New BATMAN Film Inspired By DARK KNIGHT RETURNS Just A KILLING JOKE?

It was only a few weeks ago we were talking about when we could be expecting a news about a solo Batman film and we've got our first hint via Forbes. The outlet is known for mostly financial and business stories has started getting into the world of comic book film reporting.

They are now stating the reason Joker is in Suicide Squad isn't just to help setup Harley Quinn's character but also lead into a new Batman film as well. Stating his escape would eventually be tied into the next solo outing which is said to be heavily influenced by The Dark Knight Returns comic by Frank Miller.

The comic is already heavily influencing Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice but likely won't have all the material gobbled-up since it needs to include Superman, Lex Luthor and Wonder Woman in major roles. This could mean a lot of the Batman centric stuff could be saved for another film.

Adding that Batman is likely to make an appearance in David Ayer's Suicide Squad to help boost that film's connection to the rest of the DC Comics slate. The assumption being that Joker will indeed be apart of the new Batman film in a bigger way than Suicide Squad.

It's been reported by Latino Review that Joker is less of a leading role and is more a Hannibal Lecter- like figure being more of a cameo than actually a lead. Those two roles are being filled by Will Smith's Deadshot and Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn.

Rick Flagg fans might be shocked to learn his role in the film is being greatly scaled back and won't be as large as fans had expected it be.

I wouldn't have given too much thought to this news but it's coming from Forbes who has been getting some pretty big scoops concerning the DC Comics film franchises.

I'd love to see these guys replace The Mutants.

What could this film look like if it's indeed inspired by Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns comic?

First off, I don't think we'll be seeing the comic version of the mutants gang but I could see them being altered to become aligned with The Joker. The mutant angle was sort of used in The Dark Knight Rises with Bane's army of mercenaries and street kids.

However, I could see them changing the punk street gang to be more linked to the Joker and Harley Quinn similar to what we saw in the Arkham games. Using the street gang aspect seems something we really haven't see as a major factor in the recent Batman films. Having them rival other gangs and even put the fear of god into Gotham's crime families could be interesting to explore.

Joker's role will likely be beef-up from what is was in Returns which was just him on a murder spree after escaping at television studio. I would expect him to be a main protagonist of the film, possibly along with Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn.

They didn't hire Oscar winner Jared Leto to only appear in Suicide Squad with a small role, they obviously have bigger plans for the character. While I felt he could be apart of the Justice League films he's too damn unpredictable to work with others. Placing him in a new Batman film post-Suicide Squad honestly makes the most sense to me.

I don't expect to see an adaptation to be so slavishly connected to the source material, which was one of the biggest issues people had with Zack Snyder's Watchmen. Basically, being a shot-for-shot copy of the comic book.

Taking true inspiration and making it's own beast could be way to really make the film stand apart from the comic, but still have those connections to it.

Barbara Gordon is just as likely as Carrie Kelley.

It was confirmed that actress Jena Malone would be taking a role in Batman v Superman but it was never announced who she would be playing. Speculations and rumors have suggested she could be playing Carrie Kelley who is the female Robin in Returns.

Her new red hair seemed to be a bit of give-away, but does that mean she could only be playing Carrie in the film?

We know that Carrie isn't the only redhead in DC Comics and isn't even the most famous redhead in among the Batman characters. I'm not entirely sure it's 100% Jena is Kelley since we've seen Batgirl production art making the rounds online from concept artist Jock (Dredd), so Jena playing a version of Barbara Gordon isn't impossible either.

Why I think Batgirl could equally be an option for Malone is that she hasn't been established in ages but has a strong connection to the Joker and one of his most iconic stories.

I wouldn't be entirely shocked to see Alan Moore's (Watchmen) Joker comic The Killing Joke being used to help increase the Joker's story in the film.The Dark Knight really only focused on his escape and murder spree during a television interview.

In Killing Joke, the Joker escapes Arkham to torment Jim Gordon and paralyses his daughter Barbara. After those events she becomes The Oracle an important and horrific moment for the character's evolution.

Both Returns and Killing Joke share a similar setting of a amusement park, and could easily be combined into one single script.

It's known that Joker famously killed Jason Todd, the second Robin who eventually returns alive as the vigilante The Red Hood. Taking the name of the Joker's original name as his own. Carrie Kelley is begrudgingly given the Robin mantle by Batman who is still grieving for Jason's murder by The Joker. As it's established in Returns that Todd has been killed.

I could also see them combining Carrie Kelley and Barbara Gordon into one character, since the former isn't as well established as Gordon. Perhaps, taking up the Robin mantle only to move on to become Batgirl and go on her own taking cues from Nightwing.

There are many ways this movie could go since there are plenty of solid Joker stories to be used for the script. They might as well fire on all cylinders if this is indeed going to have the Joker as the baddie. We have enough unused Joker stories that could come together to give fans one badass and grim as hell take on the character. I wouldn't even dismiss the idea of it cutting back between present day and flashback scenes.

It's still really early at this point but if I had to take guesses at titles they could go with The Dark Knight Returns, Batman: The Killing Joke or just The Batman. Again, I still believe Warner Bros. could release the film before 2020 but it all depends on Ben Affleck.

BVS is expected to look a lot more like Watchmen visually than Man of Steel, thanks to cinematographer Larry Fong reuniting with Snyder for the film.



I know Zack Snyder is going to be a busy bee with two Justice League films about to shoot back-to-back but I'd love to see him and Larry Fong (Batman v Superman, Watchmen) take a crack at this material. Snyder has hinted for years he'd love to turn The Dark Knight Returns in a film, it could be nice to follow through with adapting the rest of the comic on screen.

I highly recommend picking up those comics along with watching the two-part animated film based on The Dark Knight Returns which is currently on Netflix.




SOURCE: FORBES

David Fincher Remaking Hitchcock's STRANGERS ON A TRAIN With Ben Affleck And Gillian Flynn

Deadline reports that director David Fincher has chosen his next project which is a remake of Alfred Hitchcock's iconic thriller Strangers On A Train. Gone Girl's Gillian Flynn is in talks to write the remake's script.

Originally, the Hitchcock film was based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith but this new film will be updated to be more contemporary. Deadline seemingly has some details of the film which could see it likely retitled to Strangers On A Plane or the more simplistic Strangers.

A movie star–in the middle of a campaign for an Oscar during awards season–whose private plane breaks down and is given a ride to LA on another plane by a wealthy stranger.

Check out the original film's trailer below, I can already imagine Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross scoring this. I'm sure the pair of composers will again sign-on to create the score.




This news comes only a day after the Gone Girl author and screenwriter Gillian Flynn talked about a developing a sequel.

Ben Affleck is said to be taking of the lead of the actor character. The film is at Warner Bros. which has been extremely friendly to Affleck projects. He'll also act as one of the producers with his banner Pearl Street that he runs with Matt Damon.

Strangers is now adding to Affleck's busy film schedule. He'll apparently make the film in-between Live By Night and his extensive shoot for Zack Snyder's Justice League. Deadline also states League will start it's massive production in the spring of 2016.

This could leave room in 2017 for Affleck to make his solo Batman film.



SOURCE: DEADLINE

GONE GIRL Author And Screenwriter Gillian Flynn Open To Sequel

When asked about at the possibility of a Gone Girl sequel by New York Daily News (via The Playlist) author and screenwriter Gillian Flynn gave a promising answer. She stated it could happen along as long as the "gang" is brought back for it.

"There could be a sequel at some point if everyone is game to get the gang back together, it could be really fun a few years from now to pick it up and see what those crazy Dunnes are up to a few years down the road and if they got on — not well I don’t think,"

The assumption would be that Flynn ends-up writing the screenplay for the film, I'm not sure if a book would be released in tandem. Director David Fincher and the cast would need to return as well for Gillian to get onboard with a sequel.

Gone Girl became one of the most profitable R-rated films of the year, second only to Sony's 22 Jump Street. On a budget of $61M the film eventually earned $365M worldwide. The film also has the honor of being David Fincher's highest grossing film to date.

This leads me to believe that 20th Century Fox would love to get everyone back for a sequel.

There is even awards buzz surrounding the film, we should know on Thursday if the film will indeed get some Oscar nominations. The Academy has a lot of love for Fincher's films and in my mind Rosamund Pike is a strong contender for a Best Actress nomination.

Ben Affleck is becoming increasingly busy these days post-Batman but I'm sure could squeeze this in. The film has done wonders for Affleck since it's one his best performances in ages. Sorry, Argo fans, "Argo fuck yourself". I'm frankly a bit more optimistic for future Affleck films after Gone Girl and sort to see Ben push himself a bit more from now on.

Carrie Coon, who plays Affleck's twin sister in the film would also be an essential necessity for it's sequel.The rest of the cast I assume could be easily convinced to return the only one I see becoming a hold-out would be Tyler Perry, although he was fantastic in the film and worth haggling with.

David Fincher on the other hand might be harder to wrangle than the cast. As the filmmaker has never made a sequel to any of his films. I'm sure there are a couple of films he'd like to return to and others he'd like to forget he was ever involved with. Alien 3 comes to mind as one he'd like to forget.

He's also had a bit of trouble in the past getting Sony to agree to make his The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo sequels.

Scripts for both The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest have been written but signs of production moving forward are scarce. While Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig are still contracted for the two films even though Sony has kept them in hiatus.

A couple of months ago, Fincher seemed a bit more optimistic about The Girl Who Played With Fire getting greenlit while speaking in Sweden via Film Divider. Giving the impression the film's script will be vastly different from it's Swedish counterpart starring Noomi Rapace.

"I think because it [Sony] already has spent millions of dollars on the rights and the script so it will result in something. The script that we now have a huge potential, I can reveal as much as it is extremely different from the book."

Oddly enough, another Gillian Flynn adaptation is coming to theatres in 2015 with Dark Places.

The thriller starring Charlize Theron focuses on family, murder and poverty. It should have some of the exact tone of Gone Girl if not darker and fans of the genre might want to keep an eye out for it.

X-Men Apocalypse casting hopefuls Chloe Mortez (Kick-Ass, Equalizer) and Tye Sheridan (Mud, Tree of Life) are also among the cast of Dark Places.



SOURCE: NEWYORKDAILYNEWS

BVS Isn't Getting Split Into Two But Expect A Solo BATMAN Film Sooner Rather Than Later

The blogging world seemingly lost it's mind last week when a viral image popped-up and gave the impression that Batman v Superman was going to be split into two films. An aspect that didn't seem impossible at the time as the film's shoot was a lengthly one. Even though the itself image could have been easily faked by anyone on the internet and it's origin should make it automatically suspect.

For a moment let's humor the idea of a secret Batman film coming out in October, why would Warner Bros. hide this from fans?

Warner Bros. is gambling big with Batman v Superman, pitting their developing cinematic franchise against Marvel's established one. A lot of things could go wrong and totally mess-up their plans, as their announced DC Comics movie slate is 100% happening at this point. Some films could get replaced by others or could be place-holders for WB establishing release dates early. A tactic we've seen Marvel Studios use to their advantage recently. Although, Marvel isn't announcing films unless they are sure they're getting made to meet those dates. 

Announcing a Batman centric film would greatly help establish this new shared universe. Let's be honest, Wayne is the most important hero in the DC ranks currently. Yet, they decided on making this precursor to Justice League a priority. I highly doubt this split was anything more than a fan's wet-dream.

We had heard that originally a bulk of the shoot would focus around Bruce Wayne and Batman's exploits that didn't involve the other heroes. This was likely from David Goyer's script before it's major overhaul by Argo's Chris Terrio. Frank Miller's comic The Dark Knight Returns is heavily influencing the film which had Batman as the centric character so this wasn't too shocking. The two Batman suits we've seen are also direct designs from Dark Knight Returns. I have assume the rewrites from Mr. Terrio were to include the other three heroes into the Miller inspired story. 

It's been confirmed we'll be seeing Batman's origin yet again as Jeffrey Dean Morgan will be playing Thomas Wayne in the film. Director Zack Snyder is indeed putting his stamp on the new Batman franchise. An aged-up Batman is also apart of the film's story having him grizzled and working behind the scenes for a long time. Another call-back to Miller's comic that supports claims the film could lean more towards Batman.

However, Badass Digest being familiar with the film's script pointed-out there wasn't enough in it to suggest a two film split. The mid-point of the film is a fight between Batman and Superman which according to them this isn't big enough to be used as a final act. While the final action scene of the film would likely overshadow that tiff in the middle. This is somewhat more proof that a split isn't going to happen. 

If the script wasn't weighted enough why would Warner Bros. would try turning a risky film like this into two parts?. 

We've seen big films turned into two parts as a trend with Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Avengers: Infinity War and Justice League. The ones getting split-up are from well established movie franchises and even by the time JL comes out we'll be three films into the new DC cinematic universe. 

My biggest issue being that Dawn of Justice is already a risky premise since they're setting-up three other heroes in the film with Wonder Woman, Aquaman and Cyborg. There isn't much point to ruin the film by cutting it off and having it become this sprawling two-parter. Since it's actually more or less our introduction to this new shared world Zack Snyder has created. 

Superman himself Henry Cavill has just confirmed to Variety that the film indeed will be released as one film and two as the recent rumor suggested. While actors are usually compelled to put up a front to press, this seems a bit more substantial since this is a leading actor from the production and not some random person starting rumors. 

This doesn't mean Warner Bros. isn't setting-up a solo Batman film down the road. 

Suicide Squad is essentially setting up two major Batman villains in the film. Having the new Joker played by Jared Leto will likely have some sort of key connection to either Justice League or new Batman movie. Deadshot could also be prime candidate to be let lose on Gotham as a hired-gun. Harley Quinn is still a threat for Gotham but will likely be more tied to Suicide Squad, as some claim she could be the film's protagonist. While I believe that role will be shared between Will Smith's Deadshot and Margot Robbie's Quinn. 

Basically in 2016, Warner Bros. will have established the new Batman, Gotham City and at least three of Batman's rogues. I have to assume they'll include more of them in Suicide Squad as it opens-the-door for a lot of villain cameos. This allows the studio to move forward with new movies as they'll have rebooted the film franchise without forcing those origin elements into a new installment, I'm sure fans like myself will be grateful for this move. Retelling origin stories aren't my jam and I'm kind of sick of them if they're well known or not re-imagined. 

Warner Bros. isn't likely sitting around patiently waiting on this supposed 2019-2020 release date for a new Batman film. The last two films from Christopher Nolan earned a billion dollars each at the worldwide box office. Man of Steel was an improvement from Superman Returns but still only managed to muster $668M worldwide. Well-made Batman films are a license to print money and the studio isn't likely going to wait until 2020 to release the next one. 

Yes, Ben Affleck is a busy man and will be going-off to direct his prohibition crime drama Live By Night soon. He's also attached to star in Gavin O'Connor's crime-centric The Accountant as well. At some point he'll have to return for the Justice League shoot expected to be even lengthier than Dawn of Justice as both films will be shot back-to-back. 

There is a bit of speculation that Ben Affleck (Good Will Hunting, The Town, Argo, Gone Baby Gone) could be the one to direct the next Batman film. This hasn't been confirmed but the two-time Oscar winner wouldn't be a terrible choice. 

My assumption is that Warner Bros. will likely want a new solo film before 2020. The likelihood of that happening obviously is now dependent on Affleck's busy schedule. 

Jena Malone Confirmed For BATMAN V SUPERMAN But Is She Really Playing Robin?

It's safe to say we'll be seeing some major female-power with Zack Snyder's Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) will make her debut before heading-off for her own solo adventure in 2017. Lois Lane (Amy Adams) is our civilian observer of the film, along with Tao Okamoto (The Wolverine) and Jena Malone (Sucker Punch, Hunger Games, Donnie Darko) taking key supporting roles. It's rumored that Tao is playing Lex Luther's personal bodyguard Mercy Graves, which makes sense considering her costume seen on set looks a lot like a professional's uniform.

However, things get a little more murky when it comes to Jena Malone. We don't have set images to work with and she was only recently confirmed by THR for a role. This role wasn't named, but there was quick speculation by others. Because the film is taking influence from Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns comics, people are automatically assuming she is playing Carrie Kelley. The ambitious young protege of tired and grizzled Batman and becomes the newest Robin. Batman of course hates the idea, this is of course years after the death of last Robin and after his own retirement. Bruce is pulled out of his calm twilight-years to deal with a growing menace plaguing Gotham. This time in the form of a underground gang of punks known as The Mutants, who plan on terrorizing the city. Doesn't this sound similar to the plot of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Rises? Well it should because Nolan and the co-writers pulled from all different comic book sources for their trilogy. Something I assume will be happening with Zack Snyder's DC universe, pulling from different sources to make the best films possible.

The closest thing to a confirmation that Jena is playing Robin, is that she didn't give comment to a gossip reporter when asked about it. That's a very weak argument, considering she just signed a non-disclosure contract for the role (like ever actor and crew member). She couldn't even talk about her role unless the studio gave her the okay. Remember the months that Jason Momoa had to keep mum about Aquaman?

It's unlikely this film will be adapted completely from the Miller material. Mainly, because we won't get the Mutants or Green Arrow in the film. I also doubt Ronald Reagan will be appearing as the President, although Nixon did show-up in Snyder's Watchmen. The Justice League cameos are something new as well, which could mean a lot of shake-ups concerning the plot and how much is being pulled from Miller's stuff.

I'm not 100% convinced she is actually playing Carrie. First thing, where the hell did Nightwing go? We had been hearing for months before production that there was a role for Dick Grayson in the film. The two heroes would reunite after going their separate ways. This part was rumored to be up for grabs and Adam Driver was linked for it. Driver instead went with a bigger role in J.J. Abrams' Star Episode VII and it was the last we heard of Nightwing. It's possible he was written-out completely by Chris Terrio's production polishes on the script.

It's possible that Nightwing has been replaced with another one of Batman's sidekicks that has branched-out. One that comes to mind would be the seldom used Barbara Gordon aka Batgirl. She was a staple of the original Adam West series, and has grown to become an important member of the comics universe. The daughter of police chief Jim Gordon, she along with Robin worked alongside Batman for years.

Both Robin and Batgirl haven't been seen on screen since Batman And Robin, and fans have been edgy about using the two ever since. Even thought she's been taken more seriously thanks to the animated series and comics like Alan Moore's The Killing Joke. Another excellent piece of comic lore that needs to be explored in this new film universe.

I wouldn't be shocked if Batgirl was also a former Robin and has gone her separate ways. Allowing room for Nightwing to be still kicking around, but giving more a female presence in Gotham. Should Affleck decided to direct future films, setting-up supporting heroes would be nice. While it's mudding the lore, combining the two would fix the problem with having a teen being the middle of firefights and working a tank.

Let's not forget that she also is a redhead. People had been quick to point out that Malone dyed her hair red. This doesn't automatically make her Robin, Batgirl sported red locks first. Also, if we're going by her hair it's not as traditionally short as Carrie's was in the comics. The shoulder length is more like 60s Batgirl hairstyle (pictured above). Other DC Comics redheads include Aquaman's fellow underwater hero Mera, who I assume will be featured in the 2017 movie. Not to mention the Batman villain Poison Ivy. Basically, we need more than a change in hair color to work with.

I would like to point-out that a piece of concept art by artist Jock was floating around the time of the announcement for Batman v Superman. He confirmed it was for a project for Warner Bros. People assumed it was for a video game/comic book series, I think even Jock pointed fans in that direction. Yet, Jock has done a bunch of design work for movies, including the early costume designs for Dredd. The image clearly includes Superman, Batman (very similar to Miller cowl they gave Batfleck), Wonder Woman and also Batgirl. Having Zack Snyder sneak-in a second female hero wouldn't be entirely out of the realm of possibilities. We never thought Cyborg and Aquaman would ever be in this film, so anything could happen.

SOURCE: THR

RUMOR: Brainiac The Big Baddie Of Zack Snyder's JUSTICE LEAGUE?

While on MeetTheMoviePress podcast LatinoReview scooper El Mayimbe revealed that Justice League screenwriter Chris Terrio (Argo, Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice) has handed-in an outline/draft to Warner Bros. Adding, that Chris' work on Batman v Superman is actually a production polish, and not a complete page-one rewrite. Blogs and fans assumed that with another writer onboard David S. Goyer's work was getting completely tossed, not the actual case. It wouldn't have made sense to have Terrio rewrite an entire script weeks/months before production was set to begin.

The bigger news concerning Justice League is the film's possible villain. El Mayimbe names the long-waited Brainiac is going to be the big baddie of the DC team-up event flick. You might remember that Brainiac was going to be the villain of Tim Burton's Superman film with Nicholas Cage as the titular hero. That film was never made, but Brainiac has remained a fan-favorite to show-up in the films.

The cast is expected to be Ben Affleck (Batman), Henry Cavill (Superman), Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), Ray Fisher (Cyborg), Jason Momoa (Aquaman) and others yet to be announced. A production start hasn't been mentioned, but it was rumored it was going be next for Zack Snyder. While other DC projects are also in-development such as solo installments for Wonder Woman and Aquaman.

The MeetTheMoviePress panel did make-fun of the suggestion of Benedict Cumberbatch, but the actor had been rumored for roles in Batman v Superman, that would setup Justice League. To be fair to them, Ben has been linked to all sorts of franchises including Star Wars and Doctor Strange. BBC was saying he was in the running for the Martian Manhunter part, along with a possible villain role. Brainiac anyone? Here is what Ben had to say about the Manhunter rumor.

"I'm going to let that rumour run."


SOURCE: LATINOREVIEW

RUMOR: WB Planning On Releasing THE BATMAN In 2019 And Will Ben Affleck Direct?

LatinoReview has another big DC scoop, this time it concerns our favorite caped crusader. We recently learned that Warner Bros. is setting-up a large slate of DC films, shockingly a solo Batman movie wasn't on that list. LR reveals that the studio is tentatively placing a new Batman standalone in their 2019 release lineup, and giving it the working title of The Batman. Fans might recognize that title, as it was the original title for Batman Begins.

There is also a bit of speculation that Ben could also direct the film, something we've been expecting since he was originally announced for the role. There had been rumblings that Ben's deal with Warner Bros. was so extensive, that it could include clauses to direct as well. This was never confirmed or announced by the studio, so it's currently unknown if this is indeed their plan or if Ben is obligated to direct.

After watching Affleck's films Gone Baby Gone and The Town. It's easy to see the director has a grasp on the gritty world of crime, and could be a decent successor to Christopher Nolan. The release date is also another hint to Affleck directing as well, since it would allow him plenty of time to film Batman v Superman, Justice League and his period gangster film Live By Night.

At this point there isn't even talk of a script being put together, which might be another reason for the 2019 release date. Giving the studio plenty of time to setup a new trilogy and make the first installment a solid one. Let's not forget that Ben also has an Oscar for screenwriting.

SOURCE: LATINOREVIEW

WONDER WOMAN Actress Gal Gadot Spotted On The BATMAN VS SUPERMAN Set

After a couple of extremely blurry photos of Gal Gadot on the set of Batman Vs Superman. We now have decent one of Gal, I have to assume as Diana Prince (or whoever she is pretending to be in the film). Gal's role hasn't confirmed has being more than a cameo, but with Justice League production up-next it could be increased. The film is still set for a May 6th, 2016 release date.

FIRST LOOK: Ben Affleck As Batman In BATMAN VS SUPERMAN And The Batmoblie

Zack Snyder has shared the first still of Ben Affleck in his Batman costume on the set of Batman Vs Superman, along with the first look at the Batmoblie. I love the costume and it seems to fit the descriptions of the costume.

SOURCE: ZACK SNYDER

UPDATE: Warner Bros. Confirms Zack Snyder Will Direct JUSTICE LEAGUE, Could It Be Released Against Another Marvel Film In 2017?

TheWallStreetJournal was able to speak with producer Greg Silverman about the future of DC film properties at Warner Bros. Silverman finally has confirmed that Justice League is happening, and will be directed by Zack Snyder (Watchmen, 300, Dawn of The Dead) . Zack previously directed Man of Steel and it's sort-of sequel Batman Vs Superman, the latter is also confirmed to be the precursor to the events of the Justice League movie. They also confirm that the film will begin production after Batman Vs Superman, I assume the studio won't be making any other DC films before then. Silverman also hints to a release date possibly around 2018 at the earliest. A script is still being put together, I believe last we heard David Goyer was still working on it.

Confirming the studio’s plans for a movie based on its iconic super-team for the first time, Warner Bros. president of worldwide production Greg Silverman said the studio has set plans to make a “Justice League” movie.

Like “Man of Steel” and its follow-up, which starts production next month, “Justice League” will be directed by Zack Snyder. Henry Cavill is expected to return as Superman, along with Ben Affleck and Gal Gadot, who play Batman and Wonder Woman, respectively, in 2016’s “Man of Steel” sequel tentatively titled “Batman vs. Superman.”

“It will be a further expansion of this universe,” said Mr. Silverman. “’Superman vs Batman’ will lead into ‘Justice League.’”

A script is still in development and Warner has not set a release date, though the movie is unlikely to come out before 2018.

Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck and Gal Gadot are confirmed as well, it's unknown if supporting actors from Snyder's other two DCU installments will have roles. Ray Fisher was revealed to be playing Cyborg in BVS, which is easy to assume he'll also be apart of the Justice League lineup.

There have been rumors that actors such as Jason Momoa (Aquaman?) and Dwayne Johnson (Green Lantern?) have been in talks to possibly join the lineup as well.

There had been talk from LatinoReview that the studio was considering filming the projects back-to-back, similar to how the Matrix sequels and the Hobbit originally was expected to shoot (both WB productions). Nothing says that Snyder will ramp-up production directly afterwards this upcoming film is completed principle photography. However, it's still early and Warner Bros. could move quickly to set a flag for a release date in 2018.

Batman Vs Superman will eventually get an official title by the time of it's release on May 6th, 2016.


UPDATE: LatinoReview has a small bit of information to add, they are hearing the rumored release date of May 5th, 2017. Oddly enough, another release date set-aside for another unnamed Marvel Studio film. It's possible this could be the date of Doctor Strange, Thor 3 or another in-development project. If true, it sounds like DC is making a play for Marvel's comfy May release dates.

UPDATE #2: THR has confirmed LatinoReviews previous scoop that Batman Vs Superman and Justice League will indeed be shot back-to-back by director Zack Snyder. They are also hearing a possible release in 2017 as well.


SOURCE: WSJ

DCU Finally Gets Some Diversity! Ray Fisher Cast As Cyborg In BATMAN VS SUPERMAN

Variety has confirmed the appearance of another Justice League member for the untitled Batman Vs Superman movie. They report that stage actor Ray Fisher has landed the role of Victor Stone aka Cyborg, one of the newer members of the lineup. He's also a fan favorite, thanks to involvement in the Teen Titan cartoons and recent wave of comic storylines. It's starting to sound like the entire film will only exist to setup events of the future Justice League film. Fisher joins Henry Cavill, Jesse Eisenberg, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne, Callan Mulvey, Tao Okamoto, Holly Hunter and Diane Lane.

It's the first step to see Warner Bros. and the DCU branch-out with some diverse characters, in this new cinematic world they're creating. I've been a championed of the character and I hope this leads to other non-white or non-male heroic characters added to future projects. Cyborg was rumored for a major part in the film and it's now been confirmed. S.T.A.R. Labs, the place of Stone's robotic origins was teased in Man of Steel. Fisher was also one of the many actors that tested for Star Wars: Episode VII. The untitled Man of Steel sequel is aiming a May 6th, 2016 release date.


SOURCE: VARIETY 

First Trailer For David Fincher's GONE GIRL

The time is here, we finally have our first glimpse of David Fincher's feature adaptation of Gillian Flynn's novel Gone Girl. Flynn also wrote the script and changed the entire third-act, just for the sake of the movie. Ben Affleck stars as the husband of a missing woman played by Rosamund Pike. After certain things are revealed, Affleck's character becomes the prime suspect in her disappearance. The film will be released on October 3rd, and will likely get some awards attention.

Hans Zimmer In Talks To Score BATMAN VS SUPERMAN

Hans Zimmer (Amazing Spider-Man 2, Man of Steel, Dark Knight Trilogy, Inception) has confirmed an interest in creating the score for Zack Snyder's Batman Vs Superman. It's not a for sure thing, as the composer admits he still needs to talk to Zack about ideas, before anything happens or is finalized. Zimmer's scores should really be apart of these new DC movies, some consistency there would be a great first-step. The Man of Steel sequel featuring the Super Friends is aiming for a May 6th, 2016 release date, which is head-to-head with Captain America 3.

“We’ve already had a couple of chats, and once I finish the movie that I shall not talk about I will probably head over to where Zack is shooting his movie and just hang out a bit and see if we can come up with any ideas.”

“That’s my problem, that’s my dilemma. I don’t want to betray, if that’s the right word, the Dark Knight movies. That was Christian, it was Christian’s role.”

“It’s not just that it was nine years of our lives, so you want to stay honest and honourable to that period. So it’s really about, ‘Is there something else I can find that I haven’t tapped into?’ Which I don’t know until I sit down with Zack.”


SOURCE: DIGITALSPY

Holly Hunter, Callan Mulvey And Tao Okamoto Join BATMAN VS SUPERMAN

While their characters are unknown, Deadline reports that Holly Hunter, Callan Mulvey (Captain America: The Winter Soldier, 300: Rise of An Empire) and Tao Okamoto (The Wolverine) have joined the cast of Batman Vs Superman. The trio will join Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne, Jesse Eisenberg and Jeremy Irons. The film is still set to go head-to-head against Captain America 3 on May 6th, 2016.


SOURCE: DEADLINE

Jesse Eisenberg Is Lex Luthor And Jeremy Irons Is Alfred In BATMAN VS SUPERMAN!

It's official, Warner Bros. and director Zack Snyder have chosen two actors for major roles in Batman Vs Superman. The Social Network's Jesse Eisneberg will play villain Lex Luthor, while legendary British actor Jeremy Irons will play Alfred Pennyworth. The pair will also join newcomers Ben Affleck and Gal Gadot in the film that is expected to be the lead-up to Justice League. Below is a statement from Snyder about the casting announcement.


“Lex Luthor is often considered the most notorious of Superman’s rivals, his unsavory reputation preceding him since 1940. What’s great about Lex is that he exists beyond the confines of the stereotypical nefarious villain. He’s a complicated and sophisticated character whose intellect, wealth and prominence position him as one of the few mortals able to challenge the incredible might of Superman. Having Jesse in the role allows us to explore that interesting dynamic, and also take the character in some new and unexpected directions.”

It's interesting they went so young with Luthor since the names linked to the role (some were likely made-up) weren't. I have to commend Mr. Snyder on this, since this would be a middle ground age range for the villain. Plus, I think we can all agree having a middle-aged Lex was starting to become a bit of a bore. Trying something new for this new era of the DCU could be exciting and fresh, I'm totally on board for this.

SOURCE: WARNER BROS

Trent Reznor And Atticus Ross Providing Score For David Fincher's GONE GIRL

Trent Reznor has confirmed via Twitter, that he and Atticus Ross will have scoring duties on David Fincher's Gone Girl. The pair have previously composed haunting modern scores for Fincher's The Social Network and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.

Their first outing earned them Oscars for Best Original Score, which should help establish the tone of the crime thriller. It will be interesting to see if the duo will also provide tracks that could be used for trailers and promotional materials, as they had added a few cover songs to the Dragon Tattoo soundtrack.

SOURCE: TRENT REZNOR

David Fincher's GONE GIRL Graces EW Cover And First Official Image Released

Sony is still waiting on David Fincher to make time to direct The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo sequels The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest, as scripts are still being worked out by screenwriter Steve Zillian. Director David Fincher has kept busy producing and directing the pilot episode of the Netflix series House of Cards, and recently directed a feature based on the novel Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.

Gone Girl stars Ben Affleck (Batman Vs Superman, The Town, Argo) and Rosamund Pike (The World's End, An Education) grace a spoiler cover on EW, shot by Fincher. Along with a previously released official still from the film, I'm sure a trailer and poster will be on their way shortly. The crime thriller focuses on a woman (Pike) who goes missing after her wedding anniversary, and her husband (Affleck) becomes a suspect in her disappearance. This cover photo reminds me of the EW one for Dragon Tattoo, it also gives the impression that Pike's character isn't found alive. 20th Century Fox has set the release date for October 3rd, 2014.

There's no word if Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross will be re-teaming to score the film, but there are expectations it will happen. As the composing pair previously worked with Fincher on The Social Network and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, earning them an Oscar win for Best Original Score (for The Social Network). 

SOURCE: EW

Gal Gadot Confirmed For WONDER WOMAN In BATMAN VS SUPERMAN And Callan Mulvey Wanted For Villain

Variety has confirmed that Fast And Furious actress Gal Gadot has landed the female lead in Batman Vs Superman. Her character in the film will indeed be Wonder Woman. Director and co-writer Zack Snyder even commented on her addition to the cast. Gadot was up against actresses Jaimie Alexander, Elodie Yung and Olga Kurylenko. The film is aiming for a July 17th, 2015 release date. It will be interesting to see if this leads to Gal getting her own solo film eventually.

“Wonder Woman is arguably one of the most powerful female characters of all time and a fan favorite in the DC Universe. Not only is Gal an amazing actress, but she also has that magical quality that makes her perfect for the role. We look forward to audiences discovering Gal in the first feature film incarnation of this beloved character.”

Warner Bros. is also looking at Aussie actor Callan Mulvey for the villain role. They don't name the villain but Lex Luthor has been mentioned a few times. Callan's credits include 300: Rise of An Empire, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Zero Dark Thirty and The Hunter.

SOURCE: Variety 

Four Actresses Viving For Role In BATMAN VS SUPERMAN, Will The Studio Consider Ladies Previously Looked At For DC Films?

LatinoReview is hot on the trail of new casting scoop concerning Batman Vs Superman. This new role being a female lead. One which the site originally claimed was a love interest for Bruce Wayne. However, other outlets like BleedingCool say the role is Wonder Woman. While LR states that Wonder Woman is out of the picture with this film. Which could end up being more in the realm of Vicki Vale and other love interests. A new bit of information is sprouting which sees four actresses currently in the running. Usually it's down to two front-runners for roles like these. No names are currently being mentioned but I have some possible ideas of who could be in the mix.

Amy Adams originally read with Christian Bale for Rachel Dawes when Nolan was casting Batman Begins. Adams didn't land that part but would eventually take the Lois Lane role in Man of Steal. It's possible we could see women linked with Dark Knight Rises and Man of Steel casting in a similar position. Getting a second look for this lead role in Batman Vs Superman.

GEMMA ARTERTON: Gemma recently co-starred with Ben Affleck in Runner Runner along with being a candidate to play Selina Kyle/Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises. She's proven with roles in films such as Byzantium and Alice Creed that's Gemma is more than capable to handle action role and could even make a solid villain. Arterton had also been among a shortlist of actresses considered for Elizabeth Shaw in Prometheus.

MARY ELIZABETH WINSTEAD: Having tested for the role of Lois Lane, MEW has been pursuing a role like this for a while. She had been linked for the Maria Hill role in Avengers and Agent Sharon Carter in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. There has also been rumblings that because of her connections with director Edgar Wright working on Scott Pilgrim, she might also be a strong contender for The Wasp in Ant-Man.

JESSICA BIEL: Biel has been linked for the roles of both Selina Kyle and Lois Lane, along with The Wolverine's Viper. All roles that would eventually go to different actresses. She's taken on physical roles in films such as Blade Trinity and Total Recall. While those films were flops her action scenes were on the money.

ROSAMUND PIKE: Rosamund Pike had been in the running for villainous roles such as Faora in Man of Steel and Emma Frost in X-Men First Class. She's also taken action roles in films such as Die Another Day, Jack Reacher, Wrath of The Titans and The World's End. Not to mention recently co-starring with Ben Affleck in David Fincher's Gone Girl.

DIANE KRUGER: The German actress is best known for her roles in Troy and Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds. However, Diane had been in the running for Carol Ferris in Green Lantern and was considered for the role of Faora in Man of Steel. Her husband Joshua Jackson was actually in the running for Bruce Wayne at one point before Bale landed it. While Joshua's Dawson's Creek co-star Katie Holmes ended up playing Rachel Dawes.

CHARLOTTE RILEY: Like Biel, Charlotte has been one of the few actresses that has tested for both Selina Kyle and Lois Lane. She's kept under the radar with smaller roles and could be an actress like Antje Traue who stole a few scenes in Man of Steel.

SPECULATION: Is Wonder Woman A Lead Character In BATMAN VS SUPERMAN Or Is It Someone Else?

BleedingCool is reporting that casting agencies are getting actresses prepared for a role in Batman Vs. Superman. That role, apparently according to these agencies is expected to be Wonder Woman. No names are being attached to this news but the character description sounds familiar. A while back LatinoReview reported on a bit of an obscure casting news that was toted as Batman's love interest in the film. Both parts are looking for actresses (25-33) who just happen to have a psychical presence and strength. Neither sources can confirm for sure what the role is but it sounds like there is going to be female hero or villain in the film.

While Wonder Woman sounds like a solid candidate, I have another idea. If Batman Vs Superman is going pull unused plot points from Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns, which is rumored. We could see Bruce take on a female protege, an important plot point of Returns. In Miller's comic Carrie Kelley becomes the new Robin with a little training from Wayne. However, if the studio is aiming to keep the "no Robin" mantra of Nolan for the new Batman. They might want to look another character instead of Robin. Since they would have to include backstories for Dick Grayson and mention the fate of Jason Todd. Who could that character be? A couple of ladies come to mind. Sasha Bordeaux who goes from Wayne's bodyguard hired by Fox. Eventually becomes his crime fighting protege and potential love interest. The other two being Barbara Gordon (Batgirl) and Katherine Kane (Batwoman) who could also take on the role of protege. Katherine has never appeared in the films even though she's been in the comics since 1956. In my opinion, both Sasha and Kane have great potential to be solid replacements for Robin, if Goyer and Snyder take that route. Of course this is just my thought on the talk of a female lead which may or may not be a DC heroine.

It's also possible it could be Supergirl since that part was sort of teased in Man of Steel with the open chamber. Hinting that another Kryptontian could be walking around on Earth. There have been storylines were Lex Luthor manipulates her for his own means. Zack Snyder even mentioned that scene could have a connection in future films to Crave. He was also coy when asked about Supergirl.

"You know what's interesting, and I don't know and I'm not going to say what it means or anything, but the one thing if you look closely when Henry's going through the Fortress of Solitude there's an empty... you know all the bodies... the pods?" Snyder asked. "There's an empty pod. I'm not going to say what, or if, it means anything but there is an empty pod there."