WB's issue is the same issue studios have had from day one with big budget comic book films - they don't like risk and once something hits (like to Nolan Batman film series, or of late Wonder Woman) - they shift and make every other comic book film they do in the same continuity ape the successes (IE they have a checklist of things that a new movie must have regardless of whether it fits the character or not.) <--- That's been WBs problem with the DCEU in a nutshell.
And to be honest the MCU did have a bit of that syndrome in that they were surprised with the response to the original "Iron Man" (they were hoping for a bigger budget and more 'flash'); and even tried to go bigger with Iron Man 2 (which IMO sucked); and they had Box Office under performers (like "Hulk") - but the suits at Marvel Studios in the end kept to their original plan (which was A RISK); and came out with a number of winners and a winning formula that doesn't require cloning one successful movie format ad nauseum. (And yes, they have had some clones as IMO "Ant Man" was pretty much the same plot and execution as the original Iron Man film; BUT it fit the characters, so it worked.) The MCU has tried different formats and been successful (IE Captain America: Winter Soldier was as much a 'spy thriller' as it was a comic book actioner) - and the MCU has made enough for Disney that they'd tried some really off beat stuff (Gaurdians of the Galaxy), again to success. The MCU now has enough traction with general audiences that they can experiment, and if they get a small dud here and there, the audience will still come back.
After the disappointments of MOS, Suicide Squad, and BvS; many in the circle of friends I go to these films with won't bother with a DCEU film in theaters - they'll wait for Cable/Netflix and then maybe.
And Warner Bros. continues the cycle in that since "Hey Supergirl is popular on TV atm - lets ditch Superman and put a bigger version of HER in theaters and were sure to get the TV fans to take a look...".
They also shelved the "Cyborg" film and for me he was the one new character they did the best with in "Justice league". IMO - They should have shelved "Aquaman" as I'm sorry, but never been a fan of teh character, nor do I care for Jason Mamoa's take on it.(YMMV).
They took Darkseid OUT of the JL film because they didn't want to risk a two part story and be locked into a sequel in JL bombed (and while I can't say it bombed, it did greatly under perform for what it reportedly cost to make; and I do think if they kept Snyders version intact, you'd have had a similar response ala BvS. But we'll never know.)
In the end WB wants the big Box Office, but has been overly risk adverse, and as a result, is constantly playing catch up trying to ape the MCU in areas, but not understanding why that doesn't/hasn't worked - and with their recent decisions, I don't see them getting a clue anytime soon.
