After news broke earlier this week that screenwriter Will Beall was currently writing a Justice League film, there have been a number of other interesting announcements being reported regarding Warners intention to develop a number of properties from the DC Comics pantheon of characters.
Self-promoting comic book writer Mark Millar (Kick-Ass, Wanted) chimed in as well regarding the Justice League news:
A pal of mine is good friends with the new Justice League screenwriter
and said his take on the team is incredible. Very real-world and not at
all what you might expect. WB has a chequered history with their
superhero characters. They’re great with their boy wizards, but less
consistent with their DC stable. But my chum said that this could be a
thing of beauty and has been in the works for a little while now, not
just an avengers knock-off. Best of luck to them. The tidbits I heard
sound quite dark and mature, which isn’t what I expected. But word on
Gangster Squad is great too so I feel this is in really good hands.
- Michael Goldenberg, who was one of the writers of Green Lantern, is currently writing Wonder Woman.
- Other films in development include The Flash, Aquaman, Green Arrow, Lobo, the Suicide Squad and Shazam.
- Following the release of The Dark Knight Rises, determine how to reboot the Batman franchise post-Nolan.
- Green Lantern‘s disappointing box office; relaunch the franchise, or produce a sequel with Ryan Reynolds?
- Continue animation on television; upcoming Beware The Batman will join Green Lantern and Young Justice as a part of DC Nation on Cartoon Network.
- Arrow, a dark, live-action take on Green Arrow launches this fall on the CW.
- Upcoming Direct-to-DVD titles include adaptations of Flashpoint and The Dark Knight Returns.
- Videogames across all age groups from the adult Batman: Arkham titles to the all-ages Lego:Batman to the upcoming fighting game, Injustice.
- Warner Bros. Consumer Products “announced a new licensing program inspired by the classic ’60s Batman television series, with
merchandising featuring episode photos, illustrated character art
inspired by the series’ animated opening sequence, and the vehicles,
gadgets and catchphrases that have made the show a cultural phenomenon.
This is the first time in decades that the entire range of images has
been licensed.” The license also includes the likeness rights to many of the cast members and includes, “the gadgets like the Bat-phone, the
Bat-zooka and the Bat-signal, Warner Bros. already had the license for
the Batmobile but his is the first time in decades that the merchandise
on the entire range of images in the show will be available.”
- Christopher Nolan might remain as a creative producer overseeing all of the DC Comics feature films. In addition to his Batman trilogy, the director has also produced Zack Snyder’s upcoming Superman revamp, Man of Steel. Nolan tends to work very secretively which is one of the main reasons why there has only been one image of Henry Cavill as Superman released thus far.
Personally, I think Nolan is a tremendous filmmaker, but find his work to be a bit cold. It will be interesting to see how this develops, especially with the controversy over DC Comics’ New 52 initiative that rebooted it’s entire line and expanded it’s digital distribution. Despite some high profile launches, the company destroyed one of the things that set it apart from Marvel, legacy heroes from previous generations. In the new incarnation, no character has been wearing a costume for more than five years and all are inexperienced. Between that, and the recent Before Watchmen controversy (DC has just stared a line of prequels from it’s seminal graphic novel Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons against Moore’s wishes), if nothing else, watching the development of the DC properties will be interesting to say the least.
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