Batman v Superman slugfest just the beginning of a new comic-book movie wave
With more than 20 comic-inspired movies in the works, Hollywood is betting big on superheroes
Batmanv Superman: Dawn of Justiceis more than abattle betweentwo iconic heroes. It's a symbol oftwo massive studiosWarner Bros.vs Disney waging war for your attention.
As owner of the Marvel Comics cinematic universe, Disney led the way in massively leveragingsuperheroic blockbusters.
From the charming, cocksure pleasures of 2008'sIron Manto the $1.5 billion success of The Avengers, Marvel succeededin bringing the notion of comic book continuity to the cinema. Each moviefeeds the need: bonus scenes inthe final creditsprime fans for the next installment. The company hascreated a new breed of movie fan manywho have never even cracked opena comic.
Warner Bros., whichowns the rights to rival DC Comic's characters, has been playing catchup foryears now.Christopher Nolan's TheDark Knight trilogy set the tone for DC's brand:a more moody, realistic version of vigilantes and heroes,with movies featuringthemesthatresonatein today's troubled times.
WhenNolan closed out his Batman trilogy in 2012, Warner doubled down on the machismo and handed the keys overto Zack Snyder, known for 300 and Watchmen. ThoughMan of Steel, his interpretationof Superman, soared to more than $600 million at the worldwide box office, many critics and fans were uneasy about his overly violent and destructive interpretation of Kal-El.
So, withthis week's release of Superman v Batman: Dawn of Justice,Snyder has something to prove. Not only is he launchingBatman back onto the big screen, he's doing so in a field wherethe competitionhas multiplied. From Ant-Man to The Guardians of the Galaxy, Disney andMarvelhave demonstrated an uncannyability to make even the most unlikely hero a hit, all while encompassing different directors and styles.
In response, Warner has revealed an ambitious plan that stretchesinto 2020. Following this week's CapedCrusader versus Man of Steelslugfest,Suicide Squad will arrivethis summer.The trailer promises irreverence, action and Jared Leto as TheJoker heavy on ink and attitude.
Meanwhile,next month,cameras begin rolling on Justice League, DC's answer to The Avengers and asuper team that includesBatman, Superman, Aquaman, the Flash, Cyborg and Wonder Woman. It's slated tohits theatres in November 2017. Before that, however, we'll see how Wonder Woman fareson her own in a standaloneentry directed by Patty Jenkins.
Following Wonder Woman will be Ezra Miller as The Flash and massive Jason Momoa as Aquaman, both set for 2018. The following year will introduceShazam!(starring Dwayne Johnson),Justice League 2 andCyborg.Another attempt atGreen Lantern is also expectedin 2020.
Much hinges on the success of Superman v Batman: Dawn of Justice, which is expected to introduce many of these characters:few who have the same iconic, cross-generational appeal of Superman.
Marvelsuperheroesqueued up through 2028
AsDC bankson Snyder's box-office muscle, phase threeof the Marvel cinematic universe will be infull effect. The action begins in May with Captain America: Civil War, which depictsa schism in the Marvel realm that finds The Avengers battling each other.
November will seeBenedict Cumberbatch bringing the Master of the Mystical Arts to the big screen inDoctor Strange. Next year, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Thor: Ragnarokand a reboot of Spider-Man(co-produced byMarvel andSony)will swinginto theatres.
Black Panther, directed by Creed's Ryan Coogler, is arrivingin 2018, followed by Ant-Man and the Waspplus the behemoth Avengers: Infinity War Part 1. The second half Avengers:Infinity War Part 2is scheduled for2019, along withInhumans and Captain Marvel, the studio's first female-led superhero film.
And after that? Marvel has at least 3 moreuntitled films scheduled for 2020 alone. According to Disney CEO Bob Iger,Marvel Studio President Kevin Feige has a blueprint in his office stretching into 2028!
Forcomic book fans, it's agolden age at the movies:we've gone from famine to feast. Counting Warner Bros.and Disney alone,there are already 20 comic-book inspired titles coming in the next five years.
The conventional wisdom has always been that it just takes one major flop and thiscomic fad wouldfade away. But, after the implosion of last year'sFantastic Four,20th Century Fox simply shifted gears to focus on the X-Menand Deadpool sequels.
It seems that when it comes tocomic-book movies, the real super power is universal appeal. As the price of blockbusters grow,Hollywood is increasingly banking on the international marketplace. Colourful characters and stories revolving around supersized battles of good versusevil need little translation. Superman and his friends are here to stay.
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