The Comic Book Thread

[Luke]

Okay, some wacky stuff is going on and I'll tell you what I'm allowed to. I spoke with a writer from Warner Bros., and the pressure to put out a JLA movie is at an all time high. Too much pressure.

They don't have time to emulate the Marvel movie franchise as they are chomping at the bit to get JLA as soon as possible. There's also talk about the post Green Lantern and new Superman movie. They have one foot stuck in the mud because they need a new Batman, and possibly Superman. The most logical step, as I've been told, is to make a movie based on The Flash, and then introduce other members of JLA.

What WB is concerned with is that they don't believe the DC characters are established (I know, Hollywood is weird). Here's a qoute that sums their way of thinking, "Would anyone see THE EXPENDABLES without the roster of established action stars? No. And no one wants a movie with a guy who just runs fast that they don't know about".

Well, they have a point about THE EXPENDABLES, but THE WATCHMEN did well at the box office without everyone knowing who the characters were because it was a decent movie. JLA has established characters in my eyes, all you need to know about the characters can be summed up on the back of an action figure box. But you simply can't emulate the Marvel Studios model in three years, this is a seven year project.

So things are being rushed, and so many other things are going on in the process that I can't mention right now but I can mention one thing that scared me a bit. My friend told me that in a board meeting an exec announced "If any of the JLA related movies do not exceed Warner Bros. expectations, DC will receive a severe dressing down". It was not the typical business motivational speech or a threat; serious business.

That's not good news for fans of DC comics. We're talking possible downsizing and budget cuts on the entire DC franchise.

[AppleQueso]

^That's friggin' ridiculous.

It's almost like they're actively trying to ensure that this project comes out as halfassed and shitty as possible. This sort of project can work, obviously, but not if they're going to rush it like this.

I expect studio interference out the ass and every movie to be like, Green Lantern quality at best.

[Luke]

^That's friggin' ridiculous.

It's almost like they're actively trying to ensure that this project comes out as halfassed and shitty as possible. This sort of project can work, obviously, but not if they're going to rush it like this.

I expect studio interference out the ass and every movie to be like, Green Lantern quality at best.

The tone that I got was that up until Marvel's The Avengers, Warner Bros. was thrilled with the success with Nolan's Batman(s). But when they saw how profitable Avenger's was(is) they felt they needed to move fast. Plus, as the wise Yogurt said "Myonchandizing!"

They want to jump in while the trend is, well, trending.

If I had the keys to the JLA car, I'd shoot for 2018 or 2020. A 2016 release sounds way too early, but the pressure is on to get this out asap.

Of course with the right people this could work...But they don't have the right people, and those people are being rushed. And I love Ben Afflek, he's great, but directing the JLA movie? Go with someone more experienced.

It's frustrating to me not only because the project is being rushed, but that ultimately it could affect people who had a dream to write and draw comic books.

Or how about emulating the Marvel Studios model backwards? Start with JLA and then branch off.

[BoringSupreez]

Or how about emulating the Marvel Studios model backwards? Start with JLA and then branch off.

I actually like that idea.

[AppleQueso]

Last I heard Affleck passed on doing JL and now Wachoskis are being considered.

[Michi]

The most logical step, as I've been told, is to make a movie based on The Flash, and then introduce other members of JLA.

What? No! Not Flash, you morons. Wonder Woman, not Flash. Wonder Woman is, by far, more recognizable than Flash. She's got a whole mythos around her that freaking chock-full of possible interesting plot ideas and if you picked her you'd probably get a lot more female viewers and-

... You know what, skrew it.

I'm just going to resign myself to the fact that it's never going to happen. Especially if they pick Flash to go first. I see that idea going the same way as the Green Lantern movie. They probably wouldn't be able to write her without pissing off a good chunk of the female population anyway.

Lynda Carter, is apparently, as good as it's going to get (And that's not a criticism. I think she did a commendable job with the material given).

[BurningDoom]

The most logical step, as I've been told, is to make a movie based on The Flash, and then introduce other members of JLA.

What? No! Not Flash, you morons. Wonder Woman, not Flash. Wonder Woman is, by far, more recognizable than Flash. She's got a whole mythos around her that freaking chock-full of possible interesting plot ideas and if you picked her you'd probably get a lot more female viewers and-

... You know what, skrew it.

I'm just going to resign myself to the fact that it's never going to happen. Especially if they pick Flash to go first. I see that idea going the same way as the Green Lantern movie. They probably wouldn't be able to write her without pissing off a good chunk of the female population anyway.

Lynda Carter, is apparently, as good as it's going to get (And that's not a criticism. I think she did a commendable job with the material given).

I think only DC Comics is preserving her as a high-profile character. Most of the comic readers I know (and I'm a lifelong comic fan, I talk to a lot of them locally and online), could care less about Wonder Woman, and that includes female comic readers I talk to.

How many times has she been rebooted, reimagined, new costume, even replaced? And none of it ever matters. She has periods here and there where she made an impact such as the Golden Age, the T.V. show, and George Perez's run. But she's nowhere near Batman or Superman. And I can easily name more memorable moments and runs from Flash and Green Lantern than Wonder Woman.

Heck, Catwoman has had a better run in the modern age as a female DC character than Wonder Woman has.

[SpaceBooger]

The most logical step, as I've been told, is to make a movie based on The Flash, and then introduce other members of JLA.

What? No! Not Flash, you morons. Wonder Woman, not Flash. Wonder Woman is, by far, more recognizable than Flash. She's got a whole mythos around her that freaking chock-full of possible interesting plot ideas and if you picked her you'd probably get a lot more female viewers and-

... You know what, skrew it.

I'm just going to resign myself to the fact that it's never going to happen. Especially if they pick Flash to go first. I see that idea going the same way as the Green Lantern movie. They probably wouldn't be able to write her without pissing off a good chunk of the female population anyway.

Lynda Carter, is apparently, as good as it's going to get (And that's not a criticism. I think she did a commendable job with the material given).

Wonder Woman can be the break-out movie for DC as Thor was.
The New 52 Wonder Woman is awesome, and deeply rooted in Greek mythology. All of the Greek gods are modernized and present and this version of Wonder Woman is like Hercules - Mother was an Amazon and Father was Zeus.
This would be the perfect starting point.

[Michi]

The most logical step, as I've been told, is to make a movie based on The Flash, and then introduce other members of JLA.

What? No! Not Flash, you morons. Wonder Woman, not Flash. Wonder Woman is, by far, more recognizable than Flash. She's got a whole mythos around her that freaking chock-full of possible interesting plot ideas and if you picked her you'd probably get a lot more female viewers and-

... You know what, skrew it.

I'm just going to resign myself to the fact that it's never going to happen. Especially if they pick Flash to go first. I see that idea going the same way as the Green Lantern movie. They probably wouldn't be able to write her without pissing off a good chunk of the female population anyway.

Lynda Carter, is apparently, as good as it's going to get (And that's not a criticism. I think she did a commendable job with the material given).

Wonder Woman can be the break-out movie for DC as Thor was.
The New 52 Wonder Woman is awesome, and deeply rooted in Greek mythology. All of the Greek gods are modernized and present and this version of Wonder Woman is like Hercules - Mother was an Amazon and Father was Zeus.
This would be the perfect starting point.

See. SpaceBooger sees her potential.

Heck, Catwoman has had a better run in the modern age as a female DC character than Wonder Woman has.

And we all remember how well that movie turned out


Seriously though, having a better run doesn't necessarily mean it's got the potential to make a better movie. Comic readers are one thing, but ask someone who doesn't necessarily read comics, or hasn't read them in a while, to name one female comic book superhero and see who they come up with first.

I'm not saying you're wrong (especially about memorable runs), I'm just saying that if the studios want this to work, than I think they need to pick someone who will have more of a general audience recognition. And, for better or worse, I still think Wonder Woman trumps Flash in that department.

[BurningDoom]

http://www.superherohype.com/news/artic ... mes-to-abc

It was revealed earlier this month that Joss Whedon had signed an exclusive deal with Marvel Studios to, among other things, help develop a new live action series for Marvel Television at ABC. Today, Deadline has revealed that, now greenlit by ABC, the series will be titled "S.H.I.E.L.D." and will focus on the top secret defense organization featured throughout the Marvel cinematic universe.

Whedon will write the pilot alongside his brother, Jed Whedon, and Maurissa Tancharoen (who previously worked with Whedon on "Dollhouse" and "Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog". All three will also join Jeffrey Bell and Jeph Loeb as executive producers. The site notes that Whedon may also direct the pilot, but that nothing is confirmed at this time.

It remains to be seen which, if any, actors and/or characters from the Marvel Studios films are planned to appear on the show, though it's very likely that "S.H.I.E.L.D" will have direct ties to future Marvel Studios cinematic entries, including the Whedon scripted and directed Marvel's The Avengers 2, set for release on May 1, 2015.

As always, check back for more details as they become available.

Freaking awesome!