This is my first editorial so it may end up a bit on the short end and rough around the edges. So I apologize in advance. However, that still shouldn't stop it from being any less of a fun read. Now! Onto the 4 reasons foreshadowing Warner Bros. inevitable dominance!
1. They Own All the Rights
I know what you're thinking. This is a tired argument. However, it is a valid one. While Marvel Studios and 20th Century Fox have enjoyed many successes with their respective Marvel proprieties, it is undeniable that both franchises have failed to reach their true potential in part due to being separated and unable to crossover thanks to legalities. In a sense, the MCU and FOX-verse cripple one another by withholding the proprieties they have from each other. Many Avengers members are missing, storylines can't be adapted faithfully or even at all, origins have been completely changed, etc. Warner Bros. doesn't have to suffer through any of this. The rights are all in one basket. Any DC Comics property can be adapted at a moments notice and the fidelity of storylines, characters, etc. can be left intact. Could you imagine DC mainstays like Superman or Batman having their rights held by different film studios? Man, Dawn of Justice wouldn't even be possible let alone a Justice League film. Well, maybe Justice League could be done. It would just be quite souring knowing corporate greed prevents your favorite characters from being on-screen together. Don`t even get me started on the villain situation.
2. Willing To Take Risks
This point is slightly debatable, but I did say my reasons were unfounded in the title so... Yeah. Anyway, while the majority of Warner's line-up consists of set-up solo films for the long-awaited Justice League film they have one film that stands out from the rest. Suicide Squad. It's the oddball out of the entire line-up. The name itself stands out without even knowing that the actual premise is. The fact that Suicide Squad will be happening before a Batman solo of all things says something about how hungry Warner Bros. is to win. There's also the Wonder Woman solo film which will serve as the first female lead superhero film ever. Something Marvel won't be doing until 2019 and Fox won't be doing period. The risk taking even extends into their casting decisions. Such as the highly controversial Erza Miller casting as the Flash. Up until now, Marvel Studios have been only ones to take risks. Not anymore. There's a new risk taker in town.
3. More Iconic Characters
I don't think it would be a stretch to say that DC Comics have more characters that are better well known to the public than the ones Marvel Studios currently have the rights to. Personally, I didn't even know who the Avengers were around the time of the film's announcement. I was just told it was Marvel's version of the "Justice League". Granted, I don't consider myself well-educated when it comes to comic books, but I certainly was aware of DC Comics and their characters long before this whole superhero craze began. Justice League Unlimited was my life for a time and Batman: The Animated Series re-runs were like candy. If not for Marvel Studios and their box office successes, Marvel characters and comics wouldn't have much in the way of public awareness like they do now outside of the X-Men, Spider-Man and the Hulk. Something the film rights holders of the former two have utterly failed at capitalizing on in my opinion. Warner Bros. doesn't exactly have to struggle in this area for obvious reasons.
4. Offering Something Different
While they may not have the greatest track record, Warner Bros. is definitely doing its part to differentiate itself from existing trends and movies in the same genre. Not that the current slew of CBMs are samey, but they have only begun to scratch the surface of what the genre is capable of. While having the opportunity to start the race a tad behind the competition, Warner Bros. can bring to the table things Marvel and FOX cannot or have not up until this point. An advantage that will be most helpful going forward as we head towards what some might call an oversaturated future of CBMs, and the prophesied fatigue that many see coming which would eliminate the genre altogether.
Those are my reasons for believing Warner Bros. will reign supreme as we enter this new age of cinema. Please leave your comments below! Even criticisms! I can take it! Maybe...