Tag: DC Comics

Posted on in Film News, News

‘The Trench’ Was A Secret Black Manta Movie According To James Wan

Ever since DC Films launched their own cinematic universe with DCEU, we’ve seen so many film projects announced/developed in-house only to be never made or thrown into limbo. Some of those films include Ben Affleck’s solo Batman film, Zack Snyder’s second Justice League movie, Lobo, Sgt. Rock, Joker & Harley Quinn, Man of Steel 2, Nightwing, Steven Spielberg’s Blackhawk, Ava DuVernay’s New Gods, and an Aquaman spinoff, The Trench, and even more.

The Trench is an interesting spinoff as the horror-inspired project was seen as New Line Cinema retrofitting an existing submarine thriller film The Volos from writers Noah Gardner and Aidan Fitzgerald into a DC Comics project. Only for it to get dumped by the studio alongside New Gods back in April.

There is word from Aquaman’s James Wan on Instagram (spotted by io9) that The Trench was actually a secret Black Manta movie, something that was never mentioned publicly by the studio or Wan, the film’s producer. A shocking revelation from the producer and filmmaker.

“I’ll let you in on a secret, the canceled Trench spin-off movie was really going to be a secret Black Manta movie.”

This would have meant Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Candyman, Watchmen) would have led the project, and seems weird it never got the green light, in retrospect given how popular the actor has become at Warner Bros. taking key roles in The Matrix Resurrections and the Mad Max: Fury Road prequel Furiosa along with his return for Aquaman & The Lost Kingdom.

Considering projects like Suicide Squad, The Suicide Squad, Birds of Prey, and Joker focused on DC Comics villains it feels odd they didn’t move forward with this Black Manta movie given Aquaman was a billion-dollar hit. It comes off as yet another example of the studio fumbling the DC franchise as the projects announced that don’t reach the finished line continue to pile up.

Will the studio circle back? That remains to be seen.

Speaking of the Aquaman sequel, it will be released on December 16, 2022, and has Black Manta expected to have a bigger role.

SOURCE: JAMES WAN

Posted on in Film News, News

‘Batgirl’ Movie Adds ‘Bad Boys For Life’ Actor Jacob Scipio In Mystery Role

After Batgirl directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah recently teased the inclusion of Batman in their upcoming HBO Max film in a Dutch interview, a new bit of casting news has been announce today.

Deadline reports that actor Jacob Scipio, likely best known as the villain of Bad Boys For Life has nabbed an unknown part in the DC Comics project. Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah directed the Bad Boys sequel before getting involved with Marvel’s Ms. Marvel series at Disney+.

Scipio joins Leslie Grace (In The Heights), who plays the titular Batgirl and J.K. Simmons reprises the Justice League role of Barbara Gordon’s father, Jim Gordon. This element would suggest that Batgirl takes place directly within the DCEU, given Simmons’ return. However, if they end up using Michael Keaton’s Batman as her mentor, that could suggest that the cinematic universe is turning more into a hodgepodge of connective tissue.

Christina Hodson, who recently wrote The Flash movie (just wrapped filming over the weekend) is behind the pic’s script.

Sadly, Batgirl is firmly at HBO Max and likely won’t be getting a theatrical release just like their Latinx superhero film Blue Beetle. The optics aren’t great that DC Films/WarnerMedia is dumping diverse superhero projects on a streaming service instead of giving them a traditional theatrical run.

A release date hasn’t been named but we’ll likely get a good look at the project in 2022.

SOURCE: DEADLINE

Posted on in Film News, News

Denis Villeneuve Might Consider Tackling Batman & Arkham Asylum

Dune director Denis Villeneuve made his thoughts public on both superhero films and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, however, doesn’t seem to dislike everything about the genre and has an affection for one particular superhero.

During a recent interview with the Happy Sad Confused Podcast, the French-Canadian filmmaker revealed that Batman is the only comic book character he could “relate to” suggesting he’d be open to tackling him in the future.

“Batman would be probably the only character that I could relate to. From what I read, like ‘Arkham Asylum,’ a book like that, I got in contact with when I was an adult. It’s for me, the character that I could connect to.”

Villeneuve is already in the scripting phase of Dune: Part Two and has mentioned a potential fall 2022 production start, assumed to take place in Budapest again. He’s started talking up his desire for a third Dune movie to round-out a trilogy, adapting the second book, Dune Messiah.

After Villeneuve’s public comments on WarnerMedia/Warner Bros. Pictures it’s unclear if Batman will ever land on his lap with Matt Reeves currently tackling a trilogy of films starring Robert Pattinson. Interestingly enough, Ben Affleck’s solo Batman film would have focused on Arkham Asylum.

Dune will hit theaters on October 22.

DUNE – A mythic and emotionally charged hero’s journey, Dune tells the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence—a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential—only those who can conquer their fear will survive.

The film stars Oscar nominee Timothée Chalamet (“Call Me by Your Name,” “Little Women”), Rebecca Ferguson (“Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep,” “Mission: Impossible – Fallout”), Oscar Isaac (the “Star Wars” franchise) Oscar nominee Josh Brolin (“Milk,” “Avengers: Infinity War”), Stellan Skarsgård (HBO’s “Chernobyl,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron”), Dave Bautista (the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, “Avengers: Endgame”), Stephen McKinley Henderson (“Fences,” “Lady Bird”), Zendaya (“Spider-Man: Homecoming,” HBO’s “Euphoria”), Chang Chen (“Mr. Long,” “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”), David Dastmalchian (“Blade Runner 2049,” “The Dark Knight”), Sharon Duncan-Brewster (“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” Netflix’s “Sex Education”), with Oscar nominee Charlotte Rampling (“45 Years,” “Assassin’s Creed”), with Jason Momoa (“Aquaman,” HBO’s “Game of Thrones”), and Oscar winner Javier Bardem (“No Country for Old Men,” “Skyfall”).

SOURCE: HAPPY SAD CONFUSED PODCAST

Posted on in Film News, News

‘Aquaman 2’: James Wan Says Sequel “Heavily Inspired” By Mario Bava’s Classic Sci-Fi Horror Film ‘Planet Of The Vampires’

Production has been underway for a while now on Aquaman & The Lost Kingdom at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in Watford, England. However, we don’t know a lot about the film outside of it focusing on Necrus (assumed to be the “lost kingdom”) and the DC Comics villain Mongo.

Director James Wan has mentioned a key film that will “heavily inspire” the Aquaman sequel. While speaking with Total Film, the filmmaker cited Mario Bava’s classic Italian sci-fi horror film Planet of The Vampires from 1965.

“Aquaman 2 is very heavily inspired by Planet of the Vampires. You can take the boy out of horror but you can never take the horror out the boy.”

It’s a little shocking given how goofy and colorful the original installment was, but Wan seemingly indicates they’ll be doing a little darker with Aquaman 2.

“Well, the first movie took a lot of people by surprise, right? And that’s partially because they were not familiar with the comic book, which deals in this very lurid, strange world. People were taken aback that I didn’t throw all that stuff away and make a dark, heavy film. But I didn’t feel that would have been right for it. So with the second film, I feel it will be easier for people to accept where we go because I’ve already laid the foundation.”

If you’re not familiar to the Italian sci-fi horror film check out a synopsis and trailer (alongside Joe Dante talking about the film for Trailers From hell) below.

PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES – In the near future the two spaceships Argos and Galliot are sent to investigate the mysterious planet Aura. As the Galliot lands on the planet her crew suddenly go berserk and attack each other. The strange event passes, but the crew soon discovers the crashed Argos – and learns that her crew died fighting each other! Investigating further, the explorers come to realize the existence of a race of bodiless aliens that seek to escape from their dying world.

Aquaman & The Lost Kingdom is set to hit theaters on December 16, 2022.

SOURCE: TOTAL FILM

Posted on in Film News, News

‘The Suicide Squad’: James Gunn Indicates Studio Uncertainty About Superman Is Why He Wasn’t Used

The Suicide Squad is winning over a lot of people and there had been early ideas to have Task Force X being assembled to take down Superman. However, the main threat of the film was the Borg-like alien Starro The Conqueror, who was able to control the minds of anyone that was unlucky enough to get one of the self-replicated mini-Starro attached to their face.

James Gunn has revealed to the Script Apart podcast (via Comic Book) that one of the big reasons they didn’t go with Superman was the studio’s uncertainty about Henry Cavill sticking around or what exactly their DCEU plans for the son of Krypton moving forward.

“There was a time when I thought The Suicide Squad should fight Superman. At the time, there were a lot of questions like, ‘Who is Superman in the DCEU? Is this movie outside the DCEU?’ I just didn’t want to deal with it all that much.”

This could also explain why the Superman cameo in Shazam! was a stand-in, despite that film clearly takes place within the Snyderverse/DCEU.

It’s revealed that Idris Elba’s Bloodsport put Superman in the ICU after shooting him with Kryptonite bullet, so at the least they were able to add that small connective tidbit.

Gunn explained why he wanted to use Starro.

“I think he’s a perfect comic book character because he’s absolutely ludicrous but also very scary in his own way. What he does is scary. He used to scare the crap out of me when I was a child, putting those face-huggers on Superman and Batman. So I thought he was one of the major, major DC villains that was probably never going to be put into another movie. And if they did, it’d have been a ‘black cloud’ version of Starro. Not a giant walking starfish, a kaiju that’s bright pink and cerulean blue, this ridiculously big, bright bad guy.”

The studio has indicated that they’re keen on working with James Gunn again on more DC movies, but that seemingly won’t Gotham City Sirens as the director downplayed recent speculation on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/1426194551866335232

SOURCE: SCRIPT APART PODCAST

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Robert Rodriguez Signs First-Look Deal With HBO & HBO Max: Will He Tackle DC Comics Projects?

WarnerMedia has announced via The Hollywood Reporter that they’ve striked a two year first-look deal with Robert Rodriguez and his Austin-based Troublemaker Studios. He’ll specifically develop various film and television projects for HBO/HBO Max.

The filmmaker had this to say about the deal:

“It’s intriguing to be able to tap into the wealth of iconic IP available across the WarnerMedia portfolio and explore new stories to tell. I’m looking forward to a meaningful collaboration with the high caliber creative talent at HBO and HBO Max who have proven they’re willing to take risks, challenge norms and tell inclusive stories while producing a wide breadth of quality content.”

We previously saw J.J. Abrams and Bad Robot’s deal with WarnerMedia leading to them tackle a wave of DC Comics projects such as Justice League Dark, Constintine, Madame X, and producing a new Superman film.

It wouldn’t be shocking to see Rodriguez/Troublemaker Studios attempt to adapt various comic book projects given their experience with existing material. They were behind films such as Predators, Sin City, Sin City: A Dame To Kill For, and Alita: Battle Angel. Robert was once approached by Ryan Reynolds and 20th Century Fox to direct the first installment of Deadpool, but declined.

Most recently Robert Rodriguez was working with Lucasfilm on Star Wars shows such as The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett.

There are plenty DC Comics projects Rodriguez could end up bringing to life such as various movies that had been gestating at Warner Bros. for ages such as Lobo (Guy Ritchie formerly attached to direct), Sgt. Rock (Quentin Tarantino was offered it), and Deathstroke (The Raid’s Gareth Evans was developing at one point).

Hopefully, this is a sign that James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad is giving WarnerMedia the impression they can continue to keep making mature projects based on their IP.

Like Gunn, Rodriguez has a unique style and vision that clearly is imprinted on his inventive/energetic R-rated action projects such as Desperado, From Dusk Till Dawn, Once Upon A Time In Mexico, Planet Terror, Machete, and Machete Kills. Applying that to the DCEU could only make for exciting and entertaining adaptations.

SOURCE: THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

Posted on in Film News, News

‘The Suicide Squad’ Production Artwork Confirms Deathstroke Was Supposed To Appear: Did Bloodsport Replace Him?

The Suicide Squad is getting some positive reactions from fans, critics, and casual moviegoers alike. But despite all the praise the film from James Gunn, it looks like a popular DC Comics character was nixed from the sequel.

Fans have spotted that Slade Wilson, aka, Deathstroke was supposed to lead Team Two in the film via concept artwork (See below) in the production offices. However, we know that Bloodsport, played by Idris Elba, was the character that ultimately chosen. It’ll be interesting to find out why they wanted Deathstroke in the film in the first place and why they pivoted.

I’m sure we’ll see get some insight from James Gunn in the near future.

If you’re not aware, Joe Manganiello was cast as Deathstroke for a button scene in Justice League with the idea he would appear in Ben Affleck’s Batman movie and had a solo film in development from The Raid director Gareth Evans. We don’t know if Manganiello was ultimately going to play Slade Wilson in The Suicide Squad, but it was likely.

Welcome to hell—a.k.a. Belle Reve, the prison with the highest mortality rate in the US of A. Where the worst Super-Villains are kept and where they will do anything to get out—even join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X. Today’s do-or-die assignment? Assemble a collection of cons, including Bloodsport, Peacemaker, Captain Boomerang, Ratcatcher 2, Savant, King Shark, Blackguard, Javelin and everyone’s favorite psycho, Harley Quinn. Then arm them heavily and drop them (literally) on the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese. Trekking through a jungle teeming with militant adversaries and guerrilla forces at every turn, the Squad is on a search-and-destroy mission with only Colonel Rick Flag on the ground to make them behave…and Amanda Waller’s government techies in their ears, tracking their every movement. And as always, one wrong move and they’re dead (whether at the hands of their opponents, a teammate, or Waller herself). If anyone’s laying down bets, the smart money is against them—all of them.

The film stars Margot Robbie (“Birds of Prey,” “Bombshell”), Idris Elba (“Avengers: Infinity War”), John Cena (upcoming HBO Max series “Peacemaker,” “Bumblebee”), Joel Kinnaman (“Suicide Squad”), Jai Courtney (the “Divergent” franchise), Peter Capaldi (“World War Z,” BBC’s “Doctor Who” ), David Dastmalchian (upcoming “Dune,” “Ant-Man and the Wasp”), Daniela Melchior (“Parque Mayer”), Michael Rooker (the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films), Alice Braga (“Elysium”), Pete Davidson (“The King of Staten Island,” TV’s “Saturday Night Live”), Joaquín Cosio (“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” TV’s “Narcos: Mexico”), Juan Diego Botto (“The Europeans”), Storm Reid (“The Invisible Man,” “A Wrinkle in Time”, “Euphoria”), Nathan Fillion (“Guardians of the Galaxy,” TV’s “The Rookie”), Steve Agee (“Brightburn,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”), Sean Gunn (the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, the “Avengers” films), Mayling Ng (“Wonder Woman”), Flula Borg (“Ralph Breaks the Internet”), Jennifer Holland (“Brightburn,” upcoming HBO Max series “Peacemaker”) and Tinashe Kajese (TV’s “Valor,” “The Inspectors”), with Sylvester Stallone (the “Rocky,” “Rambo” and “Expendables” franchises), and Viola Davis (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “Suicide Squad”).

Posted on in Film News, News

‘Blue Beetle’: ‘Cobra Kai’ Actor Xolo Maridueña Confirms He’s Playing Jaime Reyes In New DC Comics Movie

Batgirl won’t be the only DC Comics movie heading to HBO Max.

It was announced a while back that director Angel Manuel Soto (Charm City Kings) had been hired for the upcoming Blue Beetle movie from Warner Bros. and DC Films with filming said to be aiming for early next year after previous reports claimed a fall shoot.

The Wrap is echoing previous indications that Xolo Maridueña (Cobra Kai) is in talks with Warner Bros. to play Jamie eyes aka Blue Beetle. Big Screen Leaks had pointed towards the actor potentially taking the DC Comics role back in June.

Xolo Maridueña has confirmed this new with multiple posts on his Instagram stories saying, “I’m a frigging superhero dog, what the fuck?” In a video post at a screening for James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad.

Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer (Miss Bala) is writing the film and recently worked on the latest Scarface incarnation for director Luca Guadagnino.

A release date for Blue Beetle has yet to be announced but early 2023 is a good bet.

SOURCE: THE WRAP

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Michael B. Jordan Developing New ‘Superman’ Project At HBO Max That Will Focus On Val-Zod

It’s been long rumored that Michael B. Jordan was in the mix for a new Superman project at Warner Bros. and it looks like the details have finally been revealed thanks to a new report from the folks over at Collider.

Michael B. Jordan and his production company Outlier Society are developing their own Black Superman project for HBO Max that centers on the Val-Zod incarnation of the character, Collider has exclusively learned.

However, despite having an unnamed writer working on this new Val-Zod Superman project, they’re not entirely sure if this will end up a series or film. DC Comics adaptations at HBO Max have been both series and films, making it’s difficult to get a beat on what is happening with this new Superman thing. Films focused on Zatanna and Batgirl are moving forward alongside series such as Peacemaker, Gotham P.D., Green Lantern, a Constantine reboot, Justice League Dark, and more.

Jordan is also involved with a live-action Static Shock film as well. The actor is attached to star in a Rainbow Six movie as a follow-up to Without Remorse and will lead the second remake of The Thomas Crown Affair for AGBO (The Russo Brothers’ production company).

Warner Bros. is also developing a new Superman feature film with a script from writer Ta-Nehisi Coates and producer J.J. Abrams via Bad Robot. Coates is best-known for his work on the fantastic modern run of Black Panther comics for Marvel. This film would be separate from the HBO Max incarnation from Michael B. Jordan.

Having two new Superman projects in the works and Sasha Calle’s Supergirl making her debut in The Flash (A solo Supergirl film has been in development for years now), could mean that WarnerMedia is open to the idea of many different Superman incarnations happening all at once.

SOURCE: COLLIDER

Posted on in Film News, News

‘Batgirl’: Leslie Grace Nabs Barbara Gordon Role In Solo Movie At HBO Max

A Batgirl movie has been in development for years now and Warner Bros. dodged a bullet when Joss Whedon exited as his toxic behavior on the set of Justice League reshoots among other sets over the years. Instead, the project has moved from Warner Bros. to HBO Max with Bad Boys For Life and Ms. Marvel directing duo of Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah are helming the DC Comics from a script penned by Christina Hodson (The Flash, Birds of Prey).

After a recent report of a multiple candidates in the mix to play Barbara Gordon, it’s been revealed by Deadline that In The Heights actress Leslie Grace has secured the role. Barb is the daughter of Gotham City police commissioner Jim Gordon and suits-up alongside Batman, Robin, and handful of other masked vigilantes.

The solo Batgirl film is at HBO Max, but it’ll be curious to see if Grace ends up playing the role any of upcoming DC Comics movies.

Folks have assumed that Michael Keaton’s Bruce Wayne could end up being a mentor to this incarnation of Barb and seeing the project becoming a female version of Batman Beyond.Given that Batgirl is expected to be set in Gotham City it’ll be interesting to see what villains she’ll end up tackling. If I was Warner Bros./HBO Max, I would plant seeds for Gotham City Sirens by adding Poison Ivy and other potential characters.

Other DC Comics movies in the works include Wonder Woman 3, Zatanna, Blue Beetle, Static Shock, Supergirl, a black Superman movie produced by J.J. Abrams, Hourman, a female version of Plastic Man, and director Chris McKay is still hopeful about making Nightwing.

Batgirl has yet to be given a release date at HBO Max.

IN THE HEIGHTS – In Washington Heights, N.Y., the scent of warm coffee hangs in the air just outside of the 181st St. subway stop, where a kaleidoscope of dreams rallies a vibrant and tight-knit community. At the intersection of it all is a likable and magnetic bodega owner who hopes, imagines and sings about a better life.

SOURCE: DEADLINE