…Warner may be no further forward with its search for a replacement for Ben Affleck on The Batman, but it looks like the studio may have found a director for Suicide Squad 2, with news this week that Mel Gibson is in talks to helm the follow up to last year’s supervillain team-up, and Gibson himself confirming that early negotiations are underway. Check out Anghus Houvouras’ thoughts with his op-ed ‘Mel Gibson Directing Suicide Squad 2? So Crazy It Might Just Work‘…
…It’s also been rumoured this week that Warner may have found a director for the Shazam movie, with reports suggesting that Lights Out helmer David F. Sandberg is in talks with the studio…
…The Twitter detectives have unearthed another potential DCEU casting via social media, with speculation that Arnold Schwarzenegger could be set for a return to the DC Universe due to being followed on Twitter by Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins and DC Films supremo Geoff Johns…
…As Aquaman gears up to go into production, a couple of videos have arrived online this week giving us a glimpse at Jason Momoa and Amber Heard in training for the film, while Momoa has been talking about his excitement over the upcoming solo movie: “The cool thing with Aquaman is how it taps into the native culture and that’s something that we’re only taught a little about, so there’s a lot of interesting things. I really think it’s the right time. It’s really cool. Zack Snyder is one of those perspectives on it and DC is really getting behind it. It was a ballsy step. They did it, and I’m extremely happy with the world they’ve created. It’s an honor to be part of this. I read the [Aquaman] script and let me just put it this way, I’ve never seen a movie that’s anything like this. It’s going to be a world that you’ve never seen before, which is really cool. We went to space, we traveled all over different worlds, but we never went underwater. So it’s just a really cool spin on what’s below and it uses a lot of great movies that I already love — whether that be Raiders of the Lost Ark to Star Wars to Lord of the Rings to Romancing the Stone. It has a lot of really cool adventure, it’s funny and heroic, and there’s a lot of different characters and a lot of different worlds that we get to go to… I can’t wait. I’ve spent a lot of time in this industry, so I’m excited to put all my energy into it and completely fuck some shit up…”
…The New York Toy Fair has given us a look at several upcoming DC products, including Hot Toys’ Suicide Squad Batman collectible figure [see here], Mattel’s Wonder Woman dolls [see here], and Funko’s Wonder Woman Pop! Vinyl figures [see here]…
…Screen Junkies celebrated the Dark Knight’s return to the big screen in The LEGO Batman Movie by releasing an Honest Trailer for Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins, which you can watch here…
…As Common continues to lobby for the role of John Stewart in Green Lantern Corps, the rapper and actor has been reflecting on his previous casting as Green Lantern in George Miller’s aborted Justice League Mortal: “Yeah, I was cast and we started rehearsals for the film. I went to Australia. I tried on the outfit and everything. It was heartbreaking, but it happened. The script was super-dope. It was intricate. And knowing George Miller was going to do it, you knew it was going to have that raw edge. But it had Superman, Aquaman, it had all of the characters really involved. Each one of them had moments and you got to know them. It was a strong piece.”
…Turning to the small screen now and be sure to read Martin Carr’s review of Monday’s episode of Supergirl season two ‘Luthors’ here, and check out a trailer, promo and images for the next episode ‘Mr & Mrs Mxyzptlk’ here and here, along with a synopsis for the fifteenth episode ‘Exodus’ here…
…The Flash took a break for a week, but will return on Tuesday with ‘Attack on Gorilla City’, and The CW has whet our appetites with the release of a ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ poster [see here] and a batch of images featuring Gorilla Grodd and Solovar [see here], as well as unveiling the synopsis for the fifteenth episode ‘The Wrath of Savitar’ [read it here]…
…DC’s Legends of Tomorrow was also on a break this past week, but The CW did release a synopsis for the thirteenth episode of season two, ‘Land of the Lost’, which you can read here…
…Check out Jessie Robertson’s review of this past Wednesday’s thirteenth episode of Arrow season five ‘Spectre of the Gun’ here, while we also have a trailer, promo and images for this coming Wednesday’s fourteenth episode ‘The Sin-Eater’, which you can see here and here…
…With The CW placing a pilot order for Greg Berlanti’s latest DC project Black Lightning, an alleged synopsis for the potential series arrived online this week, which reads: “Black Lightning centers on Jefferson Pierce. He made his choice: He hung up the suit and his secret identity years ago, but with a daughter hellbent on justice and a star student being recruited by a local gang, he’ll be pulled back into the fight as the wanted vigilante and DC legend Black Lightning.” You can also find rumoured character breakdowns for the lead roles here…
…Over at NC, be sure to read Rachel Bellwoar’s review of this Thursday’s third episode of Powerless ‘Sinking Day’ here, and take a look at some promo images for the next episode ‘Emily Dates a Henchman’, which sees Vanessa Hudgens’ character falling for one of The Riddler’s goons [see here]…
…In another New York Toy Fair reveal, Funko has announced a new range of action figures and Pop! Vinyls for the 60s Batman TV series, which includes the Dynamic Duo with the Batmobile, Batgirl, Catwoman, Mr. Freeze, King Tut, Bookworm, The Riddler and The Penguin; take a look at the figures here…
…On the animated front, The LEGO Batman Movie stormed to the top of the domestic box office on its opening weekend last weekend, grossing $55.6 million to finish the weekend in top spot at the box office ahead of fellow new releases Fifty Shades Darker ($46.8 million) and John Wick: Chapter 2 ($30 million). It lost out to Fifty Shades Darker worldwide though, with the Fifty Shades of Grey sequel pulling in $146.9 million compared to LEGO Batman’s $92.6 million. Warner Bros. also released a new clip featuring an action-packed musical number [watch it here], as well as LEGO-fied end cards for Supergirl, The Flash, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow and Arrow [watch them here], while you can find Eric Bay-Andersen’s ★★★ review here and Helen Murdoch’s ★★★★ review here…
…And finally, Warner Bros. has announced that the next DC Universe Animated Original Movie Teen Titans: The Judas Contract is set for release on April 18th, and will come with a host of special features including a sneak peek at the next film, Batman and Harley Quinn. You can find the Blu-ray cover art and a full list of the bonus features here…
Gary Collinson is a writer and lecturer from the North East of England. He is the editor-in-chief of FlickeringMyth.com and the author of Holy Franchise, Batman! Bringing the Caped Crusader to the Screen.
