Comments on: JLA movie in the works http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/26/jla-movie-in-the-works/ The News Blog of Comics Culture Sun, 06 Jul 2008 17:02:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Cole Moore Odell http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/26/jla-movie-in-the-works/#comment-72226 Tue, 27 Feb 2007 16:50:49 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/26/jla-movie-in-the-works/#comment-72226 I understand that many of the films "in development" never get past that stage, but leaving that aside, Team-ups are a staple of the comics. Superhero team-up movies are one of the last unexplored areas of the genre. Therefore they're inevitable. Sooner or later we *will* get a JLA or Spider Man/Hulk that crosses over characters from different franchises, if only for the box office potential. Marvel's move to produce more films in-house makes this more likely from their end, as does having all of the DC characters under WB's roof. The Teen Titans and JLA cartoons have also established the concepts as pre-sold brands to audiences of millions, making those movies easier to get off the ground. Two or three sequels in, with lead actors defecting, a team-up movie will be just the thing to keep pulling in crowds. I don't expect these movies next summer, but five years from now? Without a doubt. I understand that many of the films “in development” never get past that stage, but leaving that aside, Team-ups are a staple of the comics. Superhero team-up movies are one of the last unexplored areas of the genre. Therefore they’re inevitable. Sooner or later we *will* get a JLA or Spider Man/Hulk that crosses over characters from different franchises, if only for the box office potential. Marvel’s move to produce more films in-house makes this more likely from their end, as does having all of the DC characters under WB’s roof. The Teen Titans and JLA cartoons have also established the concepts as pre-sold brands to audiences of millions, making those movies easier to get off the ground. Two or three sequels in, with lead actors defecting, a team-up movie will be just the thing to keep pulling in crowds. I don’t expect these movies next summer, but five years from now? Without a doubt.

]]> by: Darren J. Gendron http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/26/jla-movie-in-the-works/#comment-72173 Tue, 27 Feb 2007 15:41:00 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/26/jla-movie-in-the-works/#comment-72173 better clip. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lALQeGR-OY4 better clip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lALQeGR-OY4

]]> by: Darren J. Gendron http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/26/jla-movie-in-the-works/#comment-72171 Tue, 27 Feb 2007 15:36:10 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/26/jla-movie-in-the-works/#comment-72171 Here's the problems with the JLA. First, you've got to go light on the origins, so you need writers that can figure ways around starting the story at the "beginning." Second, you need writers that can put the story together and realize that the only things these heroes have in common is that they live in the same universe. And third, you desperately need to get the Big Three properties, along with as many recognizable characters as possible (John Stewart, Hawkgirl, Flash, and MM would be the best bets right now). Otherwise, you could end up with this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJivdI5c9W4&mode=related&search= Here’s the problems with the JLA. First, you’ve got to go light on the origins, so you need writers that can figure ways around starting the story at the “beginning.”
Second, you need writers that can put the story together and realize that the only things these heroes have in common is that they live in the same universe.
And third, you desperately need to get the Big Three properties, along with as many recognizable characters as possible (John Stewart, Hawkgirl, Flash, and MM would be the best bets right now).
Otherwise, you could end up with this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJivdI5c9W4&mode=related&search=

]]> by: Robolizard http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/26/jla-movie-in-the-works/#comment-72154 Tue, 27 Feb 2007 15:14:08 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/26/jla-movie-in-the-works/#comment-72154 Watchmen pretty much in pre production, after a mere 22 years... so someday... it WILL see the light of day... Watchmen pretty much in pre production, after a mere 22 years… so someday… it WILL see the light of day…

]]> by: Brandon http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/26/jla-movie-in-the-works/#comment-72090 Tue, 27 Feb 2007 14:24:01 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/26/jla-movie-in-the-works/#comment-72090 I would say that skepticism is very understandable. Considering that Superman Returns and Batman Begins made it, but Goyer's Flash, Whedon's Wonder Woman, Jack Black's Green Lantern, Batman vs. Superman, and the forever-in-development Watchmen are all pretty much dead or running in circles, I wouldn't fault any fan for a "believe it when I see it" caution in these announcements. I would say that skepticism is very understandable. Considering that Superman Returns and Batman Begins made it, but Goyer’s Flash, Whedon’s Wonder Woman, Jack Black’s Green Lantern, Batman vs. Superman, and the forever-in-development Watchmen are all pretty much dead or running in circles, I wouldn’t fault any fan for a “believe it when I see it” caution in these announcements.

]]> by: Torsten Adair http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/26/jla-movie-in-the-works/#comment-71740 Tue, 27 Feb 2007 07:23:23 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/26/jla-movie-in-the-works/#comment-71740 Casting is not a problem. Other actors can portray Batman and Superman, and possibly be groomed for those franchises. Warners would be wise to make this movie, and use the box office to spinoff solo movies (Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Shazam). Origins can be ignored with proper storytelling. Casting is not a problem. Other actors can portray Batman and Superman, and possibly be groomed for those franchises.
Warners would be wise to make this movie, and use the box office to spinoff solo movies (Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Shazam).
Origins can be ignored with proper storytelling.

]]> by: Cole Moore Odell http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/26/jla-movie-in-the-works/#comment-71466 Tue, 27 Feb 2007 02:36:55 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/26/jla-movie-in-the-works/#comment-71466 The skepticism is unwarranted, I think. The casting problem is not as insurmountable as many fans make it sound, considering that Routh is hardly a star, and Batman wears a hood. Now that the high-profile franchise-relaunching movies are out of the way, I expect that we'll get DC movies more frequently--perhaps not as fast as the Marvel machine, but at least one a year or so. This is really the only place left for the studios to go, as the well starts to run dry on A- and B-list superhero properties to adapt, and as studios try to top the special effects of previous summers. I expect to see a flurry of team and team-up movies within the next 10 years. Teen Titans is a good bet, along with the already-announced Avengers and JLA. The skepticism is unwarranted, I think. The casting problem is not as insurmountable as many fans make it sound, considering that Routh is hardly a star, and Batman wears a hood. Now that the high-profile franchise-relaunching movies are out of the way, I expect that we’ll get DC movies more frequently–perhaps not as fast as the Marvel machine, but at least one a year or so.

This is really the only place left for the studios to go, as the well starts to run dry on A- and B-list superhero properties to adapt, and as studios try to top the special effects of previous summers. I expect to see a flurry of team and team-up movies within the next 10 years. Teen Titans is a good bet, along with the already-announced Avengers and JLA.

]]> by: CBrown http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/26/jla-movie-in-the-works/#comment-71247 Mon, 26 Feb 2007 22:38:57 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/26/jla-movie-in-the-works/#comment-71247 Kind of useless to comment on this announcement at all. So it'd "in the works?" How long were the Spider-Man, Batman, X-Men, Superman movies "in the works" until they came to fruition? How long has that Watchmen movie been "in the works?" Call me in ten years . . . Kind of useless to comment on this announcement at all. So it’d “in the works?” How long were the Spider-Man, Batman, X-Men, Superman movies “in the works” until they came to fruition? How long has that Watchmen movie been “in the works?” Call me in ten years . . .

]]> by: Jon http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/26/jla-movie-in-the-works/#comment-71189 Mon, 26 Feb 2007 20:46:16 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/26/jla-movie-in-the-works/#comment-71189 I think a Justice Society movie would be a much better idea. They could spotlight some of the lesser known DC characters and add a few well-known actors into the mix if they wanted; make it an ensemble cast like X-Men. I think a Justice Society movie would be a much better idea. They could spotlight some of the lesser known DC characters and add a few well-known actors into the mix if they wanted; make it an ensemble cast like X-Men.

]]> by: Mark Engblom http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/26/jla-movie-in-the-works/#comment-71172 Mon, 26 Feb 2007 20:01:05 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/26/jla-movie-in-the-works/#comment-71172 It'll never happen. Though it IS possible to get a wide assortment of stars together (like "Ocean's 11" and its sequels), the added boatload of money to do the special effects will probably be more than WB is willing to put on the line. It would make the most sense to do this after the characters had their own solo movies first, but by then, the original stars will either be too old or too bored with their superhero roles. It’ll never happen. Though it IS possible to get a wide assortment of stars together (like “Ocean’s 11″ and its sequels), the added boatload of money to do the special effects will probably be more than WB is willing to put on the line. It would make the most sense to do this after the characters had their own solo movies first, but by then, the original stars will either be too old or too bored with their superhero roles.

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