The Flash (2022)

[thecolorsblend]

BOF chimed in. They were the first ones who knew Keaton was back and despite what we might think of them they usually have it right as far as what's going on behind the scenes. In other words I trust their sources.

They say that this is it. The current iteration of the DCEU is going to end and they are going to reboot it. DC will be revamped from scratch.

I recommended something akin to this approach several months back. Mind you, my recommendations were based around the idea of honoring the characters rather than changing them, satisfying expectations rather than subverting them, etc.

Still, based on what we know, it would be hypocritical of me to criticize them for doing (more or less) what I recommended. As cynical as I might be of how this will all turn out (my expectations are low, let's say that), at least it sounds like they're following my suggestion SO FAR.

If anything, I'll give them credit. The piecemeal approach of "keeping what works, rejecting what doesn't" wasn't working. It was creating more problems than it solved. And no, #RestoreTheSnyderverse wouldn't have papered those issues over. So, a scorched Earth, page 01, new installation reboot is a just plain better choice at this stage in the game.

The cornerstone of my reboot idea is a cohesive live action DC universe minus Batman. Whether anyone likes it or not, the Reevesverse is its own thing. So, I suggested (and still suggest) using Green Arrow as a stand-in for Batman and letting Pattinson and co. do their thing. If we're learning lessons here, then let's take the Too Many Batmen lesson to heart this time out.

[Gotham Knight]

BOF chimed in. They were the first ones who knew Keaton was back and despite what we might think of them they usually have it right as far as what's going on behind the scenes. In other words I trust their sources.

They say that this is it. The current iteration of the DCEU is going to end and they are going to reboot it. DC will be revamped from scratch.

I recommended something akin to this approach several months back. Mind you, my recommendations were based around the idea of honoring the characters rather than changing them, satisfying expectations rather than subverting them, etc.

Still, based on what we know, it would be hypocritical of me to criticize them for doing (more or less) what I recommended. As cynical as I might be of how this will all turn out (my expectations are low, let's say that), at least it sounds like they're following my suggestion SO FAR.

If anything, I'll give them credit. The piecemeal approach of "keeping what works, rejecting what doesn't" wasn't working. It was creating more problems than it solved. And no, #RestoreTheSnyderverse wouldn't have papered those issues over. So, a scorched Earth, page 01, new installation reboot is a just plain better choice at this stage in the game.

The cornerstone of my reboot idea is a cohesive live action DC universe minus Batman. Whether anyone likes it or not, the Reevesverse is its own thing. So, I suggested (and still suggest) using Green Arrow as a stand-in for Batman and letting Pattinson and co. do their thing. If we're learning lessons here, then let's take the Too Many Batmen lesson to heart this time out.

Hard for me to argue at this point. I've cooled off considerably since the cancellation of Batgirl and have set my adoration of Keaton aside. The whole thing was a huge convolution that only the most ardent of fanboys would be willing to follow. It's like trying to write the rest of someone else's murder mystery. So who dun it?

I'm getting what I want. The Flash will release. Sure, it isn't the dream scenario I expected, but I'm getting Keaton for one more rodeo where he will be not only be featured by spotlighted. Let it be, start it over. Love DCEU or hate it, the studio snake bit it from the start. They didn't know what they were doing, Snyder fan or not we can all agree there.

[The Dark Knight]

Man of Steel 2 might be canceled. I think they're rebooting the DCU. Insiders are convinced Gunn is just starting completely over. The Flash might be this universe's coda.

Aquaman II should release before The Flash or just be scrapped if that's the plan. We've have a situation of Too Many Cooks using different recipes, bringing brand confusion and an almighty mess in the kitchen. I understand Gunn's desire for a clean slate, but it's jarring how quickly and sharply things turn. Teases for groups of people become disappointment and alienation. That cannot continue.

I wonder if they go with a new Batman for their new universe. I want the Reeves-verse to be its own thing. I don't think they're going to dump it, but I hope they don't try and merge it together.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

If they want the Reeves-verse to integrate into the new plan, they're going to get Matt Reeves offside. I can't see him supporting that even if it were mandated. It's hard to know what is the stated objective and who to believe. Zaslav said the trinity were vital characters for the company going forward. If they are, a hard reboot means recasting at least two of them. But Gunn has been hired to tell the studio what to do because they're clueless. They'll pretty much do whatever he says, even if it clashes with what Zaslav said previously. Personally, I don't want another Batman in the new DCU. Let's just have Pattinson do his thing alone after Keaton's film is done.

[Gotham Knight]

Apparently there was an unannounced Batman Beyond film set to star Keaton that Gunn just cancelled.

[thecolorsblend]

Apparently there was an unannounced Batman Beyond film set to star Keaton that Gunn just cancelled.

"Starring Michael B. Jordan!"

Bullet status = dodged (for now)

[The Dark Knight]

Apparently there was an unannounced Batman Beyond film set to star Keaton that Gunn just cancelled.

I'll pretend I didn't read that and The Flash was the only Keaton reprisal we were ever going to get. Technically speaking The Flash can fill in the time gap good enough without a Beyond film being made. Alfred died, Bruce lived on his own for a long time and became further detached from society. A meta human arrived, he returned to crime fighting and once again regained a sense of duty/heroism. There's a clear arc there.

[The Laughing Fish]

I recommended something akin to this approach several months back. Mind you, my recommendations were based around the idea of honoring the characters rather than changing them, satisfying expectations rather than subverting them, etc.

Still, based on what we know, it would be hypocritical of me to criticize them for doing (more or less) what I recommended. As cynical as I might be of how this will all turn out (my expectations are low, let's say that), at least it sounds like they're following my suggestion SO FAR.

If anything, I'll give them credit. The piecemeal approach of "keeping what works, rejecting what doesn't" wasn't working. It was creating more problems than it solved. And no, #RestoreTheSnyderverse wouldn't have papered those issues over. So, a scorched Earth, page 01, new installation reboot is a just plain better choice at this stage in the game.

The cornerstone of my reboot idea is a cohesive live action DC universe minus Batman. Whether anyone likes it or not, the Reevesverse is its own thing. So, I suggested (and still suggest) using Green Arrow as a stand-in for Batman and letting Pattinson and co. do their thing. If we're learning lessons here, then let's take the Too Many Batmen lesson to heart this time out.

Forgive me for being blunt, but this isn't Smallville. Having a shared movie universe without Batman makes no sense whatsoever from a business point of view. Batman is the most popular and lucrative character in the entire DC IP, and no money-grabbing executive is going to leave all that cash on the table and exclude him from meeting Superman, Wonder Woman and the wider DC universe...just to keep a certain director happy. Especially not a debt-ridden company like WBD.

No matter how much you try to hype up a character like Green Arrow, you would very likely see a demand of people wanting an interaction with Batman instead of passively accepting a surrogate.

If a DC reboot were to happen, I can only see these scenarios playing out: the creators behind the current Batman reboot would have to swallow their pride and become part of the shared universe, or they would have to leave and the studio would take full control of that franchise. Otherwise, the studio can either just abandon it and reboot again, or let it run its course before doing a full DC reboot.

Anyway, a couple of anonymous DC sources connected behind the scenes spoke to Deadline and appeared to express some doubts that a full-on reboot is guaranteed to be on the way:

"This is creating a riot," says one content maker connected to DC fare about the level of silence they've received on the fate of their DC projects going forward. "And it's a horrible optic. This business is based on relationships."

When it comes to the rumors out there that core DC superhero castmembers Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), Jason Momoa (Aquaman) and Henry Cavill (Superman) might be recast as the Gunn-Safran administration creates a synergistic plan for the DC brand across all mediums, our source says: "These franchises which already make a lot of money — why stop them? How can a studio that's bearing so much debt afford to start from scratch? There are scripts and actors' schedules to be figured out."

Will there be a complete reboot of DC's core stars?
One studio insider tells us: "At no point was there any pre-conceived notions of not continuing with these actors. It all boils down to how The Flash (June 16) and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (December 25) do at the box office." Not to mention, the studio doesn't want Gadot to hang up Wonder Woman's lasso.

https://deadline.com/2022/12/wonder-woman-3-patty-jenkins-james-gunn-responds-dc-1235193576/

I wouldn't have any faith in a reboot with that degenerate James Gunn involved. But even if it were to happen, WBD would have to get its financial affairs in order, because as I said, things are not looking good.
https://www.fool.com/investing/2022/12/07/warner-bros-discovery-stock-has-been-left-for-dead/#:~:text=Second%2C%20Warner%20Bros.%20Discovery's%20balance,billion%20of%20cash%20on%20hand.

[thecolorsblend]

Forgive me for being blunt, but this isn't Smallville.

Not sure how that relates to anything.

Having a shared movie universe without Batman makes no sense whatsoever from a business point of view. Batman is the most popular and lucrative character in the entire DC IP, and no money-grabbing executive is going to leave all that cash on the table and exclude him from meeting Superman, Wonder Woman and the wider DC universe...just to keep a certain director happy. Especially not a debt-ridden company like WBD.

Assuming this reboot stuff is actually true, only a limited number of choices are on the table.

01- Reboot without Batman
02- Reboot with yet another new version of Batman while Pattinson's version is still a going concern
03- Reboot while forcibly annexing the Reevesverse

#2 takes us right back to where we started with multiple Batmen. #3 risks alienating Reeves. Ask anybody in Hollywood how easy it is to replace a director midstream.

#1 bypasses those problems while leaving the door wide open to introduce a new version of Batman after the Reeves version wraps up.

Frankly, none of those options are super attractive. But considering WBD has to play the ball where it is and since an otherwise trustworthy Hollywood trade is reporting on the reality of a reboot happening, #1 simply seems like the least bad option TO ME.

Rumors that Zaslav has been fishing for a buyout from a major player like Comcast have been making the rounds since the day he started. Several of the key decisions being made are consistent with what one might do if one wants to make his company as attractive for a buyout as possible. As to the stock price, all Zaslav needs to do is make sure the price rises higher than it was on the day he started. Even a string of moderate, well-received hits will achieve that. Comcast has reasons of their own for being interested in WBD anyway.

I realize that you're one of the #RestoreTheSnyderverse true believers. But it looks like that ship has sailed and we should all get comfortable with that reality.

[The Dark Knight]

Perhaps they just keep Keaton in the future framework but use him minimally. Batman is still included but have him taking more of a backseat, rather than the solo Beyond film they seemingly had planned. It could very well be why the ending of The Flash may remain. The Gunn plan is a reboot that cuts out big elements of the Snyder continuity but not the connective tissue that gets to that point. It really depends how hard of a reboot we're talking about here.

[Travesty]

I don't even know what they're going to do? They seem to be in a huge pickle, either way. Batman is their most profitable character, and there's different versions going on at the same time of this rumored reboot.

I don't know?

I love the Reeves-verse, and I don't want it to be forced into a shared universe. Plus, I don't see this Batman working alongside a more fantastical cast of characters. If they do force it, it'll just feel contrived to me. But there is a possibility that they just axe it altogether. Hell, Aquaman was more profitable than The Batman, and they seem eager to reboot that, so I can't claim that The Batman is 100% safe. Again, I don't know?

If they get rid of the Reeves-verse, I'll be pretty pissed. If they force Pattinson into a shared universe, it'll probably diminish my love for the Reeves-verse, thus, pissing me off. Bad situation whichever way you cut it.

My hope, is they get a new Batman for the shared universe(DCU), and just keep him in the team up movies, while letting Reeves do his thing with solo movies. When Reeves' trilogy ends, they could start doing solo movies with the DCU Batman. But that's just me.

Gunn better figure this out, cause he's about to piss off a lot of people if this isn't well thought out. I'm not flipping tables yet. But we'll see.....