The Flash (2022)

[Gotham Knight]

However, if Michael Shannon is playing the Burtonverse Zod in The Flash, and Sasha Calle is playing Supergirl, then isn't that going to completely contradict all this? Are we to then take it that only the Superman '78 and Batman '89 comics take place on Earth-789, but that the live action films they follow occur in separate realities?

Due to the fact we only ever had B89 and BR, it never really sat well with me thinking Keaton shared his world with superhumans. A way I see it being tasteful is via universe leakage. Meaning the Burtonverse is its own thing, and the events of The Flash cause the timelines to merge into one another. If meta humans weren't a thing in the Burtonverse it would be exceptionally high intelligence on Keaton's part to be aware of their existence in other timelines, or the possibility for them to exist, and not being overawed by their sudden presence.

I wouldn't call villains who use a jack-in-the-box to try catapulting Batman over the sea and into the arms of an exploding octopus "exceptionally benign". "Diabolical scoundrels" is what I'd call them.

Deathtraps are deathtraps. All the villains who captured Batman and Robin fully intended to kill them.

I don't know if I've mentioned this before but:

(Spoilers!) The prevailing rumors assert that Keaton's Batman, while having experienced B89 and BR, is a variant. IE Earth -89 (or whatever we call proper Burtonverse) is still technically spinning in some other universe. What has happened is the new damaged timeline (a variant of the DCEU) is drawing upon other parallel worlds to try and fix itself. It takes a variant of a Supergirl we've never met and a Batman we have definitely met and tries to smoosh them together.

[Silver Nemesis]

Mark Waid's Dark Crisis: Big Bang one-shot contains some references to the Burtonverse that seemingly contradict earlier info concerning its position in the DC Multiverse.

In the story itself, Barry Allen travels around the DC Multiverse noting the various realities he observes. Among the list of alternate universes he visits is Earth-789.

In his description of this reality, Barry writes:

Superman and Supergirl are Earth's only powered heroes; Batman's parents killed by the Joker. (Superman '78, Batman '89)

Just to add to Silver's post, I saw this via Twitter. I am assuming it's from the aforementioned one-shot?

I saw this cool Earth-789 image posted on Twitter. I'm not sure if it's official or just fan art. Either way, it's excellent.

[The Dark Knight]

I'm thinking it's best the Cavill cameo is scrapped, even though I wouldn't mind seeing him one last time. We already have one cameo that leads nowhere and I don't see the benefit of adding another. The entire 2023 slate is rendered pointless by default by the new announcement. The real talk will be about what is coming next. If it's a proper scorched Earth reboot led by a new Superman, I'd assume Keaton wouldn't be carrying over. The Flash is it and the Beyond dream is over.

[The Laughing Fish]

The latest THR article has revealed Henry Cavill AND Gal Gadot's cameos in The Flash have now been cut.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/why-henry-cavill-is-no-longer-superman-1235283791

This must mean that Gadot is surely gone, along with Affleck, whose Aquaman 2 cameo has been cut as well.

Warner Brothers Discovery Conference Call With David Zaslav
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Main takeaways.

1. Zaslav says he has a 10 year plan concerning DC Movies.

2. Zaslav is excited for The Flash, Shazam 2, and Black Adam to be released.

3. He considers The Trinity ( Batman Superman and Wonder Woman) some of their big franchises.

4. HBO Max and Discovery will combine into one streaming service. There will be a free version with ads and a paid version summer 2023.

https://variety.com/2022/film/news/batgirl-david-zaslav-warner-bros-discovery-1235333681/

LOL, Zaslav will be very lucky if this shoddy DCU reboot lasts one year, seeing his company is struggling financially and writing off TV and film content as tax write-offs. Hell, he'll be lucky if WBD stays afloat the way it's going at the moment.

The Cavill u-turn has really alienated an overwhelming majority of fans across the entire DC spectrum, not just Snyderverse fans. People online have expressed how dismayed and angry they are over Cavill's mistreatment and there is a strong sense of betrayal and deception. Sadly, the merger only worsened WB's reputation.

If WBD and Gunn think they can fall back on Hamada's original plan to use The Flash to reboot the entire DC franchise, then their DCU plans will certainly fail. There is absolutely no point in releasing that movie and the rest of next year's slate anymore. Unless WBD wants to commit business suicide (if they haven't already) they should write all of those four movies off as tax write-offs and shelve them.

[Gotham Knight]

It has now been scooped that Gal Gadot had 2 scenes in the film. One (at the end when Flash fixes the timeline) has been removed. Her other scene I believe takes place in the first act and is still intact. Also word is that she is done as Wonder Woman.

[The Dark Knight]

Apparently we're getting a trailer in February. If they're smart they'll showcase Keaton and generate the necessary excitement that way. If word of mouth reactions to the actual film are positive, despite the drama surrounding it, perhaps this isn't the worst way for Keaton to bow out. Three official films, the same as Bale. The DCEU no longer leads anywhere, but solo films can still be enjoyed. Just as we still watch B99 and BR to this day. Even though we won't see him again on film, the version Keaton plays gets a positive ending which is a lot more than some returning icons have received.

[eledoremassis02]

Apparently we're getting a trailer in February. If they're smart they'll showcase Keaton and generate the necessary excitement that way. If word of mouth reactions to the actual film are positive, despite the drama surrounding it, perhaps this isn't the worst way for Keaton to bow out. Three official films, the same as Bale. The DCEU no longer leads anywhere, but solo films can still be enjoyed. Just as we still watch B99 and BR to this day. Even though we won't see him again on film, the version Keaton plays gets a positive ending which is a lot more than some returning icons have received.

Well said. I am looking forward regardless

[The Dark Knight]

Apparently we're getting a trailer in February. If they're smart they'll showcase Keaton and generate the necessary excitement that way. If word of mouth reactions to the actual film are positive, despite the drama surrounding it, perhaps this isn't the worst way for Keaton to bow out. Three official films, the same as Bale. The DCEU no longer leads anywhere, but solo films can still be enjoyed. Just as we still watch B99 and BR to this day. Even though we won't see him again on film, the version Keaton plays gets a positive ending which is a lot more than some returning icons have received.

Well said. I am looking forward regardless

What I like about the rumored plot is how it handles Bruce's emotional growth. The film I'd compare it to would be Into The Spider-Verse. There, we're introduced to a depressed Peter B Parker who doesn't want to help out Miles. But that period of reluctance doesn't last long. He's soon fighting the good fight and showing the younger generation the wealth of experience that comes with age. That's where The Last Jedi fumbled their arc for Luke - the spiritual dejection dragged on far too long and it didn't allow the hero enough time to satisfyingly shine. As I've said before, as a stand-alone connection to the 1989-1992 era, I think there's going to be enough to fill in the time gap and leave us still thinking fondly of Keaton and his Batman. Variant or otherwise.

[The Laughing Fish]

If David Zaslav is willing to flush more money down the toilet on marketing for overbudgeted films that are now greatly diminished thanks to this shambolic attempt at a DC reboot, then the man is incompetent and should step down as CEO. He only has himself to blame if and when this films bombs at the box office.***

For God's sake, I've read many comments by casual fans wondering what's even the point of going to see the last four films now. Putting all bias aside for a moment, no business should ever make customers doubt a product they're trying to sell. I thought that would be common business sense, but clearly, that's not the case in Hollyweird.

***BUT - for argument's sake, in the unlikely event that Flash defies expectations and becomes a phenomenal box office hit...then what? Will they still say goodbye to Keaton, Miller, Affleck or Calle, or will they keep some/all of them around for other projects? Because if they do that, then Gunn and co are hypocrites. Cavill and Gadot lose their jobs, but others get to keep theirs, particularly if they're part of the reboot. If that happens then the reboot is a much greater farce than it already is.

Any sort of hope I had to get the excitement back for this film a couple of years ago has been dashed by all of this PR debacle over the last few weeks. Unless something drastic happens at WBD, I'm just going to wait for HD scenes of Keaton and Affleck to get released on YouTube.

[Gotham Knight]

Pictures of a Flash toy set featuring a giant bat wing is floating around. It comes with Flash and Batman.