Zack Snyder’s MAN OF STEEL (2013)
A young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and is not of this Earth. As a young man, he journeys to discover where he came from and what he was sent here to do. But the hero in him must emerge if he is to save the world from annihilation and become the symbol of hope for all mankind.
The first foray into the DCEU, Man of Steel seemed to split audiences and critics alike right down the middle. I personally enjoyed the film and thought it did a good job establishing a new universe for Superman and other iconic DC characters to inhabit. Visually the film was stunning, as were the action sequences. Not a perfect movie by any means, but a promising start for WB's DC film universe.
George Miller’s MAN OF TOMORROW (2016)
After fulling embracing his identity as Superman, Kal-El must stop an invasion by Brainiac, a cybernetic A.I who is contacted by Lex Luthor, a brilliant scientist and billionaire industrialist who despises the Man of Steel for contradicting his human achievements.
RETURNING CAST
Henry Cavill … Clark Kent / Kal-El / Superman
Amy Adams ... Lois Lane
Diane Lane ... Martha Kent
Laurence Fishburne ... Perry White
Harry Lennix ... General Swanwick
INTRODUCING
Joaquin Phoenix ... Lex Luthor
Ed Harris ... General Sam Lane
Tao Okamoto ... Mercy Graves
Mahershala Ali … John Henry Irons
Callan Mulvey … John Corben / Metallo
John Noble … Brainiac (voice)
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was a huge miss-step for Warner Brothers’. In their urgency to build a cinematic universe akin to Marvel Studios, they turned what was originally meant to be a direct sequel to Man of Steel into a Batman movie / Justice League precursor. The second entry into the DCEU should’ve again focused on Krypton’s last son and furthered his journey into becoming the Superman we all know and love.
Ben Affleck’s THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS (2016)
After the death of his protege at the hands of The Joker 10 years prior, Bruce Wayne comes out of retirement to don the cape and cowl when a new breed of criminal ravages Gotham City following the emergence of the Kryptonian. But does the Caped Crusader still have what it takes to fight crime in this new era and go toe-to-toe with his oldest foe?
INTRODUCING
Ben Affleck … Bruce Wayne / Batman
Jared Leto … The Joker
Margot Robbie … Dr. Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn
J.K. Simmons … Commissioner Gordon
Jena Malone … Barbara Gordon / Oracle
Holly Hunter … Ellen Yindel
Ben Foster … Victor Zsasz
Jeremy Irons … Alfred Pennyworth
Four years after the conclusion of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy, I feel as though at this point enough time has passed for a new interpretation of the character to be brought back to the big screen. Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne / Batman in BvS: DoJ was one of, if the not the highlight of the film. Affleck’s dark and gritty take on The World’s Greatest Detective was definitely a step in the right direction.
Patty Jenkin’s WONDER WOMAN (2017)
Raised on a sheltered island paradise, when a pilot crashes on their shores and tells of a massive conflict raging in the outside world, Diana leaves her home, convinced she can stop the threat. Fighting alongside man in a war to end all wars, Diana will discover her full powers and her true destiny.
I really don’t have too much to say about Patty Jenkin’s Wonder Woman, it was the film the DCEU needed to put some life back into the franchise. Critically, I can’t find any major faults in the film that I would change. I do understand the criticism of the film’s final act being a bit of a CGI sludge-fest but that was really only a minor thing in my book. Gadot excelled in the role, as did Chris Pine as Steve Trevor.
Zack Snyder’s THE WORLD’S FINEST (2017)
When billionaire eco-terrorist Ra's al Ghul enlists the help of the botched Superman clone Bizarro and a rogue Amazon to remake the world in his own image, the Caped Crusader recruits reinforcements of his own.
Witness the birth of a legendary alliance, as Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman join forces to defend Earth against an apocalyptic fate.
RETURNING CAST
Ben Affleck … Bruce Wayne / Batman
Henry Cavill … Clark Kent / Kal-El / Superman / Bizarro
Gal Gadot … Diana Prince / Wonder Woman
Connie Neilson … Hippolyta
Amy Adams … Lois Lane
Jena Malone … Barbara Gordon / Oracle
Jeremy Irons … Alfred Pennyworth
Harry Lennix … General Swanwick
INTRODUCING
Ciaran Hinds … Ra’s al Ghul
Amber Heard … Artemis
Olga Kurylenko … Talia al Ghul
Instead of getting Justice League as the fifth entry in the DCEU, this is film we should’ve got. Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, DC's top-tier ‘Trinity' heroes starring in their own film, The World’s Finest. This would serve as the event film of Warner Brothers’ first chapter in the DC Extended Universe.
1.1 Man of Steel (2013)
1.2 Man of Tomorrow (2016)
1.3 The Dark Knight Returns (2016)
1.4 Wonder Woman (2017)
1.5 The World's Finest (2017)
So there you have it! That’s how I wish, think and feel the DC Extended Universe should have unfolded, thus far that is… I’d be lying if I said I haven’t got a few future instalments planned in my cranium. Who knows, maybe if this gets a better reception than DCEU has I’ll continue this with a 'Chapter II’ of sorts? It’s up to you folks!
Is this the direction you would’ve preferred to see the DCEU go in? Or perhaps this sounds even worse than what we’ve ended up with? Let me know your thoughts down below.