Here's something to lend a little truth to those rumors about behind the scenes plans for a live-action film for The Flash.
From day one, director Christopher Nolan firmly stated that the world he created in Batman Begins was stand-alone and not meant to be inhabited by superpowered heroes like Superman and Wonder Woman. That's a sentiment that remained true all the way up to the trilogy's conclusion in The Dark Knight Rises. However, things are different with Zack Snyder's Man of Steel which is thought to be the starting point for Warner Bros. superhero plans that include a Justice League film. Despite some recent rumors that those plans have changed, WB Motion Pictures President Jeff Robinov confirms that the cinematic world created in Man of Steel will lead to other characters from DC Comics gracing the big screen in the latest issue of EW. Confirmation doesn't come any stronger than that.
On other characters entering the cinematic world of Man of Steel?
Roven: "[Man of Steel's] setting the tone for what the movies are going to be like going forward. In that, Man of Steel is definitely a first step. What Zack and Chris have done with [Man of Steel] is allow you to really introduce other characters into the same world."
Man of Steel screenwriter David S. Goyer was a little less direct on the same subject but he coyly dropped a hint that there will be some easter eggs.
Goyer: "I would love to tell you yes or no [on Man of Steel leading to a shared universe], but I think it’s going to be more exciting for people to keep a beady eye out and find what they can find."
What type of easter eggs should we keep a look out for in the film? Maybe references to Coast City, Gotham, Blüdhaven or Central City? Our own Jake Lester says there's a strong possibility of a Wonder Woman reference in Man of Steel.
What's also exciting here is that Man of Steel represents a potential change in philosophy for Warner Bros. which has used Christopher Nolan's style of dark, gritty realism as a template for its superhero plans for the last eight years. If Man of Steel can equal the box office success of The Dark Knight Rises, expect the studio to become more accepting of the fantastical and spectacular.
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Man of Steel - Superman Official Trailer 2
Running Time: In post-production
Release Date: 14 June 2013 (USA)
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Starring: Henry Cavill, Michael Shannon, Amy Adams, Kevin Costner,Russell Crowe, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Christopher Meloni, Richard Schiff, Harry Lennix
Directed by: Zack Snyder
Written by: Christopher Nolan (story), David S. Goyer screenplay)
Man of Steel follows the Last Son of Krypton on his epic journey to become mankind's shinning beacon of hope for a brighter future. With the beliefs and values instilled by his adoptive parents Jonathan (Kevin Costner) and Martha (Diane Lane) Kent, a young Clark (Henry Cavill) sets out to find his place in the world. But when the nefarious General Zodd (Michael Shannon) arrives on Earth, Clark will have to choose between being a normal human or Kal-el,son of Jor-El (Russell Crowe) and humanity's greatest protector and champion. Filmed in IMAX and shot in Vancouver, Chicago and Plano, Illinois, Man of Steel will be released on June 14, 2013 by Warner Bros. Directed by Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen) with a screenplay by David S. Goyer (The Dark Knight) the Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight Rises, Inception) produced feature film will surely be the summer blockbuster of 2013.