A couple of days ago, just when it was announced that Batman v Superman's box office revenues were below expectations (which were, by the way, pretty low at that point), a rumor appeared on the web saying (what else?) that Warner Bros. intends to revise its entire DC slate.
Hearing that Warner Bros. has also ordered some extensive reshoots for Suicide Squad made us wonder if there were any truth to this rumor.
Well, believe it or not, it actually happened - but in the sense that two more movies were added, with a third being called an event film. So even if Batman v Superman fails to reach the $1 billion mark, we will still get those DC movies already announced and then some. What movies, you ask?
It is a complete mystery at this point, since the DCEU is still shaky after the poor reviews of Batman v Superman. So, in a way, it makes no sense to introduce new characters to the Justice League roster. But here we go - this list is all about the new movies Warner Bros may have in mind for the DCEU.
So let's get this started - the mystery movies are planned for the 5th of October 2018 and 1st of November 2019, with the event film scheduled for the 6th of October 2017 (and which might not be a DC project at all).
The Batman
This is the most obvious move Warner Bros. should make, after Ben Affleck became everybody's favorite Dark Knight. In a movie that was pummeled by the critics, only this one actor received praise. And 2018 should bring the newest Batman reboot.
As the actor/director/writer himself revealed, a first draft of the screenplay has already been completed. While there is nothing official just yet, Warner Bros. cannot miss this opportunity. As far as we are concerned, Ben Affleck is the perfect choice to write, direct, and star in a Batman solo flick.
If you haven't seen Gone Baby Gone or The Town, see them - the latter, even if the twist is revealed from the trailer, is still one of the best crime-drama films of the past decade.
What will The Batman be about? Since it was teased in Batman v Superman, it should be about the deceased Robin. So an adaptation of the Under the Red Hood should be expected. Although we are more than excited about the prospect of an A Death in the Family prequel.
Man of Steel sequel
While Batman v Superman was supposed to be a Man of Steel sequel at first, it wasn't - actually, Batman stole the show. And what remained after that was stolen by Wonder Woman. So a proper Man of Steel sequel should now follow.
At this point, Superman is dead - although he isn't, of course. And if the Man of Steel sequel arrives in 2019 – after the second Justice League film – the director won't have to deal with the resurrection of the superhero.
And a possibility was already revealed in Batman v Superman for a Man of Steel sequel, in the form of the villain Brainiac. The Collector of Worlds has been teased several times in the movie, so what if 2019 brings him to the big screen? And what if he has Kandor miniaturized on his ship?
If this happens, it would be the perfect window for Warner Bros. to establish a new Krypton on a new planet and, for a couple of years (until the inevitable reboot of the DCEU) retire Superman. Yes, retire him only after two solo flicks.
Reign of Superman
If we get a Man of Steel/Batman v Superman sequel in 2018 (so between the two Justice League films), then a mystery movie might deal with the resurrection of the Kryptonian. Zack Snyder made it clear this year that it will happen - however, an entire movie could be dedicated to this event.
In the comics, the death of Superman was followed by the appearance of several other superheroes, who tried to take his place. We doubt Warner Bros. will make the mistake of featuring many less known superheroes in a single flick.
But a precedent exists, in the animated Superman: Doomsday, when the death of Superman was followed by the appearance of an impostor (a clone) who was merciless with the villains. So the Man of Steel sequel could take its cues from that movie.
Anyway, it makes sense to have a first Justice League flick without Superman and having the league lose a fight without its biggest gun. The second Justice League will show everybody that Superman is the most important member of the team.
Justice League Dark
Warner Bros. needs to make this happen - the script has been finished for about a year now, and it was penned by Guillermo del Toro, one of very few directors/writers who could bring such an interesting universe to life.
And he wouldn't have written a script if Warner Bros. hadn’t asked for it. However, for now, there is no official announcement of Justice League Dark. But seeing that Enchantress will be featured in Suicide Squad, we can certainly hope that in the near future we will see Constantine and Co. on the big screen.
If we are to see just a single DCEU movie focused on the mystical and darker corners of the universe, then this should be it. SHAZAM is, thus far, still scheduled for a 2019 release date - but it seems too far and too uncertain, given the disappointment (at the box office) that Warner Bros. is having with Batman v Superman.
So bring Justice League Dark in 2018!
Suicide Squad 2
We know - this is a long shot, especially since the latest rumor is that Warner Bros. has ordered extensive reshoots for the movie, considering it too dark (as it should be, we believe, since it is a movie about SUPERVILLAINS).
However, the response to both of the Suicide Squad trailers released until now has been amazing. Furthermore, the movie features Batman, who is currently the most bankable of all DC superheroes. So who is to say that the movie won't perform well enough at the box office?
It has the stars, it has the perfect director, and it brings both the Batman and the Joker. If anybody at Warner Bros. is as excited about this movie as we are, then a sequel (directed by the same David Ayer, of course) is already in the works.
Obviously, for 2019 - there is no reason to rush it, as it has happened with so many sequels until now.
Wonder Woman 2
The first Wonder Woman movie will be released in 2017, so a sequel could already be planned for 2019. And while we don't know too much about the first solo film, we do know that the fans changed their tune about Gal Gadot's casting when seeing her in Batman v Superman.
The biggest rumors were that Ares will be the main baddie of the movie - and seeing that it takes places during WWI, there is no reason to believe otherwise. And we believe that it would be a waste to kill such a villain from the first flick - in that case, will he return in the sequel, the 2019 sequel?
But there is also another rumor about the first solo outing of Wonder Woman - that it will lead directly into the Justice League. And since she has explicitly said in Batman v Superman that she has fought with beings from other worlds, what if the first solo flick sees her battling Darkseid's minions (who, obviously, fail in their plan)?
And what if Darkseid tries to get his vengeance in the 2019 sequel? We can see that happening.
Suicide Squad spinoff
Things will get weird if we get a Suicide Squad spinoff, focused on Harley and the Joker. However, this is an option which should be taken into consideration, since…these two characters (portrayed by Margot Robbie and Jared Leto).
We have no idea what such a movie could be about - but, as of right now, these are the stars of the first Suicide Squad flick. And, if the movie turns out to be in any way like the trailers, then Harley and Joker are the two characters who will always steal the show.
And you know what? We always wanted to see a movie directed by David Fincher - and who would be better to make a movie about the most twisted DC villains than the man who directed The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Fight Club, Seven, and all the others?
Lobo
A couple of weeks ago it was announced that Jason Fuchs (Pan, Wonder Woman) was hired to pen the script for Lobo. And, if you saw how Deadpool worked, you know that such a project will score big at the box office for Warner Bros.
Yes, this is one of the few cases when a studio should copy (in spirit, of course) Deadpool.
And this might just be one of the mystery projects, especially since at the beginning of 2016 the perfect actor teased the role. It isn't The Rock (who will become Black Adam), but Danny Trejo. So count us in for this one!
Obviously, we don't know how this could play out. But there are plenty of opportunities out there for the Main Man to trade blows with a couple of Justice League members (particularly Green Lantern, or even Superman).
Teen Titans
Cyborg, best known for being a member of the Teen Titans before the new 52, will star in his first solo movie in 2020. And even if two Justice League flicks featuring him will have passed until then, he will still be one of the least known superheroes from the current roster.
So, maybe a proper introduction should be made in a Teen Titans live action flick. This would be an excellent choice for Warner Bros., since this movie would also introduce some other fan-favorite (but lesser known) superheroes.
Such as Nightwing, whom we have expected in Batman v Superman. Or such as Starfire, which would expand the DCEU further than even Krypton. Or even Raven, who would introduce the possibility of Trigon and other demon-like villains into the DCEU.
Even if Teen Titans isn't one of the mystery projects revealed by Warner Bros., the studio needs to consider such an opportunity.
Booster Gold and Blue Beetle
If Warner Bros. intends to make the DCEU lighter, then this is the movie to make. And it could happen, since in 2015 the first rumors about a Booster Gold and Blue Beetle buddy-comedy appeared. And since we already know that Kord Enterprises exists in the DCEU"¦
However, after the rumors appeared, nothing else was heard about such a movie. But given the backlash Batman v Superman received over its dark tone, this movie could work.
And Warner Bros. should do it - even if only to keep the rest of the universe a bit darker than the rest.
