J. Michael Straczynski Blasts Warner Bros.' BATMAN, SUPERMAN & Nobody Else CBM Strategy

J. Michael Straczynski Blasts Warner Bros.' BATMAN, SUPERMAN & Nobody Else CBM Strategy

J. Michael Straczynski has written for television shows, featured films, and the two big comic book entities, Marvel and DC Comics. So, when he speaks we should all listen. At New York Comic-Con he took aim at Warner Bros. for their lousy strategy with comic book movies.

By nailbiter111 - Oct 16, 2013 09:10 AM EST
Filed Under: Batman
Source: filmbuffonline



J. Michael Straczynski, is perhaps best known for his long-run on The Amazing Spider-Man, and his Superman graphic novel, Superman: Earth One, that he collaborated with artist Shane Davis. At this year's New York Comic-Con JMS said what most comic book fans have been thinking for quite sometime, that WB is clueless about bringing DC Comics' characters, besides Batman and Superman to the big screen.

"I’ve talked to the people at Warner Brothers and said “What is wrong with you people?” They think that they have a very narrow bench – Superman, Batman and then nobody else. We’re trying to get them to understand that we have a really good bench of characters if you treat them properly."


After Warner Bros. failed to create a respectable Green Lantern film, executives went back to the tried and true formula of Superman ("Man of Steel") and Batman ("Batman Vs. Superman"). And whom would J. Michael Straczynski like to see get their own film?
"I would love to see the Flash. Ever see The Man With The X-Ray Eyes? There’s a scientist in pursuit of knowledge and information and receives this power and uses it to try and see deeper and deeper what’s going on on the physical scale and the metaphysical scale, trying to burrow through to the core of the universe to understand things better. Make it obsessive like that I think you could make a really good film about the Flash."

"There’s a fan made trailer for Wonder Woman online. Have you all seen that? Is that not well done? And that’s what the Wonder Woman film should be. If you treated the Wonder Woman film the way we treated the Thor movie with some seriousness and also focus on her family you’d get a really good film out of that."



Straczynski also had a few negative things to say about Zack Snyder's Man of Steel.
"I thought that it had one fight more than it should have had. And it was a good movie that could have been a great movie had they put more time in on the characters. IN the end, I don’t care how good your effects are or the battles or the CGI, if we don’t care about the characters you got nothing and nowhere to go."
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Supes17
Supes17 - 10/16/2013, 9:33 AM
I agree
Reasonnnn
Reasonnnn - 10/16/2013, 9:33 AM
Flame wars begin.
GoILL
GoILL - 10/16/2013, 9:35 AM
He's pretty much spot on.
YeezusWept
YeezusWept - 10/16/2013, 9:44 AM
It's obvious DC is still scared after what happened with JL. They need to get over that.

Just make sure the scripts are good. Is it really that hard?
marvel72
marvel72 - 10/16/2013, 9:46 AM
maybe the dc cinematic universe will revolve around just batman & superman.they might add wonder woman if you're lucky. :)

we need a flash movie & reboot the green lantern.
Rhysno1
Rhysno1 - 10/16/2013, 9:50 AM
He speaks the truth
seyrie
seyrie - 10/16/2013, 9:54 AM
Well, he speaks the truth.
CharlesLord
CharlesLord - 10/16/2013, 9:56 AM
I agree with you Omega. Getting my comment in now before he comments go to shit
BlackPhillip
BlackPhillip - 10/16/2013, 9:58 AM
I loved his work on Mighty Thor. It was even cool to see him cameo in the Thor movie.
DukeAcureds
DukeAcureds - 10/16/2013, 10:03 AM
Yeah like the Earth One books, huh, JMS?
Look, the DCCU has literally just begun. They've decided to restart everything and do it right, this time. We start with Superman (as he was the first), then Batman (who was second). The rest of the films have not been announced.
It would, of course, be folly to dive straight into Justice League, without introducing the characters in their own movies, first. Can you imagine what it would be like if we just got an Avengers movie, with no Iron Man, Hulk, Thor or Captain America movies?
So we don't know what's next, but we do know that they are geting numerous pitches for a Wonder Woman film. So it looks to me as if they are headed in the right direction.
I mean, sure, the only JL films we have had, from WB, before Man of Steel have been 5 Superman films, 8 Batman films and one crappy Green Lantern film. But tha was the past.
It is DCCU year one and we have only 1 Superman film. By 2015, we will have 1 and a half Superman films and half of a Batman film. That is a whole lot less Batman and Superman, going into Justice League.
McNyagano
McNyagano - 10/16/2013, 10:03 AM
He speaks the truth...



TheYoungMan
TheYoungMan - 10/16/2013, 10:03 AM
I don't think he knows what WB's plans are for the DC universe.
DukeAcureds
DukeAcureds - 10/16/2013, 10:04 AM
So, yeah, basically, chill out guys, they do got this.
ParisSun
ParisSun - 10/16/2013, 10:05 AM
Flame all you want, he is on point about everything he said. DC fanboys will get angry but you can tell he cares and actually wants DC to succeed by championing other characters.

BTW, isn't he more known for the brilliant Babylon 5 series?
McNyagano
McNyagano - 10/16/2013, 10:05 AM
"I thought that it had one fight more than it should have had. And it was a good movie that could have been a great movie had they put more time in on the characters. IN the end, I don’t care how good your effects are or the battles or the CGI, if we don’t care about the characters you got nothing and nowhere to go."

My thoughts exactly.That hentai tentacle fight was unnecessary imo.
Moohika
Moohika - 10/16/2013, 10:07 AM
Who the hell is this guy? And why should I care about his opinions?
aresww3
aresww3 - 10/16/2013, 10:07 AM
@everyone - JMS is laying down some truth source on y´all. Sniff the smelling salts people.
Moohika
Moohika - 10/16/2013, 10:08 AM
For all he knows, WB might have a plan, he's just not in the loop
MrReese
MrReese - 10/16/2013, 10:08 AM
well he ain't wrong.
NeoBaggins
NeoBaggins - 10/16/2013, 10:08 AM
I liked what he said. Very passionate, genuine and knowledgeable.

Now, bring on the SUPERMAN BATMAN movie. Thanks.
Reasonnnn
Reasonnnn - 10/16/2013, 10:09 AM
@Moohika Wow you're very ignorant.
aresww3
aresww3 - 10/16/2013, 10:09 AM
@moohia "Who the hell is this guy? And why should I care about his opinions?"

Only an oscar nominated screen writer, who also wrote superman earth one and two and is a massive superman fan and probably should have been the one to write Man Of Steel, it would have been so much better.
McNyagano
McNyagano - 10/16/2013, 10:09 AM
seyrie
seyrie - 10/16/2013, 10:10 AM
@Moohika..if u claim to be a comic book lover and you don't know JMS, your card should be revoked
ItsATrap
ItsATrap - 10/16/2013, 10:10 AM
Why do people think that the fan-made Wonder Woman clip is good? Sure, as far as visual effects go it's great, especially when you take into account the kinds of resources they likely had. But JMS, whose (reasonable) criticism of Man Of Steel was the lack of character, says that the Wonder Woman clip was good, I need to hit the pause button and ask a few questions.

Why? The clip features horrible acting and no dialogue, yet it's being praised for how a Wonder Woman movie should be made. I can't get on board with a CBM with Wonder Woman and no dialogue. You can't make this another generic action movie, or the genre will die just like everyone's predicting it will. Wonder Woman needs story, and it needs character. JMS at least got it right when he said it needed to be like the Thor movie with a heavier focus on the family dynamic. Mix in his version of things with Joss Whedon's initial pitch, and you've got the makings of a movie. But don't focus on a crap fan-made "film" that serves no greater purpose than to showcase the director's abilities with CGI.
Dinotron
Dinotron - 10/16/2013, 10:11 AM
hes on point! Thats all that DC is about when it comes to movies. Heck we found out this week that the Batman/ SUperman movie was starting this weekend. Dc fans try to defend it but the movie doesnt have an official title yet and the main cast so far from my knowledge is just Batman and Superman as of right now... see what i mean?
aresww3
aresww3 - 10/16/2013, 10:11 AM
MartianAbominationClone - 10/16/2013, 9:57 AM
Report Comment
Can I please write a WW animated series for HBO?

I hear you brother.
Poolio
Poolio - 10/16/2013, 10:12 AM
Who the [frick] cares what this guy thinks!
Ranger14
Ranger14 - 10/16/2013, 10:13 AM
Can't say I disagree with anything he said. Long-time DC fan that has felt underwhelmed and disappointed to date with what WB has brought to the table.
McNyagano
McNyagano - 10/16/2013, 10:14 AM
@Dinotron

I got called a troll for saying I was concerned with them starting to shoot so early so... Go figure man. :/
aresww3
aresww3 - 10/16/2013, 10:14 AM
"Why do people think that the fan-made Wonder Woman clip is good? Sure, as far as visual effects go it's great, especially when you take into account the kinds of resources they likely had. But JMS, whose (reasonable) criticism of Man Of Steel was the lack of character, says that the Wonder Woman clip was good, I need to hit the pause button and ask a few questions."

I know it´s not that great, but what it shows is the amount of interest in the character. Also that stupid excuse about how her costume would look strange on film has completely been debunked by them. But your right, I thought it was going to be much better. But it does show the audience is there for ww, however, I´m not for people who say just make it. I want a damn good film like she deserves, which is why i don´t want Goyer anywhere near that movie.
Mrsinister
Mrsinister - 10/16/2013, 10:15 AM
Man of real. Anyone one who says faggot usually has a small dick. Is that you? Small dick and mad about it?
BlackIceJoe
BlackIceJoe - 10/16/2013, 10:16 AM
I am more of a DC fan then Marvel. But I totally agree with him. Marvel has been doing really good in the movie business & I would love to see DC doing the same. I so want to see an Aquaman film. But I don't think I ever will. I would even like to see a Legion of Superheroes film but if a Justice League film can't happen there is no chance for that.
Azrael725
Azrael725 - 10/16/2013, 10:16 AM
He is right and I'm a huge WB and DC fan. They aren't taking the risks that Marvel is willing to take. They are stuck in the, "Let's makes these heroes part of our own world!" Marvel has actually bridged the real world and fantasy world! The Dark Knight Trilogy is still the 3 best CBM's ever made and that's all fine and dandy, but WB needs to look in a new direction. Green Lantern had amazing potential and it suffered from lack of belief. Nobody really believed in the project. I think WB got scared and just said well this wont be as good as a Batman or Superman movie so they just kind of tossed it out there. Everybody who was involved just didn't have their hearts in it. Ryan Reynolds was a good Hal Jordan though, he just didn't have a good script to rely on. WB needs to learn that every DC CBM can be just as good as a Batman or Superman movie. Wonder Woman is the female Thor of the DC Universe and she could have one kick ass movie! The Flash could have a great movie if done right. He's a little harder to do, but it could be done. Green Lantern needs a pseudo-reboot like what Marvel did with the Hulk. Justice League needs to happen!
Dinotron
Dinotron - 10/16/2013, 10:18 AM
WarnerBrother
WarnerBrother - 10/16/2013, 10:21 AM
JMS doesn't get it.We got "One fight too many" in MoS because Snyder was fulfilling a mandate from WB to delivery a Superman 180 degrees opposite of Superman Returns.

That film had a lot of emotion and character development and Singer went out of
his way (A hell of a lot more then Marvel Studios has) to make you care about the characters and what was the result?

WB didn't want any more of that and went to somebody else.

Nolan knew exactly what WB would get when he picked Snyder for MoS.

As far as the other DC characters,JMS is not in the inner circle and is not privy to any release plans so he might want to hold off blasting WB/DC going forward at least till next years Comic Con or he could look like a fool if/when DC announces a release slate at the Batman/Superman panel next summer.
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