Superhero Cinematic Civil War - Part 58

[metaphysician]

This thread also says Zaslov’s very worried about Aquaman 2 and is worried it will flop and called in a meeting to discuss what to do with that as well. Lawd, my friends, how did things get this dire?

Zach Snyder Man of Steel. *cough*

 

[metaphysician]

Yeah… honestly though I felt the first film was really weak from a writing and acting standpoint so if word of mouth is that the sequel is SO much worse than that… yikes. But yeah; WB hasn’t had many wins lately outside of Batman. I loved Gunn’s Suicide Squad but it wasn’t a hit financially and like you said, WW84 was crap (I wanted so badly to like it too).

Flip side of the coin, though: this is the same studio that has also apparently not greenlit a Batman sequel, despite The Batman doing quite good. This means, at least IMO, that "We have direly unrealistic sales expectations" is totally still on the table. The execs idea of "Aquaman 2 flopping" might well be "It makes a ton of money, but not more than the first one despite the unrelated, uncontrolled loss of several territories".

 

[metaphysician]

Can someone explain to me how Wolverine is in any way a challenge for Hulk? I understand Logan has his claws and healing factor, but can’t Hulk literally throw him to the moon? Or like…leap away? The idea of them fighting on even ground just seems absurd.

Jobbing. There is literally no other actual answer. Wolverine is ten thousand percent out of his league trying to fight the Hulk, and should have zero way to even effect the guy. No, "adamantium claws" isn't an answer, unbreakable blades are not magical infinite cutting power blades.

 

[kguillou]

Zach Snyder Man of Steel. *cough*

Eh the problems WB has now are so far removed from Snyder at this point. I get it, the trajectory that MoS/BvS set the DCEU is still being felt but at this point these properties have been in the hands of new creatives for a while now: James Wan, Patty Jenkins, James Gunn, Sandberg, The Rock, the Batgirl directors…all these people sound like they’ve pretty much been given full autonomy to do what they want with these characters and…man i hate to say it but we might be seeing exhibit A on why some studio oversight is necessary sometimes.

DC needs someone that can read these scripts before production starts and tell the directors/writers, “yeahh ok this is not gonna work,” or “ok the script is good…but these elements need reworking.” i dont think thats been happening at all with many of these movies. It seems like WB is just greenlighting scripts and trusting the directors without even looking at the dailies to make sure that this stuff is working. Which…from a creative standpoint is cool and all but also means as a result each DC project is a giant coin toss.

 

[Batgirl0202]

A Hulk solo movie would be cool but as others have pointed out, it look like we're gonna be waiting awhile. Phase Six or Seven at the earliest, and that's assuming the rumor of Universal relinquishing the distribution rights to solo Hulk films is even true...

And I know I'm piping in late here, but I agree with the general consensus that Bill Bixby brought a gravitas to Banner that is still unsurpassed and, considering contemporary actor choices who could conceivably replace Ruffalo, possibly unsurpassable.

Man, taking a look at Bixby's wiki page, the poor guy lived a life that can only be described as tragic

 

[DlAMONDZ]

Plot Induced Stupidity is how stuff like Wolverine vs Hulk and Superman vs Batman are made

 

[Bayne]

The Suicide Squad and Aquaman 2 are apples and oranges. The Suicide Squad had a nearly entirely different creative team from the first movie with only four returning cast members, one of which was nothing more than a glorified cameo, and was more or less treated as a soft reboot rather than a sequel to give James Gunn as much creative freedom as possible. Also, three of the elements that attracted audiences to the first film weren't in it, that being Will Smith, Batman and the Joker. Last but not least, The Suicide Squad was rated R while the first was PG-13.

Aquaman 2 by comparison has pretty much everyone coming back from the first film.

The Suicide Squad was more of a reset button but Aquaman 2 looks like it's going to be marketed as "More Momoa".

I don't disagree with those points, but comparing any two movies is always apples and oranges to a certain degree. And The Suicide Squad is certainly not the first movie sequel in history to disappoint despite not being worse than its predecessor.

In any case, the point is not that I think Aquaman 2 will assuredly bomb or even that we have great (or even slight) reason to fear that may happen. Simply that it is true that a film's success doesn't *always* carry over to the sequel, even if the quality is fine, so it's not very plausible to suggest that it can't possibly bomb as long as the quality is similar, either.

And, of course, it's important to remember the large difference in the information that is available to us versus the information that is available to Zaslav. He may actually have good reason to fear that we don't know about yet. Or he may be an idiot. I'm not at all certain the second option isn't true, but I'll still wait and see. (And this is all assuming these rumors are even true in the first place, of course.)

 

[Shinobi Shaw]

I’ve spent the day rewatching Gargoyles and dammit, I really wish Disney would do something with this. It was like the perfect mix of Batman TAS, X-Men and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with myth and magic thrown in.



I half want to write a spec script for a revival and have it tied to the MCU, it could definitely fit into it.

 

[KBX]

Can someone explain to me how Wolverine is in any way a challenge for Hulk? I understand Logan has his claws and healing factor, but can’t Hulk literally throw him to the moon? Or like…leap away? The idea of them fighting on even ground just seems absurd.

Look at this way. No way Batman should be a challenge for Superman but here we are

 

[fan4stic]

I’ve spent the day rewatching Gargoyles and dammit, I really wish Disney would doing something with this. It was like the perfect mix of Batman TAS, X-Men and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with myth and magic thrown in.

View attachment 57967

I half want to write a spec script for a revival and have it tied to the MCU, it could definitely fit into it.

I'm inclined to think it'd be sanitized and overly comedic.

 

[Pennywise]

 

[Iceman]

Eh the problems WB has now are so far removed from Snyder at this point. I get it, the trajectory that MoS/BvS set the DCEU is still being felt but at this point these properties have been in the hands of new creatives for a while now: James Wan, Patty Jenkins, James Gunn, Sandberg, The Rock, the Batgirl directors…all these people sound like they’ve pretty much been given full autonomy to do what they want with these characters and…man i hate to say it but we might be seeing exhibit A on why some studio oversight is necessary sometimes.

DC needs someone that can read these scripts before production starts and tell the directors/writers, “yeahh ok this is not gonna work,” or “ok the script is good…but these elements need reworking.” i dont think thats been happening at all with many of these movies. It seems like WB is just greenlighting scripts and trusting the directors without even looking at the dailies to make sure that this stuff is working. Which…from a creative standpoint is cool and all but also means as a result each DC project is a giant coin toss.

You need people who know the characters and are familiar with this stuff to give the oversight. Some suits only heard of a bunch of these characters outside the most famous ones yesterday so how are they going to even know what’s good and think like a viewer. That’s why Sony execs end up putting Morbius back out because they can’t tell if there is some cult reason why fans love it and whether they’re being serious with their memes or not.

 

[fan4stic]

man i hate to say it but we might be seeing exhibit A on why some studio oversight is necessary sometimes.

I'm not sure I agree.

Jobbing. There is literally no other actual answer. Wolverine is ten thousand percent out of his league trying to fight the Hulk, and should have zero way to even effect the guy. No, "adamantium claws" isn't an answer, unbreakable blades are not magical infinite cutting power blades.

I think that's hardly an issue in the MCU would be concerned about.

 

[Iceman]

If the dude actively wants it and is talking in detail about it, sign him up already.

 

[Shinobi Shaw]

Give him a hoverchair and a baldie, that man gets it.

 

[Pennywise]

Give him a hoverchair and a baldie, that man gets it.

When I see him in 2 weeks at Fan Expo Canada, I’ll get out of my wheelchair and ask him if he wants to sit in it.



Going to be my first convention in three years!

 

[Shinobi Shaw]

When I see him next week at Fan Expo Canada, I’ll get out of my wheelchair and ask him if he wants to sit in it.



Going to be my first convention in three years!

LOL. Enjoy yourself when you go my friend, it sounds like it’ll be a good time.

 

[Pennywise]

He most definitely would have been Kang!

Esposito could still play a variant if Majors doesn’t play all of them!

 

[Iceman]

He most definitely would have been Kang!

Esposito could still play a variant if Majors doesn’t play all of them!

Luckily Jonathan Majors looks like he’s got that role down, I think he’ll be amazing. And that frees up Giancarlo for a different big role (like Xavier).

 

[Pennywise]

Luckily Jonathan Majors looks like he’s got that role down, I think he’ll be amazing. And that frees up Giancarlo for a different big role (like Xavier).

I’m can’t wait to see how Majors portrays multiple variants of Kang, as Feige hinted we’re going to see a lot soon!

 

[Iceman]

I’m can’t wait to see how Majors portrays multiple variants of Kang, as Feige hinted we’re going to see a lot soon!

Yep, very much impressed me in the Loki show. Can’t wait to see more evil versions of Kang.

 

[Pennywise]

A bit of the score for Shazam! Fury of The Gods

 

[Drizzle]

He most definitely would have been Kang!

Esposito could still play a variant if Majors doesn’t play all of them!

I'm glad he didn't play Kang because frankly I'm tired of seeing Giancarlo Esposito constantly playing the villain. I'd rather see new blood like Jonathan Majors give us an interesting take on Kang rather than seeing another Gus Fring-type character for Esposito. Don't get me wrong, I love the guy, but I think even he's getting bored of the typecasting (The Mandalorian, The Boys, Far Cry 6). I'm all for bringing Esposito into the MCU but let's put him on the side of good. Charles Xavier would be a good fit for him.

 

[Pennywise]

I'm glad he didn't play Kang because frankly I'm tired of seeing Giancarlo Esposito constantly playing the villain. I'd rather see new blood like Jonathan Majors give us an interesting take on Kang rather than seeing another Gus Fring-type character for Esposito. Don't get me wrong, I love the guy, but I think even he's getting bored of the typecasting (The Mandalorian, The Boys, Far Cry 6). I'm all for bringing Esposito into the MCU but let's put him on the side of good. Charles Xavier would be a good fit for him.

I’d definitely be down for him playing Xavier, would be a nice change of pace for him.

 

[Iceman]

Seems like he agrees too given his particular interest in Xavier rather than Magneto (which many had fancast him for).