DC Extended Universe
Batman Animated Series from Matt Reeves and J.J. Abrams Gets Two-Season Order at Amazon
The "reimagining of the Batman mythology" was originally developed for HBO Max, who axed the project last August. Batman Animated Series from Matt Reeves and J.J. Abrams Gets Two-Season Order at Amazon Eddie Fu
James Gunn Responds to Superman Backlash, Says DC Studios Choices Are “Best for the Story”
James Gunn has addressed the backlash over his decision for Henry Cavill to not return as Superman. The DC Studios co-head addressed the “uproarious and unkind” response via a series of tweets in which Gunn promised his decision-making for the future of the DC Extended Universe would not be affected by “disrespectful outcry.” “Our choices for the DCU are based upon what we believe is best for the story & best for the DC characters who have been around for nearly 85 years,” Gunn wrote, on the behalf of co-CEO Peter Safran and himself. Though he doesn’t mention Superman by name, the character debuted in the comic book Actions Comics #1, published in 1938. Adding that “no one loves to be harassed or called names,” Gunn continued, “Disrespectful outcry will never, ever affect our acti...
Henry Cavill Will No Longer Play Superman As James Gunn Begins Work on New Film
Despite announcing his return as Superman in October, Henry Cavill has revealed that he will no longer reprise his role as the hero. Instead, new DCEU head James Gunn is moving forward with a new film focusing on a younger version of the character that he himself is writing. “After being told by the studio to announce my return back in October, prior to their hire, this news isn’t the easiest, but that’s life,” Cavill said in an Instagram post on Wednesday night. “This changing of the guard is something that happens. I respect that. James and Peter [Safran] have a universe to build. I wish them and all involved with the new universe the best of luck, and the happiest of fortunes.” Gunn also confirmed Cavill’s exit on Twitter. “In the initial stages” of the film, he explained, “our story wi...
Wonder Woman 3 May No Longer Be Happening: Report
Add this to the chaos that currently surrounds DC Comics properties: A Gal Gadot-starring Wonder Woman 3 may not be moving forward. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the previously greenlit film looks to be a casualty of the regime change at WarnerMedia-owned DC, which recently hired James Gunn and Peter Safran to guide the next phase of the beloved characters on screen. Wonder Woman 3 was set to be directed by Patty Jenkins, and she and writer Geoff Johns had turned in a treatment for the new film before being told by Gunn and Safran that it wouldn’t fit into future plans for the franchise. (THR notes that canceling the film could save Warner millions of dollars, as both Gadot and Jenkins were to receive pay bumps.) More awkwardly, just a day ago Gadot posted a message to social media ...
In Black Adam, Dwayne Johnson Rejects the Hero Part of Being a Superhero: Review
The Pitch: Thousands of years ago, in the fictional Middle Eastern kingdom of Kahndaq, an evil king enslaved his people to mine for a precious ore. One young boy rose up to challenge the king, and his bravery was noticed by some wizards with the ability to grant the pure-of-heart awe-inspiring powers. (Cool idea for a superhero origin — definitely sounds familiar.) Stories about what happened to the boy once he was able to harness those powers and defeat the king are vague, but the resulting hero, known as Teth Adam (Dwayne Johnson), was not heard from again. Until the present day, that is, a time when Kahndaq is largely under the control of outside mercenaries who are also trying to mine for the unobtanium vibranium adamantium eternium there. Despite their strict control, the mercenaries ...
Brendan Fraser Calls Batgirl Cancellation “The Canary in the Coal Mine”
Brendan Fraser is basking in a career renaissance led by his performance in Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale, but his turn as the villain Firefly in Batgirl sadly won’t be part of his comeback after Warner Bros. Discovery canceled the project for tax write-down purposes. In an interview with Variety, the actor called the decision “disappointing” while commenting on how it serves as an early warning sign that the film industry is in big trouble. “It’s disappointing. The fans really wanted to see this film made,” Fraser said. “The movie itself was shot and conceived for a smaller screen. In this age that we’ve come out of now between streaming service versus theatrical release, it wound up being the canary in the coal mine. So, what can we learn from this? Work with trusted filmmakers,...
Warner Bros. Shelves Finished Batgirl Movie Despite $90 Million Price Tag
The Batgirl film set to star Leslie Grace, Michael Keaton, and Brendan Fraser has been scrapped by Warner Bros. Discovery, The Wrap reports. The DC Extended Universe movie was slated to stream on HBO Max, but it will no longer be released. Directed by Bad Boys for Life filmmakers Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah from a script by Christina Hodson (Birds of Prey, The Flash), Batgirl was filmed from November 2021 to March 2022 with a $90 million budget. Yet, despite COVID delays, reshoots, and all that money spent, Warner Bros. Discovery recently changed management, and the new studio heads decided the film simply didn’t work. Warner Bros. Discovery hopes to produce DC Extended Universe films fit for theatrical releases, and Batgirl — which would have been the firs...
Shazam! Fury of the Gods Roars in With New Trailer: Watch
DC’s youngest, but arguably most charming, superhero is getting ready for his next fight. This December, Zachary Levi and the rest of the Shazam! cast return to the big screen in Shazam! Fury of the Gods, with director David F. Sandberg bringing in Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu, and Rachel Zegler for the new adventure, as featured in the new trailer debuted at Comic-Con. Watch it below. Last we left him, Billy Baston (Asher Angel) was still becoming accustomed to his secret life as the adult-sized superhero Shazam (Levi). In the sequel, Billy and his brothers and sisters will need to step up as superheroes to save the world from Hespera (Mirren), daughter of Atlas, and her sister Kalypso (Liu). The cast also includes Faithe Herman, Meagan Good, Grace Fulton, Ian Chen, Ross Butler, Jovan Armand, a...
Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam Is “Born Out of Rage” in New Trailer: Watch
When the DC Extended Universe movie Black Adam arrives in theaters this fall, Dwayne Johnson will finally fulfill his longtime dream of playing the anti-hero. During the Warner Bros. panel at San Diego Comic-Con on July 23rd, he offered the latest trailer for a superhuman “born out of rage.” Starring opposite Johnson are Justice Society of America members Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), Atom-Smasher (Noah Centineo), Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell), and Dr. Fate (Pierce Brosnan). But it’s Adam who is the focus of the trailer. “You have two paths,” he is told. “You can be the destroyer of this world, or you can be its savior.” Black Adam will also star Viola Davis reprising the role of Amanda Waller, last seen in The Suicide Squad Jaume Collet-Serra directs, and ...
Christian Bale Would Return to Batman Under One Condition
With news of Michael Keaton’s imminent return as Batman to the DC Extended Universe via The Flash and Batgirl, Christian Bale was recently asked if he had his own interest in a Bruce Wayne’s revival. In an interview with Screen Rant, the Oscar-winning actor clarified that there are no ongoing discussions with DC or Warner Bros., who produced The Dark Knight trilogy from 2005 to 2012. “No one’s ever mentioned it to me. No one’s brought it up,” Bale shared. “Occasionally people say to me, ‘Oh, I hear you were approached and offered all this.’ And I’m like, ‘That’s news to me. No one’s ever said that.’” Though he’s since swapped his cape and cowl for Marvel’s villainous, black goo-spewing Gorr the God Butcher in July’s Thor: Love and Thunder, the actor has considered one scenario i...
Michael Keaton Bringing Batman Back for Batgirl Movie
Holy Bat-nostalgia! Michael Keaton is reportedly reprising his iconic role as Bruce Wayne/Batman for the upcoming Batgirl movie. As The Hollywood Reporter has it, production on the film is already underway in London, but a new cast list sent to media includes Keaton’s surprise appearance. The actor is already dusting off the ol’ cape and cowl from 1989’s Batman and 1992’s Batman Returns for his upcoming multiversal role in The Flash movie. It now appears it’ll be a little while longer before the suit goes back in the closet, though it’s unclear exactly how it will all work. Batgirl is rumored to be set within the Snyderverse of Justice League (seemingly confirmed by J.K. Simmons reprising his role as Commissioner Jim Gordon), so how Keaton’s Batman will factor into a world p...
Colin Farrell to Reprise His Role as The Penguin in The Batman Spinoff Series
With Matt Reeves’ The Batman set to arrive in a matter of months, Colin Farrell has signed on for an HBO Max spinoff series based on his character The Penguin. According to Variety, he has been tapped to both star in and executive produce the show. While the series will reportedly dive into Penguin’s rise to power in the Gotham criminal underworld, it’s not clear if it will be a direct follow-up or a prequel. We’ll have to wait until The Batman hits theaters on March 4th, 2022 to see if the character is already a villain or just beginning his descent. One of the most infamous members of Batman’s Rogues Gallery, the Penguin, aka Oswald Cobblepot, has a rich history of live-action portrayals. On the TV side, Burgess Meredith played the top-hat-and-monocle wearing baddie in the 1960...
