Joker Origin Story Announced

[Kai "the spy"]

I get the feeling you're deliberately obtuse.

The existence of this movie does not mean WB is giving up on having a shared DC movie universe, just like "The Dark Knight Returns" didn't mean DC giving up on a shared comics universe. It just means that not all DC movies will be part of that shared universe.

 

[Anwar]

The existence of this movie does not mean WB is giving up on having a shared DC movie universe

It is if the reason for it being separate is purely because Scorcese or whoever the actor is refused to have anything to do with the DCEU. It shows they can't control the people they hire and they don't care.

just like "The Dark Knight Returns" didn't mean DC giving up on a shared comics universe

The comics have been doing this sort of thing since the 1960s, it's nothing new there. Movies that are SUPPOSED to be linked into one Universe randomly doing this is a whole nother animal.

 

[Kai "the spy"]

It's not fucking rocket science. WB will have DC movies that are part of a shared universe, and also DC movies that are not part of that shared universe. It's literally that simple. And the reason for WB going with this is the same reason DC Comics has been doing that same thing: Why the hell not?!

So, Mr. "If they do one movie that's not connected to the others, that means they're all unconnected", here's your chance to answer that: Why the hell not?

 

[Anwar]

It's not fucking rocket science.

Yeah, whoever is doing this Joker movie refuses to have anything to do with the rest of the DCEU for whatever reason and WB just caved like a bunch of wussies.

WB will have DC movies that are part of a shared universe, and also DC movies that are not part of that shared universe.

Why bother when you can just as easily have a Joker origin movie be in the combined universe?

And the reason for WB going with this

Probably because whoever is making this film doesn't like the idea of a linked universe for some reason.

 

[Kai "the spy"]

I notice you're trying to deflect, but you haven't answered my question. Why the hell not?

 

[Anwar]

I notice you're trying to deflect, but you haven't answered my question. Why the hell not?

Because the point of a shared universe is to NOT have stuff be standalone. Especially since they're planning on using Leto's Joker again, meaning for people who don't keep up on this stuff they'll be left thinking "Wait, if these movies are all connected why was Joker played by 2 different guys? Why is there no consistency?"

 

[crookeddy]

Because the point of a shared universe is to NOT have stuff be standalone. Especially since they're planning on using Leto's Joker again, meaning for people who don't keep up on this stuff they'll be left thinking "Wait, if these movies are all connected why was Joker played by 2 different guys? Why is there no consistency?"

I wouldn't be surprised if literally nobody thought that. They'd just think its a recast, and wouldn't think twice.

 

[Kai "the spy"]

Because the point of a shared universe is to NOT have stuff be standalone.

No, the point of a shared universe is to have movies that are set in the same universe. And they'll have those. This is adding something, not taking something away.

Especially since they're planning on using Leto's Joker again, meaning for people who don't keep up on this stuff they'll be left thinking "Wait, if these movies are all connected why was Joker played by 2 different guys? Why is there no consistency?"

I guess WB has more faith in the mental capacity of its audience than you.

Besides, that is easily helped by having these stand-alone movies under a special sub-label. You know, like "DC Elseworlds", or "DC Multiverse".

So, I repeat my question: Why the hell not?

 

[Anwar]

No, the point of a shared universe is to have movies that are set in the same universe. And they'll have those. This is adding something, not taking something away.

It's not adding anything if none of the other movies are going to be connected to it, at all.

I guess WB has more faith in the mental capacity of its audience than you.

I'd think they'll be rightfully confused when they see this movie about the Joker, see it's not Leto, assume he's the new Joker and then when they go to another film set in the DCEU they see it's Leto again.

Besides, that is easily helped by having these stand-alone movies under a special sub-label. You know, like "DC Elseworlds", or "DC Multiverse".

Which shows they have no real faith in their own Shared Universe anymore, otherwise they'd use Leto and find a way to fit this in there.

You don't see the MCU just randomly doing standalone "What If?" movies.

 

[JD]

It looks like Matt Reeves The Batman also might be standalone, so there's a chance we'll be getting at least two non-DCEU DC movies.
Like I said before, I think as long as they use a special series title, kind of like how Lucasfilm is using A Star Wars Story to differentiate these from the DCEU movies people won't be confused.
Most average movie goers really aren't that concerned about continuity, and the ones who do care, us nerds, are probably aware and intelligent enough to figure out which movies are and aren't part of the DCEU.

 

[Ovation]

For one thing, Scorsese has more than earned the privilege of doing whatever he wants—studios seek him out BECAUSE he’s Scorsese.

Second, very few general audience members will care about who is playing the Joker in various films. They’ll understand the difference.

Third—“shared universe” is not, in and of itself, a better way to do superhero movies. It’s just one of several ways to approach them.

 

[ALF]

Prospect sounds really interesting. I'm up for most anything taking place during the 1980s.
Still hoping for a Leto/Batfleck showdown film before DCCU reboots/evaporates. Take your pleasures where you can find them.

 

[kirk55555]

I'm not a fan of Scorsese (never seen a single film and I don't particularly plan to), but at this point any live action Joker that isn't jared Leto will be a breath of fresh air.

 

[Set Harth]

Like I said before, I think as long as they use a special series title, kind of like how Lucasfilm is using A Star Wars Story to differentiate these from the DCEU movies people won't be confused.

Apples and oranges...

WB will have DC movies that are part of a shared universe, and also DC movies that are not part of that shared universe. It's literally that simple. And the reason for WB going with this is the same reason DC Comics has been doing that same thing: Why the hell not?!

They're probably thinking, "If we're going to fail, why not fail as spectacularly as possible?"

 

[Kai "the spy"]

It's not adding anything if none of the other movies are going to be connected to it, at all.

How so? The movie will be there, won't it? It'll exist? You'll be able to watch it? It may not be part ofthe DCEU, but it'll be one more DC movie.

I'd think they'll be rightfully confused when they see this movie about the Joker, see it's not Leto, assume he's the new Joker and then when they go to another film set in the DCEU they see it's Leto again.

As @JD and @Ovation (and others multiple times over the course of this thread) have said, the audience a) won't care, or b) will care enough to be informed about it. In any way, that's not a good reason why not to. You still owe me a good answer to that question.

Which shows they have no real faith in their own Shared Universe anymore, otherwise they'd use Leto and find a way to fit this in there.

It doesn't show that. It only shows that they're willing to experiment, but don't want these experiments to affect their shared universe. We don't know what will happen in that Joker movie aside from it being an origin movie and set in the 1980s. Maybe Batman or another major character dies in it, or something happens that goes in a direction they don't want the DCEU to take. So, the studio has a movie pitch they really want to go with, but not have it affect their shared universe. Setting it outside the shared universe is the really easy answer to that problem.

And besides, as @Ovation already pointed out, it's Martin fucking Scorsese we're talking about here.

You don't see the MCU just randomly doing standalone "What If?" movies.

Hey, @Anwar : Why the hell not?

Apples and oranges...

No, it really seems like a very similar thing. True, the "Star Wars Stories" are set in the same universe as the saga movies, but up until "Rogue One", every live-action SW theatrical release has been a saga movie.

They're probably thinking, "If we're going to fail, why not fail as spectacularly as possible?"

[SARCASM]Yeah, I mean, it's Martin Scorsese and the Joker. When have either ever been connected with a good movie, right?![/SARCASM]

 

[Turtletrekker]

Speaking as a devout MCU fan, I'd love to see Marvel experiment a bit more. More than just about any other property, I'd love to see an adaptation of Captain America: Red, White and Black. If they did it as MCU or as a separate continuity (as it was originally intended to be) would be irrelevant to me.

 

[crookeddy]

I'm not a fan of Scorsese (never seen a single film

Oh cool. An informed opinion.

 

[kirk55555]

Oh cool. An informed opinion.

Good thing I wasn't giving an opinion on the quality of his work then. I was just saying that I have no particular interest in the director, but I'm up for seeing a live action Joker who isn't Jared Leto. That was meant as a positive comment toward the film, in case you couldn't tell.

 

[Noname Given]

I don't think there's anything that says all of the movies have to be connected. They've got multiple unconnected TV universes, and it hasn't been an issue. Granted they haven't had the same character in two different ones as the same time, but I think as long as it's clear this isn't in the DCEU it won't be an issue.

^^^
Well, remember - in the 1980ies DC DID try to unify their Comics Universe continuity with "Crises on Infinite Earths" - but with WB still in charge an wanting to capitalize, we've got different TV and Film continuities again, plus DC has split their Comics continuities/tried to unify them/split them again, and unified again...

My point? There will never be one continuity as long as WB is leveraging multiple media outlets/types and sticking and promoting whichever of said streams is generating good buzz/profits and getting people in front of TVs/PCs/Theater seats and generating a good profit/ROI (IE There will be a lot more Wonder Woman related films/appearances in the DCEU because that character's initial appearances and solo film were well received at the Box Office.

 

[Kai "the spy"]

The supposed goal of CoIE was not to unify all DC outlets across all media, and it can be argued the plan wasn't even to unify all of DC's comics in one universe. Within a year of CoIE, DC published both "Watchmen" and "The Dark Knight Returns", both destinctly set outside of the ongoing DC Universe, and both most likely in the works while CoIE was still going on.