DC Studios Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters

[Super Camel]

I'm honestly very excited. James said the main focus is storytelling. If they can stick to that and take their time not rushing to compete with Marvel, and not rushing to get to that Team Up movie payday, this could be incredible. This slate has such a nice blend of A list and B list characters, and new as well as familiar characters that seems to cover everything from Earth to Space, and God's, Monsters, Humans, and Metahumans.

I see a lot of potential. Then having the Elseworlds banner is such a great, fun addition.

Now, is it saying The Flash movie resets everything, meaning the movie begins as part of the DCEU, but by the end it turns everything into this new DCU?

And if that's the case, does that mean The Flash, Blue Beetle, and Aquaman 2 count as movies in this new DCU?

[SDcomics]

Well, it's been quite a day in movie news.

First, before I begin to comment on what was announced, I have to make a comment on the way it was announced. I know it doesn't matter how it gets said, what matters are the films and shows, but the way DC usually goes about it is wrong. It's BORING. Remember back in 2014 when Marvel announced Phase 3? Remember how they used the Disney owned El Capitan theater on Hollywood Boulevard and invited fans and press? Remember how they used the big screen to show clips and trailers? Remember how some of the cast and crew made appearances? Remember when they announced Avengers 3 and 4 and the crowd went bonkers? My point is, when it's time for Marvel to announce something, they always get the fans involved. They do it in front of a crowd at the El Cap, SDCC or D23 and generate some excitement. When DC announced their first slate right around the same time, Walter Hamada did it on a conference call with investors. Um ... yay? I mean ... what are they thinking? This is the first slate of the DCU. They should have done it in front of the fans. Instead we got a tweet.

Well, whatever. Like I said, at the end of the day what's going to matter are the stories. Hopefully, they're good and the fans embrace them.

Now then, onto the slate.

Creature Commandos had me excited. I loved Creature Commandos and the whole "War That Time Forgot" (including G.I. Robot and Suicide Squad) back in the Silver and Bronze Age. Then he said it was going to be a cartoon ... heh, excuse me, "animated series" and I lost some interest. I know that the cartoon animated series is going to be considered canon and some of the characters will be crossing over into live action, but I'm just not that big a cartoon animated series' guy. That said, I know some animated shows are quite good so maybe this one will be too. I hope so. I love those characters. My mind will be open.

The Authority. I loved the Warren Ellis/Bryan Hitch and Mark Millar/Frank Quitely comics back in the day. I really did. It was ground breaking, thought provoking stuff that introduced the concept of "big screen" comics. It's like these books were produced to be a movie. That said ... I hope this is an Elseworlds. I don't see how it could work in the DCU. I mean, if I were going to write a JLA/Authority crossover, it would be done on one page. The Justice League meets the Authority. The Justice League puts the Authority in jail. Boom, the end. And face it, that's where they belong. Bottom line is, I have very mixed emotions here. I hope it happens. I would love a big budget Authority movie with tons of carnage, destruction and the kind of thought provoking moral implications that the comics were famous for. But I hope it's outside the DCU.

Superman: Legacy. It has the potential to be the best Superman film since 1978's Superman: The Movie. Base it on All-Star Superman by Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly and you can't go wrong. Silver Age wonder for a modern world.

Booster Gold. This could be great. Action/adventure mixed with sci-fi and comedy. It should be a lot of fun.

Swamp Thing. It's been 40 years, but the Alan Moore/Stephen Bissette/John Totleben run on that title is still considered by many to be the most widely acclaimed horror comics of all time. It gave the world John Constantine and put a whole new spin on the Floronic Man and Etrigan the Demon. I re-read those stories once or twice a year and I never get tired of them. Very excited about the show.

Lanterns. It's Hal Jordan and John Stewart. It's impossible for me NOT to get excited. I have loved the concept of Green Lantern my entire life. I can't wait for this. And I know that somewhere, Mart Nodell, John Broome, Gil Kane and Julie Schwartz are smiling.

The Brave and the Bold. It's Batman. It's Robin. It's the Bat Family. Again, if Gunn bases this on Morrison and Quietly's stuff, it's gonna be great.

Supergirl: The Woman of Tomorrow. We haven't had a Supergirl movie since 1984 and that one kinda sucked. This one is supposed to be based on Tom King and Bilquis Evely's amazing, award-winning comics. That fills me with hope.

Final thoughts on today in the next post.

[SDcomics]

Now, is it saying The Flash movie resets everything, meaning the movie begins as part of the DCEU, but by the end it turns everything into this new DCU?

And if that's the case, does that mean The Flash, Blue Beetle, and Aquaman 2 count as movies in this new DCU?

That's an excellent question. Yes, this is something I would like to know the answer to as well.

My other concern is Elseworlds. Don't get me wrong, I love the fact that the Matt Reeves Batman and Todd Phillips Joker are going to continue. That's cool. But I hope they don't go overboard with that. Don't green light a project for every auteur that wants to make a movie with a DC character. I mean, we already have two Jokers running around (Joaquin Phoenix and Barry Keoghan). We could potentially have three if James Gunn casts one as he's almost sure to do (You can't have "The Greatest DC Comics Story Ever Told" without DC's most iconic characters and the Joker certainly is an icon). Having that many versions of the same character could really confuse people. Like I said I love the concept of Elseworlds, but I hope they use it sparingly.

I love the fact that Gunn and Safran are using the COMICS as their guide, especially since the ones they are using are GREAT comics. Ellis, Moore, King, DeMatteis, Morrison. I'm giddy as a schoolboy at the thought.

I'm still very confused about the new DCU. Is it a total reboot or partial? Are they keeping Gadot and Momoa? Will they be recasting anyone else?

I'd love to see Ben Affleck direct Brave and the Bold. Sue me. My lawyer will be in touch YOUR lawyer.

No mention of Justice League. YET. Still early.

I would love it if the first three chapters were one big saga that explored the depth and scope of the DC Universe. Go to the past with Jonah Hex, Bat Lash, Enemy Ace, Sgt Rock and the Justice Society. The far future with Kamandi and the Legion of Superheroes. The far reaches of outer space with Green Lantern, Hawkman and Adam Strange. Jack Kirby's Fourth World. The supernatural with Justice League Dark. Inner space with the Atom, and geez I better stop now.

Concepts and stories that can be told: Dinosaur Island and The War That Time Forgot (Looks like we're gonna get that), the Secret Society of Super-Villains, Cosmic Odyssey, Kingdom Come (There's a great Elseworlds), The Great Darkness Saga, World's Finest, All-Star Squadron, The Teen Titans and Justice League International.

Hey, it's a universe. I hope Gunn and Safran take full advantage of the absolute wealth of material that's at their fingertips.

[Mr potatohead]

Can't thumbs up enough that they are doing a GL series that actually has Hal in it, though it still wouldn't be enough for me to bother getting HBOMax. Swamp Thing is the only other thing that peaks my interest until I see some casting, though. I never bothered with the series since it didn't have an end, but if this actually continues the story I'll have to check that out as well.

[Ru_1977]

I felt the same way about the series but finally gave it a shot and don't regret it. It had some good aspects.

But sounds like this isn't connected to that.

[K_Steel]

This is only Chapter 1. And according to Gunn what was announced today is not all of Chapter 1. There's going to be a Wonder Woman movie. Don't know when, but there will be one. She's way too iconic of a character to just ignore.

I'm think they'll introduce the new actress playing Diana/Wonder Woman in "Paradise Lost."


They aren't announcing a WW movie now, because they are buying themselves some time. Gadot is in Shazam 2, so they can't officially announce her exit just yet.

[Mr potatohead]

I felt the same way about the series but finally gave it a shot and don't regret it. It had some good aspects.

But sounds like this isn't connected to that.

My bad. I initially skimmed over it and thought when they said closing out the 1st chapter they meant the series, not Phase 1 of the DCCU.

[Ru_1977]

I felt the same way about the series but finally gave it a shot and don't regret it. It had some good aspects.

But sounds like this isn't connected to that.

My bad. I initially skimmed over it and thought when they said closing out the 1st chapter they meant the series, not Phase 1 of the DCCU.

Ah yeah, I get that. But, confusion is kinda their thing so it fits.

[SDcomics]

Here's my totally uneducated and probably completely wrong guess (Because I have no inside knowledge whatsoever):

I think Gunn and Safran are going to incorporate the two Suicide Squad movies, the Peacemaker show, the two Shazam movies, the two Aquaman movies, the Flash and Blue Beetle into DCU Chapter 1.

Bye bye all movies directed by Snyder (And Whedon), the two Wonder Woman movies, Birds of Prey and Black Adam. They will be erased from the timeline by whatever whacky multiverse shenanigans occur in the Flash movie.

If I'm right, the Snyder wonks are going to have an attack. But whatever. Two things to keep in mind: 1) the Snyder wonks are ALWAYS having an attack and 2) if more of these wonks had paid to see these movies at the theater when they first came out instead of sitting on their ass at home tweeting stupid crap on their phones, we'd be having a whole completely different conversation right now. We'd probably be getting ready to see Justice League 3 (Maybe 4) with Martian Manhunter, the John Stewart Green Lantern and Ryan Choi as The Atom against Lex Luthor, Deathstroke and the Injustice Gang. But the bottom line is not enough people supported these films and at the end of the day Warner Brothers (Like all movie studios) are a profit driven business. They're in it for the $$$$$, not to shutup Snyder wonks. They can tweet #FireJamesGunn all they want, it's not going to make a lick of difference.

Money talks. Bullshit (and tweets) walk.

Okay. I feel better now. I had to get that off my chest.

Carry on.

[SDcomics]

[SDcomics]

I mean ... that's just brilliant. It's perfect.

In more "This is almost too good to be true" news, Ben Affleck (who won the Director's Guild Award for Argo) is in talks to possibly helm a DC Studios film. And James Mangold, who directed one of my favorite superhero movies with Logan, is in talks to direct Swamp Thing.

What is this strange feeling that's come over me? Could it be ... at long last ... hope?

[SDcomics]

Grant Morrison. Here's why I love the guy.






He gets it. He really, really gets it.

James, PUH-LEEEASE let Grant write the screenplay for the inevitable JLA movie. You must.

[Ru_1977]

My favorite thing Affleck directed was Gone Baby Gone. He's pretty good at adapting someone else's work.

[AdrienVeidt]

Ugh, goddamn Grant Morrison. DC's Silver Age is an abomination of crap that should be seen as the nadir of American comics it is and should remain.

[Bashbash99]

Well, seems like Gunn/Safran are drawing their inspiration for Ch 1 from famous, critically well-received comic runs/series, while balancing the already known big guns with some more obscure character choices. I think its as good an approach as any. I am curious to see where they go with the Authority.