Tag: DC Comics

Posted on in Television News

James Gunn’s ‘Peacemaker’ Series Will Shoot January-June In Vancouver and Working Title Is ‘The Scriptures’

The Ronin has been able to independently confirm that James Gunn’s upcoming 8-episode Peacemaker series for HBO Max will shoot in Vancouver under the working title The Scriptures. Filming will take place from January 18th until June 15th.

James Gunn recently mentioned on Twitter that filming would be taking place in Canada.

https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/1325505559009742848

The HBO Max series is a direct spinoff of his DC Comics film The Suicide Squad starring John Cena as Christopher Smith aka Peacemaker and Steve Agee returning as Warden John Economos.

Oh f*ck, it’s Peacemaker! HBO Max is set to explore the origins of the Peacemaker character, the master of weapons from the highly anticipated upcoming The Suicide Squad film, in the new Max Original action-adventure-comedy series Peacemaker. HBO Max has given a straight-to-series order of eight episodes for the first season of the show. John Cena will reprise his role from The Suicide Squad movie to star in the series, and the film’s acclaimed writer/director James Gunn will write all eight episodes of Peacemaker and will direct multiple episodes, including the first. Gunn and The Suicide Squad producer Peter Safran will serve as executive producers of the series, with Cena as co-executive producer. Based on characters from DC, Peacemaker will be produced by Gunn’s Troll Court Entertainment and The Safran Company in association with Warner Bros. Television. Peacemaker is scheduled to begin production in early 2021, prior to Gunn beginning work on the next Guardians of the Galaxy film.

Gunn is expected to begin prepping Guardians of The Galaxy 3 once he finishes up on Peacemaker and could begin shooting once the promotional tour for the August 6th, 2021 release of The Suicide Squad ends.

James reassured fans on Twitter that Peacemaker won’t be delaying Guardians of The Galaxy 3.

GUNN: “I’m doing Peacemaker in the time always allotted between The Suicide and Guardians of Galaxy Volume 3. Normally I would have been taking more of a break in this space but it’s Covid, I’m stuck at home, so I wrote a TV series.”

We should be getting more casting announcements very very soon.

Posted on in Television News

Steve Agee Officially Reprising Warden John Economos Role In James Gunn’s ‘Peacekeeper’ Series For HBO Max

Yesterday, it was announced by Deadline that comedic actor Steve Agee (Guardians of The Galaxy Vol.2) will be reprising one of his two roles from James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad for the upcoming spinoff series on HBO Max. Steve will be playing Belle Reve warden John Economos. The DC Comics series will focus on John Cena’s character Peacekeeper with James Gunn returning to write and direct.

I hear Agee will reprise one of two of his Suicide Squad roles, that of John Economos. The character is a warden of Belle Reve Federal Penitentiary and an aide to Viola Davis’ government character Amanda Waller. Agee is a longtime thespian in Gunn’s canon, having starred in the filmmaker’s Super, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and his horror feature production Brightburn directed by David Yarovesky. Agee also is playing King Shark in Suicide Squad. 

Gunn and Steve confirmed the news on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/1322003900077993984

The Suicide Squad is set for release on August 6th, 2021.

SOURCE: DEADLINE

Posted on in Film News

James Gunn Says Making A Superman Project “Was A Possiblity” Before Agreeing To Direct ‘The Suicide Squad’

In a new interview with Empire, The Suicide Squad writer/director spoke about when he agreed to make the DC Comics film before getting a call from Disney’s Alan Horn and Marvel’s Kevin Feige about coming back to make Guardians of The Galaxy 3.

He says that making a Superman project “was a possibility” after revealing that Feige had asked him if his DC project was indeed Superman.

After hearing from Horn, Gunn knew he had to update MCU head honcho Kevin Feige on his next project – who, when told it was a DC movie, asked: “Is it Superman?” Gunn stated that it wasn’t Superman (“That was a possibility,” he tells Empire) and explained that he had chosen The Suicide Squad. Feige’s reaction? “Please, please make a good movie. Just… make a great movie.”

At one time, it was rumored that Warner Bros. approached various filmmakers tackle a sequel to Man of Steel. However, another solo Superman film never materialized. The studio had been reportedly developing a Supergirl film that has seemingly been placed on paused for the foreseeable future.

Despite reports of Warner Bros. trying to get Henry Cavill to cameo as Superman (possibly in The Flash alongside other Justice League co-stars) his return for his own feature film is far from confirmed.

SOURCE: EMPIRE MAGAZINE

Posted on in Film News

‘The Suicide Squad’ Tasked To Destroy A Nazi-Era Prison Lab Called Jotunheim and James Gunn Had Carte Blanche To Kill-Off Characters

We won’t get to watch James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad until next August month but there are some new details about the film coming out.

James Gunn took to Twitter to reveal that Warner Bros. allowed him to kill any of the characters he wanted after a fan suggested that certain characters and high-profile actors were safe because of their usefulness in future films.

GUNN: “No character was protected by DC. They gave me carte blanche to do what I wanted. That was one of the things we agreed to before I came to work for them. I wasn’t looking for shock value but I wanted the audience to know anything could happen.”

https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/1320104790722969601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1320104790722969601%7Ctwgr%5Eshare_3&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fca.ign.com%2Farticles%2Fthe-suicide-squad-james-gunn-carte-blanche-to-kill-any-dc-character

The Direct also caught-wind of a Reddit post from someone with an early copy of the latest issue of Empire Magazine where producer Peter Safran reveals that the Latin American location in footage will be the fictional island nation of Corto Maltese and happens to be the home of a Nazi facility called Jotunheim where experiments took place on prisoners. These excerpts have circulating at other sites.

SAFRAN: “There they have to destroy a Nazi-era prison and laboratory named Jotunheim where political prisoners were held and experimentations took place.”

The Nazi connection and material that could be covered there might help to support the assumption that the film might indeed end up landing an R-rating.

The sizzle-reel trailer that dropped during DC FanDome also seemingly revealed that the villain of the film might be alien baddie Starro.

Here is a rundown of the cast.

  • Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn
  • Viola Davis as Amanda Waller
  • Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang
  • Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flag
  • Idris Elba as Bloodsport
  • John Cena as Peace-Maker
  • Alice Braga as Sol Soria
  • Pete Davidson as Blackguard
  • Peter Capaldi as Thinker
  • David Dastmalchian as Poka-Dot Man
  • Michael Rooker as The Savant
  • Sean Gunn as Weasel
  • Mayling Ng as Mongal
  • Flula Borg as Javelin
  • Steve Agee as King Shark (body)
  • Daniela Melchior as Rat Catcher
  • Nathan Fillion as TDK
  • Julio Ruiz as Major General Suarez
  • Juan Diego Botto as General Luna

The Suicide Squad is set to be released on August 6th, 2021.

SOURCE: JAMES GUNN & EMPIRE MAGAZINE

Posted on in Television News

‘Y: The Last Man’ Series Adds ‘Dredd’ Actress Olivia Thirlby – Production Resumes In Toronto

Deadline reports that the FX On Hulu series Y: The Last Man has found two replacement actresses for the sci-fi project based on the DC Comics property. As Dredd’s Olivia Thirlby and Shameless’ Ashley Romans are taking roles previously played by Imogen Poots (Filth, 28 Weeks Later) and Lashana Lynch (No Time To Die, Captain Marvel).

The story is set in a post-apocalyptic world in which a cataclysmic event decimates every mammal with a Y chromosome but for one cisgender man and his pet monkey. The series follows the survivors in this new world as they struggle with their efforts to restore what was lost and the opportunity to build something better.

Production on the pilot has resumed in Toronto and is expected to complete on November 17th.

Eariler this year Ben Schnetzer took over the lead role of Yorick Brown from Barry Keoghan (Chernobyl, Eternals), who is currently filming The Batman in the United Kingdom. The rest of the cast consists of Diane Lane (Judge Dredd, Man of Steel), Amber Tamblyn, Marin Ireland, Diana Bang, Elliot Fletcher and Juliana Canfield.

SOURCE: DEADLINE

Posted on in Television News

Jared Leto’s Joker and Joe Manganiello’s Deathstroke Returning For Zack Snyder’s ‘Justice League’ – Will Be Part of Additional Photography

The additional photography of Zack Snyder’s Justice League for HBO Max will see two Batman rogues make a return.

The Hollywood Reporter says that Jared Leto will be reprising the Joker after previously playing him Suicide Squad and having his role reportedly scaled-down from the original version from David Ayer. Other actors mentioned returning include Ben Affleck as Batman, Ray Fisher as Cyborg, and Amber Heard as Mera.

The Joker and Affleck’s Batman briefly tussled in a scene in Suicide Squad but never shot scenes for Justice League.

Collider also reports that Joe Manganiello will be reprising the role of Slade Wilson aka Deathstroke as well. He was briefly shown at the end of Justice League alongside Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor as a teaser for the Legion of Doom.

The extent of their return isn’t mentioned. However, this news of the inclusion of Leto’s Joker seems to reinforce the project is indeed moving beyond the edit he showed Warner Bros. brass before Joss Whedon was brought-on.

It seems like neither Henry Cavill or Gal Gadot will be part of the new filming.

Snyder’s Justice League instead of being a single film edit will be divided into four hour long segments similar to a miniseries format as confirmed by HBO Max, who is putting up the money.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6512XKKNkU

SOURCE: THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER & COLLIDER

Posted on in Film News

Sarah Shahi Confirmed For Role In DC Comics Film ‘Black Adam’

Earlier, it was reported by The Illuminerdi that actress Sarah Shahi (Person of Interest) was joining the cast of Black Adam which has now been confirmed by Deadline.

In the film, Shahi will play a university professor and freedom fighter leading the resistance in Kahndaq.

She joins Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam, Noah Centineo as Atom Smasher, and Aldis Hodge as Hawkman. Doctor Fate and Cyclone are also roles expected to be filled as confirmed at DC FanDome.

Rory Haines, Sohrab Noshirvani, and Adam Sztykiel have worked on Black Adam’s script with Jamue Collet-Serra set to direct.

Dwayne and Jaume recently worked together on Disney’s Jungle Cruise.

Filming on Black Adam is expected to begin sometime next year in Atlanta, Georgia and possibly in Los Angeles, California.

Matrix 4 recently took the film’s release date of December 22nd, 2021 and still hasn’t landed a new date.

SOURCE: DEADLINE

Posted on in Television News

Character Lineup Revealed For HBO Max’s ‘Green Lantern’ Series – Will Be Written By Seth Grahame-Smith and Marc Guggenheim

Yesterday, HBO Max and DC Comics made a big splash with announcing their character and creative lineup for the upcoming live-action Green Lantern series for HBO Max.

The Lanterns featured in the series will include Guy Gardner, Jessica Cruz, Simon Baz, Kilowog, and will also feature Sinestro. Original Green Lantern, Alan Scott, is showing up as well and they confirm the character will be openly gay in the series.

They also announced that Seth Grahame-Smith (The Lego Batman Movie, Dark Shadows) will be showrunning the series and writing it alongside Marc Guggenheim.

Here is the official press release from DC Comics.

From DC and HBO Max and Berlanti Productions comes a bold adaptation of the iconic comic book franchise: A saga spanning decades and galaxies. GREEN LANTERN will depict the adventures of a multitude of Lanterns, including Guy Gardner, Jessica Cruz, Simon Baz and Alan Scott—Earth’s first Green Lantern, who, true to the comics, is a gay man—and many more. The series will also include fan favorites such as Sinestro and Killowog, as well as introduce new heroes to the ranks of the Green Lantern Corps.

Green Lantern comes from executive producers and writers Seth Grahame-Smith, who will serve as showrunner, and Marc Guggenheim, along with executive producers Greg Berlanti, Geoff Johns, Sarah Schechter and David Madden. Many of these names should be familiar to DCTV fans, as Berlanti has overseen most of DC’s recent small screen offerings, including The CW’s beloved “Arrowverse,” as well as recent streaming hits Titans, Stargirl and Doom Patrol. Guggenheim and Schechter have both played key roles in many of those shows, including Arrow, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl and Batwoman, among others. Guggenheim also co-wrote the 2011 Ryan Reynold’s Green Lantern movie along with Berlanti, Michael Green and Michael Goldenberg.

Grahame-Smith may not be as familiar of a name to DC fans, but Green Lantern isn’t the first DC project in which he’s been involved. Grahame-Smith co-wrote the screenplay to 2017’s The Lego Batman Movie, along with 2012’s Dark Shadows, directed by Tim Burton. Prior to that, he gained some notoriety in geek circles with his novels Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and Unholy Night.

Surprising nobody, Geoff Johns was announced as the show’s executive producer.

You might remember that Seth was one of the many people tasked to write and direct Ezra Miller’s Flash movie in one of it’s various incarnations.

I guess we’ll have to wait and see what level of quality they’ll be aiming for with the Green Lantern show.

It was also previously announced that James Gunn and John Cena would be reuniting for a Peacekeeper series that would be a spinoff of the upcoming sequel The Suicide Squad.

Matt Reeves and Terrence Winter are also working on a series set in the world of Gotham Police Department that will take place a year before the events of The Batman.

SOURCE: DC COMICS

Posted on in Film News

‘The Batman’ Release Officially Delayed To March 4th, 2022 – Other DC Films Also Shuffle Dates

Tonight, Warner Bros. has confirmed Colldier’s scoop that Denis Villeneuve’s Dune will indeed be taking The Batman’s current release date of October 1st, 2021 as the DC comics movie has been officially moved to March 4th, 2022.

There was some shuffling of the other DC Comics films too.

They’ve also pulled Black Adam from the schedule entirely as it had been set for release on December 22nd, 2021, moved The Flash to November 4th, 2022, and the Shazam! sequel heads to June 3rd, 2023.

Wonder Woman 1984 is still seemingly set for Christmas Day, but that will likely get delayed as well in the coming days.

From Warner Bros. Pictures comes “The Batman,” with director Matt Reeves (the “Planet of the Apes” films) at the helm and with Robert Pattinson (“Tenet,” “The Lighthouse,” “Good Time”) starring as Gotham City’s vigilante detective, Batman, and billionaire Bruce Wayne.

Also in the star-studded ensemble as Gotham’s famous and infamous cast of characters are Zoë Kravitz (“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” “Mad Max: Fury Road”) as Selina Kyle; Paul Dano (“Love & Mercy,” “12 Years a Slave”) as Edward Nashton; Jeffrey Wright (the “Hunger Games” films) as the GCPD’s James Gordon; John Turturro (the “Transformers” films) as Carmine Falcone; Peter Sarsgaard (“The Magnificent Seven,” “Black Mass”) as Gotham D.A. Gil Colson; Barry Keoghan (“Dunkirk”) as Officer Stanley Merkel; Jayme Lawson (“Farewell Amor”) as mayoral candidate Bella Reál; with Andy Serkis (the “Planet of the Apes” films, “Black Panther”) as Alfred; and Colin Farrell (“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” “Dumbo”) as Oswald Cobblepot.

SOURCE: WARNER BROS.

Posted on in Film News

James Gunn Assures Fans ‘Peacemaker’ Series Will Not Delay ‘Guardians of The Galaxy 3’ Shoot

It was announced yesterday by WarnerMedia that James Gunn would write an eight-episode Peacemaker series for HBO Max based on the DC Comics character played by John Cena, which will be first seen in The Suicide Squad. 

Here is that official press release. 

Oh f*ck, it’s Peacemaker! HBO Max is set to explore the origins of the Peacemaker character, the master of weapons from the highly anticipated upcoming The Suicide Squad film, in the new Max Original action-adventure-comedy series Peacemaker. HBO Max has given a straight-to-series order of eight episodes for the first season of the show. John Cena will reprise his role from The Suicide Squad movie to star in the series, and the film’s acclaimed writer/director James Gunn will write all eight episodes of Peacemaker and will direct multiple episodes, including the first. Gunn and The Suicide Squad producer Peter Safran will serve as executive producers of the series, with Cena as co-executive producer. Based on characters from DC, Peacemaker will be produced by Gunn’s Troll Court Entertainment and The Safran Company in association with Warner Bros. Television. Peacemaker is scheduled to begin production in early 2021, prior to Gunn beginning work on the next Guardians of the Galaxy film.

James has responded to fan concerns on Twitter that Peacekeeper could lead to further delays to Guardians of The Galaxy 3 because he’s set to direct multiple episodes next year. 

GUNN: “I’m doing Peacemaker in the time always allotted between The Suicide and Guardians of Galaxy Volume 3. Normally I would have been taking more of a break in this space but it’s Covid, I’m stuck at home, so I wrote a TV series.”

The Suicide Squad will be released on August 6th, 2021 and James wouldn’t likely be able to begin shooting the Guardians sequel until the promotional tour completes. 

SOURCE: JAMES GUNN