JUSTICE LEAGUE MORTAL ( 2010)
Director : George Miller
Script : John Logan
Project History
With the success of Batman vs Superman, Wonder Woman, and The Flash under their belts, WB feels confident enough to bring all of these characters together, in what would be a first : A superhero team up crossover film.
While the studio knows it will be one of the more expensive ventures in its history, WB feels the strong audience reaction to the heroes freshman efforts ,mean that their is an audience ,eager to see these characters share the big screen together.
The studio decides to enlist Director George Miller , with intentions on filming in New Zealand to save costs .
The filming commences in 2009 with a Summer 2010 target date.
Script
The film is envisioned as a stand alone , isolated adventure , that would begin and end in the same film.
Future team ups films would also be structed in the same way, to allow individual freedom to the separate franchise directors .
The aim is for the team up films to occur every few years with each of the characters continuing their own adventures.
As a result , Screenwriter John Logan uses Maxwell Lord and Talia Al Ghul as the films antagonist with Amazo serving as the pairs muscle and enforcer.
The JLA team would feature Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and The Flash, but would also introduce The Green Lantern and Hawkgirl , in a nod to the Justice League Animated Series.
The plan is to keep the team relatively small , with plans to extend the team ,should their be sequels.
Green Arrow is absent in the film due to his characters fugitive status at the end of the Supermax film, however , the producers plan on introducing the character in a future sequel.
Casting
Jude Law , Colin Farrell, Charlize Theron , and Ryan Gosling all return in their roles as Superman, Batman , Wonder Woman, and the Flash , respectively.
Additions to the Superhero team include British actor Idris Elba and Pirates Of The Caribbean actress Naomie Harris , as Hawkgirl.
The role of Maxwell Lord and Talia are played by a pair of British thespians who bring menace and charisma to the roles.
Bend It Like Beckham and The Tudors actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers is cast as Maxwell Lord ,while Casino Royale and The Dreamers actress Eva Green takes up the role of the sexy but deadly assassin Talia Al Ghul, who in this version is working on behalf of her father Ras Al Ghul.
Robert Maillet is cast in the role ,Amazo, while Bill Nighy once again reprises his role as Alfred.
BATMAN : DARKNIGHT ( 2007)
Director : Guillermo Del Toro
[BGCOLOR=initial]Screenplay : James Vanderbilt[/BGCOLOR]
[BGCOLOR=initial]Story by : Lee Shapiro and Stephen Wise[/BGCOLOR]
[BGCOLOR=initial][/BGCOLOR]
[BGCOLOR=initial]Project History[/BGCOLOR]
[BGCOLOR=initial]After The Success Of Batman vs Superman, plans for solo Batman and Superman films go immediately into production.[/BGCOLOR]
[BGCOLOR=initial]In Batman's case ,The studio looks to directors such as Darren Aronfosky and David Fincher to helm the next Batman Film.[/BGCOLOR]
[BGCOLOR=initial]Ultimately, it's dark horse pick Guillermo Del Toro, who impresses the studio with his vision for a dark fairytale, meets Bladerunner , vision for a Batman film. [/BGCOLOR]
The shooting date for the film is set for the spring of 2006 with a Halloween 2007 release date in mind.
Script
For the first spin off film to Batman vs Superman , Del Toro revisits ,and expands upon the abandoned Batman DarKnight script by Lee Shapiro and Stephen Wise.
The original story was set after the events of Batman and Robin, and dealt Batman facing off against Man Bat and Scarecrow , while trying to clear his name for the crimes that Man Bat committed.
James Vanderbilt is enlisted to adapt the story to fit in the post BvS status Quo.
In Vanderbilt's new spin on the story, Bruce Wayne , while still mourning the loss of Elizabeth from BvS, and still struggling for his need for vengeance, is put out of commission ,after a near deadly encounter with the mysterious Scarecrow and his fear toxins.
While Bruce is tortured by visions of Elizabeth's death at the hands of the Joker , The Mysterious Man Bat creature begins to reign terror on the citizens of Gotham.
The GCPD , The Media , and the public ,assume he's gone to the next level, and has taken to murdering and terrorizing citizens.
At one point, even his longtime mentor Alfred, begins to have suspicions about Bruce's stability, and whether or not he is responsible.
All the while , one person believes he's innocent: his old foe, slash lover ,Catwoman whose encountered the beastly Man Bat herself, and helps to clear Batman's reputation.
It soon becomes apparent that the appearances of The Scarecrow and Man Bat are connected , putting Batman and Catwoman in a race to clear his name before the GCPD Task force takes out The Batman.
The Characterization of Kirk Langstrom and his wife are taken directly from the BTAS adaptations of character as a tragic figure.
The Scarecrow is characterized with sadistic villainy, whose rivalry with Kirk at Gotham University extends beyond academia and plays itself out in their villainous alter egos.
All the while, Francine is caught into between both men .
The Script would also incorporate Jim Gordon, who was absent from the BvS.
Casting
With Farrell and Nighly's castings a forgone conclusion , the production went through the process of testings several actors and actresses for the coveted roles.
Angelina Jolie beats out several other high profile actresses to play the role of Catwoman , while Catwoman runner up Rose Bryne is cast in the role of Franchine Langstrom
Del Toro casts Benicio Del Toro as The Man Bat and Jeremy Davies as The Scarecrow.
William H Macy takes on the role as Batman's longtime ally Jim Gordon while Toni Collette plays Sarah Essen , an Internal Affairs Cop who feels Gordon is helping The Batman evade justice.
SUPERMAN : FLYBY (2008)
Director : Peter Jackson
Producer: Fran Walsh
Executive Producer : Jon Peters
Story by : JJ Abrams
Screenplay : Fran Walsh, and Phillipa Boyens
Project History
2 years after the box office smash Batman vs Superman, WB once again revisits plans for a solo Superman film.
Directors as varied as McG, Brett Ratner, Brad Bird, and Oliver Stone all pitch different visions for the next Superman film, but ultimately,
Its Lord Of The Rings director, Peter Jackson, who nabs the directing duties.
WB give Peter Jackson the leeway to pick up the baton from BvS, and to take the classic character into a new solo adventure.
Jacksons brings back much of his LOTR trilogy creative and production team including his wife Fran Walsh as The Producer and writer and Phillipa Boyens as Screenwriter.
The shooting for the film begins in earnest in New Zealand in 2006 ,and ends in 2007 , for a December 2008 release date.
Script
Jackson likes Abrams Superman Flyby scripts and decides to use the story as a basis for his film.
However , unlike the Abrams scripts , the story would be adjusted to reflect and already establish Superman, who finally discovers the truth of his Kryptonian heritage.
Clark's youth in Smallville, meeting Lois in College , and other ideas from earlier Abrams drafts, are jettisoned in favor of focusing on The Wrath of his cousin Ty Zor, Ty Zor's union with a CEO Lex , The Kryptonian Civil War, The Kryptonian Prophecy , and near death meeting with his father Jor El, who remains alive as in the Abrams draft.
With Superman having already been established in BvS, Jackson is not interested in revisiting the familiar Smallville origins , but is instead ,ready for the character to hit the ground running.
WB agrees with this decision given their desire to distance the film from the ongoing Smallville tv series which at this point, had thoroughly covered Clark's youth and discovery of powers.
This was a hero confronting his origins and reuniting with the family he never knew , as opposed to a boy becoming a man.
Casting
Law and Driver returned as Clark and Lois , whose characters were on the path of reconciliation post BvS, while Matt Damon reprised his role as Lex Luthor.
For the part of Ty- Zor , Jackson briefly considers Stuart Townsend and Karl Urban, but ultimately goes with Paul Bettany .
The part of Jor- El goes to Anthony Hopkins whose been attached to the part since Ratner was involved tied to the project.
The rest of the cast is filled with Notable character actors such as Ben Cross as Kata Zor, Brian Cox as Perry White, Julia Christie as Martha Kent, and Lord Of The Rings Alum Dominic Monaghan as Jimmy Olsen
BATMAN : YEAR ONE ( 2000)
Director : Darren Aronofsky
Screenplay : Frank Miller
Project History
Following the backlash of campy and "toyetic " Batman and Robin , Joel Schumacer pitches the idea of adapting Batman Year One as a reboot to the series.
Schumacer's idea is to give the fans the dark and gritty Batman film that they deserve .
While the studio is open to the idea , it's clear that Schumacer is on the way out , and that a new director is needed to bring this new Batman film to the screen.
Directors like David Fincher and Sam Raimi are considered , but the job ultimately goes to Darren Aronofsky , who likes the Year One idea , and wants to get away from the toys,
gadgets , and bombast of the previous films.
Instead, he wants the film to be in line of 1970s crime dramas like Taxi Driver, Serpico, and The French Connection.
Aronofsky also wants the film to be rated R , which the studio is adamentely against .
The studio eventually comes to a compromise with the film being everything short of R rated , and with an R Rated directors cut to be released in theaters if the film is successful.
Script
Though the script goes through alterations on the margins, the radical new take on Batman of Frank Miller's earlier drafts remains .
The plan is to challenge the conventional wisdom regarding what a comic book film can be.
The script makes several controversial changes to the source material , and at times, strays far from Miller's own comic book adaptation of Year One.
While the producers know they'll be met with alot of backlash from fans in the relatively new online sphere, Aronofsky isn't looking to please everyone.
He knows the type of film he wants to make , and WB has largely given him the greenlight to make it.
The filming begins in 1999 with a Fall 2000 release date, in mind.
Casting
Though several young and upcoming actors are considered for the role of the Dark Knight, Aronofsky has only one actor in mind : Joaquin Phoenix.
After a stellar screentest , he convinces WB execs he's got the intensity and versatility to play a younger iteration of the brooding hero.
The rest of the cast are filled largely with character and up and coming, actors.
Aronofsky wants to stray away from the high profile, stunt casting of the previous series, and instead, wants lesser named actors, who can inhabit their roles ,without prior baggage.
Harvey Keitel , who is cast as mobster Carmine Falcone, is the highest profile actor of the project
Up and coming actress Zoe Saldana nabs the role of the streetwise Selina Kyle , while actor Aaron Eckhart ,is Aronofsky only choice for Jim Gordon.
Meanwhile Winston Duke ( Predator ) and Michael Clarke Duncan ( Armageddon ) are cast as the new takes on Alfred in the form of Big and Little Al, respectively.
Terence Howard has a small role as Harvey Dent , setting up his role for a potential sequel, and Deborah Kara Unger plays Sarah Essen .
Reception
Upon the films release the film receives a mixed response .
While not derided as Batman and Robin, the film is nevertheless polarizing with fans and critics equally divided about the radical departure from the source material, and the films graphic violence, and themes.
While the film is praised by some critics for it's attempt to swing at the fences, many in fandom are highly critical for the lack of faithfulness to the year one comics , and feel the film isn't a true Batman film.
Parents meanwhile, reject the film, and feels the pendulum swings too much in the opposite direction of Batman And Robin 3 years earlier.
While the film is a financial success , having made back it's budget , WB wanted the film to be a successful as the Burton and Schumacer films.
Ultimately , the bad press and polarized critical , audience, and fan response, cause WB to shelve any plans for a sequel.
As a result, WB shifts focus to rebooting Superman, and it takes be several years before the WB feels confident enough to reboot The Batman franchise again.
In the decades to follow, the film receives a reappraisal, and a cult following, but is considered a hotly debated ,and controversial film, in fandom.
BATMAN : YEAR ONE ( 2000)
Director : Darren Aronofsky
Screenplay : Frank Miller View attachment 72230
Project History
Following the backlash of campy and "toyetic " Batman and Robin , Joel Schumacer pitches the idea of adapting Batman Year One as a reboot to the series.
Schumacer's idea is to give the fans the dark and gritty Batman film that they deserve .
While the studio is open to the idea , it's clear that Schumacer is on the way out , and that a new director is needed to bring this new Batman film to the screen.
Directors like David Fincher and Sam Raimi are considered , but the job ultimately goes to Darren Aronofsky , who likes the Year One idea , and wants to get away from the toys,
gadgets , and bombast of the previous films.
David Fincher has been considered for, and considered, a lot of comic book/big action movies without (post Alien3) going through with one.
If WB for some reason had let Schumacher return to direct or even just produce Year One I think he would have gone with Colin Farrell as Batman (and most fans would like the results, making Schumacher's overall legacy even more contested/divisive but more positive).
I think WB wouldn't have hired Aronofsky for Batman before Requiem for a Dream and really likely wouldn't have also after Requiem for a Dream. But if they did I think he would have gone with Jared Leto as Batman which could have been awesome.
THE BATMAN ( 1984)
Director : Steven Spielberg
Producer : Frank Marshall
Screenplay : Tom Mankiewicz and Lawrence Kasdan
Music : John Williams
Project History
Plans for a modern big screen adaptation of The Batman are set in motion after the success of Superman The Movie and Superman II.
In the early 80s , Tom Mankiewicz pens a couple of drafts based on The Strange Apparitions storyline in the comics, and based on the origins of Batman and Robin.
While several studios are reluctant to take on the project , several directors names are tossed around as potential directors.
However , once Jaws and ET director, Steven Spielberg, expresses serious interest in helming and producing the project , Columbia Pictures, which produced The serialized film version 40 years earlier,
decides to distribute the project .
Spielberg's goal is a shift away from the campy tone of the 1960s tv series , and instead, focus on the mystery and adventure of the 1940s serials.
Having completed two Indiana Jones films, a retro ,1930s like Batman adventure, is right up Spielberg's ally.
With Frank Marshall producing , casting gets underway in 1982 , with filming date of 1983, and a release date in the fall of 1984
John Williams is once again brought in the score the theme, and Bob Kane serves as a creative consultant.
Script
When Spielberg takes over the project Tom Mankiewicz's story remains largely in tact , but Lawrence Kasdan is brought in punch up the dialog and strengthen the story .
Casting
While casting an unknown as Batman was the original intent when the project was first being developed , Spielberg and Columbia Studios both wanted a well known name in the part of Batman.
Though several actors are considered , Spielberg has one casting choice : Harrison Ford .
While Ford is deeply reluctant to take on yet another potential franchise character , and even more skittish about the idea of wearing a cape and mask , Spielberg is able to convince him to that this version would not be a campy take on the Batman myths and sent him a copy of Strange Apparitions.
After reading the comic and script , Ford takes the role and he signs a single picture deal with an option of a second picture .
Ford is intrigued by the brooding, mysterious, and romantic take on The Batman
For the part of Robin, Spielberg and the studio want to cast an actor in their 20s to play a late teen.
They also want an actor with charm and sex appeal who will appeal to younger audiences .
After several up and coming Hollywood actors , including Matt Dillion , Rob Lowe, Emilio Estavez , and Andrew McCarthy test for the role, It's Risky Business actor Tom Cruise ,who blows
Spielberg and the Producers away.
His natural on screen charisma and humor makes a fascinating contrast with the more grounded, and cynical, delivery of Harrison Ford.
After the producers find their Batman and Robin, they begin the search for the actors who would portray the Joker and The Penguin.
After several actors in Hollywood are considered for both parts , Spielberg chooses Twilight Zone: The Movie actor, John Lithgow as a more manic and menacing Joker.
While British actor Bob Hoskins, is chosen to play gangster, turned aristocrat, The Penguin.
For the role of Silver St Cloud, Batman's doomed love interest , Screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan suggests Body Heat actress Kathleen Turner , whose a throwback to the silver screen goddesses of the 1930s and 1940s like Lauren Bacall and Barbara Stanwick.
John Gielgud , hot off of his portrayal as a loyal Butler and father figure in Arthur, is cast in the role of Alfred Pennyworth, while TV and Film veteran Jason Robards takes on the role as a hard as nails
Commissioner Gordon.
Rounding out the cast is character actor Michael Lerner (Eight Men Out ) , as Rupert Thorne.
Reception
While the production is met with much skepticism and derision by the news media , with several claiming the film will be a turkey, the film defies expectations and becomes a smash hit.
Parents and children alike embrace the more serious tone of the film , while keeping the fun escapism and daring do of Indiana Jones.
While several critics complain about the amount of characters , the actors receive praise for their portrayals .
The film ultimately ends up becoming on one the biggest money makers of 1984 ,and Columbia pictures greenlights a sequel for 1986 or 1987.
MAN OF TOMORROW ( 2016)
Director : Zack Snyder
Producer : Christopher Nolan and Charles Roven
Screenplay : David S Goyer and Jonathan Nolan
Music : Hans Zimmer
Project History
While Man Of Steel is profitable , online backlash and a mixed critical reception , mean that Zack Snyder and David Goyer will have to course correct for the proposed Man Of Steel 2 sequel.
While WB execs get anxious about introducing characters such as Batman, Wonder Woman, and the JLA into the sequel, Producer Chris Nolan is adamantly against it and shoots down any suggestion.
While WB is eager to " catch up" with Marvel Studios in creating it's own cinematic universe, they also don't want to risk burning bridges with Chris Nolan, given their successful partnership with him.
Ultimately , the studio swallows hard , and allows Snyder and The Nolan Brothers to make a proper sequel to MOS .
While Snyder isn't given creative carte blanche this time around, Chris Nolan serves as a strong deterrent to the potential studio interference .
With David Goyer and Jonathan Nolan returning to the scripting duties, MOS 2 begins production in 2014 with a Fall 2016 release date.
Scripting
With the specter of other superheroes stealing the spotlight , gone, The writers begin to craft a story centering around the fallout of Superman's emergence and his battle with Zod in Metropolis.
Specifically, how the emergence of Superman , and the battle of Metropolis , polarizes its citizens .
On one extreme is the film's central Antagonist , Lexcorp CEO Lex Luthor , who blames Superman for the destruction of Metropolis and see's him as a genuine threat to Humanity, while at the same time, also envying the power he has and the ability to shape the world.
Lex feels that Metropolis needs it's own counter balance and check on Superman in the form of cybernetic enhancements for a potential army of humans ready to stand against the Man Of Steal.
The Cybernetic enhancements are powered by a mysterious meteor rock which Lex has secretly acquired , and which he theorizes could be Superman's weakness : Kryptonite.
It's called The Man Of Tomorrow program .
The secondary Antagonist , is John Corbin, a War Hero , who is gravely wounded during the battle of Metropolis while saving a child .
Corbin, like Lex , blames Superman for the chaos and destruction that killed so many and which leaves him an amputee .
When Lex see's his story on the news , he enlists Corbin as a test subject in his Man Of Tomorrow program , and plans on using him as a weapon against Superman.
On the other end of the Superman cultural wars, is Daily Planet photographer , James Olsen, also wounded in the battle for Metropolis .
He sees Superman as a force for good and believes the world needs Superman.
Olsen is portrayed as an idealistic young man , who idolizes the Man Of Steel and see's him as a role model, much to Clark's gratefulness.
Meanwhile, Clark fashions a new persona as a reporter often playing a straight laced , aloof , and obtuse intellectual .
Lois plays along with act , while laughing to herself .
The two see each other in secret , while Superman becomes a much larger staple of Metropolis, and becomes the Superman we all know and love.
Casting
With Much of the leads and supporting cast from MOS returning , the new casting is limited to the roles of Lex , Metallo and Olsen.
While Breaking Bad actor Bryan Crantson is rumored to be the number one choice of director Zack Snyder, he instead casts House Of Cards actor Corey Stoll , to play the iconic villain.
Snyder feels Stoll has the perfect amount of Charm, Intelligence, Menace, yet Vulnerability, to convey the complicated psyche of Superman's arch nemesis.
Damien Lewis, who also tried out for Lex is given the role of Metallo, after Nolan and Roven are impressed with his audition.
The role of James Olsen ends up going to UK actor Thomas Brodie Sangster , whose boyish looks and warm demeanor seem like a perfect match for the kid brother aspect of Jimmy Olsen.
Jena Malone is also added to the cast in a smaller role as shock jock Leslie Willis whose anti Superman diatribes fill the air waves and add to the polarization among the Metropolis citizenry.
Reception
With much of Fandom still divided over MOS , it's sequel receives a much better reception and critically , it's marked improvement over it's predecessor.
The film ends up receiving a 73 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with most critics, liking it , and meeting with a much more positive reaction from the GA.
Fans , Critics, and Audiences approve the much more hopeful and adventurous tone of the film , and Cavill's Superman , which is portrayed as a much more charming and optimistic figure, as met with a much better reception than the previous iteration of his Superman.
Ultimately , the course correction proves fruitful with the film grossing 750 million at the US box office.
While not a billion dollar film, the film is nevertheless profitable , and eases WB impatience in using the film as a jump off point ,for spin offs.
Instead ,the plan is to move forward with MOS 3 ,and make individual solo films of it's other library of characters , with a potential crossover in the 2020s.
BATMAN KNIGHTFALL (1998)
Director : Joel Schumacer
Producer : Peter MacGregor Scott
Screenplay : Peter Filardi
Music : Elliot Goldenthal
Project History
With Batman Forever being one of the highest grossing films of 1995 , a fourth Batman film is a forgone conclusion .
While Warner Brothers want to rush the project into production, Schumacer and Producers feel they need more time to develop the next Batman film.
A rush into production also conflicts with the shooting schedule of new Batman , Val Kilmer .
Given the warm reception of Batman Forever, and it's new Batman , WB ultimately decides against rushing production for a 1997 release , but instead aims for a 1998 release.
With the extra time, story ideas are adjusted , thrown out, and a totally new approach is taken for a 4th Batman film.
While the original plan was to feature Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy , as the two baddies, for an even more kid and family friendly sequel, Schumacer wants to go darker and more epic than Batman Forever.
Schumacer decides that he wants to adapt the controversial , yet recent comic book storyline Knightfall ,in which Batman faces his ultimate opponent, and loses .
Schumacer feels The Bane character offers the perfect opportunity to show Batman at his weakest , only to then triumph from adversity to conqueror Bane and reassert his position as Gotham's savior.
It's a risky proposition for WB which wants a family friendly film that sells Happy Meals and toys . Schumacer convinces the studio that the popularity of Forever, a Big name actor to play Bane, and a host of celebrity cameos as rogues from Batman's gallery, the film would be a huge success and still appeal to families.
While the studio is still uneasy with the idea of a lesser known character like Bane as the villain, they decide to give Schumacer to leeway to tell the story he wants to tell.
The film goes into production in 1997 with a summer 1998 release date .
Script
Joel Schumacer parts ways with Akivia Goldsmith and Lee and Janet Bachlor Scott , and instead looks to his Flatlines screenwriter Peter Filardi , feeling he can best capture the mood and feeling of the darker themes of The Knightfall story.
Characters like Jean Paul Valley and Lady Shiva of Knightsend, are jettisoned in favor of Barbara Gordon, who takes up the mantle of Batgirl ,when Gotham city is in chaos .
Batgirl and Robin ultimately help Bruce to find the spirit to move past his injury , and to gain the strength to defeat Bane and put Gotham back in order.
However , the script sticks largely to the comics arc , as the mysterious Bane unleashes Gotham's rogues gallery from Arkham Asylum , wearing Down Batman and Robin, only to Ultimately defeat the Dark knight in combat , only for Bruce to eventually retake the Batman mantle and face off against Bane in the climax of the film.
The script and the film would be sprinkled with cameos of big name actors in the role of Batman comic book villains while Bane remains the main antagonist of the film, as opposed to team ups as in Batman Forever.
Casting
Though there are deep tensions between Kilmer and Schumacer , the studio is reluctant to recast the lead role once again and advise Schumacer against it.
They've given Schumacer leeway , but it's clear WB wants to keep Kilmer as Batman, so recasting the role is off the table.
For the role of Bane , Schumacer only has one actor in mind : Arnold Schwarzenegger .
Though he consider Schwarzenegger for the role of Mr. Freeze, Schumacer soon becomes intrigued at the idea of Arnold playing Batman's most intimadating , physical threat , and master tactition.
The role of Batgirl goes to I Know What You Did Last Summer and Buffy alum Sarah Michelle Gellar after several young actresses are rumored for the role.
As mentioned, the escapee's from Arkham asylum would be featured in brief scenes and cameos through out the film ,
as Batman and Robin face off against them as the city is plunged into chaos .
Flatliners actors Julia Roberts and Kiefer Sutherland agree to appear in brief cameos as Poison Ivy and Scarecrow respectively.
Patrick Stewart makes an appearance as Mr. Freeze , Mike Myers appears in a cameo as The Mad Hatter , and even Jim Carrey makes a cameos as a crazed Riddler ,still stuck in Arkham despite the chaos in Gotham.
The rest of the cast is Rounded out by Chris O'Donnell , returning as Robin, in addition to Michael Gough as Alfred and Pat Hingle as Gordon.
Reception
The film which is released in the Summer Of 1998 becomes one of the Summer's biggest event films and ultimately grosses 400 million domestically, hitting the gross of the original film.
The film is also fares better critically with fans and critics alike than Batman forever , with praised heaped on Schumacer for telling a darker ,more compelling story more akin to Schumacer's films like Flatliners and Falling Down.
Schwarzenegger is praised for playing the role with a relentlessness and sadism not seen since the first Terminator film.
Kilmer also receives critical praise for flexing his acting chops, and portraying a man who has to get up, despite adversity, and to face his ultimate fears.
Schumacer's gamble of taking a darker route ultimately pays off , and plans for 5th film are guaranteed .
The Cast
Batman : Val Kilmer Bane : Arnold Schwarzenegger Robin : Chris O'Donnell Poison Ivy : Julia Roberts Scarecrow : Kiefer Sutherland
Mr. Freeze : Patrick Stewart Batgirl: Sarah Michelle Gellar Mad Hatter : Mike Meyers
I like the idea of Arnold as serious Bane a lot, re-reading the comics I tend to hear Bane as a combination of Arnold and Dolph Lundgren.
I think Uma Thurman could have also been good as a serious Poison Ivy (and Roberts probably not want to take a supporting role), Stewart could be real good as Mr. Freeze but it would be odd to try to have the character in just a supporting role. Ivy and Scarecrow interacting, or even not interacting but Batman fighting against each of them close together, would be great.
THE WATCHMEN ( 1990)
Director : Oliver Stone
Screenplay : Sam Hamm and Oliver Stone
Project History
With Tim Burton's Batman in development at WB , The stuido also greenlights work on a film based on Alan Moore's comic run , The Watchman.
Unlike Batman however, the plan is to ground the project in reality , and to capture the series' epic scope spanning the post World War II era through to Contemporary times, of the 1980s .
The project would be much riskier given its political and adult themes, and would also be much more along the lines of violent noir thrillers of the day.
The studio would need a director who planned on taking the characters, themes, subtexts, and violence seriously.
Though filmmakers as varied as Terry Gillum and Walter Hill are considered, the studio turns to an unlikely director , Oliver Stone , of Wall Street, Platoon, and Born on the 4th of July .
Stone is intrigued by the more grounded approach to superheroes, and given the backdrop of The Cold War, Vietnam, Watergate, Civil Rights, Law and Order, Stone feels as if he's the perfect director to bring Moore's story to the big screen.
Filming begins in 1989 with an aim for a December 1990 release .
Script
Sam Hamm's original Watchmen draft is soon rewritten by Stone himself .
The final shooting script abandons the Black Freighter Storyline, and streamlines several elements from the comics run in order to fit into a three hour motion picture.
All in all , the overall story arcs and ultimate conclusion of Watchmen remains in tact , with Rorschach acting as the narrator and our entry point into this alternate reality
Casting
The first two roles that Stone's wants to fill are the roles of Rorschach and The Comedian , feeling that they are two of the most complex roles in the film.
While Stone briefly considers Willem Dafoe for the role of Rorschach, he ultimately chooses Brad Dourif .
For the role of the Comedian , Stone casts Nick Nolte .
The next three roles Stone wants to cast make up the films love triangle between Silk Spector, Nite Owl , and Dr. Manhattan .
Jamie Lee Curtis of Blue Steel and Halloween , beats out several others actresses to play the role of Silk Spector, Charles Grodin of Midnight Run is cast as the reluctant hero Nite Owl, and William Hurt of Body Heat and The Big Chill , is cast as the all powerful, superhuman, Dr. Manhattan.
For the role of the piece's puppet master , Stone turns to American Gigolo actor Richard Gere to play the charming , sociopath, Ozymandias .
The last round of castings include Stockard Channing as Sally Jupiter ,Christopher Lloyd is cast as Moloch, Paul Winfield as Rorschach's psychologist, and Richard Crenna as The First Nite Owl.
BATMAN AND SUPERMAN ( 1991)
Director : John McTiernan
Producer : Jon Peters And Peter Guber
Story by : Sam Hamm
Screenplay : Larry Ferguson and Donald Stewart
Project History
With the smash success of Batman , Warner Brothers is eager to bring their two Marquee heroes , Batman and Superman ,together for a big screen extravaganza.
While a Second Batman film, and a fifth Superman film, remain in development, The Studio wants to strike while the Iron is hot.
They hire Batman scribe Sam Hamm ,to work on the script, and tap producing duo Jon Peters ,and Peter Guber, to develop the project .
Originally, they consider Tim Burton for the project , but given his prior commitments, they decide instead to search for a different director .
Ultimately , the approach Die Hard and The Hunt For Red October Director John McTiernan , to direct to the massive scale crossover. He taps his Hunt For Red October scribes Larry Ferguson and Donald Stewart to rewrite the script based on Hamm's version,
[BGCOLOR=initial]The film goes into production in 1990, [/BGCOLOR]
With a Summer 1991 release date.
The Script
While the idea of bringing in Hackman as Lex and Nicholson as Joker is briefly considered , ultimately, producers decide to go with two lesser known villains Batman and Superman who hadn't been used , would suit the scale of a Globe trotting adventure.
Additionally, the cost of getting Hackman and Nicholson would balloon the already massive budget , and the practicalities of getting Lex out of Prison, and reviving a dead Joker , ultimately end the idea of Lex and Joker being the film's antagonists.
At the same time , the producers don't want to tread on potential fertile ground of Batman and Superman's rogues gallery , and wish to keep the door open for the heroes own sequels.
Creating villains specifically for the film, is also off the table, given the library of characters at the Productions disposal.
Ultimately, Global Terrorist , and Batman villain Ras Al Ghul, and Superhuman hired gun, Slade Wilson ,become the film's baddies , with General Sam Lane, as a character whose connections to the two villains , and whose motivations, remain unclear to The Man Of Steel and The Dark Knight.
McTiernan likes the idea of using lesser known villains who present real world threats , much like his Die Hard and The Hunt For Red October antagonists .
Casting
Michael Keaton agrees to return as Batman as part of his picture deal, while it takes some convincing to get Christopher Reeve on board to return as Superman.
Reeve feels disenchanted with the prospect of another Superman film, given the dismal performance of Superman 4.
Reeve doesn't want to suit up for a quickie cash grab and a weak plot .
However, once the director pitches his approach to the story and it's larger themes and globe trotting scope , Reeves becomes interested .
He also becomes intrigued by how two opposite characters , with different world views and personalities, eventually come to an understanding and a friendship.
[BGCOLOR=initial]Consequently[/BGCOLOR] , Reeves signs on as Superman ,for a 5th time.
Margot Kidder also reprises her role as Lois Lane in addition to Marc Maclure as Jimmy Olsen and Jackie Cooper as Perry White
For the role of Ras Al Ghul , several actors , including F Murray Abraham, are considered , but McTiernan has one actor in mind, his Hunt For Red October lead, Sean Connery.
Connery has recently been on a role with his Oscar Win, Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade, and with The Hunt For Red October.
McTiernan knows Connery won't be cheap, but he can't envision anyone else in mind for the role of Batman's larger than life foe.
Producers also think Connery would be perfect .
Guber says jokingly, " With Batman, Superman, and James Bond, in the same film, how can you loose?".
Connery eventually excepts the role opposite Keaton and Reeve.
For the role of Ra's hired assassin, Slade , the producers choose Rutger Hauer for his onscreen charisma and physical presence , feeling he's the perfect Foil to play off against Reeve's earnest Superman and Keaton's Cynical Batman.
The Role of Sam Lane goes to veteran actor ,and film icon ,Charlton Heston . further adding weight and gravitas to the already formidable cast.
The role of Bruce's Wayne's love interest , and daughter of Ras Al Ghul, Talia, goes to Blue Velvet actress ,Isabella Rossellini , while Michael Gough returns as Alfred.
Reception
The film becomes one of the most highly anticipated film of 1991 with Batman and Superman shirts , toys, memorabilia flying off the shelf .
When the film finally hits theaters in June of 1991 , the film becomes an instant smash success and one of the biggest money makers of the year.
While critics complain about the amount of characters and many fans complain about the absence of more popular villains like Joker, Catwoman, Lex Luthor, and Brainiac , the general audience eats the film up, with the film remaining in theaters for months and being released on VHS and Laserdisc during the Christmas Shopping season.
BATMAN TRIUMPHANT (2000)
Director : Joel Schumacer
Producer : Peter MacGregor Scott
Screenplay : Mark Protovich and Andrew Kevin Walker
Project History
Following the critical and commercial failure of Batman And Robin , Warner Brothers Studios and Director Joel Schumacer , know that a course correction is required.
However, there's disagreement upon who should steer the ship.
While online fans and critics call for Schumacer to step down , and for a new director like David Fincher or Alex Proyas to take over the franchise, WB is still wary about replacing directors.
On the one hand they don't want to wash their hands of Schumacer .
At the same time, like Burton after Batman Returns, the studio feels new blood may be necessary to carry the ball forward.
Schumacer , however is exhausted , and is interested in new projects .
The idea of tackling Batman yet again seems like a burden and the filmmaker is ready to walk.
However, with some time and distance from the film, Schumacer and the studio heads meet to discuss a way of moving forward, and whether or not moving forward together is the right option.
Ultimately , WB isn't ready to throw in the towel on Batman because of one disappointing film.
They decide to stick with Schumacer, much to fan outrage or derision.
Filming commences in 1999 with a Summer 2000 release date in mind
Script
Unlike Batman and Robin, the plan is to tell a much darker Batman , in which The Dark Knight must face his inner demons and grapple with his past mistakes.
While Mark Protosevich's original Batman 5 script dealt with Harley Quinn and Scarecrow , as The films two villains, Schumacer decides to jettison the Harley Quinn Character, in favor of Hugo Strange , a criminal psychologist at Arkham ,who is revealed to be the mastermind behind the gas lighting campaign and experiment of the mind of Bruce Wayne, whom he has deduced is Batman.
Taking place a few years after the events of Batman and Robin, Batgirl would be absent , and Dick Grayson would have moved onto The Nightwing Persona, working on his own, while finishing up college.
After he is sidelined by the Scarecrow at Gotham university, and rendered nearly catatonic due to the effects of Crane's fear Gas , a retired Batman suits up once again to track down the Scarecrow, but soon finds himself on a frightening journey into his own fears and his own actions.
For Bruce Wayne , the lines between hallucinations and reality begin to blend as he finds himself haunted by the villains he fought and the loves he let slip away.
Schumacer , in particular , wants to evoke the same nightmare fever dreams of his film Flatliners a decade earlier , in demonstrating the Dark Knight's descent into madness.
The film would feature all star cameos of Nicholson's Joker, Devito's Penguin, Jones's Two Face, while also featuring cameos of Pfeiffer's Catwoman , Basinger's Vicki Vale, and Kidman's, Chase Meridian.
Schwarzenegger's Mr .Freeze and Thurman's Poison Ivy are left out of the script and film as to avoid evoking Batman And Robin.
Andrew Kevin Walker ends up penning the final draft, which is turned in late 1998 .
Casting
Despite the backlash the actor received in his freshmen outing, George Clooney reprises his role as Batman, though is characterized radically different from Batman and Robin, and is written as a much more world weary and weathered war horse, much like Clooney's character in The Peacemaker.
Chris O'Donnell returns as Nightwing , playing a much more mature and adult Grayson this time around whose had to pick up the slack while Bruce has retired from being Batman.
The role of Scarecrow proves difficult to cast , with a wide variety of actors in contention.
While Schumacer originally wants Nic Cage, his Superman commitments, make him unavailable.
Names like Howard Stern and Jeff Goldblum are rumored online, But Schumacer ultimately goes with Aussie actor Hugo Weaving as The Scarecrow, after the studio is impressed with his star making performance in The Matrix.
Ben Kingsley is cast Hugo Strange , the puppetmaster of the piece .
After heavy negotiations, several actors who appeared in previous Batman films agree to appear in dream sequences to taunt and haunt The Dark Knight.
Gough and Hingle also return in their roles as Alfred and Gordon.
Reception
The film has an uphill climb at the box office , coming off of Batman And Robin, though interest in Batman Triumphant builds once word gets out that several of the series past stars would be in the film.
The film is released in the Summer of 2000 to generally favorable reviews , and ultimately becomes a sleeper hit .
While Still not the box office juggernaut of Batman and Batman Forever were, the Film ultimately bests Returns Box Office and outperforms Batman And Robin.
With the film ultimately being a hit , plans for another Batman film go into the works, though Schumacer publicly declares, Batman Triumphant as his last Batman film.
Producers must decide the fate of the franchise once again.
The Cast
Batman / Bruce Wayne : George Clooney
Scarecrow / Jonathan Crane : Hugo Weaving
Hugo Strange : Ben Kingsley
Nightwing / Dick Grayson : Chris O' Donnell
Joker : Jack Nicholson
Penguin and Catwoman : Danny Devito and Michelle Pffiefer
Two Face and Riddler : Tommy Lee Jones and Jim Carrey
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