Shazam!

[Gov Kodos]

Yep.

If this is a hit too, following just months after Aquaman's success, Warner is going to get cocky.

As long as it ends the parade of Batman and Superman. DC has so many properties they can work with beyond those two. Heck, a retry of Green Lantern would be preferable to going back to them. Please, let Shazam! blow up as much as Aquaman.

 

[theenglish]

The best move for Superman and Batman is to use them sparingly as guests in other movies, similar to what Marvel did with Iron Man in Homecoming, Civil War, Avengers. We've seen a lot of Clark and Bruce already but using them as supporting characters would allow Cavil and Affleck to remain in the DC universe while working on other projects.

 

[Gov Kodos]

I wonder if part of Marvel's success was unintentional. The hottest comic properties, X-Men and Spider-Man were other people's film properties so they had to work outside the box of their hot comic book properties. DC is dominated by Bats and Supes and their whole radio and film world has revolved around those two since the 40s. Using them as guests, sure, but I'm good without them altogether for a few films.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Have you read the earlier volumes of the Ultimates?

Marvel did not have a choice, the path was certain, right down to the involvement of Samuel L Jackson 6 years before Iron Man 1.

 

[Grendelsbayne]

The best move for Superman and Batman is to use them sparingly as guests in other movies, similar to what Marvel did with Iron Man in Homecoming, Civil War, Avengers. We've seen a lot of Clark and Bruce already but using them as supporting characters would allow Cavil and Affleck to remain in the DC universe while working on other projects.

I agree WB spends too much time focusing on those two to the exclusion of everyone else, but I don't think you can really say we've seen too much of Cavill and Affleck. Cavill had one solid solo story and a very dubious crossover 'arc' in which he had almost no real agency. I could still stand to see another solo story for him before he's condemned to being just a supporting character. One more is probably enough, since Superman is so widely known/used, but this version is different enough that I'd like that one more shot.

Batman, on the other, could make many of the same arguments, but considering I've yet to really see anything about his version of the character that feels significantly different from what came before (a real waste, since the older Batman concept could have been a huge factor if it weren't being completely ignored), I just don't care that much. And frankly Affleck was flat out phoning it in throughout JL, so as far as I'm concerned there's no need to see him again period.

Flashpoint has a lot of potential now that it appears Wonder Woman and Aquaman are the main stars of the DCEU. WB should take the opportunity to make a movie that's fairly unique in the superhero movie genre (really only DOFP comes close and even that isn't really about glimpsing an alternate world), buoyed by strong supporting roles for both their main stars and even offering the opportunity for a risk free try-out for some possible recasting. (Maybe Flashpoint Batman is Dick Grayson, and if he works out he could become main DC Batman, too, etc.)

 

[matthunter]

That shot of Billy jumping off the roof and getting hit by the lightning could be a comic book cover - amazing visual.

And nice to see they aren't keeping casual viewers in the dark about whether Billy can fly or not (or would only be able to fly at the end of the film).

 

[LJones41]

I want a second "Man of Steel" movie with Henry Cavill. I still want a solo Batman movie with Ben Affleck. And I want at least two Justice League movies. It would be nice if they were directed by Zack Snyder and not interfered with by the studio suits. Or at least find a director who can be just as challenging as Snyder.

For me, "Man of Steel" and especially "Batman v. Superman" were the two best films within the DCEU. I'm also a major fan of "Wonder Woman" and "Suicide Squad". I enjoyed these movies because they were challenging. They challenged the audiences' perception of our society. They challenged the audiences' views of these characters. I don't mind the occasional "fun" comic book hero movie like "Aquaman" or "Shazaam". I enjoyed "Aquaman" despite its rather questionable direction. But for me, it was no where as satisfying as those first four movies. And my gut feeling tells me that the Warner Bros. suits will keep listening to the moronic critics and moviegoers who will keep demanding that the DC comic book movies should be non-challenging, fun and somewhat traditional because they're too gutless to consider a comic book movie or pop culture film capable of challenging the status quo.

 

[Gov Kodos]

...the Warner Bros. suits will keep listening to the money...

FTFY

 

[matthunter]

I want a second "Man of Steel" movie with Henry Cavill. I still want a solo Batman movie with Ben Affleck. And I want at least two Justice League movies. It would be nice if they were directed by Zack Snyder and not interfered with by the studio suits. Or at least find a director who can be just as challenging as Snyder.

For me, "Man of Steel" and especially "Batman v. Superman" were the two best films within the DCEU. I'm also a major fan of "Wonder Woman" and "Suicide Squad". I enjoyed these movies because they were challenging. They challenged the audiences' perception of our society. They challenged the audiences' views of these characters. I don't mind the occasional "fun" comic book hero movie like "Aquaman" or "Shazaam". I enjoyed "Aquaman" despite its rather questionable direction. But for me, it was no where as satisfying as those first four movies. And my gut feeling tells me that the Warner Bros. suits will keep listening to the moronic critics and moviegoers who will keep demanding that the DC comic book movies should be non-challenging, fun and somewhat traditional because they're too gutless to consider a comic book movie or pop culture film capable of challenging the status quo.

The issue with this is that superhero movies that challenge the status quo and our view of our society are a dime a dozen. Characters like Supes are meant to inspire, not go around snapping necks. Even Justice League's big moment for him was punching out Steppenwolf when the rest of the League was overmatched... what's impressive about being strong? Having him inspire "ordinary" humanity to fight back against the Parademons would be far better. He's a symbol of the best we can be, not just angsty tough guy #5071.

If you want angsty tough guy #5071, Wolverine is looking for work.

 

[kirk55555]

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This movie has a gift for making me hate it more every time I think that I can't hate it any more. There is apparently no such thing as a teenager who is not a huge asshole. I remember them existing when I was that age, but it must have been an extended psychotic episode lasting my entire time as a teenager. I can't wait until this movie shows Billy streaming on Twitch, and he calls someone a racial slur while talking about how much he loves fortnite. You know, like a modern teenager

Its pretty impressive to be the worst movie (loosely) based off a character that is/has been called Captain Marvel in the same year where Marvel is releasing their own trainwreck, but WB/DC found a way, which shouldn't surprise me.

 

[EnderAKH]

I want a second "Man of Steel" movie with Henry Cavill. I still want a solo Batman movie with Ben Affleck. And I want at least two Justice League movies. It would be nice if they were directed by Zack Snyder and not interfered with by the studio suits. Or at least find a director who can be just as challenging as Snyder.

At this point that is very unlikely.

And my gut feeling tells me that the Warner Bros. suits will keep listening to the moronic critics and moviegoers who will keep demanding that the DC comic book movies should be non-challenging, fun and somewhat traditional because they're too gutless to consider a comic book movie or pop culture film capable of challenging the status quo.

Their job is not to make art. Their job is to make movies that make as much money as possible. If action rompfests make more money than the movies that you enjoy, then I'm sorry, but it becomes their job to make more action rompfests. They are a multi-billion dollar corporation, not artistes. Blaming the company for doing what it is companies are meant to do does not make sense. I wouldn't agree with it, but from your perspective it would make more sense to blame the people who watch the lighter, more fun movies instead of the darker, less fun movies.

 

[The Realist]

Looking to superhero flicks for "challenging" content is bizarre to begin with; it's like looking to Froot Loops for fine cuisine. If you want dour and existentially profound cinema, Criterion recently released a huge and exhaustive Ingmar Bergman Blu-ray collection, so have at it. Meanwhile, any superhero movie that isn't fun has failed its most fundamental purpose.

 

[Kane_Steel]

Man of Steel is dead, bury it. The box office receipts from the 2013 film were too poor to justify investors diving in for another solo. It only had 11% Return on Investment:
https://thumbor.forbes.com/thumbor/...les/2017/11/Est-profit-and-loss-superhero.jpg

If Reeves can successfully reboot Batman someday, they'll probably take a chance at rebooting Superman again.

DCEUs a mess.

 

[urbandefault]

This movie has a gift for making me hate it more every time I think that I can't hate it any more. There is apparently no such thing as a teenager who is not a huge asshole. I remember them existing when I was that age, but it must have been an extended psychotic episode lasting my entire time as a teenager. I can't wait until this movie shows Billy streaming on Twitch, and he calls someone a racial slur while talking about how much he loves fortnite. You know, like a modern teenager

Its pretty impressive to be the worst movie (loosely) based off a character that is/has been called Captain Marvel in the same year where Marvel is releasing their own trainwreck, but WB/DC found a way, which shouldn't surprise me.

Yeah? Just imagine how much you'll hate it after you've actually seen it.

 

[Reverend]

Personally, I'd be perfectly happy if we never see Supes or Batman in these movies for at least another decade (and Batman is far and away my favourite DC property.)
Between MoS, BvS & JL it's clear the people making those movies fundamentally do not understand those characters. Superman is not supposed to be a naval gazing Christ figure tortured by just how much better than everyone else he is and what a drag it is to be held to the moral standards of mere mortals. Batman is not supposed to be a "The Punisher if he had an aversion to firearms."

So I say bring on Shazam, Wonder Woman and Aquaman! Hell, while we're at it let's bring on The Question, Dr Fate, Martian Manhunter, Zatanna, The Birds of Prey, Booster Gold, Fire & Ice, Blue Beetle, Hawkgirl, The Spectre or any number of other characters that deserve a chance to shine! Hell, if you must have a Bat-someone in there somewhere, do a Cassandra Cain & Oracle movie! You could even pitch it to the suits as "'Logan' meets 'Wonder Woman'"

 

[CorporalCaptain]

So I say bring on Shazam, Wonder Woman and Aquaman! Hell, while we're at it let's bring on The Question, Dr Fate, Martian Manhunter, Zatanna, The Birds of Prey, Booster Gold, Fire & Ice, Blue Beetle, Hawkgirl, The Spectre or any number of other characters that deserve a chance to shine! Hell, if you must have a Bat-someone in there somewhere, do a Cassandra Cain & Oracle movie!

Yeah...

I also have hopes for a good Plastic Man movie. He's always been one of my favorites, and he's even goofier than Shazam/Marvel. Lotta ways it could go wrong, though.

 

[dahj]

I also have hopes for a good Plastic Man movie. He's always been one of my favorites, and he's even goofier than Shazam/Marvel. Lotta ways it could go wrong, though.

Like if he stands too close to the radiator for a while?

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Like if he stands too close to the radiator for a while?

"Ew... You melted my butt!"

 

[Nerys Myk]

Like if he stands too close to the radiator for a while?

Look closer. He is the radiator.

 

[Ovation]

Looking to superhero flicks for "challenging" content is bizarre to begin with; it's like looking to Froot Loops for fine cuisine. If you want dour and existentially profound cinema, Criterion recently released a huge and exhaustive Ingmar Bergman Blu-ray collection, so have at it. Meanwhile, any superhero movie that isn't fun has failed its most fundamental purpose.

I’m not going to re-write the lengthier replies I’ve made to this general line of thought but I will say I strenuously disagree. Especially so when there are 89,471 examples of the status quo already available across 8 decades. There is NOTHING inherently illegitimate about examining Superman (or any other superhero) from an angle that challenges expectations.