The movies that did work were great (these are a matter of opinion and I won't get into that) and should remain isolated and appreciated on. To begin let's start with the obvious, 'Marvel got it right!', there is no question about this. The concept of ‘phase's’ and build up movies is clearly, in my opinion, the best way for this to be done especially if the end goal is an ensemble movie. Now I'm not saying this should be exactly how DC/Warner should do it but it works! And therefore I incorporate this concept into my idea, as you will see.
One of the Marvels Cinematic Universe biggest problems is that they don't own all the rights to some of their greatest characters (the thought that we could have Spidey, X-men, and The Avengers on screen together is awesome but not likely at present) but this is where DC/Warner is at an advantage. It's this use of all their specific universe aspects that will allow for many different genre type movies to be tied together.
their own merits. I think MOS should be considered as Action Comics #1, in a sense. It is the perfect opportunity to start this venture and I hope DC/Warner have something already planned. If the film is a success it is able to set the tone as to how this universe should look and work. Marvel has their more ‘comic booky’ approach so I think DC should go with the grounded approach so as to help distinguish the two.
I think that the birth of the universe should be the next stage. I want the world as we know it to have been aware of 'Supers' (I understand the basis of MOS is 'first contact' but I'm gonna overlook that for the time being). It is with all this considered why I want to call this movie 'DC: Golden Age'. I continue the breakdown of my idea with a step by step guide. I hope it is clear enjoy :)
DC: Golden Age
Opening scene: The Dawn of Man (cinematic-ally this should feel like '2001', and story wise similar to 'Final Crisis')
The movie shall be narrated throughout.
Anthro is wondering through the mountains on his travels. He is shocked by what he sees before him, it appears to be a god (a 'New God' in fact)
We see Metron give fire to Anthro.
Anthro brings the fire to his tribe and they rejoice. Time passes with their lives altered by this 'fire'.
The tribe is then attacked by 'Savages' who have come to steal the fire. The leader of the 'Savages' kills Anthro and we see the bearded blood soaked face of the killer.
Then begins the 'Timeline' up to the 40's (This can be similar to the Watchmen opening credits). The timeline is a montage of significant locations and events that lead up to the birth of the golden age of heroes in DC Comics i.e. Themiscyra, Atlantis, Apokolips, a war torn Krypton (use footage from MOS?), OA and the Guardians of the Galaxy.
This will now begin the story of the 'Justice Society'. I think there should be two options.
1. The narrator explains that it's the beginning of WW2. We begin our introduction to the Justice Society using a linear timeline leading up to the modern age.
2. We start in present day with the old members of the Justice Society meeting up and each telling a story referencing their own origin.
Members of the JS are open to suggestion but so far I have Jay Garrick, Spectre, Wildcat, Dr Fate, Liberty Bell. The characters need to expose the audience to essential elements of the DC Universe i.e. the speed force, supernatural elements.
The story should tell of various adventures throughout the decades leading up to present day (I have not detailed these stories as they are not essential to my ‘pitch’).
Now this is the important part!, the film should end with our narrator explaining the dawn of the modern age of superheroes this would show snippets of the origins of the 'Trinity' i.e. a baby being loaded onto a spacecraft before it's planet explodes (footage from MOS?), a family leaving a theatre via an alley with a dark figure in the shadows, the birth of a baby girl being held aloft in what appears to be ancient Greece (Themiscyra).
The big reveal at the end of this movie would be that the narrator is in fact the 'bearded blood soaked killer' from the 'dawn of man' the immortal Vandal Savage.
What would follow is a series of movies leading up to The Justice League movie. I believe these should be The Flash (We have introduced Jay Garrick as Barry Allens inspiration), Wonder Woman, a GL movie (sequel or reboot?) and an MOS sequel. Vandal Savage should recruit the villains at the end of these movies.
The first JL film would include an injustice league (subject to the recruited villains from the solo movies Vandal Savage, Lex Luthor, Sinestro, Cheetah? ) but could be a part Martian Manhunter origin similar to New Frontier. It also should not include Batman at this point but to a keen eye he should be seen in the shadows showing a keen interest in how these 'Supers' team together.
When all is said and done at the very end of the JL film Batman will reveal himself, but only to tell the others that they are an awful team with no leadership or any sense of strategy. He is of course their reluctant leader but that will not come until the JL sequel.
The next movies should be Aquaman, a Flash sequel, the Batman reboot. They should show unrest between the New Gods which would lead to our next JL movie with 'Darkseid'.
DC: Golden Age also provides the chance to release cosmic and supernatural movies on the side, all linked to the same universe (Justice League Dark?)
I think patience is the key word in this whole approach and only with patience and a gradual build can a JL movie truly work. But money is far more important right? so lets just get that movie out as quickly as possible!
Please let me know what you think in the comments below and maybe make suggestions to build on my idea