PARADISE LOST Gets Update From James Gunn As Filmmaker Addresses The Importance Of Test Screenings

PARADISE LOST Gets Update From James Gunn As Filmmaker Addresses The Importance Of Test Screenings

DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has shared an update on where things currently stand with Paradise Lost and why test screenings are important in the wake of Joker: Folie à Deux reportedly skipping them...

By JoshWilding - Oct 08, 2024 06:10 AM EST
Filed Under: DC Studios

We typically only hear from Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige at conventions like Comic-Con and D23 or during select press tours for various MCU movies and TV shows.

In contrast, DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn devotes a fair bit of time to keeping fans updated across his social media channels. The filmmaker is understandably selective about what he shares and many fans have grown frustrated with his lack of transparency regarding Wonder Woman.

Gal Gadot has claimed she'll return as Diana Prince, something studio insiders denied when contacted by the Hollywood trades. Gunn has declined to chime in and the new DCU currently finds itself without a Batman or Wonder Woman.

Still, we know DC Studios is developing Paradise Lost, a prequel series set on Themyscira in the same vein as Game of Thrones. Whether Wonder Woman will have a role to play in that - and the wider DCU - remains to be seen. 

However, in a response to a fan on Threads, Gunn confirmed that work is still progressing on the show.

Gunn later confirmed that he's a big supporter of test screenings, saying: "Yes, I use test screenings as a way to make films better. I think they’re helpful, as long as you aren’t slaves to them. They're good for seeing in general what works, what doesn’t, and where potential confusions may be."

However, he claimed to have "no clue" whether Joker: Folie à Deux held any in the wake of reports Warner Bros. Discovery and writer/director Todd Phillips declined to hold them before the sequel's premiere at the Venice Film Festival (with the result being negative reviews from fans and critics alike).

Here are a couple of other interesting reveals from Gunn:

"Set in Themyscira, home of the Amazons and birthplace of Wonder Woman," reads Paradise Lost's official logline, "this drama focuses on the genesis and political intrigue of an island of all women."

Similar to Henry Cavill and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson (among others), Wonder Woman and Wonder Woman 1984 director Patty Jenkins was given her marching orders by DC Studios shortly after it formed. Back in May, she confirmed her planned threequel isn't happening. 

Asked if the movie has been scrapped, the filmmaker said, "Yeah, for the time being, but probably easily forever." As for whether another director would take her place, Jenkins responded, "No, they’re not interested in doing any Wonder Woman for the time being."

"It’s not an easy task, what’s going on with DC," she added. "James Gunn and Peter Safran have to follow their own heart into their own plans. I don’t know what they’re planning on doing and why...I have sympathy for what a big job it is."

As always, stay tuned for updates as we have them. 

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Matchesz
Matchesz - 10/8/2024, 6:30 AM
I heard WB skipped the test screenings and thats what happened
Spike101
Spike101 - 10/8/2024, 6:36 AM
I honestly think DC/Warner Brothers have rebooted themselves into oblivion now and it’s going to take something very special for hardcore movie fans to engage with yet another version of basically the same characters. I’m not sure why they and Marvel for that matter don’t adopt the Bond franchise policy of just recasting characters when the need arises.
Blergh
Blergh - 10/8/2024, 8:00 AM
@Spike101 - I thought 'The Batman' would be this inciting spark. The movie itself was really an interesting take on the genre and could have been the perfect set up for its own universe. I disagree that it's universe that doesn't invite superpowers, because that's exactly how superpowers would be recieved in a realistic world: with confusion. Matt Reeve's universe should have been the starting point, should have tied in with Phoenix' Joker and built upon with Green Arrow, The Flash and eventually the arrival of Superman.
Spike101
Spike101 - 10/8/2024, 9:00 AM
@Blergh - seems completely rational to me. What I think we get though is a load of self important film makers wanting to put their own stamp on the property. This seems fine when it’s just a movie telling a story but when you are dealing with characters that have been around in some cases for 80 years you just wonder why.
eagc1995
eagc1995 - 10/8/2024, 3:01 PM
@Blergh - Yeah the problem was that at the time Walter Hamada wanted to put less focus on connectivity and focus on standalone movies (be it on the DCEU or not)
McMurdo
McMurdo - 10/8/2024, 3:08 PM
@Blergh - nah Reeves' Batman is too anti-comics Batman
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 10/8/2024, 6:59 AM
I’m pretty sure that is what test screenings in general are used for James , it isn’t just a you thing lol.

Anyway , glad to see some progress being made on Paradise Lost…

I’m intrigued by this Game of Thrones-esque take on Paradise Island/Themyscira and find it to be a unique way to intro this universes WW which I hope is the case.

My choices are still Melissanthi Mahut or Charlee Fraser for the role!!.

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tylerzero
tylerzero - 10/8/2024, 7:14 AM
"Paradise Lost...in the same vein as Game of Thrones."

"...an island of all women."

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TheLight
TheLight - 10/8/2024, 7:21 AM
As long as they have competent writers that won't be used as another weapon to slander men, and if they really are making way to make it Game of Thrones with amazons, I'm in. This could work well, especially to tie it more with Greek Mythology.
Forthas
Forthas - 10/8/2024, 8:27 AM
They are going to gamble again on a story based on a superhero that does not include the superhero???

After the Joker 2 disaster, the update should have been the project is cancelled.
RealTurner
RealTurner - 10/8/2024, 9:12 AM
Superman has even more to shoulder now. It has to do a billion, at least, on the low end. Even if it's a relative success itself, it isn't going to launch a thousand lesser ships without a cultural impact to rival the original Iron Man. But the bar to achieve that is 10x higher. I mean, I'm hopeful, because if it happens that will be awesome. But even Joker crashing and burning this badly? DC has zero cred to build on. The trailer and marketing for Supes need to be absolutely breathtaking. Nothing less.
YouCray04
YouCray04 - 10/8/2024, 9:41 AM
@RealTurner - Breathtaking? Lmao. God the Marvel stans are so hyperbolic it's laughable. Iron Man (when it was released) had zero cultural impact. Avengers did, yes, which you could argue retroactively bolstered Iron Man. But nobody ever described Iron Man as anything more than a good movie. Marvel also had zero credibility to build on at the time. When are people going to realise, Marvel, DC, whatever, it's all BS. A good movie is a good movie and people will go to see it regardless. If anything, your point about Joker proves my point. Joker 1 had no credibility to build on but it performed well because it resonated with a large audience. Joker 2 isn't performing well because it's trash. DC just has to make more good movies than bad and it will get it's credibility back.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 10/8/2024, 3:10 PM
@YouCray04 - well stated

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