall see.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/ben-affleck-not-directing-batman-movie-970390

Ben Affleck won't be stepping behind the camera for the upcoming Batman standalone movie.

The actor had been set to both star and direct in the film, tentatively titled The Batman. He is still expected to star as the Caped Crusader.

“There are certain characters who hold a special place in the hearts of millions," Affleck said in a statement. "Performing this role demands focus, passion and the very best performance I can give. It has become clear that I cannot do both jobs to the level they require. Together with the studio, I have decided to find a partner in a director who will collaborate with me on this massive film. I am still in this, and we are making it, but we are currently looking for a director. I remain extremely committed to this project, and look forward to bringing this to life for fans around the world."

Affleck has played the Dark Knight in last year's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice as well as briefly in Suicide Squad. He will next appear in November's DC superhero teamup movie Justice League for Warner Bros.

"Warner Bros. fully supports Ben Affleck's decision and remains committed to working with him to bring a standalone Batman picture to life," the studio said in a statement.

Rumors of Affleck departing the director’s chair have swirled for a couple of months now, when Affleck let on that the project was having script issues during press for Live By Night, his gangster movie movie he directed for Warners. The issues were something that first came to light when author Bret Easton Ellis mentioned during a November podcast. Affleck and execs have been unhappy regarding the script for weeks, according to sources.

Insiders say that Affleck and the studio came to a mutual decision that it would be best for the project if it was not led by someone with the split focus of one person being both the star and director.

https://youtu.be/rOaH6YU6v9s

http://comicbook.com/2017/01/31/kevin-smith-direct-batman/

DC Movie fans have had a rocky introduction to the DC Extended Universe, as films like Man of Steel, Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad have left fans and critics alike split into divisive love/hate camps.

The horizon was supposed to be brighter for the DCEU, as the upcoming slate of films (Wonder Woman, Justice League) are supposedly going to put things on a better foot. In addition, there were highly-anticipated films to come after Justice League - and none was more anticipated than Ben Affleck's The Batman.

However, it seems as though the DCEU curse is continuing, as in the last twenty-four hours, The Batman has gone from being one of the clearest and easy priorities on DC/WB's list to being a project that's showing early warning signs of freefall.
Ben Affleck Batman Good and Going

Ben Affleck has dropped out of the director's chair of The Batman - and though he did so by expressing his desire to focus entirely on the other duties he's taken on (writing and starring in the film), there's early talk that Affleck could end up stepping even further back from the project.

Forbes writer Mark Hughes did an extensive breakdown of the situation with Ben Affleck and Warner Bros. He looks at everything from Affleck's public frustrations with the poor reception of Batman v Superman, the long DC production schedules, and constant media attention, to the marked difference between DC/WB's public insistence of stability in the DCEU vs. the clear creative frictions that continue to exist (for example: The Flash movie also recently lost its director). Taking all those factors into account, Hughes goes so far as to say that, based on his own sources around the studio, Affleck could go so far as to drop out of the Batman role altogether!

Here's the quote from Forbes' Mark Hughes:

"Unfortunately, among the things I heard about his departure as director, I heard a few specifics that — if true — lead me to worry there is at least a chance Affleck could also walk away from starring in the picture. I don’t feel those concerns are as likely to bear fruit, and I still expect Affleck will finish the screenplay as planned and then start prepping for the role by getting into “Batman shape” to ensure he’s physically and mentally prepared for the role. That said, I do believe there’s a chance now that Affleck could depart the project as an actor, winding up merely serving as cowriter and producer."

Speaking personally, we here at Comicbook.com believed early on that Affleck could leave The Batman director's chair. Following that very same train of thought, it wouldn't (or won't) be surprising if he drops out of starring as well, and simply takes the safe bet of scriptwriting payment and producer points. It's low work and low risk for Affleck, in case he's not confident about how the studio wants to approach the film.

Still, we speak for many, many, Batman fans when we say: having Affleck still writing and starring is something we definitely hope for. If he drops out, it would be a very bad (fatal?) blow to the DCEU.

In Justice League, fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to find and recruit a team of metahumans to stand against this newly awakened threat. But despite the formation of this unprecedented league of heroes—Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash—it may already be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.

The DCEU continues when Wonder Woman opens in theaters on June 2, 2017, followed by Justice League on November 17, 2017; Aquaman on July 27, 2018; Shazam on April 5, 2019; Justice League 2 on June 14, 2019; Cyborg on April 3, 2020; and Green Lantern Corps on July 24, 2020. The Flash, The Batman, Dark Universe and Man of Steel 2 are currently without release dates.

Does Affleck drop out?

Also Wonder Woman cannot be bad. It can't even be mediocre. DC needs a win and a win big time.

Also, don't think W.W. won;t make dough as it's surrounded by movies that will mos def impact gross.

Such a bad idea when they can't even get the heroes right.

Also, I'd much rather see a Cyborg movie instead of Black Adam. Shit even Booster Gold.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dwayne-johnsons-dc-villain-black-adam-getting-his-own-movie-966008

Dwayne Johnson's DC Villain Black Adam Getting His Own Movie

The move stems from last week’s high-level meeting with Johnson and Geoff Johns.

New Line Cinema and DC Entertainment are doubling down on comic book hero Shazam.

New Line, which has been for over a decade developing a movie on the longtime DC character, will concurrently develop a movie centering on Black Adam, with Dwayne Johnson attached to star as Shazam’s arch-nemesis.

The move stems from last week’s high-level meeting with Johnson and DC Films co-head and comics author Geoff Johns, after which the actor took to social media to promise “hope, optimism & fun.”

But on a deeper level, the meeting led to a reconfiguring of the Shazam! movie. Johnson has been attached to play Black Adam since around 2008. Since that time, he has become arguably the biggest male actor on the planet. To execs, it made no sense to have a man of Johnson’s stature be just a villain and a supporting character in an expensive tentpole. Thus a decision was made to spin off Black Adam into his own film.

Adam’s screen take involves him being an antihero. It also mirrors recent developments in the DC comics, in stories written by Johns, where Adam, while still a villain, was fighting against enemies who sought to enslave his people.

No writer or filmmaker is attached to Black Adam. Shazam! has a script that is being worked by Henry Gayden, according to one source.

One of the oldest comic characters around, Shazam was originally known as Captain Marvel. The stories centered on Billy Batson, a teenager who becomes the superhero when he utters the magic word "Shazam!" The name is an acronym for six gods and heroes of the ancient world as well as their attributes: the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Aries, the power of Zeus, the courage of Achilles and the speed of Mercury.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/38/Deathpp.PNG

52 (the series) was remarkably well written (not counting the dreadful Adam-centered spinoff World War III) and Peter Tomasi's Black Adam six issue mini followup was excellent.

Which is to say, I wouldn't write off this movie altogether, even if the others continue to suck.

http://variety.com/2017/film/news/joby-harold-the-flash-script-rewrite-1201969977/

Joby HWhile “The Flash” waits to find its new director, Warner Bros. has tapped Joby Harold to do a page-one rewrite to the script, sources tell Variety.

The pic has been on hold since losing director Rick Famuyiwa and while it waits to find his replacement, the studio has decided to take script in different direction.

WB had no comment.

Executives have been taking their time in finding his replacement. With Ezra Miller, who will play the speedy superhero, getting ready to shoot “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2,” they decided work on a new script in the meantime.

Famuyiwa had written the latest draft. Sources say the original reason for his departure had to do with executives disagreeing with where he had taken the script. Seth Grahame-Smith had also written a previous draft.

Kiersey Clemons is attached to play Iris West, and Billy Crudup will play Miller’s father.

Harold has past ties to the studio, having most recently written “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.” Other projects in development include a new “Robin Hood: Origins” movie for Lionsgate, as well as a “Twilight Zone” film for the studio.

He is repped by CAA.arold to Do Page-One Rewrite of ‘The Flash’ Script (EXCLUSIVE)

Hate when studios try to salvage a script they don't like with piecemeal rewrites rather than just starting from scratch. If they didn't like where the script was going, start again from page 1.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/markhughes/2017/02/08/the-batman-movie-gets-new-script-new-director-and-likely-2019-release/#2697f57c51f8

The 'Batman' Movie Gets New Script, New Director, And Likely 2019 Release

Mark Hughes ,

Contributor

I write about films, especially superhero films, & Hollywood.

Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.

As this week's announcement that Ben Affleck would step down as director of his solo superhero movie The Batman continues to reverberate through Hollywood and fandom, sources confirm the script originally penned by Affleck and Geoff Johns was rewritten by scribe Chris Terrio (whose Argo screenplay won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, and who did a page-one rewrite on Batman v Superman), but the project will undergo substantial changes and possible/probably another full rewrite. Warner Bros. is already speaking to several filmmakers about taking over in the director's chair -- including one of my personal longtime favorites to direct a Batman movie, Matt Reeves, who seems to be the frontrunner -- and word is the project will essentially get a fresh start once a new creative team has been put together.

For now, Affleck remains attached to play Batman/Bruce Wayne, and has publicly asserted his intention to remain in that role now that he has less pressure to write and direct while also prepping mentally and physically for the performance. However, since he's already played Batman in three films to date -- including two extended and demanding productions over the course of about two years -- and has managed to act-write-direct other major projects in the past, it's fair to question whether he will remain committed to the project over the next several months while a new filmmaker and new script are acquired.

It's true Affleck's public statement (see below) insists he wants to make the film and will star in it, but he made similarly firm remarks just three weeks ago on Jimmy Kimmel Live! when asked if he was still directing the film. We've all learned it's impossible to take such public denials or assertions at face value every time, since the demands of the big-budget business of cinema realistically require playing cards close to the chest. Here is Affleck's full statement announcing his departure as director:

"There are certain characters who hold a special place in the hearts of millions. Performing this role demands focus, passion and the very best performance I can give. It has become clear that I cannot do both jobs to the level they require. Together with the studio, I have decided to find a partner in a director who will collaborate with me on this massive film. I am still in this, and we are making it, but we are currently looking for a director. I remain extremely committed to this project, and look forward to bringing this to life for fans around the world."

The story for The Batman originally included the assassin Deathstroke as a main villain, with Joe Manganiello cast in the role, as well as a few other likely villainous appearances by characters including the Joker, according to sources familiar with the project. Jared Leto, who portrayed the Joker in Suicide Squad, has for months expressed his displeasure about the removal of substantial portions of his performance from the final cut of the film, raising questions about whether he would return to the role in future movies. He seems to have softened his stance lately and appears interested in a possible return, but whether he will ultimately be part of The Batman or Gotham City Sirens remains to be seen.

With scripting duties and directing demands off his shoulders, Affleck will have more time to commit to overcoming the exhaustion and frustrations that became a problem for him recently after a demanding schedule that included Batman v Superman, Suicide Squad, The Accountant, Justice League, and Live By Night. Acting in all five of those films, plus doing scripting and editing duties on a few as well, and of course serving as writer-director-actor for Live By Night, put a strain on Affleck and made it difficult for him to focus on the screenplay for The Batman. Besides his work in those films, he also traveled around the country and world doing press junkets to promote most of the films, all of this while dealing with personal issues that added to his stress.

However, while the changes to The Batman seem to provide more breathing room and time to relax and refocus his efforts, the reverse side of that coin is quite simply that pressures dramatic enough to necessitate such a dramatic step-back could also be inherently serious enough to pose problems going forward, at least in the interim. Especially in light of the fact performing as Batman is something he's had a few years of experience with already now, and since rumors continue to spread that there is more going on than meets the eye -- rumors that gain traction when we can't be sure how long public assurances will last and when the rollout of information comes slowly and in small doses instead of ripping the bandaid off quickly.

If Affleck and Warner had spent the last few weeks noting Affleck's schedule and the particularly important needs of The Batman might necessitate him bringing in a collaborator, and if the remarks about the script had admitted Terrio was being sought to help get the script into shape for production, those frank admissions would've removed the seeming veil of secrecy and appearance of damage-control-mode, and the announcement of Affleck quitting the directing job wouldn't have seemed quite so sudden or huge. Now, we face another round of slow leaks, with word about continued script problems and the possible need for the new creative team to go back to the drawing board, and rumors that Affleck might continue slowly stepping away from the project.

This could all be solved by a simple announcement that a new director coming onto the project means the studio and Affleck are postponing further script development so they can work closely with the director on a unified vision, and that the extra time will let Affleck regain the focus he needs while teaming him with the best director and writers possible to get the project on firm ground. When it comes in bits and pieces that contradict one another and seem to reveal previously undisclosed developments, then it gives the impression -- fair or not -- that there is no coherent plan, and that the process is entirely reactive instead of proactive.

It's also not really fair to put all of the responsibility for these changes on Affleck's shoulders. Warner wanted Affleck to delay Live By Night so the DCU projects could be prioritized and filmed almost non-stop for several years, creating a dual situation of long production schedules for Affleck in the bat-cowl while leaving him far less time to focus on his labor of love, Live By Night (which I'll continue to note is in fact a great movie despite the obstacles Affleck faced getting it into production and ready for release); Warner made the decision to demand editing changes in Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad that caused a lot of the negative critical receptions for those movies, setting up a year of unfortunate media coverage that inevitably contributes to any artist's mood and energy level going forward on related projects; and Warner pushed for a faster production schedule for The Batman, despite Affleck's repeated public and private remarks expressing uncertainty about meeting those expectations.

My point is, there are lots of factors that led us to this moment, and while most reporting has focused on Affleck himself, it's a mistake to set up a scenario where the delays and changes -- and Affleck's departure as director -- are all framed as entirely his doing. And if he does choose to eventually bow out of the performance, it will be important to understand that the same array of factors from various directions, due to various players, will be behind it all. Everyone had their own reasons, there were unforeseen events, there were unintended consequences, and there's the simple fact everyone involved are human beings who get tired and change their minds sometimes and have to respond to realities around them.

That the script would need more rewrites, particularly with a new director joining the picture, was a given. How extensive the process will be -- I'm hearing anything from "major rewrites" to "a completely new script," including starting from scratch on the story if that's what it takes -- is unclear, not just to us but probably to those involved as well, since the new filmmaker might look at the story and script and decide there's plenty to salvage that appeals to them. Once the director is in place, more will become clear, but for now Warner Bros. is suffering far more negative perceptions than they need to, simply because of the attempt to slow and control the spread of information. The fear this causes and the speculation arising from that fear is far worse than whatever reaction resulted from putting the current known information out there for public consumption. Likewise, the more the press and public get the impression they can't trust public statements and the more the flow of information is slowed and controlled, the more it feeds the perception that larger problems loom for the DCU.

If Affleck stays on as lead actor, then this is actually an easy fix if the studio takes it slow, is open about the problems on the front end instead of fueling speculation and concern, and focuses on the relatively easy task of getting a great director and great writer to take all the time they need to pick the right story and then develop a great screenplay. There's more than enough talent involved and available to do this, and since we're likely looking at a release date in 2019 anyway (assuming things get on track now and there aren't further major delays), there's no need to rush it. They can spend the next year and several months letting the creative team focus on finding a story and writing a script for The Batman, and still have another year and several months to shoot it and get it ready for release by July 2019. If Ben Affleck is even just possibly -- on the low end of odds -- going to depart as actor, there is plenty of time to put together a list of replacement actors who could take over. That doesn't have to happen, but being ready for all outcomes would be a good idea at this point.

As I've said many times, I am a huge fan of Affleck's work and want him to be Batman, and I was very sad to see him depart as director. My heart broke a little when he quit as director, and it will break again if he walks away from the cowl altogether. But Batman is bigger than any one filmmaker or actor, and the most important thing is to get this project on the right footing and move forward with confidence. That's why I think the best option now would be clearing the air and ripping the bandaid off, making sure that Affleck is either 100% committed to at least making this one more movie as Batman OR letting him go ahead and state his intention to leave while remaining as producer and helping with the transition team until they are all in place and up to speed.

The project can survive either way, and meanwhile the priorities have to be: giving Wonder Woman the best promotion possible; building up anticipation and buzz for Justice League through the rest of the year; getting Aquaman ready and into production while making certain it's on the firmest footing possible; and getting Gotham City Sirens ready and into production in the same way to ensure it's as good as it can be. Those should be their main focuses this year, along with setting up The Batman team. For the rest of the DCU projects, wait to see how things go for this year's slate of films -- we all know that regardless of what plans are made for Flash, Cyborg, Green Lantern in the coming months, it could all change depending on how things go when Wonder Woman and Justice League are released.

There's no point in constantly assembling teams and plans, only to rush around amending or changing them as events overtake everything with each new film's release. If it were possible to just stick to the plans regardless of reactions to the other films, then that'd be one thing, but we simply know that won't be the case. Thus these changes wind up fueling fear and negative perceptions that only worsen whatever negative reviews or coverage is already out there, perpetuating a bad situation and compounding the problems exponentially. So avoid it entirely by being patient, moving ahead on these few films, and waiting to see how things develop in June and November.

Two films this year, two films next year in 2018 (if Gotham City Sirens can get into good shape without rushing), and The Batman having a great new creative team to develop it in plenty of time for 2019 is a solid plan. If over the course of this year reactions to Wonder Woman and Justice League are good enough that a Flash-Cyborg project -- The Flash is already being rewritten by Joby Harold and will wind up with its third director sometime this year, in hopes of getting into production by next Spring -- can be developed to everyone's satisfaction, it'll have more than enough time to come together and complete production in time for an August or November 2019 release after The Batman. Trying to push too many of these things when so much is uncertain, with constant reactive changes, is what created most of these problems already. It makes sense to slow down and put maximum effort into a smaller set of projects to establish a better reputation and base from which to go forward with other films.

And for the record, I'm personally increasingly convinced The Flash should become a Titans project, with not only Cyborg but also Nightwing and Batgirl involved, to turn 2019 into a "year of the Bat" in which we get several bat-themed movies to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Batman's first appearance in comics. I've even come to think it might be best to also go slower with Gotham City Sirens and release that movie in 2019 as well, and just accept that Aquaman will be the DCU's ambassador for 2018. This might upset some fans, but it turns 2019 into a year in which all three of those potential projects -- Titans, The Batman, and Gotham City Sirens -- could include subplots that tie them all together in a neat little bat-package to celebrate Batman's anniversary.

Regardless of the specific timing for those films, it's clear that Warner needs to really finally put together a small group of people fully empowered to come up with a well-developed game plan for the DCU overall. Their mission should be as follows: selecting the characters to be used and dividing them into their own corners (the bat-family for example is ripe for some great exploitation in various team-ups and spinoffs for years, as does the Superman family or the Shazam character base, and so on); figuring out the ideal concepts and stories around which the characters' films and eventual crossovers should be based; and using all of that as a basic framework and outline to guide the selection of various collaborative teams for each project. This doesn't have to be carved in stone with details for every story, just a few key stories from source material to provide guidance for where each character's own path is headed and where the overall DCU is headed.

Take time to talk to several directors and writers, figure out who works best together and want to work together on which projects, and then give them time to go write their story ideas and plan things. When they're done, approve or modify those story plans, and greenlight them only if and when everything seems solid and is proceeding as needed. This is the way to have a larger DCU overarching story and connective tissue while letting all of the projects focus on stories derived from the best source material options, in a form giving wide creative latitude to the directors and writers to explore their own visions within a simple but clear set of expectations (like the Bond franchise, for example).

And all the while, respect the privacy and need for some secrecy while stories are developed, but don't try to hide disagreements or avoid revelations of problems. This is art, it's a creative process, but it's also a multi-billion dollar business, so disagreements and problems are bound to happen and only become bigger stories that provoke worse press and speculation if and when the facts are obscured or clouded by confusion and reluctant admissions. It's easier to put positive spin on bad news if you just admit it outright, treat it as no big deal, and point to the positives and how you're going to address the issue.

Warner's been doing this a long time, so of course they know all of this already. The problem is that it has seemed, for various reasons, like lately they haven't been sure how to apply these obvious and simple truths to the DCU, even while they do their usual great job of it with other projects and franchises. And often, they were too quick to try to solve problems that weren't necessarily problems, or that were problems on the way to working themselves out already.

A few minor changes in the past -- releasing the original director's theatrical cuts of Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad, waiting to announce Ben Affleck as director on The Batman until a finished script was in hand and he was firmly contractually committed to direct it, going slower with The Flash and not hiring directors when the screenplay wasn't in the best shape to proceed (the fact it's being rewritten now despite the lack of a new director at the helm is a sign the studio is moving in a different direction with it at their own discretion) -- would've resulted in better critical reception for the released films, less appearance of constant changes in leadership on upcoming projects, and less impression of trouble behind the scenes due to uncertainty about how to proceed with these huge properties.

The DCU is a vast library of properties and stories dating back nearly 80 years, with a jumbled internal history containing an endless assortment of great stories from which to pull inspiration. Taking all of that, finding the right combinations for each of a dozen or more characters, and then making it all work together in a way that's faithful enough to please the fans, critics, and mainstream audiences who don't read comic books is surely an immense task few people could be expected to handle without some bumps in the road.

But look, let's be frank -- Marvel did it, and did it to near-perfection (I don't want a Marvel vs DC debate here; I love both, but even if you don't like Marvel, there's no rational way to deny Marvel has done a superb job translating their comic book universe to the big screen correctly and effectively with enormous success), and Warner has done it to near-perfection with individual characters many times in the past. Early Superman movies, most Batman movies, and Watchmen (which remains one of the true masterpieces of the genre) for example are all pretty commonly praised today, even if we can debate the merits of the current DCU pictures (I love Batman v Superman, I think Suicide Squad was pretty terrific -- especially the extended cut -- and I like Man of Steel). So it can be done, and done to acclaim.

So getting the DCU right takes time and takes a lot of work, but it's not hard to figure out how to get it right and all of the tools necessary to do it are readily available. Time and advance planning are the two ingredients that seem to be most important right now, and that have been in shorter supply during the period of studio reactions to early negative press. There are hundreds of millions of dollars tied up in each of these films, people's careers and reputations are on the line, and there's billions of dollars in revenue on the table waiting to be had, so the reasons for the stress and some of these bumps are obvious. But that's all the more reason to invest in the time and planning to make the best use of the huge library of great material and characters and decades of history at their disposal, because that's the obvious and easy recipe that takes care of all of those concerns about the investments and careers and reputations and revenue. That's the ONLY answer, the ONLY combination, in fact, that works.

Making a great Batman movie that Ben Affleck wants to be part of shouldn't be painful or cause headaches and grief. Getting a fantastic director who wants to make such a movie should be a snap, they should be lining up at the door to ask for that job. Sketching out a rough outline for a few Batman movies -- including spinoff potential for a larger bat-world with Gotham City Sirens, Nightwing, Batgirl, Robin, Suicide Squad, and the Teen Titans -- should be an exciting and interesting and fairly obvious, simple process. It's only hard right now because of a series of snowballing events that were avoidable and in retrospect should be easy to avoid recurring in the future. The path is obvious, the map readily available. I hope that despite the unfortunate developments with The Batman, the silver lining will be an eagerness to turn this into an opportunity to use that map for vigorous planning.

Box office figures and tallies based on data via Box Office Mojo, Rentrak, and TheNumbers.

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http://variety.com/2017/film/news/the-batman-new-director-matt-reeves-ben-affleck-1201977575/

The description of talks possibly restarting when "heads cool" doesn't sound too good.

On a related note, I'd love to know how involved the suits were when Nolan was running the BatCave. Were they sticking their noses in with him? Or did this start when the idea of the DCU kicked in?


http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/batman-negotiations-break-down-director-matt-reeves-977266

A week after entering negotiations to direct The Batman, Matt Reeves has exited the talks, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

A studio source confirms that negotiations have broken down. The possibility, however, exists that talks could resume when heads cool. The studio is intent on making the movie no matter what as the Batman franchise has proven to bigger than one person.

Reeves is currently deep in post-production on the Apes sequel, War for the Planet of the Apes, which is shaping up to be the biggest entry in the Fox franchise.

Ben Affleck was set to helm the superhero feature but ultimately decided not to pull double-duty as both director and Dark Knight. Affleck co-wrote the script with DC Films co-head Geoff Johns.

Prior to Reeves receiving the offer, Ridley Scott and Don't Breathe helmer Fede Alvarez were among the names being floated for the director's chair.

The Batman is the latest DC/Warner Bros. project to undergo a director shuffle. The Flash standalone has gone through directors, including Seth Grahame-Smith and Rick Famuyiwa.

http://io9.gizmodo.com/matt-reeves-is-officially-directing-the-next-batman-mov-1792685477?utm_campaign=socialflow_io9_twitter&utm_source=io9_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow

It’s been a tumultuous few weeks behind the scenes of the upcoming Batman film, but now it’s official. Warner Bros. announced that Matt Reeves, the director of Cloverfield, Let Me In, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and this summer’s War for the Planet of the Apes, is directing a standalone Batman film starring Ben Affleck.

“I have loved the Batman story since I was a child,” Reeves said in a press release. “He is such an iconic and compelling character, and one that resonates with me deeply. I am incredibly honored and excited to be working with Warner Bros. to bring an epic and emotional new take on the Caped Crusader to the big screen.”

Reeves will also produce the film. No word on who will be credited as the screenwriters or a release date.

We’ll have more soon

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/warner-bros-courts-mel-gibson-suicide-squad-sequel-974436

Yeah I don't see WB letting Mel come thru the doors, him directing a DC movie would be disastrous, and that's putting it lightly.

How you gonna have Nightwing without Robin?

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/warner-bros-plotting-nightwing-movie-lego-batman-movie-director-978737?utm_source=twitter

Warner Bros. is plotting a new DC superhero film based on the Batman-centric character Nightwing.

Chris McKay, who most recently directed The Lego Batman Movie for Warner Bros., is in negotiations to helm the new live-action film, and Bill Dubuque (The Accountant) is writing the script.

Nightwing, aka Dick Grayson, is perhaps best known for being the original Robin. Grayson was the youngest member of a family of acrobats known as the Flying Graysons. He was created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger and illustrator Jerry Robinson, and first introduced in Detective Comics No. 38 in April 1940. After his parents were murdered, he was taken in as the legal ward of Bruce Wayne/Batman. He then became Robin and teamed up with the Dark Knight on many an adventure to fight crime in the city of Gotham.

Grayson famously shed his persona in the 1980s as the character aged up, and became the leader of the Teen Titans. (In the DC Universe, a succession of young men took on the mantle of Robin while Nightwing became a popular character in his own right, headlining his own comics and appearing in animated movies.)

McKay has already directed a film with Dick Grayson in it: The character appeared in Lego Batman, as Robin, and was voiced by Michael Cera. Nightwing will be his live-action feature film debut.

The character of Robin has yet to officially appear in the new Warner Bros. movies, although his graffiti-covered suit was shown in Batman v. Superman, and director Zack Snyder has said that at that point in time Robin had been killed by the Joker (there have been multiple Robins over the years in the comics, and Snyder did not say which one was killed by the Joker in his film, although it is likely Jason Todd if the film is aligning with the comics).

The Nightwing project joins Warner Bros.' growing DC Extended Universe as the studio focuses on mining some of DC's most beloved characters for new films (as an example, Gotham City Sirens, with David Ayer attached to direct, will focus on the female villains of the universe, including Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn). The next films to hit theaters include Wonder Woman starring Gal Gadot (June 2), the star-studded Justice League (Nov. 17) and Aquaman starring Jason Momoa (Oct. 5, 2018). A sequel to Suicide Squad, The Batman starring Ben Affleck, a Shazam film, a Flash film and a Cyborg project are also in the works.

McKay made his feature-film directorial debut with hit animated superhero comedy The Lego Batman Movie, which has earned $182.4 million to date after hitting theaters on Feb. 21. He previously worked on The LEGO Movie as an animation co-director, and has also directed three seasons of series Robot Chicken. He's repped by UTA, Rise Management and Morris Yorn.

Along with The Accountant (which starred current Batman Ben Affleck), Dubuque previously wrote The Judge and A Family Man. He’s repped by CAA, Zero Gravity Management and Bloom Hergott.

http://www.slashfilm.com/the-batman-screenplay-and-delays/

Probably for the best. Hopefully everyone can get their ducks in a row instead of rushing this one to the theaters.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/ben-afflecks-batman-future-doubt-as-warner-bros-plots-franchise-future-1023296

Seems like it been heading in this direction but wow...

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/shazam-star-zachary-levi-as-dc-hero-1049616

DC's 'Shazam!' to Star Zachary Levi
OCTOBER 27, 2017 2:47pm PT by Borys Kit

David F. Sandberg will direct the film for New Line.

Zachary Levi is going to be Earth's mightiest mortal.

The actor will star in the DC comic book adaptation Shazam!, which follows a boy named Billy Batson, who can transform into an adult superhero by uttering the magic word "Shazam!" The name is an acronym of the ancient world gods and historical figures Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury, from which the big Batson derives his heroic attributes when in adult form.

David F. Sandberg is directing Shazam! for New Line. The studio is high on Sandberg and sees him as a homegrown talent after putting out his first feature Lights Out in 2016, and releasing the director's Annabelle: Creation, the latest installment of The Conjuring universe. The $15 million horror sequel has earned a big $303 million worldwide since opening in August.

Sandberg is directing Shazam! from a screenplay by Henry Gayden and Darren Lemke. Annabelle: Creation producer Peter Safran is reuniting with Sandberg for the film, and is also producing DC's Aquaman for Warner Bros.

This is a big move for New Line and Levi, who is known for comedic roles, and starred in NBC's hit spy-comedy series Chuck from 2007-2012. He also has superhero credentials and can be seen next week in Marvel Studios' Thor: Ragnarok as Fandral, one of Thor's companions. He also recently appeared in NBC's Heroes Reborn and the network's Eva Longoria comedy Telenovela.

Other actors in the mix for the role in the last few months have included John Cena, who met with the director, and more recently Derek Theler (star of ABC Family's Baby Daddy), Zane Holtz (From Dusk Til Dawn: The Series), Billy Magnussen, and Jake McDorman, the star of TV's Limitless.

Heat Vision first reported in July that Shazam! will be the next DC Cinematic Universe movie to film, ahead of the Flashpoint, Joss Whedon's Batgirl and the Suicide Squad sequel, which recently attached Accountant director Gavin O’Connor. No release date for Shazam! is set but New Line is eying a February 2018 start in Toronto.

The film is being developed concurrently with a film focusing on Shazam villain Black Adam to star Dwayne Johnson.

https://deadline.com/2017/11/wonder-woman-2-to-now-open-on-november-1-2019-with-gal-gadot-1202207062/

‘Wonder Woman 2’ With Gal Gadot Moves To November 2019
by Anthony D'Alessandro
November 13, 2017 11:30am

Warner Bros/DC’s Wonder Woman 2 is going to be released a month and half earlier than originally announced, with a new date set for November 1, 2019. Warner Bros already had that date RSVP’ed on the calendar with an untitled DC movie. Patty Jenkins is on board to direct and Gal Gadot is locked in to reprise her role as the Daughter of Hippolyta.

Previously, Warner Bros announced after San Diego Comic-Con that Wonder Woman 2 was to bow on December 13, 2019. Currently on her new date, Wonder Woman 2 faces zero competition.

And to just clarify: There was some noise online over the weekend that Gadot wouldn’t sign for the sequel unless Brett Ratner’s name was removed from the franchise. We hear this is false. First, Gadot is locked in to star in Wonder Woman 2 and there haven’t been sour talks between the actress and Warner Bros’ upper brass in regard to Ratner. The studio is pushing both Gadot and Jenkins this awards season, and both were in cheery attendance Saturday night at the Movie Academy’s Governors Awards.

Second, RatPac Dune isn’t committed to finance Wonder Woman 2; its commitments with WB end with the April 20 release of Rampage. In addition, Ratner isn’t listed as producer on the first Wonder Woman, as RatPac was merely a passive financier.

Wonder Woman 2 is dated within a week of MGM’s next James Bond film November 8, which Annapurna is very close to handling stateside. There’s a big battle for overseas distribution among Sony, Universal and Warner Bros for the franchise, and the new dating of Wonder Woman 2 raises questions whether WB remains in the mix to handle foreign.

Wonder Woman was the highest-grossing movie of the summer stateside with $412.6 million. The pic repped the best opening ever for a live-action film by a female director ($103.2M stateside) as well as the best worldwide ($821.8M).

This weekend we’ll see Gadot again as Wonder Woman in Justice League, which industry estimates project will clear $100M-$120M stateside in another win for DC on the big screen.

http://deadline.com/2018/02/kristen-wiig-wonder-woman-2-cheetah-gal-gadot-patty-jenkins-villain2-1202306419/

Kristen Wiig Being Lassoed For Villain Role On ‘Wonder Woman 2’
by Mike Fleming Jr
February 28, 2018 4:45pm


EXCLUSIVE: The hot name for the villainess role in Wonder Woman 2 is Kristen Wiig. Word is that Warner Bros and DC are in talks with Wiig to play the role of Cheetah. The pic, which has Gal Gadot back and director Patty Jenkins, is set in the 80s in the Cold War. Sounds like this will happen quickly, and a symbol of female empowerment gets a sequel where both main characters are women.

Wiig has proven her versatility during her run on Saturday Night Live, and she was Oscar-nominated for co-writing Bridesmaids, which also provided her breakout starring turn. This will be her first role as a super villain, so she continues to break new ground. Stay tuned. The film is top priority for Warner Bros, after the first grossed $821 million worldwide.

when he was first announced. The first WW movie was good, so I'll trust they know what they're doing (as far as this series of films)

I'll see WW2 unless something really goes wrong.

Seems its always the same actresses being rumored for superhero roles, glad Jenkins is going a difference direction.

http://collider.com/the-flash-movie-directors-john-francis-daley-jonathan-goldstein/

‘The Flash': John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein Have Closed Their Deal to Direct

BY ADAM CHITWOOD MARCH 3, 2018


It’s officially official: John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein are directing The Flash movie. News broke in January that the Horrible Bosses screenwriters had entered negotiations to direct Flashpoint for Warner Bros. and DC, but during the press rounds for their hit action-comedy Game Night, the filmmaking duo clarified that their deal to direct The Flash movie wasn’t closed—meaning it was always possible things might not work out. But sources close to the situation have confirmed to Collider that Daley and Goldstein have now closed their deal to direct The Flash, and Daley sent out a tweet saying as much, so they are now officially signed on to direct the standalone DC movie.

This film has been in the works at Warner Bros. for some time now, with the intention for Justice League to introduce audiences to Ezra Miller’s Flash character, followed by his solo movie. In the early days of development, back in 2015, Dark Shadows writer Seth Grahame-Smith was onboard to write and direct, but Warner Bros. subsequently replaced him with Dope helmer Rick Famuyiwa in the wake of Batman v Superman’s release. Then, in November 2016, just a few months before filming on The Flash was set to begin, Famuyiwa dropped out of the director’s chair over creative differences.

It’s unclear if Daley and Goldstein are working from an existing script or if they’ll jump in and do some scriptwork themselves, but the duo have proven adept at both writing a compelling superhero movie with a young hero (Spider-Man: Homecoming) and directing a cinematic, engaging action-comedy with a significant budget (Game Night).

Daley and Goldstein revealed exclusively to Collider last month that Warner Bros. approached them about potentially directing a DC movie based on the strength of their work on Spider-Man and Game Night, and Daley explained that they sparked to The Flash for a very specific reason:

“Just the fact that the character is unique from other superheroes in that he doesn’t completely have his shit together like Superman does. It’s more of a ground-level superhero.”

While there have been growing pains, Warner Bros. is taking great strides to get the DCEU on the right course, and Daley and Goldstein seem like a swell choice to bring The Flash to the big screen. Game Night garnered positive reviews and got off to a solid start at the box office—especially considering it opened the week after Black Panther—and quality-wise is simply a really strong showcase of the duo’s directing potential.

While Warner Bros. previously announced the title of The Flash movie as Flashpoint, alluding to a time-travel-centric arc from the comics, it’s always possible Daley and Goldstein are starting from scratch and could be taking the story in a different direction. All we know for sure right now is that Daley and Goldstein are directing, and with their deal secure we should hear more news about The Flash movie in the coming months.

http://variety.com/2018/film/news/pedro-pascal-wonder-woman-sequel-narcos-1202738657/

‘Narcos’ Star Pedro Pascal Lands Key Role in ‘Wonder Woman’ Sequel
By Justin Kroll
MARCH 28, 2018 4:35PM PT

Director Patty Jenkins is bringing on Pedro Pascal for a key role in her “Wonder Woman” sequel starring Gal Gadot.

The “Narcos” star is on board for the follow-up to 2017’s hit, joining Kristen Wiig, who was tapped for the villain role of Cheetah. The film would mark the second time Pascal and Jenkins have worked together, having previously teamed up on the TV movie “Exposed.”

Variety first reported that Jenkins would be returning to write, direct, and produce the pic. Following the news that the studio has slated the movie for Nov. 1, 2019, finding this pivotal role became a top priority.

Plot details are still being kept under wraps, as is the character Pascal will be playing.

“Wonder Woman” has been a standout in DC’s cinematic universe, grossing $821 million worldwide, including $412 domestically. It scored with critics as well, earning a nomination from the Producers Guild as one of the best films of 2017.

Pascal gained traction in Hollywood with his scene-stealing performance as Oberyn Martell in HBO’s “Game of Thrones.” That role would lead to another star-making turn in Netflix’s drama series “Narcos.”

Following the success of both shows, Pascal has begun to make moves in the film world. He was most recently seen in Fox’s “Kingsmen: The Golden Circle” and can be seen next starring opposite Denzel Washington in Antoine Fuqua’s sequel to “The Equalizer,” which debuts July 20. This fall, he will also appear in Annapurna and Barry Jenkin’s drama “If Beale Street Could Talk.”

He is currently filming J.C. Chandor’s “Triple Frontier” alongside Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, and Garrett Hedlund in Hawaii for Netflix.

www.engadgethd.com - the other stuff i'm looking at

http://deadline.com/2018/04/harley-quinn-margot-robbie-cathy-yan-birds-of-prey-warner-bros-dc-entertainment-bat-girl-christina-hodson-1202365866/

Cathy Yan Is Warner Bros’ Choice To Direct Margot Robbie In Next Harley Quinn Film
by Mike Fleming Jr
April 17, 2018 8:01am


Warner Bros and DC Entertainment have chosen Cathy Yan to be the director of an untitled girl gang movie, likely the next superhero film to be graced by Suicide Squad scene-stealer Harley Quinn, in the form of Margot Robbie. A deal has to be completed, but it is expected that Yan will become the third female filmmaker to join the DC club after Wonder Woman‘s Patty Jenkins and Ava DuVernay (for upcoming The New Gods), and the first female Asian director ever tapped to direct a superhero film.

This is a bold bet for Warner Bros’ Geoff Johns and Walter Hamada, who oversee DC under Toby Emmerich. Yan got the job over numerous well established male directors, and because she is taking this giant leap with just one small-budget indie movie under her belt. That would be Dead Pigs, a film that won the World Cinema Dramatic Award For Ensemble Acting at Sundance last January. Despite being a new talent, Yan’s presentation for Birds of Prey was exceptional, and Robbie held firm to her desire for this film to be directed by a woman.

Robbie’s LuckyChap is producing with Sue Kroll and her Kroll & Co Entertainment and Bryan Unkeless of Clubhouse Pictures. Robbie and Unkeless produced I, Tonya.

The project is based on Birds of Prey, which in the DC universe teams Quinn with several other crime fighters, namely Black Canary, Barbara Gordon (Batgirl) and Huntress. It is not confirmed if all of them will be characters in the film. What is clear is that both the main characters and most of the creative braintrust are female, remarkable for a studio-sized superhero film. The script was written by Christina Hodson, who wrote the Transformers spinoff Bumblebee, and just got hired to write the Batgirl movie.

This film looks cleared to start production by year’s end or early next year, after Robbie completes Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. She is negotiating to star alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt in the Quentin Tarantino-directed film for Sony Pictures. The other Harley Quinn films are still under construction. That includes the Suicide Squad sequel to be directed by Gavin O’Connor. Two others, Harley Quinn Vs The Joker and Gotham City Sirens with Suicide Squad helmer David Ayer, seem further in the distance.

Back to Yan. She was a Wall Street Journal reporter who worked from New York, Hong Kong and Beijing, and one of the paper’s youngest reporters to land multiple stories on the front page. She wrote and directed numerous short films before stepping up to features with Dead Pigs.

In that film, a mysterious stream of pig carcasses floats silently toward China’s populous economic hub, Shanghai. As authorities struggle to explain the phenomenon, characters intersect. They include a down-and-out pig farmer with a youthful heart struggles to make ends meet, an upwardly mobile landowner fighting gentrification against an American expat seeking a piece of the Chinese dream, a romantic busboy hides his job from his father, and a rich young woman struggling to find her independence.

I don't know anything about Yan, but Dead Pigs sounds crazy, and good.

Hopefully she does well with the movie.

On another note. They're making a Suicide Squad sequel? Never saw the original but my sense was that both the critical and commercial acceptance wasn't good. At least not enough to get another one greenlit.

Then again nothing about these DC movies makes sense (sans Wonder Woman).

https://deadline.com/2018/09/birds-of-prey-cast-mary-elizabeth-winstead-wins-role-of-huntress-jurnee-smollett-bell-is-black-canary-1202471751/

‘Birds Of Prey’ Cast: Mary Elizabeth Winstead Wins Role Of Huntress; Jurnee Smollett-Bell Is Black Canary
by Anthony D'Alessandro
September 26, 2018 11:36am

Warner Bros. has made their decision on the roles of Huntress and Black Canary in their next anticipated DC movie Birds of Prey, coming out on Feb. 7, 2020: Fargo and 10 Cloverfield Lane actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead has won the role of Huntress while Underground actress Jurnee Smollett-Bell will play Black Canary. They join Margot Robbie who reprises her Suicide Squad role of Harley Quinn in a Gotham that isn’t protected by Batman. The femmes will battle a crime lord who has yet to be announced.

Black Canary aka Dinah Lance is a street fighter known for her shrieking cry. Huntress has taken different forms in the DC Universe, though in the WB series Birds of Prey, she was the daughter of Batman, who disappeared after the death of her mother, Catwoman. The Huntress in this series worked with Oracle and Black Canary’s daughter as the primary crimefighters in Gotham City. In the movie, Huntress is a former mafia princess, who like Batman, saw her family killed at a young age, hence why she became a vigilante. Buzz is that Barbara Gordon aka Batgirl isn’t in the feature; she appeared in the WB early aughts series.

As Deadline previously reported, Winstead was up against Sofia Boutella, Cristin Milioti, and Margaret Qualley for the part of Huntress. For Black Canary it was between Smollett-Bell and Belle‘s Gugu Mbatha-Raw.

The role of Rene Montoya has yet to be decided and One Day at a Time‘s Justina Machado and Vida‘s Roberta Colindrez are in the mix. Montoya is a lesbian detective on the Gotham City police force.

Winstead is repped by WME and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner & Klein while Smollet-Bell is repped by ICM and Management 360 and attorney Nina Shaw.

Robbie is producing, with Sue Kroll, and Bryan Unkeless of Clubhouse Pictures. Christina Hodson (Bumblebee) wrote the script. Cathy Yan is directing, which Deadline exclusively reported back in April. Yan becomes the third female filmmaker to join the DC club after Wonder Woman‘s Patty Jenkins and Ava DuVernay (for upcoming The New Gods), and the first female Asian director ever tapped to direct a superhero film. Much like Wonder Woman which won women over as the first title female superhero to hit the big screen, Birds of Prey looks to be another tentpole poised to stoke that fanbase once again. Wonder Women set records as the biggest live-action feature from a female filmmaker grossing $821.8M at the WW box office and becoming stateside with north of $412.5M, the highest grossing movie of summer 2017.

https://www.thewrap.com/birds-of-prey-ewan-mcgregor-batman-black-mask/

Birds of Prey': Ewan McGregor in Talks to Play Batman Villain Black Mask
Female superhero team-up film will be released on Feb. 7, 2020

Umberto Gonzalez | November 1, 2018 @ 11:48 AM
Last Updated: November 1, 2018 @ 12:11 PM

Ewan McGregor is in final negotiations to play Gotham City mob boss and Batman foe Black Mask in Warner Bros’ “Birds of Prey,” individuals with knowledge of the project exclusively tell TheWrap.

McGregor joins Jurnee Smollett-Bell and Mary Elizabeth Winstead who have been cast as Black Canary and Huntress. Also, as TheWrap first reported, Rosie Perez is playing Renee Montoya. The female superhero team-up film will be released on Feb. 7, 2020 via Warner Bros.

Created by Doug Moench and Tom Mandrake, Black Mask made his first appearance in the comics in August 1985’s Batman issue #386. The Black Mask is a brutally sadistic kingpin in Gotham City’s criminal underworld who has a fixation with masks.

In DC Comics, Black Mask is the criminal alias of Roman Sionis, who murdered his wealthy, status-obsessed parents to take control of the family corporation, then lost everything when he proved to be a terrible businessman. Seeking revenge on the people he blamed for his own failures — in particular Bruce Wayne and Wayne Enterprises — he returns, hidden behind an ebony black mask, at the head of a gang called the False Face Society.

Robbie, reprising her “Suicide Squad” role, will also produce “Birds of Prey.” The film is centered around a revolving group of female heroes and villains, individuals with knowledge of the project tell TheWrap.

“Birds of Prey” will be produced by Kroll & Co Entertainment’s Sue Kroll and Clubhouse Pictures’ Bryan Unkeless, as well as Robbie’s LuckyChap Entertainment.

Cathy Yan is set to direct. Yan is best known for writing and directing her feature debut “Dead Pigs,” which took home the World Cinema Dramatic Award For Ensemble Acting at Sundance earlier this year. Yan would be the third female filmmaker to join the DC universe with this film. She will also be the first Asian woman to direct a DC film.

As TheWrap first reported, Christina Hodson wrote the “Birds of Prey” spinoff for Warner Bros. and DC Films. Hodson is also writing “Batgirl” for DC.

McGregor can currently be seen in Disney’s “Winnie the Pooh” adaptation “Christopher Robin.” McGregor and Winstead starred together in Season 3 of FX’s “Fargo.” Next up, McGregor will play Danny Torrance in Warner Bros.’ adaptation of the Stephen King novel “Doctor Sleep,” the sequel to horror classic “The Shining.”

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/henry-cavill-as-superman-warner-bros-dc-universe-shake-up-1142306

Henry Cavill Out as Superman Amid Warner Bros.' DC Universe Shake-Up
SEPTEMBER 12, 2018 6:55am PT by Tatiana Siegel, Borys Kit

Talks broke down for a cameo in 'Shazam!' due to scheduling conflicts, and the door is now closing on other potential appearances for the actor.

The DC cinematic universe appears to be losing its Man of Steel.

Henry Cavill, who has played Superman in three films, is parting ways with Warner Bros., sources tell The Hollywood Reporter. Though neither side is confirming, the British actor, who first donned the blue suit for 2013's Man of Steel, and then starred in 2016's Batman v. Superman and last year's Justice League, is said to be hanging up the red cape.

Warners had been trying to enlist Cavill, who most recently co-starred in Mission: Impossible — Fallout, for a Superman cameo in Shazam!, which stars Zachary Levi and will bow April 5. But contract talks between Cavill's WME reps and Warners broke down, and the door is now closing on other potential Superman appearances.

That's because the studio has shifted its focus to a Supergirl movie, which will be an origin story featuring a teen superheroine. This effectively removes an actor of Cavill's age from the storyline's equation given that Superman, aka Kal-El, would be an infant, according to DC lore.

Furthermore, Warners isn't likely to make a solo Superman film for at least several years, according to another source. "Superman is like James Bond, and after a certain run you have to look at new actors," says a studio source. As such, Cavill will join Ben Affleck, who isn't expected to reprise his role for director Matt Reeves' forthcoming Batman stand-alone film, as a hero on the way out.

A Warners source says the Shazam! deal fell apart because of scheduling conflicts. And that is backed up by the fact that Cavill recently signed on to star in the Netflix series The Witcher. However, another source says that the Witcher commitment came after the Warners impasse, suggesting a change in Warners' strategy.

"There's a recognition that some parts of the previous movies didn't work," says the studio insider. Another source says Warners is trying to hit a "reset" button with the DC universe, steering its ship slowly into another direction.

While Affleck and Cavill are segueing out, others who were seen together onscreen in Justice League are carrying forward. Gal Gadot is returning for Wonder Woman 1984, to hit theaters in November 2019. Jason Momoa headlines a solo Aquaman movie this December. And Ezra Miller remains on board to star in a Flash movie, which is due to shoot in early 2019.

Warner Bros. CEO Kevin Tsujihara and chairman of Warner Bros. Pictures Group Toby Emmerich are looking to reinvigorate the studio's DC Universe, which is still playing second fiddle to the Marvel Universe in terms of box office and critical acclaim. Just six years ago, when The Dark Knight Rises closed out the Christopher Nolan trilogy, DC was the superhero team with the mojo. But so far, only Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman spinoff has lived up to the promise of the franchise.

What Warners hasn't done is wiped the slate clean in one fell swoop, something that is nigh impossible to do given the years of planning that goes into these films. When asked about the studio Sept. 6 at an investor conference, new WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey said, "Hats off to Kevin and Toby and their team." But he also took a shot at DC. "Some of our franchises, in particular at DC, we all think we can do better."

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Fuck aliens

-Warriorpoet415

https://astackofwax.com/

#2dopebrothersandastackofwax

https://www.instagram.com/thirtythree.three/

The Greatest Story (N)ever Told (finished)

http://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=s

I liked both of them in the role well enough. It's not their fault the movies weren't good.

I still smh at how let down I was by Superman Returns. That plot was so ridiculous.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq6AiG3qahs

I love MBJ but he already got fucked by that horrible Fantastic 4 reboot. DC is a dumpster fire right now. I know they will make another piece of shit. I dont think being Superman carries the same weight as it used to. So maybe he will pass. Who knows.

First, I could probably think of a ton of superheroes that Michael B. Jordan would be a good fit for, but Superman isn't one of them.

Second, I really hope he has the right kind of friends around him to be like "Man you really need to take a hard pass on that obvious sinking ship."

Instead of Kansas, the rocket from Krypton lands on Crenshaw. Supes grows up a Crip, hence the suit, but he decides to add a red cape to reach an olive branch out to the other sets in the city. Lex Luthor is a greedy developer trying to gentrify the hood. Ma Kent adopts Supes for the tax benefits.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/james-gunn-tackle-suicide-squad-sequel-warner-bros-1150661

James Gunn to Tackle 'Suicide Squad' Sequel for Warner Bros.
OCTOBER 09, 2018 11:47am PT by Borys Kit

Gunn was fired from the third installment in his 'Guardians of the Galaxy' franchise.

James Gunn is heading from Marvel to DC.

Gunn, who was fired from the third installment in his Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, has come on board to write, with an eye to direct, Suicide Squad sequel, the DC-based project at Warner Bros.

Gunn has closed a deal to pen the script. At this stage, there is no director deal but talks could proceed depending on the outcome.

just not sure if its a smart pr move or if im down with watching it

The first Suicide Squad so just terrible. I avoided Justice League. And I have NO plans to see Aquaman.

But I would be down for James Gunn directing a Suicide Squad sequel.

Peace,

Spirit (Alan)
http://wutangbook.com