WB/DC Get Their Act Together and Create DC Entertainment

Warner Brothers announced some big changes on the DC Comics front today—big enough to rival last week's Disney/Marvel merger.

Confirming an early report on Deadline Hollywood, WB announced the creation of DC Entertainment, a new subdivision of WB aimed at better exploiting Superman, Batman and the rest of DC's stable of characters across various media platforms. The new company will be helmed by Diane Nelson, who previously served as president of Warner Premiere, the subdivision responsible for many of the animated, direct-to-DVD, DC Universe features. (Nelson also serves as caretaker for the wildly successful "Harry Potter" property at WB.)

The WB announcement also confirmed that DC president and publisher Paul Levitz will step down from his role with the company. While this certainly indicates that WB is finally beginning to take notice of the DC brand, details are slim regarding the potential effects on the publishing side of DC and any immediate changes we're likely to see on the movie front.

However, that doesn't mean we can't glean a few potential implications from the news.

According to Deadline Hollywood, WB is "calling back" many of the high-profile films in development involving DC characters. Much like Disney's desire to bring all of Marvel's properties under one roof and cut back on third-party deals to produce films based on the company's characters (i.e., "Spider-Man" and the "X-Men"), the report alledges that WB is putting a hold on many of the high-profile DC films that involved production partners outside the company.

"My understanding is that Joel Silver, who is buddies with [WB Pictures Group president Jeff] Robinov, was allowed to continue bringing low profile 'The Losers' to the big screen under his Dark Castle banner. But Silver's 10 years of developing 'Wonder Woman' is history now," reported Deadline Hollywood.

The fact that DC Entertainment—and Nelson—will now be reporting directly to Robinov also says quite a bit about the company's new approach to the DC brand. Where the home of Superman and Batman existed somewhat independently in the greater WB picture prior to today's shuffle, DC Entertainment's new role appears to be in service of the theatrical division of WB first and foremost.

Exactly where publishing comics will fit into this new picture remains one of the biggest questions surrounding the news. Will comics receive more or less attention under DC Entertainment—or is the publishing division too small for anyone to bother changing?

On the movie front, however, the move certainly looks good for WB's much-discussed problems getting films involving DC characters off the ground. Fans hoping to see the Superman franchise finally return to theaters will likely get their wish under the new, re-structured DC Entertainment banner, and many of DC's other notable properties will probably receive more attention from the studio than ever before.
Often plagued by studio interference, the starting and stopping of scripts in the works, and without any solid DC franchises, save Batman, the creation of DC Entertainment is looking to rectify this — and fast. But DC is still a far-cry away from Marvel's stranglehold on the comic book-movie genre. Perhaps under the fixated umbrella of DC Entertainment, DC Comics can more equally compete with Marvel in theaters. Though, as a branch of Warner Bros, it's as of yet unknown if WB will be as hands-off as Disney has promised for Marvel, or if DC Entertainment will hold as much control as Marvel did when they were self-financed.

Regardless, it is still exciting to see Warner Bros making a strategic and bold move with DC. Now let's roll these franchises out. Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Justice League — I'm hoping all these films follow the example of Nolan's successful Batman franchise. What do all of you think of this news?

Current DC properties in development and/or production at Warner Bros. Entertainment include:

–"Human Target" is being produced by Warner Bros. Television for a mid-season debut on Fox.

– "Midnight Mass" is in series development at Warner Bros. Television for consideration for the 2010-11 season.

– "Jonah Hex," Warner Bros. Pictures' supernatural Western starring Josh Brolin, Megan Fox and John Malkovich, recently wrapped production in Louisiana.

– "The Losers," Dark Castle/Warner Bros. Pictures' action-adventure drama starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Zoe Saldana and Chris Evans, began principal photography mid-July in Puerto Rico.

– "The Green Lantern," Warner Bros. Pictures' next big superhero tentpole release, recently cast Ryan Reynolds as the titular character. The film has a projected second quarter 2011 release date.

– "Lobo," based on the DC Comics anti-hero, has Guy Ritchie attached as a director; Joel Silver, Akiva Goldsman and Andrew Rona are producing for Silver Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures.

– Warner Bros. Animation currently produces "Batman: The Brave and the Bold," which airs on Cartoon Network.

More news to come! Catch ya' later!
Sources: First Showing, MTV News, UGO Movie Blog

Movie News Mash 9

"The Kung Fu Kid"

According to First Showing, "Last year it was announced that Columbia Pictures was remaking the 1984 classic 'Karate Kid' with Jaden Smith set to star. In January, we announced that Jackie Chan had been cast as the lovable Mr. Miyagi, stepping in for Pat Morita. As far as I know, not a single person was excited by any of this news, but of course Sony is pushing forward with the production in hopes of convincing audiences later with marketing. Well, a good friends of ours dropped by with a tip recently letting us know that in a recent interview with Jackie Chan, he let slip that this remake is actually going to be called Kung Fu Kid, not Karate Kid.

'They don't want to call it Karate Kid any more,' Chan said. 'They want to call it The Kung Fu Kid.' He quickly changed topics and unfortunately didn't add any more about as to why this change was being made. Our guess is that since this remake is a Chinese co-production and being shot in Beijing, it's much more relevant today to use kung fu as opposed to karate (which isn't as popular as it was back in the 80's) and also more appropriate considering karate actually has its historical roots in kung fu. As in, story updates and Chinese influence caused them to change the title to be more culturally relevant and accurate."

Having the title of "Karate Kid" could have had people want to see the movie based on name recognition alone. Now that won't happen.
Why does this movie need to be remade again?


"Wonder Woman"

According to IESB, "Looks like WB and Silver Pictures are now looking for a director. The studios are enthusiastically working together to attach elements to the film to get it up and going quickly.

"There was a regime change late last year over at Silver Pictures, Andrew Rona is now the man in charge and will be the man spearheading the live action Wonder Woman project along with mega producer Joel Silver.

"WB and Silver Pictures are in the early stages but they are eager to get started on the movie. Sources tell IESB that WB is looking for new writers on the project and have been taking pitches the last few weeks."

Joss Whedon, famous for his hit TV show "Buffy," wrote a screenplay - for which he envisaged Eliza Dushku in the lead role - but it was rejected by studio bosses.

Hollywood babe Megan Fox (pictured) is so keen on the role that she promoted herself as Wonder Woman in a poster via a viral marketing website.

I am still hesitant to think that a "Wonder Woman" movie will be coming out soon, but with the general good responses coming from the recently released animated movie, maybe a director will soon be chosen.



"Sucker Punch"

According to Rope of Silicon, "Following the unfortunate departure of Amanda Seyfried from the lead role in Zack Snyder’s upcoming 'Sucker Punch' the role of Baby Doll has been filled by Aussie actress Emily Browning, one of the stars of this year’s thriller 'The Uninvited.'

Browning replaces Seyfried as Baby Doll, a role described as an insane asylum inmate who loses herself in a fantasy world where she dreams about escaping with her fellow inmates. She will be joining Evan Rachel Wood, Vanessa Hudgens, Abbie Cornish, and Emma Stone in the film described as 'an ‘Alice in Wonderland’ with machine guns.'

Filming is set to begin this fall with a October 8, 2010 release date already scoped out by Warner Bros."

I liked her in "A Series of Unfortunate Events." Though Jim Carrey might have outdone everyone in that film.

More news to come! Catch ya' later!

Wonder Woman

According to IESB, "There was a regime change late last year over at Silver Pictures, Andrew Roma is now the man in charge and will be the man spearheading the live action 'Wonder Woman' project along with mega producer Joel Silver.

Sources in the Burbank studios have confirmed there is quite a bit of movement on the WW front. With 'Green Lantern' going into production this year, it looks like Princess Diana may finally get the go ahead from WB.

WB and Silver Pictures are in the early stages but they are eager to get started on the movie. Sources tell IESB that WB is looking for new writers on the project and have been taking pitches the last few weeks."

DC will finally start making films based on its other major characters now. Next might be "The Flash" and then "Batman" and "Superman" will return with more sequels. Who knows might can happen once all the DC characters get started with each of their own films. "Justice League" anyone?

When I asked Michael Uslan, the executive producer on all the "Batman" films how DC should go about making a JL movie (like how Marvel is making "The Avengers"), he said that each character should be made into a major film and then brought into a group film.

Seems that is what is going to happen.
More news to come! Catch ya' later!

Justice League tie-in with Dark Knight

The Geek Files spoke with Megan Gale, Australian actress and supermodel who is cast as Wonder Woman in the Justice League Mortal movie, and spoke about the Justice League movie.

"Gale, 33, who's of British and Polynesian descent, was cast as Wonder Woman in the Justice League Mortal film project to have been directed by Happy Feet helmer George Miller.

Also cast in the movie were Armie Hammer as Batman, D.J. Cotrona as Superman, rapper Common as Green Lantern, Adam Brody as The Flash, Santiago Cabrera as Aquaman and Hugh Keays-Byrne as Martian Manhunter.

The film, penned by American husband and wife team Kieran and Michele Mulroney, was put on hold after a string of production problems including the refusal of vital tax concessions by the Australian government.

Gale said, 'We didn't get permission to shoot (in Australia) so they've been going back to the drawing board and changing the script a little bit to reflect what's happened in Batman.'"

So how will the storyline of the Dark Knight affect the plot of Justice League? Will it be a deep impact or a one-line reference to something that happened in Dark Knight?


Justice League Mortal is rumored to be out by 2011.
More news to come! Catch ya' later!

Megan Gale, the next Wonder Woman?