Warner Bros. has delivered a series of press releases, social media blasts, and interviews so far this week and it’s showing that the end of 2016 is all about planning for 2017, 2018, and beyond. Here is a quick run-down of what we know so far, some from their direct current, some from interviews with the cast and crew, and some from the rumor mill. Enjoy!
Gotham City Sirens has a green light. Suicide Squad writer/director David Ayer is set to helm the project, throwing Margot Robbie into a starring role with presumably Catwoman, Poison Ivy, and a few other Batman femme fatales thrown into the mix. Megan Fox is actively pursuing the role of Poison Ivy, which would be interesting, to say the least. With Ayer reuniting with Robbie, it’s sure to be a fun movie with lots of explosions and laughs, but the true test will be if he can get Jared Leto back to play the Joker. There is no release date set in stone as of yet.
The Batman release date is set to be 2018. This bumps The Flash back, albeit slightly, as well as the unnamed Justice League sequel. Ben Affleck will co-write (with DC’s own Geoff Johns), produce, direct, and star in the film and it will feature the main villain Deathstroke, played by Joe Manganiello. Jeremy Irons will be returning as Alfred and will be joined by J. K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon. Rumor has it that Anna Kendrick is lobbying for the role of Carrie Kelly (the future Robin) after working closely with Affleck in The Accountant.
DC plans to do two movies per year, no more, no less. This is a smart move, on Warner Bros. part. Marvel seemingly competes with themselves at the box office and though they always have high earnings, the quality and rewatch value is somewhat diminished by the fact that they all seem to be extremely rushed. Starting with Man of Steel, then taking a few years off to make this year’s releases (Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad), 2017 will continue that tradition with the releases of Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman and Zack Snyder’s Justice League, leaving 2018 with James Wan’s Aquaman and Ben Affleck’s The Batman. Gotham City Sirens, The Flash, Cyborg, Green Lantern Corps, and Justice League Dark are also said to be in the works.
So there you have it. If you hear anything else, feel free to let us know. A lot of this is speculation (as is the trend in modern news of any kind, really), but we try to report and retract when we can, so we’re happy to make amendments. I, for one, couldn’t be happier with DC’s movie universe so far. It actually feels like watching a comic book. Batman and company are in good hands with directors like Snyder, Ayer, Wan, Jenkins, (and now Affleck). Count me in for all of these. Each and every one.
