Even if you happen to be a fan of the recent crop of DC Comics-based movies, it's difficult to argue with the perception that the brand is in trouble.
Recently-appointed DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran will relaunch the shared universe with the DCU, but reigniting audience interest after a string of disappointing (from a box office standpoint, at least) features will be no easy task.
One man who believes he has an "easy solve" for the studio is Suicide Squad director David Ayer.
In response to a THR piece titled "Where Have all the DC Fans Gone?," Ayer suggested a taking a more filmmaker-focused approach, while taking risks and leaning into the "dark, intense and thoughtful" nature of the comics.
One could argue (and several of his followers have) that the notion of DC Comics being darker/grittier than Marvel isn't entirely accurate, especially not the more modern interpretations of the characters, but Ayer does make a good point.
If we "look at what worked," the most successful DC-based films, such as Joker and The Batman, do tend to be significantly bleaker than the likes of, say, Shazam! Fury of the Gods and The Flash. Then again, Aquaman made over $1 billion, so there are certainly exceptions.
What do you make of Ayer's suggestions? How would you go about "saving" the DC movie brand? Drop us a comment down below.
About The Author:
Mark Cassidy is a writer, photographer, amateur filmmaker, and Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic from Dublin, Ireland.