Ben Affleck Says ‘Justice League’ Will Be The DCEU’s Rebirth

After Zak Snyder kicked off the DCEU with Man of Steel — which I think is an absolute masterpiece — Warner Bros. hit some major bumps in the road with Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad, the latter of which was an ultimate misfire. It came as no surprise when it became public knowledge back in June of last year that WB was going to lighten up the tone in Justice League in response to the negative critical reception of BvS.

While promoting his new film Live by Night, Ben Affleck was asked about the experience of filming the upcoming Justice League and said the film is essentially a rebirth of cinematic universe telling HeyUGuys:

“It was great, and there’s a lot of changes and a lot of new stuff. There was a whole feeling of kind of ‘rebirth’ and there’s an exciting group of actors. You know, Ezra Miller and Jason Momoa and guys like that, so much fun, and Gal Gadot who’s great and Henry Cavill. It was a lot of fun.”

A total rebirth within the cinematic universe seems like going a bit too far and signals to me the committee in charge of executive decisions isn’t confident with their creative direction. After cutting corners and rushing to catch up to Marvel with BvS — rather than building out their universe to earn an experience like The Avengers —, my worry is that WB will now try to essentially mirror Marvels formula with their own films. I greatly appreciated that WB went for a more mature audience with BvS as opposed to the glossy popcorn flicks made for everyone by Marvel. Don’t get me wrong, I love Marvel movies. But what works for Marvel, works for Marvel and isn’t exactly going to work for DC.

Does DC need to lighten things up a bit? Absolutely. But it doesn’t need to dramatically alter the tone of their cinematic universe. Take, for instance, the video game masterpiece The Last of Us by Naughty Dog. The Last of Us was an incredibly heavy, dark, and emotional experience. While at the same time it possessed both hope and humor. That’s exactly what the DCEU needs and it already has the characters in place to achieve that. Superman can be the hope while The Flash can bring the humor. The DCEU can be as dark as it wants to be, WB just has to balance it out properly and rather than base their creative direction off of the response to their films, remain steadfast as they push through the growing pains of establishing a cinematic universe.

SOURCE: HEYUGUYS

‘Kong: Skull Island’ Japanese Trailer Reveals New Monsters

Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures have released a Japanese trailer for Kong: Skull Island which includes new footage revealing new shots of the skullcrawlers and some freaky giant spiders.

Kong: Skull Island hits theaters March 10, 2017

The film stars Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Jason Mitchell, Corey Hawkins, Toby Kebbell, Tom Wilkinson, Terry Notary, John Goodman and John C. Reilly. Written by Max Borenstein, Derek Connolly, John Gatins, Dan Gilroy. Directed by Jordan-Vogt Roberts.

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ “Kong: Skull Island” reimagines the origin of the mythic Kong in a compelling, original adventure from director Jordan Vogt-Roberts. In the film, a diverse team of explorers is brought together to venture deep into an uncharted island in the Pacific—as beautiful as it is treacherous—unaware that they’re crossing into the domain of the mythic Kong.

SOURCE: WB (via Fresh Movie Trailers)

WB Taps David S. Goyer and Justin Rhodes to Write ‘Green Lantern Corps’

After announcing Green Lanter Corps for their DC slate a few years ago, the film is finally going to come to fruition over at Warner Bros. where it is said the studio is aggressively moving forward on the project. Deadline reports David S. Goyer and Justin Rhodes have been tapped to pen the script. The film will feature both Hal Jordan and John Stewart in what is said to be Lethal Weapon in space.

While that sounds like a perfect influence to bring the two Green Lanterns together, it’s hard to get excited when the entire DCEU is such a mess these days. Goyer knows his way around superheroes but his work is usually hit or miss with hits like Batman Begins and Man of Steel and duds like Jumper. Goyer’s credits also include The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises but in reality he actually had nothing to do with the writing of those films.

As of now, the film does not have a director, however. George Miller has been rumored to be in talks to direct in the past. When Green Lantern Corps was originally announced it was set for release in 2020. That has yet to change but at this point, nothing about the DCEU is certain.

SOURCE: DEADLINE

‘Wonder Woman’ Villain Confirmed to be Ares

Until now, the main villain for the upcoming film Wonder Woman has been a mystery. A batch of scans from an article about the film by the French publication Studio Ciné Live has hit the web thanks to the website Les Toiles Héroïques.

Studio Ciné Live visited the set of Wonder Woman last April and now seems to confirm that Ares as the main villain in the film.

A translation from the article reads:

Behind these scientific formulas, there is a deadly gas that could well annihilate humanity. Now, it turns out that this is precisely the goal of Ares, the god of war. He is jealous of humanity, which is a creation of his father, the deceased Zeus (he was killed by Ares when he rebelled against his son, despite the help of the Amazons)…

Wonder Woman hit theaters June 9, 2017.

The film stars Gal Gadot in the titular role as Wonder Woman, Chris Pine as Steve Trevor, Robin Wright as General Antiope and Connie Nielson as Queen Hippolyta. Written by Alan Heinberg and Geoff Johns. Directed by Patty Jenkins.

 “’Wonder Woman’ hits movie theaters around the world next summer when Gal Gadot returns as the title character in the epic action adventure from director Patty Jenkins. Before she was Wonder Woman, she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained to be an unconquerable warrior. Raised on a sheltered island paradise, when an American pilot crashes on their shores and tells of a massive conflict raging in the outside world, Diana leaves her home, convinced she can stop the threat. Fighting alongside man in a war to end all wars, Diana will discover her full powers…and her true destiny.

SOURCE:  Les Toiles Héroïques

Ben Affleck Reassures Fans He Will Direct Solo Batman Feature

Whether or not Ben Affleck’s solo Batman feature will come to fruition has seemed rather uncertain lately. Just last month Ben Affleck told Variety he was excited about the script for solo Batman feature which they were finishing up and that things were coming together over at Warner Bros. But then in an interview with The Guardian for his prohibition era film Live by Night, Affleck offered a rather alarming update for the solo Batman feature that shook the very foundation of Warner Bros. current version of the DCEU when he said the Batman film wasn’t “a set thing” and that they no longer had a script for the project.

But last night on Jimmy Kimmel Live, while commenting on the latest image released from the upcoming Justice League, Affleck reassured fans the film is still happening and he will indeed be directing —  nearly blowing a gasket as he told Jimmy:

“I’m gonna direct the next Batman, we’re workin’ on it. It’s one of those things that’s really frustrating because like with Live by Night, it took me a year and a half to write it and get it ready and I worked really hard, it’s just nobody gave a shit. No one was like ‘Where’s Live by Night?!’ But with Batman I keep getting the like, ‘Where’s the fucking Batman?!’ and I’m like ‘Bro I’m workin’, give me a second!”

Check out the full clip below.

SOURCE: JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE

The CW Renews ‘Arrow’, ‘The Flash’, ‘Supergirl’, ‘Legends of Tomorrow’, and More

This morning at the TCA press tour, The CW officially announced renewals for it’s seven of it’s most popular series including Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, Supernatural, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and Jane The Virgin. Freshman series No Tomorrow and Frequency, however, did not make the cut.

CW President Mark Pedowitz released a statement:

“Over the past several seasons, The CW has built a schedule of proven performers, from our lineup of DC superheroes, to critically acclaimed comedies, to sci-fi dramas. Early pickups of these seven series now allow our producers to plan ahead for next season, and gives us a solid base to build on for next season, with original scripted series to roll out all year long.”

Renewals for midseason series such as The 100, The Originals, iZombie, and newcomer Riverdale have yet to be announced.

The renewal of Arrow comes as a relief to fans of the series. After struggling with two misfires, both the disappointing season three and the atrocious fourth season, the continuation of the emerald archer’s crusade was uncertain earlier this year. The star of the series, Stephen Amell told EW:

“I do really believe that this season is sort of a throw-down-the-gauntlet year for us, where we’re either going to do what we do and do it well or it’s the last year. If we find that magic formula — which is not magic, it’s just hard work and playing to your strengths — then the show could go on for a really long time.”

Although the fifth season has been a bit of a rollercoaster in terms of quality, it has managed to improve greatly over the fourth season but that isn’t saying much considering just how bad last season was.

The grounded, gritty, street-level crime drama has evolved greatly since it’s introduction back in 2012. From the introduction to superpowers and magic to the spawning of the largest shared television universe in history, Arrow has given The CW it’s most successful endeavors with the mega crossover events featuring the heroes of Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, and Legends of Tomorrow teaming up to face a threat together.

Next year the series will continue to evolve and reinvent itself as the series will drop the flashback component, which will now have caught up with the present day storyline. Back in October executive producer Wendy Mericle told CBR News:

“What’s interesting about Season Five, just having been there from the beginning and knowing Marc (Guggenheim) and Andrew (Kreisberg) and Greg (Berlanti) as well as I do, the show was conceived in many ways as a five-year thing. Those flashbacks will be gone after this season. I think it is going to be a different… not a different show, but it is going to have to be reinvented in Season Six, because we’re closing a chapter for sure.”

The end of the flashbacks will free up some of the budget and allow the producers to focus on telling a great story without worrying how to tie the drama back to Oliver’s time away from Star City. Although the end of the flashbacks doesn’t mean we won’t ever have any again as we have now seen the series most recently flashback to season one in sort of a retcon move to add new layers to Oliver’s first year as a vigilante.

SOURCE: IGN

‘The Flash’: Barry and Cisco Go Back to the Future in Latest Promo

After the consequences of Flashpoint, Barry vowed to himself and his friends he would never change the past again but he never said anything about the future. Now that Barry has seen a glimpse into the future where the so called speed god Savitar killed Iris, he and Team Flash must figure out a way to stop it from happening.

The Flash returns Tuesday, January 24 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.

BARRY FIGHTS FOR IRIS — Barry (Grant Gustin) is tormented by his vision of the future where Iris (Candice Patton) is murdered by Savitar. When a criminal named Plunder (guest star Stephen Huszar) shows up in Central City, Barry recalls the villain’s presence in his vision of the future and fears that if he catches Plunder, it will cement Iris’ fate. Confused about Barry’s hesitation to stop Plunder, Wally (Keiynan Lonsdale) decides to step in as Kid Flash. Caitlin (Danielle Panabaker) offers Julian (Tom Felton) a job.

SOURCE: THE CW (via WGTC)

Ben Affleck Says Solo Batman Film is Not a Set Thing

Just last month Ben Affleck told Variety he was excited about the script for solo Batman feature which they were finishing up and that things were coming together over at Warner Bros. but that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. In an interview with The Guardian for his prohibition era film Live by Night, Affleck offered a rather alarming update for the solo Batman feature that shakes the very foundation of Warner Bros. current version of the DCEU:

“It’s not a set thing and there’s no script. If it doesn’t come together in a way I think is really great I’m not going to do it.”

With Affleck on the fritz and Zak Snyder exiting the DCEU after Justice League to take a break direct his passion project The Last Photograph before Justice League: Part Two, it sounds like the entire DCEU first established with Man of Steel is at risk of completely falling apart. It seems Warner Bros. has not learned their lesson after the overstuffed Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and the atrocious mess that was Suicide Squad were critically panned last year.

While Wonder Woman looks very promising, I can’t help but be nervous for the film given that the committee calling the shots at WB (who obviously have no idea what they are doing) has ultimate control of what ends up being released. Clearly, the committee is difficult to work with as multiple directors have exited The Flash project in development which is currently in limbo without a director. Last year, David Ayer had his film completely ripped away from him to have Suicide Squad sent over to a trailer house to put together what ultimately became the theatrical release of the film. Some of the Internets top movie pundits have called out Warner Bros. after the recent announcement of the Gotham City Sirens film starring Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn as being reactionary and without a long term plan for the DCEU and it’s impossible to disagree.

At this point, I think this entire version of the DCEU should be canceled. If Batman was actually a decent detective and hadn’t killed people I might feel differently. I mean he didn’t even know Superman’s Moms name but Lex Luthor did? That movie got so much wrong it’s not even funny and I’d be willing to bet that by this time next year Kevin Tsujihara, Chairman of Warner Bros. Entertainment, will be on his way out if Justice League is received negatively.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

‘Wonder Woman’ Heeds The Call to Action in a New Photo

Every origin story for a heroic character features a call to action and Wonder Woman is no different. In a new photo thanks to EW, we get a look at Gal Gadot early on in the film when Diana is compelled to help mankind in their time of need. Diana defies her mother, Queen Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen) and breaks into the heavily guarded armory the island of Themyscira and steals the Amazon’s mythical sword “the Sword of Athena” which has been dubbed “god killer” in this darker, more violent take on the DC universe.

Wonder Woman hit theaters June 9, 2017.

The film stars Gal Gadot in the titular role as Wonder Woman, Chris Pine as Steve Trevor, Robin Wright as General Antiope and Connie Nielson as Queen Hippolyta with a script penned by Alan Heinberg and Geoff Johns, directed by Patty Jenkins.

 “’Wonder Woman’ hits movie theaters around the world next summer when Gal Gadot returns as the title character in the epic action adventure from director Patty Jenkins. Before she was Wonder Woman, she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained to be an unconquerable warrior. Raised on a sheltered island paradise, when an American pilot crashes on their shores and tells of a massive conflict raging in the outside world, Diana leaves her home, convinced she can stop the threat. Fighting alongside man in a war to end all wars, Diana will discover her full powers…and her true destiny.

SOURCE: EW

‘The Flash’: “Borrowing Problems From The Future” Trailer

The first trailer for the back half of season 3 of The Flash has arrived. At the beginning of the year, Barry vowed to himself and his friends he would never change the past again but he never said anything about the future. After Barry saw a glimpse into the future where the speed god Savitar killed Iris in the midseason finale, he and Team Flash must figure out a way to stop that future from happening

The Flash returns Tuesday, January 24 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.