WB Eyes Justice League Film For 2013; Flash and Wonder Woman To Follow

Jeff Robinov, the president of the Warner Bros. motion picture group, was profiled by The Los Angeles Times over the weekend, and the Times' geek-focused blog, Hero Complex, has all the superhero movie related tidbits from the interview.

There are a couple of big points, but the biggest is probably the news that after Green Lantern in 2011, and The Dark Knight Rises and Superman: The Man of Steel anchor 2012, Warner Bros. is eyeing 2013 as the year we finally get a Justice League of America film.
 

You might recall that we almost had a Justice League film a few years ago. A script was written, the principals were cast, and sets were even being built before production was stopped. All we know of the new film is that the script is currently being written. Would it feature Henry Cavill's Superman? Probably. Ryan Reynolds' Green Lantern? Possibly. Christian Bale's Batman? Doubtful. Why doubtful? Also mentioned in the piece is that after The Dark Knight Rises, Warner Bros. will be reinventing Batman again. Christoper Nolan will not be directing this new Batman but he and his producing partner wife Emma Thomas will be staying around to produce and guide this new vision of Batman. (Christopher Nolan's new business card should say "Godfather of All Superhero Pictures at Warner Bros.") Reinventing Batman is not a surprise or an unwanted development. Seven years and a trilogy of films is long enough for one version of a character.

Spinning out of the Justice League film would be a film focusing on The Flash and a film focusing on Wonder Woman. Both scripts are also currently being written. Is this the same Flash movie that Geoff Johns was said to be co-writing in 2009? There are no further details in the piece.

It's clear that Warner Bros. envys the success of Marvel Studio's films. If these solo Avengers films work out and they culminate in an Avengers film that is a gigantic blockbuster then you're going to see a greater push by Warner Bros to emulate that success with DC films. Marvel Studios' strategy is to build up the characters first and then put them together in one movie, and Warner Bros. seems to be going the opposite way. Impatience for the big payoff? Possibly. Of course, if Green Lantern (a movie that has DISAPPEARED since that first trailer was met with tepid reaction) is a giant critical and financial disaster everything could change.
 

Comments

  1. Is this going to connect to the Wonder Woman TV show? Because even if you think the Nolanerse is old enough for a refresh that hasn’t even gotten off of the ground.

  2. Probably not anymore than Smallville will connect with the new Superman movie I would think.

  3. I’m more of a DC reader than Marvel, but aside from Nolan’s Batman, I feel more excitement for Marvel created movies. Green Lantern looks bad and Zach Snyder’s superman isn’t looking great. But I’ll reserve judgement until I see  the movies …

  4. @Heroville  Your answer is in the story that I linked, but @ResurrectionFlan is correct.

  5. What happened to their “no crossovers” policy? I actually respected them for that. I’m also grumpy that this pushes back the Flash film even more. I mean, it could still be awesome, but I’d personally bet against it.

  6. @RapidEyeMovement  Policies change all the time, especially when there’s big money up for grabs.

  7. I think the reason Marvel films have an easier time is due to the darkness and grittiness the Marvel world fosters.

    With the exception of Batman-most of the DC world is pretty bright. 

  8. @Apotheosize  Maybe simpler concepts, less fantastical.

  9. So I guess an Aquaman movie will happen now, and Vinny Chase will star on it!

  10. This could be VERY fun if done correctly.  I’m looking forward to seeing it.

  11. @Apothesize I’m not sure that’s true. For one thing, there really isn’t a difference between the two universes any more except who lives there (and that Marvel has douchier civilians). DC’s silver age may have been bright and crazy, but they’re at least even with Marvel on the grittiness scale these days.

    Also, has Marvel had any really successful dark/gritty films? Their three big movie franchises are Spider-Man, the X-Men, and Iron Man, none of whom are particularly gritty.

  12. Go one link further to read the original business profile of Jeff Robinov at the Los Angeles Times.  He sounds like a major dick; he’ll stand behind Zach Snyder but throw David Fincher under the bus?  Okay then. 

    The only real proven talent he has is Christopher Nolan, but I don’t if COPY THE DARK KNIGHT is the best strategy for every comic book film.  All the remarks about The Man of Steel embracing the dark and gritty do not instill confidence.

  13. Ughh. They’re finally bringing back Superman and already they want to throw him in a Justice League film, not only that, but Flash is going to get pushed back? Oh man I hate to say this but now Im hoping Green Lantern gets only a lukewarm box office(if it tanks, that would be even worse) so that they re-think their strategy.

    Plus, they’re obviously taking the rout Marvel is, but who’s to say Marvel will be successful? For all we know Thor and Captain America might tank, then where will the Avengers film be

  14. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t fantasize about a JLA movie. However, I don’t want one that throws wrenches into the flow of each individual character’s movie like it has been in the Marvel productions. I’m fine with minimal crossover. I don’t want Amanda Waller showing up as a bald white man in every installment and slopping things up. If they can’t do it without maintaining the integrity of each film, I’d rather it just didn’t happen.

    Also, Jon Hamm for JLA Bruce Wayne (not Clark Kent).

  15. I hope both Avengers and JLA work out fantisticly.  Do I think they will? No. 
    I think it is a poor decision to have Flash follow JLA, when most of the world doesn’t know Flash as well as they know other heroes.  You mention Bruce Wayne or Clark Kent, 95% of people would get it.  You mention Wally West or Barry Allen, your alone in a crowd. 
    Then again, with Avengers, you have even one of your 5 lead in films tank and youve endangered the franchise.
    Bottom line: its an experiment to do this, no matter what road they take.
    I’m just happy to see Nolan staying involved.

  16. Hmm… I find myself oddly lukewarm on the idea of a JLA film, whilst I am practically salivating over the Avengers franchise. I’m sure it has to do with personal preference, but in the back of my mind the Avengers seem to fit on the Big Screen better than the JLA. Dunno why.

    Also, while today the comics universes are pretty balanced in terms of tone, when it comes to origins and iconic representation of characters, I’d agree that DC is a bit more fantastical, mythological one might say. Obviously, this hasn othing to do with the success or failure of their movie ventures, just sayin’ that that may be one reason that it’s more difficult to get these flicks off the ground.

  17. Oh boy they better match the hair color or I’ll be upset!

  18. I am not holding my breath on a JLA film. I almost would rather see some kind of JLA incarnation spring out of Smallville.

  19. makes sense to do the indepedent films 2nd get people in the cinema to see superman/batman and introduce the to the rest of the justice league at the same time.
  20. I’ve got to say, Nolan aside, I’m a bit worried about DC’s movies. I still don’t like Snyder helming a Superman movie, Green Lantern looks suspect at best and who knows what they’re going to do with the JLA and Flash. It’s one thing having an Avengers movie directed and written by Joss Whedon but will Warners have anyone of that level doing JLA?  

  21. I sure hope everyone gets their fill of superhero movies over the next few years. Because at this rate, there is going to be one hell of a moratorium once the general public is truly tired of them.

    As for DC’s plan. I dunno if I sounds too solid. They’re doing the exact opposite of what Marvel is doing that is so cool. Doing Flash and Wonder Woman movies after a JLA movie? I don’t think that’s too good an idea. These big team movies will be hard enough to pull off with such crowded casts without having to spend time introducing and developing new main characters.

    I already know of a few people who aren’t comic fans at all, but have simply seen Iron Man, Hulk, and the Cap & Thor trailers who are genuinely excited when I told them about an Avengers movie. And they didn’t even know of the Avengers prior. DC’s plan flies entirely in the face of attempting to build such momentum and excitement.

    The reported order of DC’s films makes it sound like it would be mainly a Superman/Batman movie, with a bunch of side heroes getting minimal screen time. If that’s the case, why not just do a Supe/Bat flick and use that to introduce your secondary heroes? Then you can do Flash, WW, etc. And if all of that is successful, go for JLA. Given general audiences, I’m pretty sure a Superman/Batman movie would sell better anyway. Why not do that to springboard your universe if you aren’t going to develop the rest of the JLA first?

    Conor is right, though. A LOT of this likely depends on the success of Green Lantern. If that tanks, it will probably mean nothing but Batman & Superman movies.

  22. i’ll believe it when i see the formulaic marketing and ad campaigns complete with shadowy portraits with vague adjectives set in Trajan or Bank Gothic!

    In all seriousness a JLA movie could be epic. Would love to see Martian Manhunter, the Atom and Aquaman on screen. 

  23. If a JLA movie comes, it’s gonna be huge. To then follow that with “smaller” movies with WW and Flash seems kind of… I don’t know, backwards. You want a crescendo towards the JLA epic I’d think…

  24. I’m a huge JLA fan, but I don’t know how it would work on the big screen. It would be hard to compress into a 2-hour movie and still provide any development for the less-prominent characters who haven’t had solo movies already. And who would be the baddie? Please not Starro, the alien invasion thing has been done to death. New Gods characters would clutter up and already full lineup. Prometheus would make sense from a threat level, but he’s such an unknown. Dunno, maybe that would be better – these undefeatable icons brought down by one guy with no real powers. Or it could be a story about a threat pulling them together into a team, that could be cool.

    But I think the Marvel approach is better, to have solo films for each, then bring the team together. I have great concerns over the Green Lantern movie. It’s too early to get a feel for a Zach Snyder Superman film, but I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt for now.

  25. @JNewcomb  –yeah it reminds me of the Catwoman movie…total afterthought on every level.

  26. @wallythegreenmonster  That had not occured to me…

  27. Interesting that they are going to ‘reinvent’ Batman so quickly after Dark Knight Rises. I didn’t expect the new films to follow closely to Nolan’s universe but I couldn’t see why they have to completely revamp it and not keep Nolan’s ideas in place. Although if he is gonna be producer that means he will have a say into how this new universe will be. So that’s good.

    I’m excited for a JLA movie but it’s weird that they’re going to do it without introducting all of the characters. We only have a Superman and Batman movie coming out. Yes, Wonder Woman has a TV show but we all know how poorly trying to make a film counterpart has been. We have Green Lantern ready but, as far as we know, no Flash, Martin Manhunter, or anyone else introduced in a film continuity. What makes the Avengers film somewhat more believable is that Marvel has taken the time to create a film universe where characters are going to interact. It’s going to be much hard for WB to do that with very little to work with going into a JLA movie. 

  28. @TheNextChampion  –considering WB has lost Harry Potter to natural causes they need cash cow franchises BADLY. Batman/Superman movies are one of the best properties they have. 

  29. New fun Batman & Robin written by Diablo Cody. Megan Fox as Batwoman and Danny Devito as Batmite.

    If Batman is going to bark he may as well have Ace the Batdog! Oh wait dogs are the only thing that can stop Batman in the Nolanverse NM.

  30. I saw an interview where Nolan said “There will be a Robin in the movie” but also said that Robin himself wouldn’t be in the movie…

    Next Batman movie with Dick Grayson Batman?  

  31. I dont see this working well at all, I cant see Green Lantern being an Iron Man sized success and if it bombs…like the article says, it’d cast a lot of doubts on the JLA movie. I think its different to Avengers, in their own right the JLA characters are much bigger than the Avengers characters and while that may be a draw, I cant imagine a script that gives enough time to each character

  32. I’m a huge Flash fan but I really have a hard time seeing it as a big summer movie. 

    Beyond that…this is a non-story. Pure tease. 

  33. It would be nice to see these characters in a big giant event.  No need for any origins, just get into an epic story.

  34. At least dont make it an origin story. Please!!!!

  35. Apparently now it seems that the Superman and Batman shown in this JLA film will not be the same shown in their respective movie.

    Again I don’t think that is the right move by WB on their part. What makes the Marvel films work wonders is that (recasting aside for Hulk) all of the actors and characters are the same because they are in the same universe. I know this is gonna sound silly because WB is obviously going to set it up for more casual fans then anything else…..BUT…..If we have two different Superman and Batman film continuities going around at the same time it might confuse a lot of people. If they have to reinvent Batman for the future that’s fine; but to make sure he isn’t even the same film continuity period for the film? That could lead to some problems.