With Warner Bros. delaying production of The Batman until next year and pushing back the Aquaman solo movie to December 2018, it is being reported that the studio is keen on shooting a new instalment of the DC Extended Universe this year for release in 2018.
According to Variety’s Justin Kroll, the top five choices for the studio are The Flash and Green Lantern Corps, along with recent additions to the slate Gotham City Sirens, Suicide Squad 2, Justice League Dark (a.k.a. Dark Universe), although they are reportedly happy to have Aquaman as the sole DC Films release of 2018 if none of those can be readied in time.
With BATMAN likely shooting in 2018, WB still would like one more DC property to shoot this year other than AQUAMAN
— Justin Kroll (@krolljvar) March 16, 2017
The 5 films being considered are SIRENS, FLASH, LANTERN, SQUAD 2 and DARK UNIVERSE.
— Justin Kroll (@krolljvar) March 16, 2017
That said if scripts aren't ready to go, studio is content just shooting AQUAMAN this year till films are ready to go
— Justin Kroll (@krolljvar) March 16, 2017
The Flash was originally slated for release on March 16th 2018, but was pulled from the schedule after losing director Rick Famuyiwa (who was himself a replacement for Seth Grahame-Smith). It is currently undergoing a page one-rewrite, but does have several cast members in place should the studio manage to get a script it is satisfied with (and a director who stays on board).
Green Lantern Corps is currently scheduled for release on July 24th 2020, and has recently appointed David S. Goyer as a producer, as well as co-writer alongside Justin Rhodes.
Gotham City Sirens will reteam Suicide Squad director David Ayer with Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn. The project was announced in December, and it’s unclear how far into development it is. However, Ayer did manage to put the script for Suicide Squad together in six weeks, so he’s already had longer with Sirens!
The Legend of Tarzan screenwriter Adam Cozad has recently entered talks to pen the script for Suicide Squad 2, while Mel Gibson has been circling the director’s chair. Given that it is further behind development that Gotham City Sirens, it would seem unlikely this could be ready to go any time soon, although being a sequel it does have much of its cast already in place.
Justice League Dark appointed Doug Liman as director back in August, and already has a script in place thanks to Guillermo del Toro. Oddly enough, we’ve heard nothing in the way of movement on the project since Liman’s appointment.
Which of the above would you like to see Warner Bros. fast tracking into development this year, or should they stick with Aquaman for 2018? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…
Originally published March 17, 2017. Updated November 30, 2022.
