This is purely my opinion, and I'd love to hear what you think about the topic in the comments. I read all of them. Enjoy...
1. Compelling Characters
If the cinematic universe fails on all accounts, it must do well on at least one vital ingredient; good characters. Batman is my favourite superhero because he's someone who works outside of the law to protect it, he's had tragedy in his life as well as mystery, and I just love the concept of a man being absent for years training to become a badass. Clark in
Man Of Steel was relatable in that he wanted to find out his past and basically who he was, but we weren't given much time to latch on to who that person actually was. What I took away from the film was that he likes saving people, he enjoys being Superman and because he's seen a lot of it, he doesn't like death. Although this is good enough for a solo film, his world is about to get bigger and the only way he won't be forgotten is if Henry Cavill is given a personality to work with. For great characterization in a film, watch
Rush.
2. Each Story Has An Impact
A big problem many have with last year's
Star Trek Into Darkness was that not a lot changed in the film meaning it had no impact on potential sequels. I agree with this and I always think that a movie should finish both literally and metaphorically somewhere different to where it began. For example,
Man Of Steel starts off with a big sci-fi battle on Krypton where many plots and characters are being introduced, and the film ends with Clark picking up his new life as Superman and working in the Daily Planet. In
Star Trek Into Darkness, we kick off with the reintroduction of the Enterprise crew on a wild space adventure, and we finish with the crew plus an additional member about to go on a wild space adventure. I'm not asking for something drastic to take place in each DC film, but if you genuinely think you could've skipped one of the films or even reading the synopsis, you know something's gone wrong.
3. A Blend Of Adaptation & Originality
I've never actually read a comic book in my life, but from what I hear about recent films like
The Wolverine,
The Dark Knight Rises, and even upcoming movies such as
Captain America: The Winter Soldier is that they're adapting popular comic book story arcs or using them as a big guideline. This is awesome and showing the main source of this great genre the respect it most probably deserves is wonderful, but I don't want to watch a superhero film and think that I needn't bother reading the story is was based off of. With this potential Universe that DC has been trying to set up for donkey years, the films should make me interested and persuade me even more to read the comic book. Not brush it off with ignorance. This is why a blend of adaptation and original story telling would go a long way past ordinary film goers and the box office.
4. Have A Concept, Then Make A Date
It's insane the world we live in where studios are setting dates and green lighting films that haven't even found a director and don't have a first draft of a script to breathe on. The reboot for next year's Fantastic 4 has rumors floating around everywhere that the studio isn't happy, production is a mess, the cast have left, and so on. With all of this going on and filming supposedly set for next month, why on earth have Fox set a release date for the sequel on 14th July, 2017 apart from to boast their big ego and reassure us that the first film will be good. Although I'm going a bit off topic, what I'm trying to say is that the crew in the DC Universe should make sure they have an actual story to be developed and improved rather than green-lighting something which they're clueless about.
5. A Talented Cast & Crew
Although I'm using this example maybe too much,
The Dark Knight Trilogy had the best actors rather than the most famous ones. Even though they are by no means unknown, you had Oscar winner, Christian Bale as the main man, Oscar winning veteran, Michael Caine, Oscar nominee, Liam Neeson, the late Oscar winner Heath Ledger, and that's just to name a percentage of the talented actors who were being directed by Oscar nominee, Christopher Nolan.
Man Of Steel also had a great cast in Oscar winners and nominees with the main character being played by a relatively unknown Brit. Many have been appalled by Jesse Eisenberg officially up for Lex Luthor in
MOS 2 because it's not what they wanted or expected. Of course, the Universe is big so cast and crew choices shouldn't be restricted to people who've won awards which is why some fresh writers, and actors should be considered to take part in this potentially epic saga.
6. Reasonable Budgets
Many are aware of Disney's recent box office flops in
John Carter and
The Lone Ranger which failed to double their production budgets and were therefore regarded a laughable fail in the movie industry. A while ago, I made an article detailing my thoughts on why the Flash should be Warner Bros' next hero in the universe giving a bit of diversity from Batman and Superman and I explained why/ how the budget wouldn't need to be horrendously large because online short films and TV advertisements are using freeze frame, fast and slow effects that would be necessary for a Flash movie. It's understandable that Warner Bros wouldn't want to make a Flash solo film because it might not attract an audience, but you have to wonder if (good) home made movies and ads are using the same special effects that would be required in a summer blockbuster, what money would Warner Bros have to lose. The only reason the budget would be close to $150 million is because of marketing, and nothing else. Bottom line; don't milk it.
7. A Mix Of Tones
If the whole DC Cinematic Universe had a dark tone, then it would be plain and simple repetition. When you have a character who dresses in a red costume and can run faster than the speed of light or a green guy called Martian Manhunter who goes by the name J'onn; you have to accept that maybe not every superhero has to have tragedy on their shoulders. Even though
Green Lantern was a missed opportunity of a movie, at least it knew that a guy who has a magic space ring that can create anything he thinks of might not be taken as completely grounded or "serious". I'm not asking for Batman to be dark, and Flash to be fun, but a joyful movie can explore dark themes and vice versa. If the DCCU has any hope of succeeding in the public's minds then diversity is key.
8. Don't Compete. Observe
At the moment, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has 8 films positively received by critics and movie-goers, has grossed over $5 billion worldwide, two films coming this year with one of them having 90% of the reactions in its favor and two films set for next year and one for the year after that which will go head-to-head with
Batman/ Superman on the same weekend (as of writing). The DCCU has 1 film with mixed reviews by critics and movie-goers, and has grossed over $600 million. I wouldn't be surprised if the
Batman/ Superman crossover was a knee jerk reaction to
The Avengers which grossed over $1 billion on its own, but maybe this could be a pro, not a con. The MCU has made an impact on the entire industry with shared fictional universes being considered good again, and Warner Bros want to show people that Marvel aren't the only ones who can put a few superheroes together on the big screen, but now they have time to develop their characters and not rush it for a pure contest. So far, Marvel have made all their moves before WB which gives the DCCU a chance to observe their faults and avoid them for their own movies. Remember "A wise man gets more form his enemies than a fool from his friends."
9. Take Risks
Making
Man Of Steel serious and dark after
The Dark Knight Trilogy was not taking a risk... Killing Zod in the climax of
MOS was not taking a risk... Distancing yourself from the earth-based films audiences have come to expect and setting yourself in space basing the film on a comic book no-one had ever heard of is taking a risk. It might shock you, but when you look at the characters in the DC Universe, you come to realise that they are a lot more unbelievable than those in Marvel. WB tried to make a film on the Green Lantern and it didn't do well at the box office or with critics so two years later we got Superman who'd already been the titular character in 5 films before 2013's reboot. If WB aren't prepared to take risks with out-of-this-world characters because "tonally" it's too far fetched, then there is no hope for the DCCU at all. Sure, if you want to introduce your characters by starting off with the two most popular ones along with Wonder Woman; that does make a lot of sense commercially and financially. But for the love of films, sometimes a risk can be pulled off. The whole MCU was stemmed from a risk. A risk in the shape of a hero no-one was familiar with; Iron Man... Look where we are now.
10. Take Your Time...
The most important factor in all of this is timing. Three years would have passed between
Man Of Steel and the
Batman/ Superman crossover, so that's three years to write, cast, direct and all together plan how the universe and future projects are going to happen. Warner Bros needs to view how and why the Marvel universe has become so successful, and what problems it still has even 6 years after it's inception. I've listed some potential dates down below, so check 'em out.
- Possible Dates -
2013 -
Man Of Steel
2016
- Man Of Steel - World's Finest
2018
- Justice League
2020
- The Flash, Wonder Woman
2021
- The Batman, Green Arrow
2023 -
Man Of Steel - Doomsday Rises, Green Lantern
2024 - Justice League - Doomsday
2026 -
The Martian Manhunter
So those are my thoughts, list yours down below.