Well this is the first time I write so lets see how that goes... the truth is that I couldn't make this fit in a single comment so here we are.
The first thing that I need to say is that I liked MOS even when it had some flaws but this is not to argue about MOS (we can do that pretty well at every other post around here), this is to propose a DCU sequence that might work and that could fit perfectly well. Also even when whatever happened on MOS could have been good for you or not there is one thing that is obvious, we have a Superman now. Cavill's Superman is pretty much usable on a JL movie and so is his story with the Kryptonians (Even if you didn't like its execution).
Before I begin with this formally let me say that I have cast and plot ideas but I will try not to mention them here, I just want to outline something and leave it to each director to make great movies.
1. Man of Steel (Jun 2013)
Enemy : Zod
DCU Connections : minor, just the Wayne's logo at the satellite.
After credits : none
2. Flash
Date? Jul 2014, hopefully, still I could accept Nov 2014, we don't want to rush a movie and end up with another 2011's Green Lantern.
Why Flash first? Well I don't think we want 2 Supermans on a row. Also Batman and Green Lantern will be reboot so we need to move them as far away as possible. My plans for WW fit better on a later date.
Tone? No surprises here, will use the same that everybody thinks is best for Barry, a brighter one. Yes, we can't leave behind the "realist" vibe set by MOS so we need to address the emotions of becoming a superhero overnight but still Barry should face this as a normal person and I'm sure that he will be the most "joyful" about it.
We don't want Barry to be a Bruce Wayne or a Tony Stark, Barry is just our regular police scientist taxpayer. We want a light tone but not a comedy.
(Iron Man 1) - 1/2 (of the one-liners) + (Science-police stuff) + (normal people reaction)
Time placement : 1-2 yrs after MOS, a couple of months before MOS2
Enemy : Heatwave.. would make an action packed and fun first movie and would leave Captain Cold (best villain) for a later installment. His origins will also be easy to explain so there will be plenty of time to focus on Barry's Origins.
Connection to DCU :
- Barry is interested in what happened in Metropolis even before turning into Flash. Brief news broadcasts of Lex rebuilding Metropolis (Superman will also try to help but the news were be focused on Lex's help and on blaming Superman).
- Green Lantern appears shortly after MOS end so some news relating him could also be pretty well set.
- Batman is active but won't be mentioned, Zod, Superman and Green Lantern's appearance won't leave space in the news for a supposed vigilante. Maybe another appearance of Wayne's logo will be ok.
After Credits : none.
3. Man of Steel 2
Date? June 5 2015. Two years is a pretty well time to get this done with a more complex plot than Flash that would be mostly about explaining origins and defeating the bad guy. Avengers 2 is 1 month earlier so MOS 2 should secure the first place easily.
Tone? Keep the same be faithful to the first movie but have an amazing plot with Lex being the "savior" of Metropolis after Superman's fight. Also the consequences of having killed Zod will be more emotional at the first third of the movie but will reverse to make it much more bright by the end.
Time placement : 1-2 yrs after MOS, a couple of months after Flash
Enemy : Lex + Metallo, nothing to explain here it has been discussed a lot.
Connection to the DCU :
-News of Green Lantern arise and he is doubted as well as Superman but not as much because he didn't caused the destruction that Zod did.
-Superman and Green Lantern had met a few times since Hal as a "space police" talked to Superman about the events with Zod. They don't fully trust each other.
-Flash had also appeared but he is not mentioned (or just barely on a news paper) since he just popped up and Green Lantern is bigger news.
-Bruce Wayne appears in helping with Metropolis rebuild actions. He is an important character of the movie but not a major one, he just has a couple of conversations with Lex and a press conference.
-Batman does not appear but he is mentioned briefly now as a myth from Gotham (probably Lex asks Bruce about him and Bruce says that he is a myth or a mad guy trying to get attention).
-Carol Ferris also appears together with Lex on one scene talking to the government about getting weapons that can protect them against "superpowered beings". She mentions "a pilot" missing in action.
After Credits : Steve Trevor, the "missing pilot", wakes up on Thescymira facing the sand (the wreckage of his plane can be seen on the distance). No dialogue just have him hear something then quickly turn his head up and see the Amazons standing in front of him over their horses, put a sun reflect there and Hyppolita and Diana in the middle.
Yes this movie seems to have a lot of connections but they are not that noisy. The "missing pilot" and a Flash article will be subtle like the Wayne logo on MOS 1. Bruce Wayne might seem like a JL intrusion but he is actually an important part of the story. Green Lantern's relationship with Superman can be addressed on a single scene, he won't appear on the movie.
4. Wonder Woman
Date? Mar 18 2016. Well AntMan and Hunger Games had Nov 2015 covered and that would be specially problematic because if Wonder Woman wants to make money it shouldn't compete with Hunger Games that will be on its final chapter catching a lot of the female public. Putting it on March, Hunger Games 1 did well on March I believe that it could hold itself pretty well.
Tone? I agree with the people that say that the myth needs to be embraced. If you are going to put immortal God-like figure in other planets such as the Guardians from GL then what's wrong with Earth having its own Gods.
Visually and action like it should be like Clash of the Titans but with brighter colors (Thescimyra is supposed to be a paradise have waterfalls and stuff). The movie should start with Trevor's arrival and be set entirely on Thescymira or Circe's Island (yes, I'm using Circe).
Plot should be based on the Animated movie (at least the first half since I am using a different villain) but much more emotional, it is after all the clash of very different cultures. She should struggle to trust him but by the end she should be the one to argue for him with the Amazons.
Time placement : Immediately after MOS 2
Enemy : Circe and some wicked things that she conjures, want to see Diana throw some punches and use the sword. Circe could be an interesting villain since she will go against Trevor and Diana should stop her. I use her basically because I want someone that doesn't require Diana to exit the Island.
Connections to the DCU : minor, whatever Trevor tells her about Superman or Green Lantern, he might even know Hal Jordan as a pilot.
The movie should End with Diana taking Trevor to the "world of men" and with Hyppolita giving her the WW outfit. (All movie she should use a Greek tunic or a Greek warrior armor depending on the scene).
After Credits : Ares complaining about Diana and the Amazons and plotting to unleash the undead army on the world.
5. Green Lantern reboot
Date? Aug 5 2016. June and July are already filled for that year either way I think it could have a solid start on August. Bourne Legacy and Rise of the Planet of the Apes did well in August.
Tone? All what we were promised before and didn't get. This needs to be the mother of all comic book space operas combined with a cop buddies movie. We need most of the plot in space with scenes like Han-Greedo on Star Wars IV and also big astonishing scenes in Oa, not just an image from very far away as in 2011's GL.
I will have 1 villain in space which Hal and Sinestro are chasing for most of the movie and a minor one on Earth that Hal only faces until the last 15 min when he returns to Earth.
(Star Wars) - (Jar Jar Binks) - 1/2 (spaceships) + (Training Day) + (lens flares) + (big green battery)
Time placement : during the Kryptonian invasion on MOS 1
Enemy : Dr Polaris + I'm not sure who just yet, I really don't want Hector Hammond but we need that last scene so Carol Ferris can have some screen time.
Connections to DCU :
- Here is where Zod and Faora make a cameo that can do wonders!!! Since GL takes place during the Kryptonian invasion I would have Zod and Faora attack Abin Sur's ship on the way to Earth.
-I'll have a scene of Carol Ferris watching Zod's message to Earth just as Hal leaves towards Oa, Hal never finds out about the Kryptonians.
-Maybe some teases to Brainiac on space but I won't have him be the villain of the JL.
-Surprise expressions from Hal when he returns, Carol can't believe he doesn't know about Metropolis and about "the Superman".
-Hal decides to ask some questions to this Superman as the "space police" of sector 2814.
The movie ends with Green Lantern finding Superman, no dialogue is said before the end credits roll. Or maybe just a "Hi" or a "SO you are the Superman?" from Hal.
After Credits : Maybe Batman finding something about Martian Manhunter on his Batcomputer while Alfred gives him some lemonade.
6. World's Finest
Date? Jun 2 2017. No more comments needed June is the month for DC and Sups.
Tone? We all know the tone of these kinds of stories that spin around Sups-Batman relationship. It is more likely to incline to Batman's side of the field where Superman needs him to figure out how to solve their current problem.
Time placement : Shortly after MOS 2, at the middle of the movie Wonder Woman arrives on US but Sups and Batman are too busy to notice.
Enemy : Lex Luthor + Amanda Waller + Government + Henchmen (Parasite, Deadshot, Livewire, Lock Up...) + weapons based on Kryptonian invasions
Connections to the DCU :
-First and most importantly Martian Manhunter, Sups and Bats will rescue him during this movie and find out about his backstory.
-Green Lantern is mentioned
-Bruce Wayne + Lex Luthor arguments.
After Credits : Ares starting his world domination plan (Yes! I'm having Ares being the JL villain and Yes! Wonder Woman will be the focus of it or at least she will be who faces at the end vs Ares. Sups and Bats would get enough of themselves with World's Finest)
7. Late 2017
This is the tricky part should we have a movie before Justice League on the summer of 2018? November is tricky and is usually Potter-Twilight-Hunger Games territory... even so the Flash hasn't had an appearance since Flash 2014 so maybe a Flash/Green Lantern team up could work to explain what had happen with them in this time, also it could develop in their friendship and possibly info for the JL movie. Either way I'm fine if there's no movie here.
so.... we are only left with
8. The Justice League
Everyone is in the right place for this: Sups and Bats know each other and have certain trust now, Wonder Woman is on US, Flash is saving people in Central City, GL is saving people in space, Martian Man hunter is... around.
Wonder Woman is the focus here because of Ares so plenty good thing could be formed here, a good plot could be wrote if there is no time to waste on introductions (As on Avengers, everybody was already there). Aquaman could be introduced in the movie or left for later only appearing at the end or on an after credits scene, I'm good either way.
Here are some important things that could be addressed:
WW - Deciding to stay on the "land of men"
Sups - By the end of this he should had finally gained the trust of the people, even the people from Metropolis.
Bats - He should accept the teaming up for the occasion but he is not a team guy.
Green Lantern - Accept help from everybody else, even Batman who has no powers.
Flash - Start talking about "You cannot be everywhere" topic but explore that more in deep on Flash 2.
MM - Find a place, get a job and appear to be a human in his common life.
Many things could be hinted here for DCU specially Aquaman and Cyborg but still characters as Green Arrow, Hawkgirl or Zatanna are not out of the possibilities.
Well that was it, it was long. I do have ideas of who could be the villains for Solo movies or JL movies in further installments but maybe we should just wait for this first step to be taken.
PD. I wrote this as my own version to
undertaker7's article:
this article