Welcome to another round of DC Films News and Rumors where we are confident our tweets from five years ago are just as boring as our tweets today. We’re covering two week’s worth of news so strap in for updates on Wonder Woman 1984, casting news for The Joker, and some bad news regarding Legion of Doom and Nightwing. Here is the latest update of all of the announcements and rumors that have released from July 20-August 2.
It looks like we no longer will be using the term DCEU to refer to the cinematic universe DC and Warner Bros. are creating. During the SDCC panel, it was hinted that the DCEU is now called Worlds of DC which seems to be more in line with the direction the studio is taking the films, with multiple films and continuities. The Internet went wild over the apparent rebranding and proclaimed the DCEU dead. The one snag in this is if DC is actually going to refer the DCEU as such. While the start of the presentation displayed the line “Welcome to the Worlds of DC” nobody at DC or Warner Bros. actually referred to the cinematic universe as Worlds of DC. It was just a banner at the start of a presentation. Still, I like the new name so maybe I’ll try to make it stick.
Bringing adventure to life. #Aquaman – In theaters December 21. pic.twitter.com/w5iNmfbxJG
— Aquaman Movie (@aquamanmovie) July 31, 2018
Next up we’ve got an Aquaman animated movie poster than transforms from a hand-drawn image to a full view of the cast of the film gathered together in several heroic and villainous poses. Once formed the water in the background continues to sparkle and ripple. Meanwhile, Black Manta’s actor, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, is hoping to see his character in other DC films:
Well, yeah, I mean, this character, he’s all over the canon. He’s in Suicide Squad, we see him in the cartoons, we see him in Young Justice, we see him in… he’s all over the place, in way that he can get to his means to an end. Right, if you see Aquaman in Justice League, then, you know, it’ll make sense for Black Manta to say, ‘Hey! What you doing?’ Pop his head in, wherever he is, he can justify making it his business. I’m looking forward to living long within the DC world, and creat[ing] a little bit of chaos.
Bryan Callen of the Hangover revealed this week on his podcast that he’s been cast in The Joker playing an aging dancer. He said “I’m doing the Joker. I was offered a part,” Callen revealed. “That’ll be fun, but I think it’s only a couple days. I play an aging dancer. A stripper. I don’t want to go into the details. I can’t go into the details, but just know it’s going to be good. I’ll be in a Speedo, I can’t wait. I have some ideas for it.”
Meanwhile, there has been a casting call for The Joker for a supporting character that the internet is theorizing will end up being Rupert Thorne. The casting notice follows:
MR. WARNER Supporting Male (60-70) [MR. WARNER] male, Caucasian, 60s, a deeply-tanned, hair dyed so black it was almost blue, highly successful, New York City businessman, rumored to be running for Mayor. He’s a public figure in the city and a symbol of wealth [STRONG SUPPORTING]”
No word yet on if this will be a known character or if the movie is creating a brand new character to help tell the Joker’s origin story. As for the origin of Joker, That Hashtag Show has revealed that Joker’s real name will appear in the film. His name, you ask? Arthur Fleck, which many eagle-eyed viewers point out could also be A Fleck or Affleck. If intentional, the meta joke is actually pretty funny given the drama surrounding Affleck’s role as Batman.
Finally, on the Joker front, we’ve got other pieces of casting news. First up we’ve previously reported on the rumor that Robert De Niro is in talks to join the film, now we know the role he’s being sought for is that of a talk show host instrumental in the origin story of the Joker. Meanwhile, Frances Conroy is in talks to play the Joker’s mother in the film. It really looks like they’re expanding the civilian life of the character in ways we haven’t seen before. Hopefully, this much back story won’t spoil the character in the same way providing motives and backstories for horror movie monsters can tend to lessen their scare factor.
While nothing may come of this, Suicide Squad director David Ayer met with famed Batman writer Paul Dini this week according to a tweet from the director. Whether it was just a friendly chat or a meeting to bounce ideas off each other hasn’t been revealed, thought Dini did have a huge role in the Gotham City Sirens comic series, which Ayer has stated he was interested in doing as his next DC film.
Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam movie is being targeted for a fall 2019 start date. Though no director is attached this will give Johnson ample time to complete several other projects including the filming of Jumanji 2.
Let’s move on to some Batman movie news. Director Matt Reeves was at a Television Critics Association event where he offered several updates on the long in-development film. According to a report from /Film the script is nearly complete. “We are working on getting our draft [in] the next couple weeks,” Reeves said. “Right now, my head is totally into the script. Right now, I’m going to be leaving here to go back to work on the script.” Reeves also said he’s hoping for a spring or summer start for filming. As for who is going to play Batman, Reeves was coy on the matter hinting that the movie will exist on its own but still may tie into the greater film universe that has been created. As for the inspiration of the film, it will not be Year One. Reeves said:
We’re not doing any particular [comic],” Reeves said. “Year One is one of the many comic books that I love. We are definitely not doing Year One. It’s just exciting to be focused very specifically on a tale that is defining for him and very personal to him. Obviously, we’re not doing an origin tale or anything like that. We’re doing a story that is definitively Batman though and trying to tell a story that’s emotional and yet is really about him being the world’s greatest detective and all the things that for me, since I was a kid, made me love Batman.
The movie will also have a noir tone to it, which could be a perfect fit for Batman.
While Reeves is remaining tight-lipped on if Affleck is coming back for the film, Forbes reporter Mark Hughes has said on Twitter “Affleck’s not playing Batman in the film & it’s unlikely he’ll appear as Batman again. He’s been on his way out of the DCEU for quite a long while now, and fans need to prepare themselves for a Batman future without him.” Meanwhile, We Got This Covered is reporting on a rumor that the new Batman will be announced this fall or winter. If you want a full in-depth look at the ongoing saga of the Batman movie and Ben Affleck’s involvement be sure to check out Revenge of the Fans where they break down the rumors we’ve heard so far as well as a hint that the role is being targeted to a much younger actor than we first though.
A bit of bad Nightwing news. “Trusted,” Twitter user @DanielRPK said that the movie is sill happening but might take a few years to get off the ground. This isn’t exactly suprising news as director Chris McKay had not offered any solid updates on the project beyond the type of actor he wanted for the role. There’s also a chance that DC and Warner Bros. doesn’t want Nightwing to step on the toes of their other Dick Grayson lead property, Titans. In other bad news, director Chris McKay has shut down his Twitter account following the controversy surrounding the firing of James Gunn for offensive past tweets. McKay was always quick to engage fans regarding the Nightwing movie and without his Twitter, we lose a great source of excitement and news.
If you’re hoping for a Superman cameo in Shazam! you may want to lower those expectations as Superhero News is reporting that the cameo may not happen. The report also mentions that there is no movement on Man of Steel 2 so it looks like it will be some time before we see Superman on the big screen again. Sticking with Shazam! if you noticed the boots of Shazam were different in the trailer than they were in official stills released for the movie, director David F Sandberg explained: “The first day of shooting the suit we had those boots but we had some problems with them so we made new ones. That close up was reshot at the end of the shoot.” Sandberg also gave an interview to Entertainment Weekly about the villainous Sivana saying “Mark Strong loves being a bad guy, and it’s not just him, really, it’s … something else … that lent him his powers … he can do some things that Shazam can’t. The danger in some films is the bad guy has the same powers as the good guy. [Sivana] has an extra thing, extra dynamic, that takes care of that….”
Can’t…Stop… Watching… @PedroPascal1 !!! #WW84 pic.twitter.com/6s7YdkGQNL
— Patty Jenkins (@PattyJenks) July 30, 2018
On to some Wonder Woman news. With filming in full swing we’re getting a steady stream of new information from the set including the first look as Pedro Pascal in the film. Director Patty Jenkins has not revealed who Pascal plays in the film but from the looks of the picture, it seems like he may be playing a bad guy. Along with Pascal, Ravi Patel and Gabriella Wilde have joined the cast of the film in unknown roles. Patel is known from his role on TV’s Wrecked while Wilde previously starred in the remake of Carrie a few years back. Natasha Rothwell of Love, Simon has also signed on to the film.
If you want a chance to have a role (as an extra) in Wonder Woman 1984, a new contest is being held with the winner and a friend being flown out to London to visit the set and the winner will even be decked out in 80’s fashion to be put in the movie as an extra. To enter you just have to make a donation through Omaze to the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC). More details can be found on the website for the charity.
Revenge of the Fans is reporting on a rumor that the Legion of Doom movie has been put on the back burner for now, saying that “Hamada has shelved the idea of Legion of Doom entirely. This team was reportedly going to be built up as the reason for another major crossover, but that will no longer happen, at least not anytime soon. Hamada is focused on making each movie/franchise successful and will then start to think about a crossover once that happens. If Legion of Doom remains the goal of that crossover, then it’s still several years away from happening.” To be honest, aside from the Deathstroke cameo at the end of Justice League, we were given no information at all that such a film was ever really in development.
While a Legion of Doom movie is not in the cards, the Deathstroke movie is still happening according to Joe Manganiello. “I just say ‘it’s in the works’ because it is. and I — really, there’s nothing further,” he told MTV. “All I can say is, for the hardcore fans, it’s — it’s in the works. They want the character to happen, it’s just when he happens. They [want to do it the right way]. Everyone’s committed to that.”
Producers are reportedly looking at Kristen Stewart types for the role of Batgirl, according to a report on We Got This Covered. The report, which quotes @DanielRPK also stated that Babs will not appear in Birds of Prey in any form meaning the first time we see this version of Batgirl will most likely be in her own solo movie.
Speaking of Birds of Prey, the movie will be taking advantage of the California tax credit. “We are excited to be awarded an incentive from the California Film & TV Tax Credit Program, which will allow us to produce Birds of Prey in the Golden State,” said Warner Bros. Pictures senior vp physical production Kelley Smith-Wait to The Hollywood Reporter. “The project will have a large footprint and create hundreds of new jobs for women and men in our industry.”
Finally, Zack Snyder leaving the world of DC might have some larger implications. One such change is Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s role as Thomas Wayne. Previously it was rumored that he may appear in the Flashpoint film, but with the Flash film no longer tackling the storyline it might also mean no Morgan. He would make a killer Batman but if rumors of a new actor taking on the reins of the Dark Knight, it could also mean DC doesn’t want to further muddy the waters with a Thomas Wayne version of the character as well.
That’s all for now. Which piece of news caught your attention this week? Let us know in the comments!
