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Tag: DC News

  • ‘The Batman’ Eyes $225 Million Global Launch

    ‘The Batman’ Eyes $225 Million Global Launch

    The Caped Crusader is looking to tackle the box office.

    Following the massive success of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Warner Bros. and DC’s The Batman seems likely to continue the upward trajectory of the box office. Current projections for the film have The Batman looking to bring in $115 million to $125 million domestically, and another $110 million to $120 million internationally. Should these numbers hold, The Batman could see an international haul of $225 million to $245 million worldwide.

    The Batman carries a $200 million production budget and marks a return to theaters for both Warner Bros. and DC. Its last superhero flicks, Wonder Woman 1984 and The Suicide Squad, were released day-and-date on HBO Max. The film is also off to an impressive start in Korea, where The Batman opened to $1.7 million with previews. That’s enough to make for the best launch day during the pandemic, while also marking the second-best debut for a Batman movie since The Dark Knight Rises. Interestingly enough, it’s also an industry best in the country so far this year.

    The Batman, which is directed by Matt Reeves, stars Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Colin Farrell and Paul Dano. The film was co-written by Reeves & Peter Craig and is in theaters now.

    Source: Deadline.

  • Leslie Grace Unveils First Look at Batgirl Costume

    Leslie Grace Unveils First Look at Batgirl Costume

    As production continues on Batgirl, the leading lady, Leslie Grace, has provided fans with the first look of her in costume as the titular hero.

    In the image, which you can see below, the costume seems to homage Barbara’s iconic Batgirl of Burnside uniform. It’s a rather comics-accurate costume, with only minor adjustments made in its translation to live-action.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYu4i_4MAdF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    With the outpouring of set photos that have surfaced in recent days, it’s not surprising that we received our first look as the costume this early on. It’s more than likely the studio wanted an official release to be what fans saw first rather than a leaked set photo, which is often the case with superhero films.

    Along with the image, Grace posted a quote from Batgirl: Year One by Scott Beatty, Chuck Dixon, Marcos Martin, Javier Rodriguez , Alvaro Lopez, and Willie Schubert. “I use their expectations against them. That will be their weakness. Not mine. Let them all underestimate me… And when their guard is down, and their pride is rising, let me kick their butts.”

  • ‘Peacemaker’ Shot Five Episodes Before Recasting Role of Vigilante

    ‘Peacemaker’ Shot Five Episodes Before Recasting Role of Vigilante

    Peacemaker is set to release its first three episodes this Thursday on HBO Max, with the series featuring the return of Christopher Smith, better known as the titular anti-hero Peacemaker. Back when the series was still in development it was announced that actor Chris Conrad was set to play the Adrian Chase, aka the Vigilante, a punisher-like Anti-hero who’d sworn revenge on those who break the law following the murder of his wife and children. However, after production had begun on the series it was reported that Conrad had left the project over “creative differences” and Freddie Stroma had been set as the recast for the role.

    To promote the HBO Max series, writer-director James Gunn recently sat down with the folks at Screen Rant to talk about the new series and revealed that Stroma came into the series quite late, having already filmed five and a half episodes with Conrad as Vigilante. 

    “He came in late. We had already shot five-and-a-half episodes with another actor, who’s an incredible guy, but we were on different pages about certain things and I don’t think he wanted to continue on the series in the long run. And so we brought Freddie in five-and-a-half episodes in, and I reshot all of his scenes.”

    James Gunn

    Gunn went on to gush about just how much he loved Stroma in the role and how well he worked with John Cena as Peacemaker.

    “Freddie is just amazing, and the chemistry between him and John is fantastic. Freddie is so good at… he’s such a sociopath, he’s such a psychopath and yet sweet at the same time. There’s an innocence to him despite the fact that he does these horrible things and is completely lacking in empathy and feelings in a way that Peacemaker is not.”

    James Gunn

    While it is odd for an actor to depart a series that’s nearly complete, it does happen. Creative differences could push many productions into hiatus, thankfully, though, Gunn and company were quickly able to recast the role. Still, it’s a shame to know things didn’t work out for Conrad, although fans will get to see what Stroma brings to the role when Peacemaker debuts on Thursday.

    SOURCE: Twitter

  • ‘Naomi’: Ava DuVernay Teases the Forthcoming CW Series

    ‘Naomi’: Ava DuVernay Teases the Forthcoming CW Series

    While WarnerMedia looks to sell the CW, the network is operating normally. During the TCAs on Thursday, Ava DuVernay teased her forthcoming DC Comics adaption, Naomi, hitting the CW next week on Jan. 11. Naomi, of course, is the second DC Comics title DuVernay has tackled. Shortly before the director’s New Gods feature was shelved, DC and the CW announced last February she’d be bringing Naomi, a relatively new title, to life on the small screen. For DuVernay, getting to tackle a book like Naomi was important. 

    “It’s not about representation, it’s about normalization,” DuVernay explained. “We’re doing really muscular things that relate to race and gender and class but we’re doing it by playing it normal like it’s just a part of the everyday… The more you can portray images without underlining or highlighting them and putting a star next to them. By showing a different type of hero that centers a girl, a Black girl, that centers different kinds of folks. We start to make that normal and that’s a radical and revolutionary thing.”

    As for what fans can expect from the adaptation? DuVernay notes that they crammed a lot into the first two episodes, however, don’t expect any crossovers to happen just yet. “We got a lot of information in the first two episodes which means: we get to make up cool new things,” she said. “You won’t see any crossovers in season one. We’re focused on Naomi’s journey singularly.”

    Naomi, of course, is based on the comic of the same name from Brian Michael Bendis, David F. Walker and artist Jamal Campbell. The series follows Naomi McDuffie (Kaci Walfall) who is a top student, skateboarder and huge Superman fan. After a stunt in her hometown of Port Oswego turns her world upside down, Naomi finds herself dealing with strange new fainting spells as she tries to uncover who or what is behind the unexpected event. As she looks for answers, and finds some folks in her town know more than they’re letting on, Naomi will find the event has changed her life for good, challenging her to question everything she knows.

    Source: Deadline

  • Brian Michael Bendis Developing ‘Legion of Super-Heroes’ Show for HBO Max

    Brian Michael Bendis Developing ‘Legion of Super-Heroes’ Show for HBO Max

    HBO Max has ordered comic book writer Brian Michael Bendis to develop a Legion of Super-Heroes series.

    The news was revealed by Bendis himself.

    Per Bendis, the series is still in the very early stages of development. However, it is being developed as an adult animated series. He confirms he’s been working on it for a while now, but it has officially entered the next phase – although, he doesn’t necessarily specify exactly which phase.

    Bendis explained that he’s a die-hard Legion fan and asked to reveal the news to his followers, as he knows Legion fans don’t get news all that frequently. However, as he advises, things are early on meaning the project could be a ways out yet. He did, however, note that the adaptation will be based on the Legion of Super-Heroes title by Ryan Sook and Bendis.

    “And just like that series, on sale now, it will harken back to so many classics while at the same time doing what Legion does: pushing all the ideas of superheroes forward in every direction,” he writes. “I think Legion of superheroes is among the greatest franchises in the history of comics and I’m as honored to be curating them as I was Spider-Man.”

    Bendis warns fans because of how long animation takes, it’s doubtful news will surface about the title for a while. “Animation takes a loooong time so you may not hear anything about this for a while as I’m just getting to work on it over the break.”

    Source: Twitter

  • Robert Pattinson’s Batman Was Inspired by Kurt Cobain

    Robert Pattinson’s Batman Was Inspired by Kurt Cobain

    Nirvana’s influence on The Batman has been pretty apparent since we got our very first look at the film. During the very first DC Fandome, the event closed out with a panel on The Batman, in which Matt Reeves took to the virtual stage to talk about the film and give us our very first look at the film, a trailer that would set the internet ablaze with excitement. The trailer featured Nirvana’s “Something in the Way” and it seems the song had a heavy influence on the film behind the scenes, inspiring this adaption of Bruce Wayne.

    In a recent interview with Empire Magazine, director Matt Reeves dove into what inspired him while writing the film and how he came about developing the character.

    When I write, I listen to music, and as I was writing the first act, I put on Nirvana’s ‘Something In The Way.’ That’s when it came to me that, rather than make Bruce Wayne the playboy version we’ve seen before, there’s another version who had gone through a great tragedy and become a recluse. So, I started making this connection to Gus Van Sant’s Last Days, and the idea of this fictionalized version of Kurt Cobain being in this kind of decaying manor.

    Matt Reeves

    This is definitely a side of Bruce Wayne we haven’t seen before and it is bound to be refreshing after many adaptions of the character. The Batman is currently set to release in theaters on Mar. 4, 2022.

    SOURCE: Empire

  • Former ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ Star Directing Episode of ‘Superman & Lois’

    Former ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ Star Directing Episode of ‘Superman & Lois’

    Production on the latest season of the CW’s Superman & Lois is underway, and it looks like fans will be treated to an unlikely Marvel crossover when new episodes begin hitting their screens. 

    Former Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. star Elizabeth Henstridge has revealed via her Instagram that she was behind the camera on the season’s seventh episode. The effort will mark her second foray into directing after she previously helmed a seventh season episode of S.H.I.E.L.D. titled “As I Have Always Been.”

    Henstridge portrayed one of the brains of Phil Coulson’s operation in the Marvel series, as one half of the science duo known as “FitzSimmons.” Her character, Agent Gemma Simmons, quickly became a fan favorite on the show. While British actress hasn’t appeared in much since her time on Agents came to an end, fans can next see her in the Apple+ TV series, Suspicion, which released its first trailer a couple of days ago. While it remains to be seen what else the actress has on deck, it seems she may begin getting steady work behind the scenes as well as on camera.

    All seven seasons of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. are now available to stream on Disney+, while the first season of Superman & Lois is now streaming on HBO Max.

    Source: Instagram

  • ‘Blue Beetle’ Moves From an HBO Max Release to a Theatrical Release

    ‘Blue Beetle’ Moves From an HBO Max Release to a Theatrical Release

    In a surprising move, Warner Bros. and DC have switched the release for the forthcoming Blue Beetle film. Originally announced as an HBO Max exclusive, joining the likes of Black Canary and Batgirl, Blue Beetle is now heading to the big screen.

    Late Thursday evening, the studio revealed Blue Beetle will hit theaters on Aug. 18, 2023. Blue Beetle was first developed as an original film for HBO Max alongside Batgirl, which is currently in production for the streaming service. It’s unclear as what caused the studio to switch its release strategy, however, Blue Beetle will mark a huge milestone for the DC Extended Universe as it’ll mark the first Latino-led DC hero film.

    Angel Manuel Soto is directing Blue Beetle from Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer’s screenplay. Cobra Kai breakout Xolo Maridueña plays Jaime Reyes, who gains superpowers when he encounters alien armor.

    As it stands, the other previously announced HBO Max films – Batgirl, Black Canary and Static Shock – look to remain HBO Max exclusive titles for the time being. Also in the works on HBO Max are series such as Peacemaker, Constantine, Justice League Dark, Zatanna, The Batman Spinoffs (Penguin and GCPD) and Madame X.

    Source: THR

  • Colin Farrell Reprising Role as The Penguin for Spin-Off Series

    Colin Farrell Reprising Role as The Penguin for Spin-Off Series

    The Batman has yet to premiere, yet and it seems to already be quite the hot property for Warner Brothers. A while back it was announced that development had begun on A Gotham City Police Department centered prequel series to the film, surprising many as the film had yet to even show off a trailer. Of course, as we soon learned, that wasn’t the only Batman spinoff in development. A few weeks later, reports suggested another spin-off focused on Colin Farrell’s penguin was in development.

    Variety is officially reporting that Farrell has indeed signed on to reprise the role of Oswald Cobblepot in the project. The actor will also serve as an executive producer on the series. The Penguin series was first announced back in September, but at that point, Farrel had yet to sign onto the project. The series will reportedly follow the Penguin’s rise to power in Gotham City as one of the top crime bosses in the criminal underworld.

    The show is being written by Lauren LaFranc, with Matt Reeves and Dylan Clark serving as executive producers alongside Farrell. We’ve yet to see Farrell debut as the Penguin yet as he’s set to make his debut as the character in The Batman. However, what we’ve seen of Farrell so far has shocked many due to the actor being so unrecognizable under all the makeup to transform him in Penguin.

    The Batman is currently set to release on Mar. 4th, 2022 with Farrell starring alongside Robert Pattinson, Zoe Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, and Andy Serkis

    SOURCE: Variety

  • Gal Gadot Says They’re Working on the ‘Wonder Woman 3’ Script Now

    Gal Gadot Says They’re Working on the ‘Wonder Woman 3’ Script Now

    Yesterday, Netflix held the red carpet premiere of Red Notice, which hits the streaming service later this month. On hand to promote the film was one of its stars, Gal Gadot, who is best known for playing Wonder Woman these days. While the second installment of the Wonder Woman franchise, Wonder Woman 1984, wasn’t as well-received as the first film, DC and Warner Bros. quickly greenlight the sequel following the film’s success on both HBO Max and in theaters.

    The last we heard about Wonder Woman 3 was during DC’s FanDome when director Patty Jenkins confirmed the project was moving forward. However, thanks to Gadot, we now have a better idea of how things are going on the third installment. During an interview with Variety, Gadot confirmed the script for Wonder Woman 3 is being worked on now.

    When asked when Wonder Woman 3 would hit theaters, Gadot seemed as unsure as fans. “I can’t tell you yet,” she says. “But we’re working on the script.”

    As to whether or not she could provide more details, Gadot teased that DC was watching, explaining that people would “come down from the roof” and take her away if she said anything else.

    Director Patty Jenkins is returning to direct Wonder Woman 3 for DC and Warner Bros. with Gadot reprising her role as the titular hero once again. No release date has been set.

    Source: Variety