Future of DC Films (DCEU)

[Hoody999]

Even if Black Adam does open in China it’s on track to make $400M worldwide without China. Because of the current strength of the US dollar overseas ticket sales in China will be under a 40% take for WBD. Even if China brings in $200M it won’t break even.

Next week Wakanda Forever opens and projections for its box office are huge. It will absolutely crush BA which has had only mediocre legs with no competition. Black Adam will lose money. At least as measured by cost: ticket sales.

Well with a bit of luck Zazlav/Gunn will be watching the MCU closely and adjust WBD plans accordingly. I guess both can say they had no real input into Black Adam, and it isn't as tight and meaningful as what Wakanda Forever will most probably be.

But bottom line, Wakanda Forever will have legs and earn big at the box office because it has earnt it. Chadwick Bosman surely makes a difference here, but they have the audience invested in Wakanda over many years. If it was a stand alone first film, no way would it make what it will make.

 

[csutkakoma]

Even if Black Adam does open in China it’s on track to make $400M worldwide without China. Because of the current strength of the US dollar overseas ticket sales in China will be under a 40% take for WBD. Even if China brings in $200M it won’t break even.

Next week Wakanda Forever opens and projections for its box office are huge. It will absolutely crush BA which has had only mediocre legs with no competition. Black Adam will lose money. At least as measured by cost: ticket sales.

It is not surprising. It does not look good overall right now and IMO it has to do with Black Adam simply being a bad movie. Honestly people are tired of DC and mediocrity and it is a good thing. Hopefully it will force the studio to actually do good movies from now on. It is just mind blowing that they gave 200 million for this.

 

[Alatar]

Looks like Black Adam is NOT releasing in China. It absolutely loses money now, and badly.

To put this in perspective:

Birds of Prey cost about $91M to make and with a presumed marketing budget total of $100M the cost was $191M. With a x2 multiplier it therefore needed to make $382M to break even in ticket sales. It grossed $205M. It therefore lost $181M.

Black Adam cost $295M and it needs to make $590M to break even. It’s probably going to finish at about $400M worldwide. If that’s how it goes its on track to lose $190M. It might actually lose even more than BoP did.

 

[jye4ever]

ZS not looking so bad now is he.

 

[ironwez20]

ZS not looking so bad now is he.

No he still is

 

[Alatar]

Re: whether WBD might be looking at Snyder to return…

ZSJL was really well received. Maybe one day we’ll learn the actual streaming numbers for it. I don’t trust anything put out through the trades during the death throes of the old WB regime that obviously did him dirty. But anyway, most people seem to agree that it’s a fine superhero film.

Army of the Dead performed extremely well on Netflix.

We’ll see how Rebel Moon does. That’s anyone’s guess tbh.

Personally I don‘t think it’s out of the question at all that he could return to make JL 2 and 3.

 

[Alatar]

There’s some buzz going around that Steven Spielberg is being considered to direct Cavil’s next solo Superman film.

That would probably do giant numbers. I’d actually be very curious to see what Spielberg does with it. He’s certainly more than capable of giving some depth and complexity to the character.

 

[Hoody999]

Re: whether WBD might be looking at Snyder to return…

ZSJL was really well received. Maybe one day we’ll learn the actual streaming numbers for it. I don’t trust anything put out through the trades during the death throes of the old WB regime that obviously did him dirty. But anyway, most people seem to agree that it’s a fine superhero film.

Army of the Dead performed extremely well on Netflix.

We’ll see how Rebel Moon does. That’s anyone’s guess tbh.

Personally I don‘t think it’s out of the question at all that he could return to make JL 2 and 3.

Yep, I still think that is a massive marketing opportunity. Imagine the talk if he was announced. Hell, even if he was "in talks".

But that's a lot further down the road I guess.

 

[Hoody999]

There’s some buzz going around that Steven Spielberg is being considered to direct Cavil’s next solo Superman film.

That would probably do giant numbers. I’d actually be very curious to see what Spielberg does with it. He’s certainly more than capable of giving some depth and complexity to the character.

Yep, personally I can't believe that. I know the details and he was at a meeting with them etc. But it could also be simply getting other professional opinions on how they should approach it.

But no doubt it would be interesting if he did direct or produce. Not sure Superhero is really his genre though. I know he's done a lot. But I guess he's been there and done that, so might want to have a go and create some conversation for Scorsese and the other Superhero detractors.

 

[abake]

It would be huge a publicity stunt if Spielberg were to make a Superman movie.
But I'm not sure it would mean a great movie. Somehow, I feel that Scorsese is more hip and up to date than Spielberg (Wolf of Wall Street anyone?). Not that Scorsese would or should make a superhero movie...

 

[generalszabo]

Spielberg would be a good fit for the character IMO. He's a legendary director and DC would do well from it. The only other director I'd be excited about would be ridley Scott, which is nearly as unlikely as scorcese

 

[Alatar]

 

[jye4ever]

What a complete disas

 

[ironwez20]

You guys get your hopes up way to much lol. Dude could be talking about joining the fast and furious universe lmao. But I’ll take the snyderverse over that anyday.

 

[MeatHookGekko]

... I’d actually be very curious to see what Spielberg does with it....

My prediction is Spielberg splits the film in half. Half will be Cavill. The other half will be young Clark Kent in Smallville, with the tone similar to Super 8. I mean when JJ Abrams made Super 8, it's basically a guy trying desperately to make a Spielberg type movie.

Amy Adams has a full decade on Cavill in age. She's aging very fast and very hard at this point compared to the Man Of Steel. I suspect that Spielberg will kill Lois Lane off.

Spielberg will find a way to bring Gene Hackman back. That would ensure legacy fans from the previous Superman run of films.

 

[snoop101]

My prediction is Spielberg splits the film in half. Half will be Cavill. The other half will be young Clark Kent in Smallville, with the tone similar to Super 8. I mean when JJ Abrams made Super 8, it's basically a guy trying desperately to make a Spielberg type movie.

Amy Adams has a full decade on Cavill in age. She's aging very fast and very hard at this point compared to the Man Of Steel. I suspect that Spielberg will kill Lois Lane off.

Spielberg will find a way to bring Gene Hackman back. That would ensure legacy fans from the previous Superman run of films.

Is that your actual prediction or are you being Sarcastic? Every bit of that sounds like a dumpster fire.

 

[ironwez20]

Is that your actual prediction or are you being Sarcastic? Every bit of that sounds like a dumpster fire.

I honestly think he’s serious . And I wouldn’t put it past DC to do it

 

[MeatHookGekko]

Is that your actual prediction or are you being Sarcastic? Every bit of that sounds like a dumpster fire.

In effect, Superman needs to reboot the Clark Kent origin story with a different tone without replacing Cavill.

( Personally I really liked Man Of Steel. I thought Costner and Crowe were great in it. I actually wished Crowe got his own solo Krypton movie)

The Cavill Superman is extremely disjointed though on the later films. Different cooks in that pot, it's kind of convoluted. The modern money maker is all about franchises and trilogies. Zaslav doesn't just need a Spielberg version of Superman, he needs the tracks laid to build a 2nd and 3rd installment.

What many older actresses do is put on weight to hide the aging in their face. Some make that choice. Others stay very thin but it makes them look extremely old via closeups on camera. Our society and culture is going to have a backlash if Amy Adams shows up heavy. I'm not saying it's fair nor that I agree with that personally, but it's something that is a fixture in Hollywood. Remember Alicia Silverstone in the Batman film where everyone had to keep talking about her weight? Kate Winslet in Titanic? Liv Tyler's growing waistline in ROTK? And that was pre-social media. Also from a storytelling perspective, it's the easiest way to emotionally manipulate the audience to create conflict for someone who can't be killed i.e. Superman. So yes, I suspect if Spielberg gets the helm, that Adams/Lane dies.

A narrative structure like The Godfather 2 can work. Young Clark as a kid, can bring back Kevin Costner for some scenes and contrast it with what Cavill is struggling with in the modern day. Give Gene Hackman some kind of excuse to return as aging Luthor in a Frank Miller Dark Knight Returns kind of vibe.

It's a dumpster fire if the idiots from Game Of Thrones Season 8 got their hands on it. With Spielberg, he can make it work.

Million Dollar Baby sounded like a dumpster fire to a lot of studios. Clint Eastwood, even just after Unforgiven and his Oscar there, couldn't get financing for years to get it made. Storywise, you could see where the basic premise could go wrong in so many places. The plot is kind of broken actually. But it just works. It's a great film. It has some amazing performances in it. If the writing is good enough, Spielberg can make it work.

 

[batfan08]

I’m good with them trying to salvage the Snyderverse continuity, if that’s their play. Comics have employed retcons for nearly as long as they’ve existed as a medium, so, when it comes to all the stellar casting they got for the DCEU, no use throwing the baby out with the proverbial bath water.

All things considered, though: if it’s Gunn and Safran in charge, this is one instance where I do think Snyder needs studio babysitters. To paraphrase Max Lord, “ZSJL is good, but it could be better.” Snyder needs to stop with the masturbatory slow-motion money shots, for one thing. Completely negates the impact of that final shot on the cliff that looked like a Ross splash page when you have…Wonder Woman standing on a gargoyle for 2 minutes…Batman standing on a gargoyle for 2 minutes…Aquaman taking his shirt off to rock music in slow-mo for 2 minutes…

You get my point. Movie ain’t had no reason on God’s holy earth to be four hours long. None. Zero, zilch, nada. And as far as that gratuitous slow-motion tomfoolery padding the runtime goes, I’m convinced Ezra Miller got the idea for their weird, Norwegian pervert cult from Barry Allen’s creepy, slow mo “Iris West with a flying hot dog” scene. You could’ve set that thing to Animotion’s “Obsession” and it would’ve felt less disingenuous than all that atmospheric, self-serious Enya nonsense they had going for it.

End of the day, I like Zack Snyder. He seems to be a genuine, albeit slightly naive dude who people have nothing but nice things to say about. But the guy needs an editor and a sense of humor because if you don’t have that? The whole thing falls apart. Like, I’m sorry, but as a huge New Gods fan, you cannot afford to tackle that pantheon without tongue planted firmly in cheek. Kirby knew that when he created them and he relied on the subtext to deliver the heavy blows to the reader in terms of pathos, symbolism, commentary, and so forth. The man knew his audience and he knew the gig, which is why he was about as subtle as a jackhammer in actually crafting those characters.

Mr. Miracle is Scott Free. Darkseid is…Darkseid. Your big bad is literally called Darkseid and he’s surrounded by a goon squad comprised of a torturer, again, literally named Desaad, an old lady called Granny Goodness, some weird little Hitler lookin’ dude called Baron Vundabar, and their Minister of Propganda Glorious Godfrey.

Gunn has the right sensibilities for that stuff, he can somehow defy the odds and dial up the camp without sacrificing the horror. He did it with Starro. Snyder does not. He doesn’t know how to wield nuance in his favor and he tries to fit every square peg into a round hole like he’s directing an episode of Game of Thrones. He can’t make these characters edgy. If he does, it’s going to make them seem even more ridiculous and he’s going to crash and burn. And that’s why I feel like they can’t let him reign free. Ray Fisher’s Twitter rants about it be damned…

 

[snoop101]

In effect, Superman needs to reboot the Clark Kent origin story with a different tone without replacing Cavill.

( Personally I really liked Man Of Steel. I thought Costner and Crowe were great in it. I actually wished Crowe got his own solo Krypton movie)

The Cavill Superman is extremely disjointed though on the later films. Different cooks in that pot, it's kind of convoluted. The modern money maker is all about franchises and trilogies. Zaslav doesn't just need a Spielberg version of Superman, he needs the tracks laid to build a 2nd and 3rd installment.

What many older actresses do is put on weight to hide the aging in their face. Some make that choice. Others stay very thin but it makes them look extremely old via closeups on camera. Our society and culture is going to have a backlash if Amy Adams shows up heavy. I'm not saying it's fair nor that I agree with that personally, but it's something that is a fixture in Hollywood. Remember Alicia Silverstone in the Batman film where everyone had to keep talking about her weight? Kate Winslet in Titanic? Liv Tyler's growing waistline in ROTK? And that was pre-social media. Also from a storytelling perspective, it's the easiest way to emotionally manipulate the audience to create conflict for someone who can't be killed i.e. Superman. So yes, I suspect if Spielberg gets the helm, that Adams/Lane dies.

A narrative structure like The Godfather 2 can work. Young Clark as a kid, can bring back Kevin Costner for some scenes and contrast it with what Cavill is struggling with in the modern day. Give Gene Hackman some kind of excuse to return as aging Luthor in a Frank Miller Dark Knight Returns kind of vibe.

It's a dumpster fire if the idiots from Game Of Thrones Season 8 got their hands on it. With Spielberg, he can make it work.

Million Dollar Baby sounded like a dumpster fire to a lot of studios. Clint Eastwood, even just after Unforgiven and his Oscar there, couldn't get financing for years to get it made. Storywise, you could see where the basic premise could go wrong in so many places. The plot is kind of broken actually. But it just works. It's a great film. It has some amazing performances in it. If the writing is good enough, Spielberg can make it work.

I just can’t see them going that route at all. If people thought Man of Steel was “too dark” then imagine the outrage when we’ve got an ultra-depressed Supes mourning the death of Lois. Cavill has already stated that he thought Man of steel was the perfect starting point for Superman, and now wants to play a more “joyful” albeit still bad ass version of the character. I doubt they go full Wonder Woman 84 (as far as camp goes) with this film.

What was convoluted about Cavills Superman? His journey and character arcs were pretty straight forward. Zack’s JL left him in a perfect place to continue on to be the more traditional Superman. The hardest part would be to retcon Clark’s death, which would be somewhat difficult since they had a funeral and everything for him. I wouldn’t even be surprised if they just ignored that aspect of it and just continued on as if that never happened.

I don’t recall there being any hate over any of the actresses you named, especially regarding weight…? They were all sexy in their respective roles, I mean Alicia Silverstone alone was as close to perfect as they come in B&R.

Bringing in Gene Hackman as 97 year old Lex would be so hilarious.