So I’m going to preface this by saying that many of you know I’m not a fan of DC’s current direction on film. So instead of spewing negativity, I wanted to contribute to this the best way I can, by pitching! So this is the first film in my reboot of DC on film. This doesn’t assume any continuity, this is all based off of my own ideas, and while I do borrow some elements from stories, cartoons, and so on; this is entirely independent.

YOUNG JUSTICE

 

Plot:

The film opens with a young man bleeding on the ground, and we hear him contemplate the choices he made, and how they caused him to arrive where he is. A paramedic is heard saying, “Stay with us Victor!”

Text on the screen indicates that we’ve rewound to that morning. Victor is walking home from school, where crime is on the rise. The Justice League have disappeared, and no one knows where they are, why they’re gone, or who’s responsible. A small band of vigilantes have been rumored, but no one can confirm who this group is.

Victor is approached by his friend Ron, while Victor isn’t a bad kid, he strives to be independent, and thinks he knows what’s best for himself, which puts him at odds with his parents, particularly his mother. Ron is his friend, but while Victor has a chip on his shoulder, Ron has a bit more of a dark side to him.

Ron reminds Victor that he promised to help him with something that night, and to keep his schedule clear. Victor reminds Ron that he’s cool with it, and he’ll be there.

When Victor arrives at home, his mother looks worried. She can tell Victor is rebelling, and she knows it won’t end well for him. She asks him why he’s not keeping up with his schoolwork. He tells her there’s bigger issues for him then whether he completes his History essay. They get into an argument; Victor’s mom mentions how his Dad would be disappointed, and Victor reminds her that he’s never around, and he storms out to meet with Ron.

Ron is outside a warehouse, and when Victor arrives he realizes this is a raid, and they aren’t just raiding anyone, they’re raiding The Joker’s guns. Victor is nervous, and doesn’t wish to go through with it, but Ron reminds him he said he would. Victor is nervous, but decides he’ll do it. Ron hands him a pistol.

The two storm the warehouse, taking out Jokers goons one by one. Victor asks if the ‘Clown Prince of Crime’ is here, and Ron says “This isn’t Gotham, why would he be here?” As they enter, there’s crates full of bombs and guns, Ron tells Victor to start loading some into the Van.

As they do, Victor hears a scream, and laughter. He goes to investigate.

“Mister J, what are we going to do with him?”
“Thief stealing guns from me? Well, it only be fair he go down with his spoils”

Victor runs out to intervene, and Joker and Harley both stare him down. He tries to tell them that Ron’s not bad, just stupid, and that they’ll return the guns, and leave things be. The Joker explains that it’s not about the guns, or the bombs, it’s about letting them know that in this new world order, “there are no heroes”

Joker shoots Victor in the leg, and he falls to the ground. He tells Harley to blow this place. Ron tells Victor that they can try to make it out, but Harley tells them that there’s no way she’d be dumb enough to give them a chance. She lights a few of the bombs and leaves.

We see the two get in a helicopter and fly away, Joker bids the boy’s adieu as the warehouse is consumed by a massive explosion and fire.

Victor starts to come back to consciousness, and we’re now at the beginning of the film. He’s being loaded onto the ambulance. We next see him at the hospital, he’s in critical condition. He can overhear some things, such as Ron not making it, and that the police suspect this was a part of a terrorist plot by Ron. Victor’s dad secures his release, he tells his son that he’ll be in his care, not the hospitals.

Victor wakes up, and he slowly starts to evaluate himself. He can feel the cold feel of metal, he starts to think something is wrong. He gets up, and slowly begins to walk around. A couple nurses come in, and alert security on the phone. They ask Victor to take it easy. Victor walks to the mirror, he knows something is wrong. He is no longer just flesh and bone, he has cyborg implants. He begins to freak out, and pushes aside the two nurses. He runs throughout the building, and slowly realizes that he has many abilities brought on by his implants. He reaches the roof of the building where security has him cornered. He dad approaches, and explains what he did, to save his son. Victor explains that he’s a monster now. His dad explains that he wants Victor to look at this as an opportunity, Victor looks off the building, as if to contemplate jumping. His father insists he give him the opportunity to explain in more detail Victor asks what happened to his mother. His father explains that she left them, she couldn’t handle what happened, and moved away.

We fast forward to a few months later. Victor is now confident in his abilities, and wants to seek revenge on The Joker for what happened. His father however will not let him leave the compound, and this starts to create a riff between them. Victor once again feels the need to rebel. He needs to do something.

He sneaks out in the middle of the night, monitoring chatter he realizes that The Joker has resumed operations. He tracks down The Joker’s whereabouts and waits outside. He approaches the warehouse, ready to assault The Joker’s forces when the guards are preemptively taken out.

Victor goes to investigate but a being flashes straight in front of him and holds him back, he recognizes the young man, it’s Wally West, also known as the Kid Flash.

“You know, Joker thought you might do this”

Robin approaches Victor and Wally,

“They want you to enter that warehouse, and it’s rigged to blow”
“Joker though, he’s here…”
“That’s a false signal, this is a trap buddy”

A Joker Goon comes around and sees the two, but is trapped by an arrow.

“You guys are lucky”
“Thanks Roy” says Robin.

Victor looks on at Robin, “The Joker killed my friend, I want revenge!”
“Whatever it is you want, it’s not happening tonight, if you come with us, I’ll get you that revenge, when the time is right”

Victor looks as if he doesn’t believe Robin, but realizes it may be better with them on his side. He agrees to leave with them.



The team arrives back at the Batcave, Robin has used it as their base of operations.

“Wouldn’t Batman be mad that you’re using his lair as your own?” Victor asks.
“No, because he would want me to use all my resources to find him, and the other members”
“So they have disappeared?”
“Yes, without a trace”
“So you’re looking for them”
“Of course, but like any operation, I occasionally don’t have the resources I need.”
“Until now” says Roy.

Victor looks up at a screen, on the screen is Lex Luthor, members of the Justice League, and Victor.

“Why? Wait…what’s going on?” Asks Victor.
“We know Luthor is behind this, or at the very least knows who is” says Robin.
“What we don’t know, are specifics” says Roy.
“Now I know your dad and STAR Labs outfitted you with some tech, including some tech that would be pretty handy in getting us into Luthors office”
“Where you think he knows where the Justice League is at”
“Exactly”
“So what you’re saying is that, I help you with getting into Luthors tower, and you help me catch The Joker.
“I knew this guy was more than just a walking key” says Roy.
“So how can I know whether I can trust you guys”

They all remove their masks.

“My name is Dick Grayson, and I’m Robin”
“My name is Roy Harper, and I’m Arsenal”

They all look at Wally,

“What? Everyone knows me!”
So who am I? Do I get a codename?” Asks Victor.
“Metal Man” says Wally
“Robot Boy” says Roy.
“Half-machine, half man; I think he’s neither man nor machine, he’s Cyborg”
“Cyborg. I like that” says Victor.

The group has gathered outside of Luthors tower at night. Dick comments that for as many floors that we can see, there’s as many that go underground. He says that he has it on good authority that Luthor has information on where the Justice League members are.

The group infiltrate, with Cyborg being able to hack the security systems with relative ease. They subdue a few members of Luthors security. They reach Luthors office and download an encrypted file, Cyborg comments that there’s no way his system can decrypt the file on the spot, and says he’d need more time to decrypt it. However, he does note that there’s tests done, and that on the lowest floor, he sees that there’s portions of Superman’s DNA.

The group is caught off guard. Roy thinks Superman is being held in the building, Dick has reservations, but thinks at this point their cause could use the power of a Kryptonian. He tells the team they’ll check it out.

They continue down, meanwhile, Cyborg is decrypting the file retrieved from Luthors office. Roy finds it odd they haven’t seen more of a resistance. Dick thinks they came at the right time.

They make their way in, past security, and find a clone of Superman. Cyborg comments that he is an exact clone of Superman. Dick tells Cyborg to release this clone. Before he can, they are surrounded by Luthor and his security forces. Roy mentions he thought it was too easy.

Luthor explains that Cyborg’s file was malware, and he then disables Cyborg completely, telling the team that their only chance at escape is incapable of getting them free. Dick hints to Roy, and Roy fires an explosive arrow towards the tank containing the Superman clone. It rolls out and wakes up, Dick yells out to the clone, that he needs to help them escape. The clone looks on, Luthor snares at the clone. It leaps towards Luthors security forces and disposes them with ease. He’s not like Superman, he’s unhinged, and dangerous.



He grabs Luthor by the neck and asks who he is, Luthor laughs and says, “My greatest contribution. I created a god.” Luthor pulls out a shard of Kryptonite, and it weakens Superboy.

“Just like any god, you should fear the world’s greatest mortal”

Dick comes up from behind and stuns Luthor.

“Too bad you don’t speak for us” he says.
“It’s time for a tactical retreat I’d say!” says Roy
“Agreed!” says Wally

Wally one-by-one speeds them out, however a security door closes, leaving Cyborg and the clone of Superman behind. Cyborg gets up and looks at the clone, who is now also getting up.

“Hey man, we have to get out” says Cyborg
“But…who am I?” asks the clone.
“I don’t know man, but I know the man that you’re apparently cloned after, and he’s a good man, a strong man, and he’d be able to get us out.”

The two approach the security door, the clone punches at the door, and it’s unphased.

“Let’s work as a team on this” Cyborg says.

He blasts the door with two lasers from his arms, the door starts to weaken the clone then grabs the weakened door and removes it from its hinges.

“I can do that?” the clone asks.
“You can do a lot more than most people” Cyborg says.

More security forces revive, and are bringing Luthor back to his feet.

“That said, we can discover more about what you can do later, let’s get out of here”

The team all reconvene in the batcave, where Roy is annoyed.

“We walked into a trap” he says.
“We did, but we found a member”

The rest of the team looks on in surprise.

“Who?” Asks Wally.
“Batman” says Dick.

We are shown a small satellite like object, with Batman imprisoned inside.

“Who is this man?” asks the clone
“He’s my mentor, the smartest man I know” says Dick.
“We have to save him” says Roy.
“We do, but this could be a trap as well.
“What do you mean?” asks Roy
“Luthor planted malware in Cyborg, and he should’ve known it would give me some access to his computer system. I’m guessing he knows we know where Batman is, and he won’t just hand him over to us.”
“We should try!” says the clone.
“We should, but we don’t know what would happen, that satellite could blow up, this could also be old footage, they may have moved him. Unless…”

Everyone looks at Cyborg.

“What?”

We cut to the team working on Cyborg with shots of Dick explaining the plan. Cyborg will fly into space and work on disabling the satellite, seeing if there’s any security features. Wally will cover the ground and any possible debris, with the clone of Superman covering the skies; with Dick and Roy covering operations.

The team deploys, with Dick walking alongside the clone.

“What’s my name?” the clone asks.
“Don’t know, you don’t have one yet, what do you want to be called?”
“I’m unsure”
“Well that’s got to be tough, you’re a clone of Superman”
“So I’m Superman?”
“Uhh no, not that I know”
“I’m younger”
“Yes, you are, you’re still a boy like the rest of us”
“I’m…Superboy”
“That works”

We see Cyborg approach the satellite, he begins to access the security system, he’s relaying the information to Dick and Roy.

“Cyborg, this is looking good, it looks like the satellite has a command to deploy into deep space”
“Deep space?”
“They’re sending him out to the farthest reaches, if that happens, he’ll be lost”
“Shit, ok, well I’ll be careful”

Thrusters start propelling the satellite towards earth.

“Alright, it’s heading towards the surface, Wally and Superboy are you ready?”

Superboy sees the satellite heading towards the ground, he flies towards it.

“Grab the satellite and direct it towards the ground” instructs Dick.

Superboy does, but a red light starts flashing

“What does this mean?” he asks.
“That’s not good” says Dick.
“It’s got 30 seconds to warm up before it heads into deep space”
“Superboy, you have to rip open the satellite and find Batman”

He does, and sees Batman, unconscious and suspended in the satellite. He grabs him, but the satellite shakes and he drops Batman, he begins plummeting to the ground. He wakes up.

“Batman, this is Robin, can you read me?”

Nothing.

“Batman, this is Robin, can you read me?”
“Yes Robin, I’m currently descending towards the ground, I’m going to try…”
“Try to slow your descent Batman, Wally, can you grab him?”
“No need” says Cyborg

He flies towards Batman and grabs him bringing him to the ground safely. Superboy is trying to stop the satellite from crashing into a nearby small-town.

“Superboy, use your momentum to send the satellite into the lake”

Superboy then uses all his strength and crashes the satellite into the lake, saving the nearby town.

With Wally, Cyborg, Superboy, and Batman on the ground; Lex approaches in his helicopter.

He gets out and looks on at the group.

“So, you freed the world’s greatest detective, no worries, we still have those files”

The rest of the group looks confused, and looks at Lex.

“You all think I’m responsible for the Justice League disappearing, think again”
“What is he talking about?” asks Superboy.
“It’s simple, we took the strategies of how to take down the Justice League from, him”

They look at Batman.

“So Batman, tell me this, with your team in shambles, and you running around with a bunch of sidekicks, how do you plan on saving your fellow members?”
“I don’t know what you’re planning Luthor, but I will stop you”
“Not at this point”

Luthor hops on his helicopter.

“You can have this one boys, you’ll need the advantage”

Back in the batcave, the team is excited about their victory. Dick approaches Victor.
“Thanks for your help Victor, we’ll help you apprehend the Joker soon” Dick says.
“No, he can wait”
“But Victor…”
“The Justice League’s missing, Luthor obviously is a part of this, we’re not done this deal Dick. There’s still a fight to finish”

The chip off Victor’s shoulder is gone. He no longer has anything to prove, he knows, there’s a bigger fight at hand.

Wally goes up to Batman to welcome him back, but Batman ignores him, he ignores everyone.

“It’s my fault the Justice League members have disappeared” he says.
“We can get them back” says Dick.
“Yeah Batman, we’ll find them” says Roy.

Batman turns, and sees the boys all as one, he looks for a minute and sees their determination, their courage. He knows this will be a hard fight, and part of him thinks they aren’t ready, but he can train them, they can do this.

“Your path towards the Justice League starts now”

POST-CREDITS SCENE:

We see Superman within a krypton-lined prison, he’s weak, and unable to break free. He’s regularly injected with kryptonite to keep him weak. He is approached by a large imposing man, Vandal Savage.



“It would seem like a small team of boys has freed the detective. No worries, their end will come soon”

Superboy wakes up, from this dream/vision. He yells out and flies out from a room in the Batcave, Dick and Bruce meet him.

“I know where Superman is!”