Here is my basic outline for how Warner Bros. should go about creating their Justice League film franchise. I envision three films being released that lead into a combined Justice League film, PART I being Man of Steel this summer. I'll separate this article into the next three parts of the film franchise. Warning: This encompasses three films, so it's fairly long.
PART II: Late Spring 2015 - Batman Reborn
This would be a continuation of Christopher Nolan's universe. While Nolan's trilogy is done and his telling of Bruce Wayne's story is over, this would begin the telling of a new story - that of John Blake becoming the new Batman to protect Gotham City after Bruce Wayne's supposed death. The film would introduce Helena Bertinelli, the daughter of a slain mafia kingpin who becomes Huntress and aids Batman in fighting newly emerged villains. I picture Professor Pyg as the main adversary of the film, with Deadshot and The Ventriloquist as secondary foes. Stylistically, the film would follow in the footsteps of Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy as well as Zack Snyder's MoS, with a gritty realism that would be in keeping with the new direction DC Comics films have taken as of late so as to seamlessly blend into the same Universe when the characters unite in The Justice League.
DIRECTOR - Sam Mendes
I've always been a huge fan of Mendes' work on films like American Beauty and Revolutionary Road, but he really proved he can helm a big action picture with Skyfall. I think he'd be perfect to take over the reigns from Christopher Nolan.
JOHN BLAKE/BATMAN - Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Obviously, Gordon-Levitt would reprise his role as John Blake.
HELENA BERTINELLI/HUNTRESS - Mila Kunis
Mila Kunis is a talented and versatile actress who I feel could perfectly embody the character, as well as be a draw at the box office, as she is a very bankable star.
FLOYD LAWTON/DEADSHOT - Wentworth Miller
I can see Wentworth as a cold killer worthy of Gotham City Villainry.
ARNOLD WESKER/THE VENTRILOQUIST - Philip Seymour Hoffman
Hoffman is one of the greatest actors on the planet. I would love to see the sinister duality he would bring to Arnold Wesker/Scarface.
LAZLO VALENTIN/PROFESSOR PYG - Joaquin Phoenix
Another very talented actor who I think would be perfect in this role.
PART III: Late Summer 2015 - The Flash
This film would tell an origin story for Barry Allen, mostly following his reboot in The New 52. Barry has never gotten over his mother's murder when he was young, or the idea that his father was wrongfully convicted and died in prison before ever clearing his name. This drove him to a career in criminal justice, and he is currently a forensic investigator for the Central City Police Department and engaged to Iris West. The first half of the film would tell the story of his childhood, chronicle the accident that gives him his powers as well as his friendship with Tina McGee at S.T.A.R. labs who helps him become The Flash, his pursuit of a maniacal arsonist who has been plaguing the city (Heatwave), and his ascent to hero status in the public eye. In the second half, Eobard Thawne (Zoom) would emerge as a mysterious "second hero" who later is revealed to be a villain. In The Flash's conflict with Zoom, we learn that Zoom was the true culprit in Barry's mother's murder, and are introduced to the concept of the Speedforce. This film, again, should remain cohesive in style and tone with the other, more gritty and realistic films in the current DC universe.
DIRECTOR - George Nolfi
Nolfi is a stylish director who I think could bring a vision for The Flash that would be unique, while fitting in with the universe. Credits include The Adjustment Bureau, Oceans 12 and The Bourne Ultimatum.
BARRY ALLEN/THE FLASH - Bradley Cooper
I know we've seen a lot of Fan Casts which have put Cooper in this role, but there's a reason why. He is PERFECT for the role of a modern Barry Allen, he hasn't already aligned himself with another high-profile fantasy film franchise role, he's an excellent actor, and he's one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood right now. The success of this film (and thus the franchise) is going to partly depend on casting bankable stars who have clout at the box office.
IRIS WEST - Olivia Wilde
Wilde is another in-demand star who I think would be perfect in the role and opposite Bradley Cooper.
TINA MCGEE - Emily Blunt
Another popular and talented actress who would play well opposite Cooper and would be believable as the brillaint scientist who becomes emotionally invested in helping Barry Allen become The Flash.
PATTY SPIVOT - Kristen Bell
She's the actress I see when I think of Patty Spivot, Barry Allen's spunky partner in the crime lab.
CAPTAIN DARRYL FRYE - Ed Harris
Perfect as the tough police chief of CCPD.
DAVID SINGH - Raza Jaffrey
I'm SO tired of seeing Fan Casts that put white people in the very few roles that are specifically written in the comics as ethnic people. As if there isn't already enough of a shortage of parts for actors of Southeast Asian heritage. I think Raza Jaffrey would be perfect as the hardass crime lab director.
MICK RORY/HEATWAVE - Ethan Hawke
There's something eerie about Ethan Hawke that I think would work so perfectly in playing the maniacal arsonist.
EOBARD THAWNE/ZOOM - Ryan Phillippe
I originally had considered him for the role of Barry Allen. He certainly has the looks and physicality to play The Flash. However, there's a certain darkness about him that I think makes him perfect as The Flash's sinister counterpart.
PART IV: Summer 2016 - The Justice League
This film would see the union of Batman, Superman, The Flash and Huntress, as well as the introduction of Wonder Woman and Martian Manhunter, and the re-introduction of Green Lantern.
The movie would spend it's split its first act between setting up the major conflict of the story and telling Wonder Woman's origin story. The plot could basically follow that of the first three episodes of The Justice League animated series ("Secret Origins"). For those of you unfamiliar, here's a very brief synopsis: the story involves astronauts from Earth accidentally discovering the buried ruins of an ancient civilization on Mars, and unwittingly releasing the entrapped alien race called The Imperium, who were responsible for the destruction of the Martian civilization. A few years later, J'onn J'onnz, the last surviving Martian, has come to Earth to warn human kind of the impending invasion of The Imperium. All the Earth's strongest heroes come together to prevent The Imperium from destroying humanity and colonizing Earth.
DIRECTOR - Ben Affleck
Affleck has proven himself to be a brilliant director who knows how to strike a perfect balance in his storytelling between edge-of-your-seat entertainment and compelling human interest. I can't think of anyone more perfect for the job.
KAL-EL/CLARK KENT/SUPERMAN - Henry Cavill
God willing, Cavill will reprise his role.
LOIS LANE - Amy Adams
Same for Adams of course.
DIANA OF THEMISCYRA/DIANA PRINCE/WONDER WOMAN - Jennifer Lawrence
This is surely one of the most hotly debated casting decisions in internet history. I chose Jennifer Lawrence for two reasons. First, Wonder Woman is a role that can either be amazing on film or ridiculously, embarassingly laughable. The actress who plays this role needs to be a bankable star, but one who is respected by audiences and critics alike. She needs to be powerful and sexy, but not tawdry in the slightest. Jennifer Lawrence, in my opinion, is all of these things. Men love her. Women love her. Critics love her. She is tremendously talented and can certainly handle the role without becoming the butt of a joke.
STEVE TREVOR - Armie Hammer
role. The right age to play opposite Lawrence, the right look, talented, and well-known, but not so popular that he's too big for this smaller role.
HAL JORDAN/GREEN LANTERN - Josh Duhamel
While I don't feel that Green Lantern needs to be rebooted with a new film before The Justice League, I feel that this character poses a tricky situation. The Green Lantern film was obviously a failure with critics and audiences alike, and didn't perform at the box office. I feel that casting Ryan Reynolds would be a painful reminder of what a mess that film was, and rumor has it that he has no desire to reprise the role anyway. I think that simply recasting the role, sort of how Mark Ruffalo stepped in as The Hulk in The Avengers, would be the way to go. I think Josh Duhamel has the right qualities and star power to fill in as the new Hal Jordan.
J'ONN J'ONNZ/MARTIAN MANHUNTER - Djimon Hounsou
Djimon has a powerful presence and an other wordly quality that I think would work well in this role.
J.ALLEN CARTER - Matthew Goode
His performance in Stoker convinced me that Matthew Goode would be the perfect actor to play the insidious extra terrestrial posing as the All-American politician.
So there you have it: my idea of the best way to execute a Justice League series moving forward from Man of Steel. I'll leave you with a collage of all the Justice League Heroes of my fan cast.