Anthony Stokes has a few suggestions on how Warner Bros. could make a Justice League movie work….
The box office returns for Man of Steel are in and wow is it making a lot of money. Warner Bros. is no doubt happy, being in desperate need of another franchise with The Hobbit concluding next year, Harry Potter finished, and The Hangover completely fizzling out this summer. A sequel has already been announced to no surprise, and there’s even talks of the long-rumoured Justice League movie arriving 2015. While these may or may not come into fruition, there’s been a lot of talk about who should direct the Justice League movie, and more importantly how to tell this massive story with all these characters in a way that will appeal to audiences and critics. I just so happen to have several ideas on how to do so.
The very first thing Warner Bros. needs to worry about is how to introduce the roster. The original plan was to use Justice League as a way to create audience interest in these characters and then have them spin-off into individual movies. This is a horrible idea and clearly just a way to fast-track a franchise. The right way to do it is to release individual movies featuring the more popular characters in the lead up to Justice League. Aquaman, Cyborg and Martian Manhunter do not need solo films – treat them like Hawkeye and Black Widow in The Avengers and use them sparingly, or even just focus on the other members before bringing them in later and fully fleshing them out.
Then there’s the question of what to do with The Dark Knight. My biggest concern is not only why would Batman join a group of superheroes, but also nothing in the entire Batman film universe to suggest he would stand a chance against any members of the Justice League. The Flash or Superman could kill him instantly – what purpose would Batman serve next to a man who can fly at the speed of sound? Batman needs to be rebooted before Justice League, or at least given another movie with a brand new tone. He’s an essential piece of the team, but currently he wouldn’t fit in thematically. The new Batman should be stronger and more competent to be able to keep up with the rest of the League. The Batman from the comics is not only a genius, but he always has a trick up his sleeve, and is extremely cunning and cold in battle. A rebooted Batman needs to play up the more fantastic elements and even make him a little psychologically compromised to give him an edge over the rest of the the team. If they go this route, it’s probably better to do a World’s Finest movie and use that to build up to Justice League.
What do Iron Man, The Avengers and Batman Begins all have in common? In all three cases, there was a lot of dispute over the filmmakers behind the projects when their respective directors were announced. And after the movies came out, there was little to no arguing that each did a great job. When moving on to something as massive as Justice League, it’s important to have a good creative team behind it. In the run up to Man of Steel, there’s been talk that Zack Snyder isn’t right for Superman (and Justice League) and regardless of my own personal feelings, there’s no denying that there’s been a backlash from some fans. And the heat’s not just on Snyder either; screenwriter David S. Goyer has had varying success with comic book movies (for every Batman Begins there’s a Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance). Warner Bros. needs to ensure the find a creative team for Justice League who can deliver a big budget special effects-driven movie with a distinct feel and a consistent tone. Are Snyder and Goyer the right choice? What about Guillermo del Toro or Matthew Vaughn?
My final piece of advice to Warner Bros. would be to slow down and really take a look at what they’ve done right and what they’ve done wrong. Not only look to themselves, but look to Marvel. Everything in the Marvel Cinematic Universe feels thought-out and natural, while every move on Warner Bros.’ part feels rushed and reeks of desperation. Stop trying to build Rome in a day and focus on making good quality films and the money will come in.
Anthony Stokes is a blogger and independent filmmaker.
Originally published June 21, 2013. Updated April 11, 2018.
