Lately I've been delving into, and catching up on, a lot of the New 52 that DC Comics is producing. And overall, I'm really liking what I'm seeing. My main reads, in case you're wondering, are the Green Arrow books (ah, man, such a good interpretation of him!) and the new Batman: Eternal run that is actually super interesting and suspenseful. But beyond that, I've read Justice League of America, the original Batman run (like Court of Owls, City of Owls, etc.) and some of the Justice League. I've seen the Justice League: War film that is based off of Volume 2 of the book, and I'm familiar with what the New 52 has brought to each character.
But changes have not only occurred in the comics, as the DC movie universe was shaken up by the largely controversial Man of Steel movie that came out last year. Personally, I liked it. It had flaws, lots, but I still had a fun time watching it. Haters gonna hate. This has given many DC fans reason to quit from liking DC and move over to Marvel...which wouldn't make them fans...naysayers...
But I'm sticking with DC because reasons. I really want them to succeed in the film industry once again, and not just because of Batman. Sure, he's kind of been their go-to guy for a long time, but there are other characters that would certainly make cool movies. Like Wonder-Woman...eh, DC? Wonder-Woman movie?
As most people have caught wind of already, the upcoming Man of Steel sequel has come under fire for its casting and even its characters. New characters like Lex Luthor and Wonder-Woman have become something of controversy over both casting and inclusion in a story that may not need them. Lex Luthor was predicted to be in the movie, but, some are saying it will be overcrowded.
We have also gotten news that Victor Stone, aka Cyborg, will be in the film in a role that may just be a cameo for now, as well as an Internet rumor that will probably amount to nothing about Matt Damon being Aquaman. I'm less interested in the casting and more on the character, though. Why Aquaman? Heck, why Cyborg?
It got me to thinking. In the New 52, the founding members of the Justice League are Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern Hal Jordan, Shazam, Aquaman, and Cyborg. Oh, and Martian Manhunter, but, he goes to the other Justice League (they're pretty cool too...because Green Arrow and Catwoman and stuff). Still, there are four characters out of that line-up that are slated for 2016 release in the movie, one that is rumored (Aquaman), and another that apparently has a movie in the works now (Shazam). To add to the fun speculation, Dwayne Johnson keeps hinting he's in the DC universe in some big way--so it's either Green Lantern John Stewart, Darkseid, or Martian Manhunter. If it is indeed Green Lantern John Stewart, then we're one Flash casting away--given that the DC TV universe is a different one altogether, which is stupid--from the New 52's Justice League.
But is that a good thing? Traditionally, the Justice League comprises of just Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern Hal Jordan, Flash, and Aquaman. Sometimes they get help from, you guessed it, Shazam, Martian Manhunter, and Green Arrow, the latter of which was one of the first to get an invite and become the newest member of the League. It's a fairly simple lineup. Most kids who play like super-heroes, picking from DC, will pick those set of characters because of their fame.
Adding in Cyborg only helped push me to asking myself the question of if this Justice League was a take on the New 52. Cyborg, traditionally and most famously, is a Teen Titan. Given that he was on the animated show and it's follow-up Teen Titans Go!, kids and audience members alike might be confused as to why if he's there, then where are Raven or Robin? Well, Nightwing is still up in the air...
But the question is should it be a New 52 interpretation? We won't know until, obviously, it gets released, which isn't for a while. Should this film already getting a lot of hate be drawing most of its inspiration from, relatively, a brand new line of comics from DC? Sure, they'll have seven years and a lot of storylines of material to pull from, but, what's the risk?
The risk is an unknowing audience. It's been three years and I'm finally getting into the New 52. Imagine someone who has no idea about anything regarding the New 52 and just knows the bare minimum--so basically imagine a common moviegoer. The New 52 brings up a lot of new stuff that we've not seen in the past. Albeit origin stories haven't really changed much and the big changes probably wouldn't make it to the big screen, but, it would be enough to make someone go...what?
Such as Stephanie Brown's Batgirl. Most Batgirl interpretations are Barbara Gordon, the commissioner's daughter. And even though it's always been a topic of fan talk, the actual romance that has occurred between Superman and Wonder Woman. Though most superhero shippers put them together, everyone knows that Superman and Lois Lane should always end up together. Like Green Arrow and Black Canary.
But for the knowing audience, the other big risk is just turning Justice League: War into a live-action movie. That's not a bad thing, but...man, I mean, there wasn't too much of a story it was just really cool to see everyone fighting alongside each other and meeting up and stuff. Plus, I feel like they would be really pushing the envelope with new League faces and most definitely a new villain that will have to stand up to the super-duper strength of Superman, the overly-intelligent Batman, the speedster Flash, the warrior Wonder Woman, the tech-nerd Cyborg, the childlike, stubborn Shazam, and the super arrogant and sarcastic Green Lantern. Darkseid was more than enough for the New 52 team to handle.
And should Aquaman become a factor, then, how much of his aquatic friends and foes are we going to see? Or will it be like Thor were it's basically zero? In the New 52, Aquaman is really freaking powerful, too, so we could see a power struggle between him and some of the other, stronger members of the group.
So should it be a New 52 interpretation? Well...I wouldn't be too against it but I would advise not too. Adding in Cyborg was already a big step in that direction and already a big risk, but, that raises the question of if he is going to take the role of a more prominent member, such as Flash, who has yet to be even mentioned outside of the TV universe. I would try to keep it to a much simpler line-up, like a Green Lantern John Stewart and a Flash and then the Big Three. Maybe Cyborg as a cameo in the Man of Steel sequel but not too far beyond that. Because bringing in the New 52 stuff would require either a bunch of villains or one overpowering one that would not end well in a film series that already has a super controversial ending.
Just having the core Leaguers up against Lex Luthor and maybe another villain or two pulled from one of their rogues, like Sinestro or something, would suffice enough for a fun Justice League film.
The biggest downer is that with the release date pushed back that leaves less of a chance for a Grant Gustin Flash or a Stephen Amell Green Arrow...and you know what if that's the case then just give us a different universe and just show Batman or Nightwing already on Arrow. Jeez.
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