People seem to keep forgetting just how well Suicide Squad performed financially.
These films getting panned critically means nothing so long as they continue to make money. Just look at the Transformers franchise.
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Variety: Ben Affleck steps down as director of 'The Batman'
- Thread starter LiK
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People seem to keep forgetting just how well Suicide Squad performed financially.
These films getting panned critically means nothing so long as they continue to make money. Just look at the Transformers franchise.
The Cretan
Member
JL has Johns behind it, so I don't believe it will underperform, especially if WW is a success. However, never say never.
Sweeney Tom
Banned
If JL does BVS numbers or barely better (i.e. still not a billion) there's no way it can be considered a financial success by any metric or goalpost-moving.
Well the expectations of JL are going to be different from the expectations of SS. Just like how BvS had different expectations. Considering both BvS and SS ended up making about the same amount of money, I would say SS is an overperformer, and BvS is an underperformer. JL can still underperform if it makes the same amount of money as SS.
Transformers is actually a declining franchise in the US (as much as I love it!), but China is where it is really picking up. DC films don't seem to be blowing up in China in the same way.
He handed them a lesson that hiring semi-arthouse directors with critically acclaimed movies that have depth to them works if you give them control. Zack Snyder's entire portfolio is defined by surface level stupidity, a slightly better Michael Bay. I can't think of many directors more distant from Nolan's approach to filmmaking, and from what I've heard the producers still put their hands all over it and focus test these movies to death, which is completely not what happened with the TDK trilogy.
PhantomZone
Member
Actually he IS a problem.
He was too broody as Bruce Wayne
And was a poor Batman, the only saving grace was the DKR inspired suit.
DCEU is DOA
REBOOT or lose more money
Freeza Under The Shower
Member
Meh, with the way the US is now, I feel they should just perma-kill Supes in the movies and make him absent in the comics as well. (there is obviously no time to edit that now, but it's nice to want things)
"Where's my country gone", basically. But there is no way DC has the balls to actually stand up for all-star American ideals.
Say about marvel's Civil War II what you will, but at least it nailed the landing.
They really need to go back and do character work into a gradual reboot, or just say 'fuck it' and hook up with the CW verse. I'm sure Amell wouldn't mind bringing the Green Arrow to the big screen. I don't think there is any need to re-do that character when the show has already done the groundwork. Like how BvS felt the need to introduce a different Flash. Ehm, why? We don't know that guy, but we do know CW Barry.
Eh, whatever.
Piku_Ringo
Banned
Kibbles
Member
Squad never even got a Chinese release cause all the mystical shit :X
Preach.
Sweeney Tom
Banned
I disagree with basically everything but the last half. Can't disagree with the last paragraph because honestly, it's all on Gadot now. If it comes down to the League, when JL doesn't get a billion, the reboot option won't be enough to salvage things even if they take it. Everything will have been tainted.
broncobuster
Banned
Superman Returns happened around the same time as Batman Begins. Didn't work out too well for them.
ElBoxyBrown
Banned
That can only work if these directors aren't trying to build their movies up for a larger universe and lean on other movies to assist them. Even Marvel knows you have to have some control to keep this universe from going to crazy. WB's directors are all doing their own batshit crazy ideas that don't all match up and sometimes don't make any coherent sense. A lot of creative arthouse directors want their movies to stand on their own and not be bogged down by some plan of bigger things to come.
Rygar 8 Bit
Jaguar 64-bit
REEEMIIIIX i mean REEEBOOOOT
I dont think its that bad really. He is still Batman and still writes the script. If he can handpick a director who he thinks can do they job he wanted to do and that way can way focus more on the role itself. Its fine by me. People act like Affleck was gonna be the savior as director. Where they first laughed the hardest when he was announced as Batman.
That doesn't work for all movies (see Superman Return). If you're building a universe, you need someone overseeing that to make sure it pushes that point forward. Giving them free reign to make a movie that ignores the world building makes no sense. It's the reason why Marvel and Edgar parted ways, for the better.
DC's main problem is that it's clear they never had a plan to begin with before they started green lighting things. They're just throwing things on the wall to see what sticks at this point, while Marvel is full steam ahead with their vision. The fact is probably why it's so difficult to work with them currently, since I'm sure the vision is changing every damn week. Not surprised they keep changing the roster up.
I guess. I don't see what the big fucking deal is over creating a movie universe. Just make good movies. Deadpool didn't need a movie universe surrounding it to make bank. I don't think people going to see Dr. Strange and stuff are going because they're aware of the MCU, they just see the name Marvel on it and see that it looks cool as shit and go see it.
It's a walking corpse stitched together from various parts of older DC media brought to life by desparation and currently being driven by the hunger for Avengers money but lacking a heart.
So to answer your question:
No, it does not bleed.
Jason's Ultimatum
Member
Time to get Armie Hammer to play Batman, and find a really good director, too.
ArtHands
Thinks buying more servers can fix a bad patch
Its ironic because he decided to take up the Batman role to redeem his Daredevil movie. And then BvS end up a bigger shit than that movie
I also didn't like him as Murderman. The suit is cool. That's all there is to like.
shira
Member
It's deathstroke. I'm not sure how compelling a story they can do. An Orange and Green ninja when you have Joker in the dccu is going to need one hell of a story.
Glass Rebel
Member
I don't really see the difference between Marvel having a "bigger plan" for these films and other forms of studio interference. At the end of the day, if you're given $150m+ to make a movie, someone higher up the ladder is going to tell you want they want. It's up to the writers and director to make an at least passable movie under these conditions and people have been making blockbuster movies under this model for years.
But somehow DC can't seem to nail it for whatever reason.
Well. He was made to the savior of the DCEU.
Not sure what that has to do with him being a director or not.
ProtomanNeo
Member
When 'Live By Night' bombed at the box office I knew it was only a matter of time before he would be asked to step down. He'll be in director jail for a bit.
broncobuster
Banned
In truth it's not much of problem. Batman will endure and it's a project that can attract better directors than Affleck, for this iteration or the next.
I was far more disappointed when Rick Famuyiwa left The Flash. That's a character who deserves a great movie, what we know of the cast is great, and it's in limbo right now. Wonder Woman happened and Aquaman is happening and I'm happy about that. Marvel Studios was sort of blessed to have X-Men and Spider-Man out of their hands to focus on their B- and C-tier characters. Warners' handling of DC properties for decades now has been super weird where you have Batman and Superman movies, then Steel and Jonah Hex.
Razgriz-Specter
Member
Batman pissing himself in his suit sure would be something...
People were in the bargaining stages at that point and he was the best of a bad lot.
When you examine his performance and the way he's written a little more than not at all he's kinda crap.
But hey that warehouse scene!! Right guys!! Ball numbing action FTW!!!
Dammnit WB I just want more good Batman flicks, please don't fuck this up. And I am not even mad if Snyder is going to do it but for the love of god let him direct a direct adaption from a good and proven Batman comic, rather than him brewing his own awful storyline while he is filming.
There is no denying SS did very well, but a huge part of the marketing was scamming audiences into seeing a film with the newest Joker, one of the most iconic villains out there. It remains to be seen if they can make a succesful franchise out of it now that people have seen the film for themselves. It could be a case of Transformers, yes. But it might as well be a case of TMNT.
BvS did good but came nowhere near the financial potential it had.
There is no denying SS did very well, but a huge part of the marketing was scamming audiences into seeing a film with the newest Joker, one of the most iconic villains out there. It remains to be seen if they can make a succesful franchise out of it now that people have seen the film for themselves. It could be a case of Transformers, yes. But it might as well be a case of TMNT.
BvS did good but came nowhere near the financial potential it had.
Pop-O-Matic
Banned
Better than having Batman raped in prison.
PhantomX1313
Member
Nah. Too much money for WB to walk away.
If their biggest tentpole doesn't produce nearly as much profit as it cost to advertise and produce you bet your butt they'd abandon ship.
I'd pay to see Arrested DCevelopment
So the Mark Hughes piece is up and here are some interesting quotes.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/markhug...ts-as-the-batman-movie-director/#583b574f7a7a
I'm increasing starting to believe Bobby Roberts' theory. If Justice League under-performs the DCEU is basically done with the possible exception of Suicide Squad sequels/spinoffs.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/markhug...ts-as-the-batman-movie-director/#583b574f7a7a
I'm increasing starting to believe Bobby Roberts' theory. If Justice League under-performs the DCEU is basically done with the possible exception of Suicide Squad sequels/spinoffs.
Warner Bros. CEO Jeff Bewkes expected the film to be around 18 months out from September 2016. The Batman is supposed to begin production Spring 2017 and now the production needs to find a director. Leaving behind the rumors about Affleck and company having problems with the script, because that's neither here nor there, Warner Bros and the current Batman production team need to find a new director.
They need a director who is A) open, B) good, and C) wants to play well with former director and locked-in star Ben Affleck. This is not a small undertaking. Either a lot will get changed, or someone is getting paid very, very well.
Here's the current film schedule:
Wonder Woman - June 2, 2017
Justice League - November 17, 2017
The Flash - March 28, 2018
Aquaman - October 5, 2018
Shazam - April 5, 2019
Cyborg - April 3, 2020
Green Lantern Corps - July 24, 2020
The problem is largely that Warner Bros isn't taking the time to make great films.
-Ayer had to write Suicide Squad in six weeks, and WB couldn't figure out what tone they wanted.
-Justice League had to continue on with Synder after the underperformance of BvS, because the production start date was right around the corner from BvS launch date.
-Wonder Woman lost its original director in April 2015 due to "creative differences", but Patty Jenkins stepped a short time later. That's coming in June of this year, so just over two years for production, editing, and release. Pretty grand! I'm hopeful for this one.
-The Flash is currently on hiatus, because former directors Seth Grahame-Smith and Rick Famuyiwa both left the project citing "creative differences". That was supposed to be on the schedule next.
-Aquaman is actually the golden boy. So far, there's nothing bad about it. The screenwriter isn't amazing, but James Wan is a great director and the cast is solid. Yay!
-Shazam has no director. Last month it was announced that they were also making a Black Adam film and Shazam had a new screenwriter working on it.
-Cyborg has nothing but its star. Way off, but they should be firming this up. Not a huge problem.
-Green Lantern Corps just got co-writers for the screenplay. Like Cyborg, way off. Why this has a screenwriter before Cyborg, which was announced prior, is mystifying. Still, less of a problem.
-Gotham City Sirens isn't on the schedule at all, but has a director and screen play? ¯\_(ツ_/¯
-Justice League 2 was originally scheduled for June 14, 2019, but was pushed back indefinitely.
There's two issues. One, WB gives off the feeling of spinning in place, throwing stuff out and hoping anything sticks. As a cohesive production schedule, it leaves a lot to be desired. In contrast, the competition has films planned only until the end of 2019. They have scripts for everything already and only need to find a director for Captain Marvel, coming in March 2019.
Two, as Bobby says, it feels like WB is waiting to see how Justice League performs before really committing. It's the tentpole and it's smart to be worried that Synder may not deliver the rousing success they want. It will likely make a profit regardless, but WB wants Batman and Harry Potter money. They'll course correct until they get there, but it makes it very chaotic to plan out a film slate.
If you step back and look at it all, it's not a situation that breeds confidence. Hell, I didn't even expect to write this much, but here we are. It's a shame, because these are easy sells. I've said repeatedly that DC's main heroes are a much bigger sell than the primary characters Marvel is working with. If they made great films, the sky would be the limit. But they're not. They're making mediocre films at best.
Great summation. It boggles my mind how good their comics have been with Rebirth but the movies are so fucked. Why don't they get the comic writers together to create plots for them? I think Marvel did it that way and yet WB/DC is struggling with this.
"And now the tale of a young orphan who found himself facing the worst Gotham's underworld had to offer."
shira
Member
Denis Villeneuve?
PhantomX1313
Member
Holy fuck read this shit http://www.aintitcool.com/node/77153
WB should reach out to Jeremy Saulnier (Blue Ruin, Green Room)
No, him and Villeneuve deserve better
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