Comicbook Movie Round-Up: April 2019 (Part 2)

In the second part of this comic-book movie round-up, we take a look at what films featuring DC's characters are planned: but apparently the phrase DCEU (DC Extended Universe) is no longer being used. From what I understand, DCEU wasn't ever an official term, and now it's being referred to as Worlds Of DC instead - I think it's got a better ring to it, actually.

JOKER

First off, there's been a first trailer and poster for Todd Phillips' Joker in which Joaquin Phoenix is frankly bloody amazing as the failed stand-up comedian (here named Arthur Fleck) who turns to the dark side.

Now, first off, when the project was announced, I was... less than impressed. An origin story for a character who is the more terrifying because you don't know how he became that way? This was compounded at the casting of Phoenix in the main role, as I haven't particularly taken to him as an actor in the past. But, based on this first trailer, I will hold my hands up and say I'm actually looking forward to seeing it. I love how dark and uncompromising it is- playing more like Taxi Driver than Batman Begins.

Joining Phoenix will be Zazie Beetz (no stranger to comic-book movies as she played Domino in Deadpool 2), Brett Cullen, Frances Conroy, Douglas Hodge, and Robert de Niro as Murray Franklin.

BIRDS OF PREY (AND THE FANTABULOUS EMANCIPATION OF ONE HARLEY QUINN)

I'm sorry, but I still can't take the full title seriously. Nonetheless, Harley will be fantabulously emancipated in February 2020, as that's when this film hits cinemas.

Written by Christina Hodson and directed by Cathy Yan (Dead Pigs, Down River), the film sees a Gotham where Batman has disappeared, leaving the city unprotected, and crime is running rife. A young girl, Cassandra Cain, finds a diamond belonging to a dangerous crime lord- so Harley teams up with others to protect the child. Joining Margot Robbie will be Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Helena Bertinell/Huntress), Jurnee Smollett-Bell (Black Canary), Ella Jay Basco (Cassandra Cain), and Rosie Perez (GCPD Detective Renee Montoya). 

Together, this team will take on a double threat as both Black Mask and Victor Zsasz will feature, played by Ewan McGregor and Chris Messina respectively. A shame that they couldn't get Anthony Carrigan who plays Zsasz in Gotham to reprise his role, as he's genuinely one of the (very) few good things about the show. That said, Chris Messina is a fine actor- I very much enjoyed him in Argo, Vicky Cristina Barcelona and Six Feet Under- so I'm sure he'll do well. 

There have been rumours that Jared Leto has been seen on set, reprising his role as the Joker. I'll be INCREDIBLY surprised if that turns out to be true, given his role in Morbius (see Part 3 for more details on this). 

Robbie was easily one of the best things about Suicide Squad, and hopefully this film will give her the chance to explore the character further.

WONDER WOMAN 1984

Fans were disappointed to find out that Wonder Woman 1984 was going to be delayed by approximately six months, meaning that we won't get to see Diana Prince kicking ass and taking names until June 2020 (instead of November 2019). The reason for the delay? A pretty good one, actually. 

In an interview, Geoff Johns confirmed the delay was so post-production on the film didn't have to be rushed to make the original release date. It's also a canny move to shift such a marquee film from the end of the year to the start of summer (one criticism that people had about Aquaman).  

As previously announced, Patty Jenkins is back in the director's chair with Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Connie Nielsen, and Robin Wright all reprising their roles from the original Wonder Woman. New arrivals to the cast include Kristen Wiig as Barbara Ann Minerva (a.k.a. Cheetah) and Pedro Pascal in an as-yet-unnamed role (but there's been some supposition online that he'll be playing Maxwell Lord). Time will tell...

THE BATMAN

Ah, the saga of The Batman continues (DC are liking the definite article for their films these days, aren't they?). To virtually nobody's surprise, Ben Affleck WON'T be returning to the role for this film, although he's still onboard as a producer. The script focuses on Batman early in his career and apparently has a focus on the detective aspect of his character, a fit for the noir style director Matt Reeves is going for. No casting has been announced, although the film has a scheduled release date of June 2021.

THE SUICIDE SQUAD

Another film with a slightly troubled production history (losing two directors- David Ayer and Gavin O'Connor- then script issues, then cast availability issues) but all that's in the past and the film is on track for an August 2021 release. 

James Gunn (yep, the Guardians Of The Galaxy guy) will direct from his own script. Will Smith will not be reprising his role as Deadshot but Idris Elba won't be replacing him in the role; Elba will be playing a new character, which means Smith can return in the future. 

Aside from Elba, Joel Kinnaman, Jai Courtney and Oscar-winner Viola Davis will be reprising their roles as Rick Flag, Captain Boomerang, and Amanda Waller for this film- as will Margot Robbie, who will come to this production once Birds Of Prey wraps.

THE FLASH

Well, it's certainly one way of keeping yourself in a job: Ezra Miller has been hired to co-write a new draft of the upcoming Flash solo movie (along with Grant Morrison). This is another one that's had a troubled production history- I'm noticing a bit of a theme here- with directors and writers attached then leaving the project since 2014. 

In 2017 it was announced that this would be a movie based on the Flashpoint arc- a highly-regarded story where Barry's attempt to save his mother's life creates an alternate reality where (among other things) Themyscira and Atlantis are at war, Thomas Wayne is Batman, and the Justice League was never established- I'm not sure whether that is still the case. 

At the moment, John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein are still attached to direct but- honestly- who knows what'll happen when (if?) production actually starts. It currently has a 2021 release date, but I wouldn't hold your breath. 

AQUAMAN

A sequel to Aquaman was confirmed in January 2019 after the positive reaction the film got- and those all-important ticket sales receipts. Jason Momoa will almost certainly be back as Arthur Curry, although the film won't be released until December 2022. A 'horror-tinged' spin-off called The Trench will come first, although it's unlikely that it will be part of the Aquaman series. 

SHAZAM!

Shazam! has barely had time to get comfy in the multiplex, and a sequel has already been announced. Screenwriter Henry Gayden is returning to pen the sequel; no other cast or crew have been confirmed as yet. The long-gestating Black Adam film- with Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson in the title role- is due to start principal photography towards the end of 2019, so it might be a Shazam!/Black Adam showdown in Shazam! 2

So, Worlds of DC looks to be in rude health; I think the obsession of having a shared universe has waned and they've decided to focus more on the individual characters. This can only be a good thing.


In the third and final part, we'll be taking a look at Sony's plans for their 'Universe of Marvel Characters' and have a look at exactly what's going on with the X-Men films...