DC Movies - To Infinity and Beyond

[DigificWriter]

It's a sad commentary on the state of the world when not even the major Hollywood Trades explaining exactly what the motivation for shelving Batgirl was can stave off conspiracy theories, widespread panic about the future of stuff that has no relation to the Batgirl decision whatsoever, and open advocacy of tax fraud and/or piracy.

* smh *

 

[wayoung]

I don't have a moral objection to pirating a movie that would never be seen otherwise, but I do think it's immoral to be hoping/asking someone will/to ruin their life to do so. I don't think it will happen, especially considering the type of movie it is. While it may hurt the people who made it that their work will never be seen, I don't perceive it as being a film anyone would view as being worth ruining their life for, just to get it out to the public. Maybe some young intern or PA who doesn't know better, and is dreaming of the noteriety it would bring, but I hope they don't.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

Very much so. I can't fathom it.

This is where the culture rests--personal obsession is more important than respecting the fact they are not entitled to steal another person (or company's) work. Needless to say, if they were caught and charged for stealing a film, they would be the first to cry "unfair".

It's a sad commentary on the state of the world when not even the major Hollywood Trades explaining exactly what the motivation for shelving Batgirl was can stave off conspiracy theories, widespread panic about the future of stuff that has no relation to the Batgirl decision whatsoever, and open advocacy of tax fraud and/or piracy.

* smh *

Yes--ethics is merely a concept to be tossed over the shoulder. Self-fulfillment with entertainment is all that matters.

...and yes, despite evidence to the contrary, Batgirl's fate has no bearing on the films which will still be released, as if this one film's issues were indicative of a widespread problem with the films waiting to be released.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Are we really taking moral high ground on people watching this if it were available? I'd feel more guilty driving over the speed limit than watching a copy of a movie that was shitcanned by the studio. Nobody better look at any paparazzi shots or read any spoiler leaks from now on.

 

[The Realist]

The best thing about this forum is the BLOCK feature. I do not post often, so I visit sometimes not logged in. So occasionally I see brief views of people I have on block. Which is good for shits and giggles. Naturally if I am looking for deep thinkers I am going to come here... Ha!
I only share information not personal diatribes. Particularly those who for years write long winded reviews that are posted so quickly that clearly are partly typed out before they see the subject.

I don't actually use the "Ignore" button, but there is one poster in particular I ignore the old-fashioned way: I see he's posted something (doubtless the same pompous bluster on infinite repeat) and I just keep on a-scrollin'.

 

[Christopher]

I don't have a moral objection to pirating a movie that would never be seen otherwise, but I do think it's immoral to be hoping/asking someone will/to ruin their life to do so. I don't think it will happen, especially considering the type of movie it is. While it may hurt the people who made it that their work will never be seen, I don't perceive it as being a film anyone would view as being worth ruining their life for, just to get it out to the public. Maybe some young intern or PA who doesn't know better, and is dreaming of the noteriety it would bring, but I hope they don't.

Are you sure the risk of "ruining their life" is that great? I mean, the Corman Fantastic Four movie leaked. The Blade Runner workprint leaked. Sure, the studio wants to suppress the Batgirl movie for tax reasons, but would they really be as ruthless at investigating and prosecuting a leak as you suggest? The tax law only requires that they not profit from it. If it leaks for free, then they're not profiting from it; if anything, it could be seen as adding to their loss, because they're deprived of compensation for its distribution. And it might ameliorate the really terrible publicity they've brought down on themselves if fans got to see the movie after all.

Which is not to say that I'd encourage anyone to break the law and leak it. Just that if someone did, I'm not sure it would provoke as strong a reaction as you suggest.

 

[StCoop]

Kevin Smith has confirmed that the "Strange Adventures" series is dead and that'd he was going to write an direct and episode of it that would have had Nicholas Cage as Bizarro. He also says that to the best of his knowledge "Green Lantern" is dead as well.

 

[wayoung]

Are you sure the risk of "ruining their life" is that great? I mean, the Corman Fantastic Four movie leaked. The Blade Runner workprint leaked. Sure, the studio wants to suppress the Batgirl movie for tax reasons, but would they really be as ruthless at investigating and prosecuting a leak as you suggest? The tax law only requires that they not profit from it. If it leaks for free, then they're not profiting from it; if anything, it could be seen as adding to their loss, because they're deprived of compensation for its distribution. And it might ameliorate the really terrible publicity they've brought down on themselves if fans got to see the movie after all.

Which is not to say that I'd encourage anyone to break the law and leak it. Just that if someone did, I'm not sure it would provoke as strong a reaction as you suggest.

No one could answer that but the WBD Execs themselves but I'd say yes, they'd crack down like the Hand of God.

1) They are directly disobeying and undermining Zaslav, so it'd be an ego and politics thing as he completes taking over a multi billion dollar international conglomerats. He can't allow shareholders or employees to see that.

2) Not cracking down would be a precedent for others to do the same for all the other cancelled / pulled movies and shows.

3) It would be breaking the law and their employment contracts, another precedent that can't be allowed, that shareholders can't see being allowed

4) It opens them up to a lot more fan protests about what was in Batgirl vs whatever Zaslav's plan is, and means every future review of his products would be directly and factually compared to the universe he cancelled. It'd be a much bigger can of worms.

Plus, the whole "Movie leakers and pirates are evil incarnate" attitude among a big chunk of Hollywood bigwigs.

I really don't see WBD just saying "Oh no, anyway" with a wink and a smile

 

[Noname Given]

Well I bought a videotape of the Roger Corman Fantastic Four movie at a small comic show in the 90s. When it was much harder to share media data. Things might happen.

The Roger Corman Fantastic Four film situation was entirely different. Part of the deal with the German film company that owned the rights was that they had to make a film every 4 years or the rights would revert. That time was fast approaching and the company wanted to keep the rights, so they gave Corman 1 million dollars to do a 'quick and dirty' Fantastic Four film that they knew would allow them to keep to the letter of the rights agreement; but which they also knew from the outset that they could write off completely on their corporate taxes under German law. And that's exactly what they did.

 

[Christopher]

No one could answer that but the WBD Execs themselves but I'd say yes, they'd crack down like the Hand of God.

1) They are directly disobeying and undermining Zaslav, so it'd be an ego and politics thing as he completes taking over a multi billion dollar international conglomerats. He can't allow shareholders or employees to see that.

Now, maybe, but a few years down the road? How do you know he'll even still be in charge by then? I mean, he obviously doesn't have a clue what makes supehero movies work, so it's a safe bet that this much-vaunted master plan of his will crash and burn as badly as all of WB's previous DC movie master plans, and the shareholders will be mad at him about a bunch of things besides Batgirl.

2) Not cracking down would be a precedent for others to do the same for all the other cancelled / pulled movies and shows.

Again, how does that hurt them? They're not violating the tax law if the stuff gets out for free.

3) It would be breaking the law and their employment contracts, another precedent that can't be allowed, that shareholders can't see being allowed

Obviously, in principle; but leaks do happen fairly often in the industry, so I don't see why you think one more leak would be so utterly devastating. Can you cite actual instances where a movie leaker has had their career ruined as you suggest?

4) It opens them up to a lot more fan protests about what was in Batgirl vs whatever Zaslav's plan is, and means every future review of his products would be directly and factually compared to the universe he cancelled. It'd be a much bigger can of worms.

That's going to happen anyway. It happened with the Snyder Cut, and the previous DC regime still put it out.

The Roger Corman Fantastic Four film situation was entirely different. Part of the deal with the German film company that owned the rights was that they had to make a film every 4 years or the rights would revert. That time was fast approaching and the company wanted to keep the rights, so they gave Corman 1 million dollars to do a 'quick and dirty' Fantastic Four film that they knew would allow them to keep to the letter of the rights agreement; but which they also knew from the outset that they could write off completely on their corporate taxes under German law. And that's exactly what they did.

How is that different? They didn't release the movie so they could write it off, but it still leaked eventually, and it wasn't the end of the world.

 

[Noname Given]

How is that different? They didn't release the movie so they could write it off, but it still leaked eventually, and it wasn't the end of the world.

The difference is the German company knew from the Inception of that particular Fantastic Four project that they were making a film that they would never release to the public in any meaningful way, and it was just done to adhere to the letter of their rights agreement with Marvel, and it was designed as a tax write-off from day one.

The HBO Max Batgirl film was not started with those same reasons or end results in mind: even though in the end that's exactly what has happened.

 

[DigificWriter]

How is that different?

This Batgirl situation is different because the tax writeoff is an effect of the decision not to release the film, not the cause.

Batgirl's fate has no bearing on the films which will still be released

I was more referring to people over on Reddit freaking out about the shelving of Batgirl as if it was going to lead to the potential cancelation of Westworld.

 

[crookeddy]

This Batgirl situation is different because the tax writeoff is an effect of the decision not to release the film, not the cause.



I was more referring to people over on Reddit freaking out about the shelving of Batgirl as if it was going to lead to the potential cancelation of Westworld.

It's still pretty likely that Westworld is done for. Since the combined HBO max and discovery Plus service will not have scripted shows it'll have to survive on old school cable HBO, where is ratings have been horrendous this season.

 

[DigificWriter]

Since the combined HBO max and discovery Plus service will not have scripted shows

Even if what I've quoted were true (and there's zero evidence it's going to be), Westworld's fate has absolutely nothing to do with what happened with Batgirl and is entirely dependent on HBO President and Head of Content Management Casey Bloys and how he personally feels about the show's ratings.

 

[Saul]

During this weekend's Hollywood Babble-On show, Kevin Smith not only commented on the whole situation, but also revealed that he was going to write and direct a Jimmy Olsen/Bizarro episode of the "Strange Adventures" anthology, which is now dead:

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Oh damn, that episode sounded amazing...and Nic Cage as Bizzaro! It seems Kev and Superman material is just not to be.

 

[Christopher]

The difference is the German company knew from the Inception of that particular Fantastic Four project that they were making a film that they would never release to the public in any meaningful way, and it was just done to adhere to the letter of their rights agreement with Marvel, and it was designed as a tax write-off from day one.

The HBO Max Batgirl film was not started with those same reasons or end results in mind: even though in the end that's exactly what has happened.

Yes, it's different in why it was done, of course, but that's not the part I'm talking about. I'm talking about the leaking of the film after the fact. As far as I can tell, nobody ever found out exactly how the Fantastic Four bootleg copy was made -- just that somebody seems to have made a telecine copy shortly before a private screening, and that copy was eventually put online. I can't find any indication that there was an investigation or prosecution of anyone involved.

 

[Morpheus 02]

It isn't JUST the shelving of Batgirl, but all the other statements and moves connected to this new regime.

Would Batgirl have the same impact as Black Panther? Of course not... but certainly fo rthe growing Latino and trans communities, this movie was important, and NOT groups you want to anger.

The significance is no more than #RestoreTheSnyderVerse but has now made A LOT of creatives VERY weary to work with WB-D something one wants to avoid now. THAT will hurt them in the long run. ANd THAT is the significance

As for shelving being a "regular" thing in Hollywood... illegal leaks are are WAY more common than MULTI-Million (i.e. nearly 100 million) movies being shelved. I can only find lists that show movies made eveyr 3-4 years at best being shelved in this way.

The person who leaked the SUpreme COurt decision... if that wans't illegal, it was DEFINITELY was a breach of trust that should make them unhirable in the court/legal system (but i suspect they will resurface in afew years being employed by the Democrats or a PAC).

A leak of Batgirl would go the same way. If WB wants to spend MORE money on Batgirl, and endure MORE BAD publicity... they would have to weigh it and see if the fight is worth it.

If Shazam, Black Adam and/orAquaman is successful, then yeah, that part of the SNyderverse might continue.. but the lack of momentum will hurt if not them, then other projects.

The Flash has been a mess, even pre-Ezra miller. Having like what 2 other directors come in AND THEN out...combined NOW with Ezra Miller... and the COvid delay... wow... it's another huge stain on the SnyderVerse... which again, why was he made in charge of it in the first place? I mean, as PART of a collective, he definitely had some good things to contribute. But he wasn't the one for SUperman, at least.

I will save it for the MCUvs. DCFU thread... but if this were pictured as a race or gymnastics competition,.. the MCU might have skipped a beat here and there....but DChas had some many stumbles,it's sad.

The reason why this thready is called "Infinity and BEyond", becuas eunlike the previous thread, which had a set number of years for a schedule, the unrepdictablity of it all made saying DC movies 2020-2023 (or whatever time frame) just a joke. Flash was suposed to be early 2020, and Cyborg in late 2020... noneof that is happening. and the suprises hapenign aren't because one part of was so successful it spawned an unexpected spinoff.... it just seems to random.

This saddens me becaus eI was a DC fan growing up. This is just a disappointment.

The DC fandom has been fractured so that each of them can't really sustain the DC "empire"

 

[fireproof78]

Indeed. DC will likely be relegated to the comics and less films.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Would Batgirl have the same impact as Black Panther? Of course not... but certainly fo rthe growing Latino and trans communities, this movie was important, and NOT groups you want to anger.

I'm not suggesting it's on the same level but it also had Brendan Fraser who many had been rooting for with all of his setbacks.

 

[theenglish]

It's still pretty likely that Westworld is done for. Since the combined HBO max and discovery Plus service will not have scripted shows it'll have to survive on old school cable HBO, where is ratings have been horrendous this season.

I guess it doesn't mean much anymore, but isn't Westworld already working on its fifth and final season?