Yesterday, Warner Bros.pushed backthe release ofAquamanfrom October 2018 to a prime June 30, 2025 release date—the weekend that was previously eyed forAvatar 2beforeJames Camerondelayed that sequel for the 57th time. But as I noted in my writeup, while the December date is a smart box office move forAquaman, Warner Bros. does not have any other DC movies scheduled for release in 2018, meaning the lag betweenJustice LeagueandAquamanwill be over a year.
This is partly due to the fact that the studio had been hoping to getThe Flashand/orThe Batmanready in time for release in 2018, but neither is happening that quickly.The Flashlost its directorRick Famuyiwalast fall over creative differences, and withEzra Millerdue back to shootFantastic Beasts 2this summer,Flashmissed its window and likely can’t start production until 2018 now. As forThe Batman,Ben Affleckhas stressed for years that he won’t make the standalone until the script is ready, and with Affleck stepping out of the director’s chair and new directorMatt Reevestied up in post-production onWar for the Planet of the Apesuntil June, prepping, shooting, and editing the film in time for release next summer or fall at this point would be impossible, foolish, or both.
But according toVariety reporter Justin Kroll, Warner Bros. is considering pushing a different DC film into production in 2017. He notes that withThe Batmannow delayed, the studio would like to get a different DC property ready for release in 2018. The ones they’re currently considering are the female-centricGotham City Sirens,Green Lantern Corps,Justice League Dark,The Flash, andSuicide Squad 2. However, Kroll also notes that if the scripts aren’t ready to go, “the studio is content just shootingAquamanthis year” until those other films are ready.
So where do these projects stand right now and which is most likely to shoot this year? Let’s break it down.
Gotham City Sirensoriginated withMargot Robbie,who came up with the ideato do a female ensemble pic anchored by her Harley Quinn character after shootingSuicide Squad. HerSquaddirectorDavid Ayeris onboard to direct this one, but Robbie’s dance card is pretty full-up so it’s unclear if that one could be ready in time.
Justice League Darkis a supernatural-fueled superhero ensemble that landedEdge of TomorrowandBournefilmmakerDoug Limanto direct last year and has been in the works for a long while—Guillermo del Torowrote an early draft of the script.
Green Lantern Corpsgained steam this January when Warner Bros. setMan of SteelscribeDavid S. GoyerandJustin Rhodesto pen the screenplay. That film is described asLethal Weaponin space and will team up an older Hal Jordan with a younger John Stewart, with names likeTom Cruise,Jake Gyllenhaal, andBradley Coopertopping WB’s wishlist.
Suicide Squad 2recently got a boost by landingThe Legend of TarzanscreenwriterAdam Cozadto pen the script. As of now it doesn’t look like David Ayer is too involved in this one and he definitely won’t direct, butMel Gibsonhas surfaced as a possibility to take the helm. Cozad onlyjustsigned on, and this is a massive ensemble to bring back together on short notice, so schedule-wise this one’s a bit of a nightmare.
As forThe Flash, this movie has gone through two directors already—Seth Grahame-Smithfirst, then Famuyiwa—and is currently without a captain. Miller is still set to play The Flash, and before Famuyiwa departed he had castKiersey Clemonsin a key role andBilly Crudupas the Flash’s dad. Filming was supposed to begin early this year so presumably the script in hand is in a solid place, but the fact that Warner Bros. has yet to hire a new director may signal that they’re rewriting the screenplay, and as I mentioned before Miller’s schedule is going to be busy withFantastic Beastsstarting in August, so even if they could somehow get this ready to start production in November or December, finishing the film in time for release next year seems highly unlikely.
So if Warner Bros.doesshoot another DC movie in 2017, which one of these choices is most likely? It would probably beGotham City SirensorJustice League Dark, since those have been in development the longest and aren’t tied up in scheduling messes. Ayer is currently in post-production on his Netflix filmBright, but has been teasing theGotham City Sirensscript since last fall. And while Robbie is currently filmingI, TonyaandPeter Rabbit, and recently signed on to star in aRobin HoodredoMarian, there’s nothinghugefor her on the horizon so she could likely fit this into her 2017 schedule. And withJustice League Dark, we haven’t heard a ton about it but Liman works pretty quickly and that could cast up nicely.
All that being said, I don’t think it would be wise for Warner Bros. to rushanyDC movie into production until it’s in a place they’re happy with. Their desire to catch up with Marvel Studios resulted in a botched beginning to the DCEU, as they had little time to recalculate according to audience reaction afterBatman v Superman—Justice Leaguestarted filming weeks afterBvSopened, andSuicide Squadwent through significant post-production meddling to try and offer something a little lighter.
So yeah, Warner Bros. may or may not get another DC movie into production this year, andAquamanmay or may not be their sole superhero release in 2018. Everything’s up in the air at the moment, but the hiring of Reeves to directThe Batmanandour recent report thatMatthew Vaughnis being eyed to helmMan of Steel 2signals that they want to do this right. So here’s hoping these aforementioned films are given the development time necessary to result in a worthwhile and engaging final product.
