What are some of the DC Films that would great to see? This has no studio information except parameters that were set by James Gunn, a basic understanding of the comic books, and comic book films. So here we go! I would start with a five minute recap of the previous films with a minute or two of The Flash revealing the new DC Universe. Gunn mentioned, "Superman is a huge priority, if not the biggest priority." Gunn knows the comic books and the history so I'm thinking the first DC movie of this era will pay homage to Action Comics #1, why Superman was the first popular superhero. I also hope it gives a good nod to the creators, with Joe and Jerry characters, a stop at Cleveland, and especially the appearance of Action Comics #1 in some form. Gunn tweeted, "In the initial stages, our story will be focusing on an earlier part of Superman’s life..." I believe it will be young adult Clark working in Metropolis. He will have met Lois and she is his contact to report in his stories. I would have him be put on assignment to be the Daily Planet international correspondent. Traveling the world and learning about people that he will eventually protect. This is similar to Superman: Birthright #2 (2003).
Villain? Probably Brainiac. He is a world threat, Superman caliber, and tied to his Kryptonian past (in some versions). Vril Dox did appear in the Krypton show played by Blake Riston. It is important to get away from Lex Luthor, he wasn’t introduced until Action Comics #23 (1940), two years after the Man of Steel’s debut! Instead, I would have Lex Luthor as omni-present in Metropolis, on billboards and news stories, but Superman would be "beneath his attention." We do find that Luthor has been studying and researching Superman in private. John Henry Irons, he is played by Wole Parks in Superman & Lois, should be part of the cast from almost the beginning. Dr. Emil Hamilton could also be a scientific advisor. I like Steve Lombard debuting in Superman #264 (1973) as a bully in the newsroom. It’s important to have a strong supporting cast beyond the usual Jimmy Olsen and Perry White. A cameo?, I would really like it if the Supergirl in The Flash movie, played by Sasha Calle, is recovered somewhere in the movie. Maybe a sequel. Before she appears, I’m really hoping to see Krypto in the movies, he actually appeared, Adventure Comics #210 (1955) before Supergirl, Action Comics #252 (1959). He is in the series, Titans, since 2018, but I hope he shows up besides DC League of Super Pets (2022), in the movies.
Next, a Batman film, I think The Batman movie is great in not treading over the origin again, the two heroes have their origin told too many times. Also, bringing in Catwoman. Gunn tweeted about Batman, "He's a big part of the DCU." I think a good schedule for DC films would be two a year so Superman and then Batman. The Joker? He is too ingrained into the Batman films, has his own franchise, and would be confusing to also add to this story. I think Arkham Asylum could be added, I would really like to see new psychiatrist, Dr. Harleen Quinzel, before she becomes Harley Quinn! As a psychologist, we briefly saw Margot Robbie in Suicide Squad (2016), and Mia Sara played the character in the Birds of Prey tv series. All of the villains have been done, but the filmmakers just shoot for the sky and adapt The Court of Owls! The group also appeared on Gotham. It is a secret organization that is tied to the history of Gotham City and they were introduced in Batman #2 (2011). The Court of Owls has assassins called Talons, one of them is Calvin Rose who can regenerate through electrum.
So the story may be the defeat of the Court of Owls, but only one part of it, kinda like HYDRA. I think their ultimate defeat would be with the Bat family team. Supporting cast, Dr. Leslie Thompkins, Gotham’s version was played by Morena Baccarin, but she is an older figure from the comics. She first appeared in Detective Comics #457 (1976) helping Bruce get over the death of his parents and she helps orphans in Crime Alley. A love interest? I would tend towards Silver St. Cloud, a woman in the wealthy circles who is clever and takes an interest in Bruce Wayne. Natalie Alyn Lind played her in Gotham. This could also tangle her with Selina Kyle’s Catwoman. The end of the movie should be Batman realizing that he is overwhelmed by threats and needs to bring in allies. The first recruit should be Robin, training to see if he can work with Batman, but there are others. Batgirl and basically the team from Detective Comics #934 (2016), “Rise of the Batmen”; Orphan, Spoiler, and former villain Clayface. This would be more interesting than just partnering with Robin. The third DC film should be entitled Batman and Superman: World’s Finest. There was a compilation of “World’s Finest” (1997) episodes from Superman: The Animated Series with a similar title. Still, the name identification with the heroes is important.
The comic was an anthology until the characters were in the same story in World’s Finest Comics #71 (1954). It would be great to formally establish Lex Luthor and The Joker in this movie and then team up. In the comics the team up was in issue #88 (1957). So the beginning would introduce The Joker and Luthor as threats to their heroes. I think one of the best Joker stories is Detective Comics #475 (1978). He uses his Joker Venom from his first appearance in Batman #1 (1940), it kills victims whose faces go into a smiling rictus, to create Joker Fish. Then, he tries to trademark the fish! This was adapted in the Batman: The Animated Series episode, “The Laughing Fish” (1993). Luthor formed LexCorp from his many inventions. Luthor discovers some Kryptonite to power up a machine, use unclear right now; as a transmitter to alien civilizations like in Superman: Birthright, or as a weapon against Superman. He is investigated by Lois Lane and Clark discovers his Kryptonite weakness. The machine explodes weakening Superman and causing Luthor to lose his red hair. If this is too much story, it can be divided into a Superman and a Batman sequel.
Composite Superman first appeared in World’s Finest Comics #142 (1964) sounds like a perfectly insane Joker idea. The Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (2009) animated movie adapted the “Public Enemies” storyline from the Superman/Batman comic book. In particular is the Composite Superman mecha created by Hiro Okamura, known as Toyman, so this would be a great combination of two evil minds! The most important part is that Batman realizes here, that he will need help (which he also learned from his own film) to not only protect Gotham City, but the rest of the world. The seeds of the Justice League. A realization that Bruce Wayne has in the Justice League movie. Remember it took five movies before Avengers (2012) for the MCU phase 1. This would all lead to the next DC movie, Wonder Woman. I still see Patty Jenkins directing and Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman. The movie would be a reboot. It is important if the sequence is Superman or Batman sequels, that Wonder Woman is the third movie before leading up to World's Finest. The Amazons would be explained through a narrative by Hippolyta. How after Themyiscra was made for the Amazons, two tribes went on their own to Brazil and Bana-Mighdall. The latter is a hidden Middle-Eastern country. Its warriors include Artemis who almost takes Wonder Woman’s place, and Nubia, who becomes queen of the Amazons.
In Brazil is the Esquecidas Amazon tribe who found the city of Akahim. They debuted in Wonder Girl #5 (2022) and Yara Flor, who later became Wonder Girl. I see the original origin with Hippolyta forming Diana from Themyiscran clay inspired by Athena. She is brought to life instead of the classic only Aphrodite origin, by three goddesses, Aphrodite, Athena, and Hera. If she is too powerful as an actual goddess, then there is no direction for the character to go. I would keep Aphrodite’s Law that has Amazons immortal as long as a man doesn’t step on Themyiscra, the island. This keeps the Amazons existence to be conditional and at an edge. Steve Trevor’s crash would be on a fragment of his plane not walking the island. Also, a chain of small islands around Themyiscra to form a defensive perimeter. Diana traveling to the Patriarch’s World would mean she ages normally. I would add the women survivors would find sanctuary on Themysicra and if they can prove themselves, become Amazons. A touch of George Perez and current comics. I’m going to imagine that the five goddesses; Artemis, Athena, Aphrodite, Demeter, and Hestia used their powers to hide the island before they were gone. The Contest should also be maintained in a movie version. Supporting characters; not only Etta Candy, but I would add Diana’s Amazon friend, Mala.
The villain of the first movie I see as Circe, the sorceress, who has been fighting against her since Wonder Woman #37 (1949). Cheetah is a classic enemy, maybe Circe has a part in her transformation, and I would also add Giganta who was a villain all the way back to Wonder Woman #9 (1944). I’m also thinking of Cheetah and Giganta as part of the Legion of Doom in the Super Friends cartoon. This all leads to the Justice League movie. Justice League could have a line-up of the trio, plus Aquaman (if he makes it into the new films), The Flash, and Martian Manhunter from the original comics appearance of the Justice League of America in Brave and Bold #28 (1960). A total of seven members so it could all be mixed up with others. I would switch Hal Jordan with John Stewart, Green Lantern, and maybe Hawkgirl from the Justice League animated series. I would add Black Canary, a long standing member along with someone who can handle magic, Zatanna. It could be followed by Shazam, Teen Titans (or Young Justice if that title doesn’t work), and possibly the Global Guardians, but foremost would be the New Gods. Animated movie? Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew, Angel and the Ape, plus `Mazing Man as a live action streaming series with the Inferior Five. There is many possiblities for new DC Universe films.
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