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

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

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

New Look at Batman, Wonder Woman, and The Flash in ‘Justice League’

Zak Snyder has already begun teasing images from Justice League via social media but now we have a look at Batman, Wonder Woman, and The Flash assembling and ready for action in a new photo released by Entertainment Weekly.

The photo doesn’t do much for me as I think Snyder is overly dependent on the use of green screen. Overall I think it makes the DC universe lack authenticity and feel artificial especially compared to Nolan’s interpretation of the Batman franchise.

“I’m super happy with the chemistry of my league of justice doers,” says Snyder who is currently locked up in the editing bay, readying the film for release next November before he exits the DCEU for a much-deserved break to helm his passion project The Last Photograph.

Justice League hits theaters November 17, 2017.

The film stars Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, JK Simmons, Diane Lane, Amy Adams, Amber Heard, Jesse Eisenberg, Willem Dafoe, Jeremy Irons, and Ciaran Hinds. Written by Chris Terrio. Directed by Zak Snyder.

Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to find and recruit a team of metahumans to stand against this newly awakened threat. But despite the formation of this unprecedented league of heroes—Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash—it may already be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.

SOURCE: EW

Former WB President of Creative Development Says Solo Batman Film Will Release in 2018

Ben Affleck made headlines yesterday when he said he was taking his time writing the solo Batman feature, only to reassure the world today that the film was indeed on track telling Variety:

“We’re on the right track with that and everything is coming together. We’re still finishing up a script. I’m very excited.”

While Affleck said he wasn’t concerned with meeting a release date for the project, it seems the solo Batman feature may indeed have one after all.

Greg Silverman, Warner Bros. President of Creative Development since 2013 (right around the time things began to go downhill at the studio), has stepped down from his position at the studio. Toby Emmerich, President and Chief Operating Officer of New Line Cinema will assume Silverman’s responsibilities, becoming the Chief Content Officer for Warner Brothers. Going forward, Emmerich will oversee films produced by both Warner Brothers and New Line Cinemas.

Speaking to Deadline about his exit from the studio, Silverman addressed the studio’s upcoming slate of projects, casually dropping a major nugget of information regarding the Batman film in development starring Ben Affleck:

“Then in 2018, there is a second Fantastic Beasts film, and Ready Player One feels like an ambitious movie by the world’s best filmmaker, Steven Spielberg, that will set the world on fire. There is Aquaman with James Wan, and Scooby Doo will be a huge launch and then there is Lego Ninjago. And then there is Ben Affleck’s Batman.”

WB currently has a release date reserved for an untitled DC project in July of 2018. Given Silverman’s words, it does seem likely this could be the release of Affleck’s Batman or The Batman as Affleck called it before quickly backtracking on the title. While I do hope they aren’t rushing development of the script to meet the July 2018 release, that is kind of how it works today. Studios don’t just invest in talent and development hoping the film comes to fruition eventually.

As of now, July of 2018 is pretty open giving WB a good opportunity to do major business at the box office. By then, both the young Han Solo film and Avengers: Infinity War will have come and gone, leaving Ant-Man and The Wasp as Batman’s only competition. Ant-Man and The Wasp is not to be underestimated, though, Ant-Man at the time of his introduction into the MCU took home $519 million worldwide. Now that Ant-Man is not only known but loved by a worldwide audience, the sequel is going to be a much heavier hitter at the box office when he returns to theaters.

SOURCES: VARIETY, DEADLINE

Ben Affleck is Taking His Time Writing Solo ‘Batman’ Feature

The DCEU had a rough year in 2016. After Man of Steel got the cinematic universe off to a good start, Warner Brothers took a few steps backward when both Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad were met with a negative reception, deservedly so. The reaction to BvS caused some last minute changes being made to Justice League which was going under the lens right as BvS hit theaters. Rather than continuing with the doom and gloom tone crafted in BvS, Justice League was going to opt for a lighter tone, injecting some humor so that the audience could have a little more fun.

When it was recently announced that Zak Snyder would be taking a break from the DCEU to helm his passion project The Last Photograph, making way for Ben Affleck’s solo Batman feature to debut in between Justice League Part One and Two, the pressure seemed on to get the ball rolling on Affleck’s Batman which has been rumored to start shooting in the spring of 2017. But Affleck has revealed he is not phased as the actor, writer, director is more concerned with the quality of the film than he is the release date. While promoting his new film Live by Night, Affleck told The New York Times the movie will happen when and if they get the right script together:

I’m a real believer in not doing, not reverse engineering projects to meet a window or a date, but rather like when you get the right story or you get the right idea or you get the right thing, then you make the movie. And so that’s what we’re doing, and I’m hoping to get that done and spending a lot of time on that, but I’m also working on other stuff. And if I could, if I can find it right then there’s nothing I’d love more than to direct a standalone iconic great Batman movie.

It’s reassuring to hear Affleck is more concerned with having a good story than he is with the numbers at the box office but his words to little to inspire confidence if his attention is in fact divided between Batman and other projects. Warner Bros. has a lot riding on the film, Wonder Woman looks like it will help the cinematic universe get back on track, but Batman is the single most important character in the franchise and if his solo film isn’t up to snuff, which it will no doubt be under heavier scrutiny after BvS, it could significantly dilute the brand and leave the future of this cinematic universe in question.

SOURCE: THE NEW YORK TIMES

Joseph Mangianello Teases Ben Affleck’s Fresh and Familiar Take on Batman

After Manu Bennett’s performance as Slade Wilson A.K.A. Deathstroke on The CW’s Arrow, it came as no great surprise when the character resurged in DC’s relaunch of its entire line of comics titled “New 52”. Subsequently, the character was then announced as the villain for the upcoming solo Batman film earlier this year when Ben Affleck tweeted out a visual effects test featuring the supervillain.

Not much is known about the film itself other than Affleck is co-writing the film along with DC Entertainment’s Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns. Affleck will direct the film as well as reprise his role as Batman/Bruce Wayne, first introduced in this  year’s Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Shortly after the reveal of Deathstroke as the film’s villain, actor Joseph Mangianello was announced to play the character.

Recently, Manganiello sat down with former wrestling commentator Mark Madden when Mangianello offered some insight into the upcoming Batman film which is rumored to start filming in the spring of 2017.

When I met Ben we sat down and we talked about, you know, the role. We talked about the movie. His take is a fresh take but I think the audience is going to be surprised. Because it’s a road that no one’s really gone down that’s completely integral to, you know, who Batman is. And I think it’s gonna be refreshing but at the same time completely familiar. But it’s going to take this franchise in a direction that I think A LOT of people are going to be really happy about. It’s going to be gritty and action packed and cerebral and all of those elements that people love about Batman.

Ben’s a great director, man. I mean the last movie that man directed won best picture. He’s got an Oscar for writing. Like, this is all the components to go down as a… everything is lined up for a really really really great movie. Not only a superhero movie but just a great great movie.

A fresh yet familiar take might be just what DC needs to win back audiences who were turned off by BvS. One thing is for sure, the film absolutely needs to address the murders committed by Batman in BvS, after the hero threw out his principles when the core of his foundation was shook by Superman’s arrival on Earth.

A release date has yet to be revealed for solo Batman feature, however. Warner Bros. currently has two release dates set for Untitled DC films. The solo Batman, or The Batman as the film is rumored to be titled, could arrive as early as October 5, 2018 or as late as November 1, 2019.

SOURCE: MARK MADDEN

Solo ‘Batman’ Film Gets a Title

In an interview posted today by the Associated Press for the new film The Accountant, Ben Affleck revealed the new solo Batman film will simply be titled, The Batman. The film is currently being co-written by Ben along with President and Chief Creative Officer of DC Entertainment, Geoff Johns. Ben is set to direct and star in the film which does not yet have a release date.

The movie I think is going to be called ‘The Batman’. At least that’s what we’re going with right now. I might change it… That’s about all I got right now. We’re working on the script, the script is going well, I’m really excited about it.

The title itself is a refreshing antidote to the current trend of overloaded movie titles such as, Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice. Hopefully it doesn’t change. A simple title could be an indicator of a simpler narrative with a tighter focus. Hollywood has convinced itself it can jam pack two movies into one by adding a subtitle to the film’s title. BvS was attempting to be three films in one and it was a disjunctive cluster fuck that barely made any sense. Could the title of the solo Batman film be a sign DC is moving in the right direction? Time will tell…

SOURCE: AP