Bautista — who has turned into Gunn’s volunteer publicist — first retweeted the news, then shared another story along with his own request to join the DC Extended Universe team:
There’s no saying Bautista couldn’t be part of both the MCU and the DCEU at the same time, but it’s clear Bautista’s loyalty is with Gunn and NOT Disney/Marvel. If he could fully defect from Disney, he’d probably go ahead and do it.
They can still say Drax is in the third movie — he’s just invisible.
After his high-profile firing from the “Guardians of the Galaxy” franchise this summer, James Gunn is officially switching comic powerhouse teams: Multiple outlets are reporting that Gunn is in talks to write, and possibly direct, the upcoming “Suicide Squad” sequel.”
TheWrap was the first to claim the exclusive on the news (followed closely by Deadline), reporting that the filmmaker is currently negotiating to come on board the DC sequel, writing the script and potentially directing as well. According to TheWrap, Gunn’s vision will be “a completely new take on the property.”
That’s in keeping with the director’s style, which changed the course of the Marvel Cinematic Universe when he debuted the first “Guardians of the Galaxy” flick back in 2014. The film’s irreverent tone was a breath of fresh air, and helped shape the landscape of the current MCU.
But Gunn’s connection to Marvel was officially severed back in July, when he was abruptly fired from “Guardians 3” by parent company Disney over a series of old, offensive tweets, which were dug up by conservative trolls who had an ax to grind with the director. Disney wanted to distance itself from Gunn’s tasteless remarks (for which he profusely apologized, insisting he had grown and changed as a person), and despite the cast’s unwavering support, the studio refused to reconsider its decision. (Disney did, however, agree to keep Gunn’s “Guardians 3” screenplay, no doubt to Dave Bautista’s relief.)
The director was immediately a hot commodity in Hollywood, and was heavily rumored to be courted by Warner Bros. and DC for a rival superhero project. While “Suicide Squad 2” may not be considered a prime choice for Gunn’s big return (the first flick was widely-panned — save for Margot Robbie‘s electric performance as Harley Quinn — and didn’t connect at the box office), it may also make the most sense for his filmmaking sensibilities. After all, if anyone can make an entertaining movie about a rag-tag bunch, it’s him.
No word yet on when production may get off the ground. Stay tuned for more details as they become available.
Aquaman says it best himself around the 4:24 mark of the video below:
“That was awesome!”
Yep. It took DC/Warner Bros. and “Aquaman” director James Wan a long time to prepare the first trailer, shared during Comic-Con. But they made it up to fans with this five minute — really 5 minute, 17 second — extended look at the upcoming DC Extended Universe film.
The trailer may be long but it doesn’t spoil the entire movie. It does, however, give us some quality banter and partner action between Arthur Curry/Aquaman (Jason Momoa) and Mera (Amber Heard). Mr. and Mrs. Curry looking STRONG out there. Plus, Arthur’s mom Atlanna (Nicole Kidman) gets to do her own slaying.
There’s definitely a lot more going on than badass underseas warfare. It feels we’re getting some Indiana Jones and Jason Bourne/James Bond action, too.
Here’s the extended video:
So far, DC fans seem pretty pumped — and very hopeful. In James Wan we trust.
Here’s more on the film and production crew:
From Warner Bros. Pictures and director James Wan comes an action-packed adventure that spans the vast, visually breathtaking underwater world of the seven seas, “Aquaman,” starring Jason Momoa in the title role. The film reveals the origin story of half-human, half-Atlantean Arthur Curry and takes him on the journey of his lifetime—one that will not only force him to face who he really is, but to discover if he is worthy of who he was born to be…a king.
The film also stars Amber Heard (“Justice League,” “Magic Mike XXL”) as Mera, a fierce warrior and Aquaman’s ally throughout his journey; Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe (“Platoon,” “Spider-Man 2”) as Vulko, council to the Atlantean throne; Patrick Wilson (“The Conjuring” films, “Watchmen”) as Orm/Ocean Master, the present King of Atlantis; Dolph Lundgren (“The Expendables” films) as Nereus, King of the Atlantean tribe Xebel; Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Netflix’s “The Get Down”) as the vengeful Black Manta; and Oscar winner Nicole Kidman (“The Hours,” “Lion”) as Arthur’s mom, Atlanna; as well as Ludi Lin (“Power Rangers”) as Captain Murk, Atlantean Commando; and Temuera Morrison (“Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones,” “Green Lantern”) as Arthur’s dad, Tom Curry.
Wan directs from a screenplay by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick (“The Conjuring 2”) and Will Beall (“Gangster Squad,” TV’s “Training Day”), story by Geoff Johns & James Wan and Will Beall, based on characters from DC, Aquaman created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger. The film is produced by Peter Safran and Rob Cowan, with Deborah Snyder, Zack Snyder, Jon Berg, Geoff Johns and Walter Hamada serving as executive producers.
Wan’s team behind the scenes includes such frequent collaborators as Oscar-nominated director of photography Don Burgess (“The Conjuring 2,” “Forrest Gump”), his five-time editor Kirk Morri (“The Conjuring” films, “Furious 7,” the “Insidious” films), and production designer Bill Brzeski (“Furious 7”). They are joined by costume designer Kym Barrett (“The Matrix” trilogy, “The Amazing Spider-Man”) and composer Rupert Gregson-Williams (“Wonder Woman”).
Warner Bros. Pictures Presents a Safran Company Production, a James Wan Film, “Aquaman.” The film is set to hit theaters on December 21, 2018, in 3D and 2D and IMAX, and will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.
Will you be heading to the theater on December 21?
Nicolas Cage is known to be a massive Superman fan. He named one of his sons Kal-El, in honor of Superman’s birth name. He sold a copy of Superan’s debut comic for a record $2.1 million. He was supposed to play Clark Kent in Tim Burton’s “Superman Lives.” He finally did get to voice Superman in “Teen Titans GO! to the Movies,” which opened this past summer. But, at age 54, he has yet to play the superhero on screen.
Henry Cavill is possibly out at as the DCEU’s Superman, but Nicolas Cage isn’t interested in picking up his cape. Not anymore.
Cage just talked to The Guardian while promoting his new film “Mandy,” and the reporter mentioned an online campaign to make him the next Superman:
“Oh, I think my Superman days are long gone,” he laughs with a little pat of his belly. He would be an amazing villain in it, I reply. His eyes light up. “Oh, that would be GREAT! I’d make a great Lex Luthor!”
Yes. He could go Full Cage as Lex Luthor.
When he was announced to voice “Teen Titans” we floated the idea of Nic as the DC world’s next Lex Luthor. Crazy minds think alike. There’s no saying DC *has* to go younger with the new Man of Steel (if there is one) so it’s still possible Cage could be an older Superman. If not in the DC Extended Universe, maybe under the same separate banner that is turning Joaquin Phoenix into the “Joker.”
Imagine Joaquin Phoenix and Nicolas Cage hamming it up in the same supervillain film. We don’t even deserve it.
Cavill acts earnest on screen, but off screen he’s a total goofball. But he may give fans some hope with his new Instagram video.
He never says a word in the clip, but he wears a Krypton Lifting Team T-shirt while mock-solemnly raising a Superman action figure. All while staring into the camera. The deadpan humor and music would suggest this isn’t quite a funeral for Superman, it’s the actor having fun with the “exciting” day of rumors.
The Hollywood Reporter had said Cavill was out as Superman in the DCEU as Warner Bros./DC shifted gears with new projects for younger stars. Cavill was supposed to cameo in “Shazam!” but apparently a scheduling conflict marred that (final?) appearance.
Cavill’s agent Dany Garcia tweeted a hopeful note:
If Warner Bros. has no future plans for Henry Cavill in the DC Extended Universe, then his fans have other ideas for him.
A THR report Wednesday shocked superhero movie aficionados as it said that Cavill’s time as Superman had ended. Warner Bros. has since issued a statement saying that “no decisions have been made regarding any upcoming Superman films,” but fans have already started dreaming up what could be next for the actor if he really does hang up his red cape. They’re not ready for him to stop playing superheroes, though; tweets show that fans have a long list of other heroes they’d like to see him play.
As you can see below, there’s no shortage of possibilities, and a lot of them involve Cavill jumping the DCEU ship and moving over to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
If Marvel casts Henry Cavill as Captain Britain now I'll throw a party in their honor.
Henry Cavill for SENTRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Would be a slap to DC AND it's more in line with the kind of "Superman" he was already playing; varying between heroic and super duper moody lol#HenryCavillpic.twitter.com/ErPeHbYVhh
There is no way Marvel isn't now actively courting Henry Cavill to playing someone in the MCU. They haven't cast Adam Warlock yet, have they? Maybe Mr. Fantastic?😁
Cavill’s Superman fate seems to still be up in the air, but if it doesn’t work out, it’s clear Marvel might want to consider listening to the people and finding a space for him in the MCU.
Jon Hamm wants to wear a different kind of suit for his next role — that of Batman.
The Emmy-winning former star of “Mad Men” told Graham Bensinger on In Depth that he’s interested in becoming the next Batman.
“It depends on the script, what the story is,” Hamm said. “I am a huge comic book fan, always have been. I have read comic books since I was nine or younger. And I am pretty knowledgeable about a lot of them. And I like the genre, and I like when they are done well.”
He added, “I’d probably fit the suit. I’d have to work out a lot, which I don’t love. But, I am sure there is an interesting version of that being out there. And if they wanted to tap me on the shoulder and ask me to do it: why not?”
Yes, why not? After all, it seems likely Ben Affleck — who played Bruce Wayne in “Justice League” and “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” — won’t continue on in the role in Matt Reeves’ upcoming “Batman” standalone movie. And Warner Bros. is reportedly looking to recast Superman, now that Henry Cavill is done, so this could be a good time to clear all the DC Extended Universe decks and start over.
But before you get too excited about Don Draper as the Caped Crusader, Hamm noted, “I have never had a conversation with anyone about it, literally. And I’ve sat in the room with all these guys. I have never been offered anything.”
UPDATE: After THR’s story was published, Warner Bros. issued a statement:
“While no decisions have been made regarding any upcoming Superman films, we’ve always had great respect for and a great relationship with Henry Cavill, and that remains unchanged.”
Original post:
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s … curtains for Cavill?
But that may be it for him. Sources told THR that Henry Cavill “is parting ways with Warner Bros.” They added that “neither side is confirming,” but Cavill is “said to be hanging up the red cape.” He’s out. Done. Gone.
Apparently Warner Bros. had been trying to get the “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” star to sign on for a cameo in the upcoming DC movie “Shazam!” Contract talks broke down, at least in part because of scheduling conflicts with “Fallout.” (Plus, Cavill just signed on for a new Netflix series, “The Witcher.”)
So “the door is now closing on other potential Superman appearances.” Part of that reasoning comes from the DCEU turning its focus to a “Supergirl” origin movie starring a teen superhero, and in that timeline Superman was still an infant.
Plus, a studio source compared Superman to James Bond in that “after a certain run you have to look at new actors.” (So much for that “Man of Steel” sequel.) The same is apparently true for Batman, since Ben Affleck may or may not reprise his role in the upcoming Batman standalone.
Twitter/GIF
So, none of this is confirmed yet, but it sounds like DC/WB may be cleaning house — out with the old, in with the new.
At least Gal Gadot is staying as Wonder Woman for her sequel. And the other “Justice League” stars also seem to be pretty solid. “Aquaman” opens in theaters this December 21. “Shazam!” is scheduled to open April 5th, 2019.
DC’s “Aquaman” is coming out in late December, and every few months we get a new update on how it’s (supposedly) going. There was an early test screening back in February that seemed to go well, with a comparison to the tone of “Wonder Woman.” Reports cited the humor and drama, but with more emotion, and elements of horror — befitting director James Wan.
That was long before the first trailer was even released. That happened at Comic-Con in July. Now it’s late August, and there are fresh reports off another test screening.
According to these new reports, fans found “Aquaman” good but not great, and one viewer compared it to a Phase One film from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. To refresh your memory, here are Marvel’s Phase One films:
• “Iron Man”
• “The Incredible Hulk”
• “Iron Man 2”
• “Thor”
• “Captain America: The First Avenger”
• “Marvel’s The Avengers”
“Thor: The Dark World” is actually a Phase Two film, but it got name-dropped in further comments. Take a look:
Guess which upcoming superhero movie test screened last night in the San Fernando Valley? Heard good things…. pic.twitter.com/3MMxcCHPaj
#Aquaman is a phase 1 MCU film through and through, so if you liked those you’ll love it, if you didn’t you probably won’t get much enjoyment out of Aquaman pic.twitter.com/ydH7XT1GK4
I think the Dark World comparison doesn’t work if your also calling it good, it’s closer to the original Thor but structurally it resembles the early MCU films
It was just a cute dual character meet-up, but fans are now hopeful that this could lead to a live-action Jason Todd/Red Hood project for Jensen Ackles.
He is already part of The CW, which has its own huge Arrowverse of DC characters. Jason Todd is a DC character.
So there’s an obvious partnership opportunity there.
Or he could skip the small screen and go straight to whatever DC/Warner Bros. is ever doing with itself on the big screen. We already have the DC Extended Universe, plus the DC Universe new subscription streaming platform. And there’s some kind of new banner of projects separate from the DCEU where Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker movie is landing.
Long story short, there are plenty of places a Jason Todd/Red Hood project could land, if anyone wanted to make one.
THAT said, DC is no stranger to having multiple people play roles on different platforms.
THAT said, Jensen Ackles is 40-years-old, and some fans think he might be too old for this role.
THAT said, Robert Downey Jr. is 53 and he’s still crushing it as Iron Man — which he was cast in 10 years ago when he was in his early 40s. Ryan “Deadpool” Reynolds is 41. Keanu “John Wick” Reeves is 53. Age is just a number, now more than ever.
For now, Jensen Ackles has “Supernatural.” Season 14 premieres October 11 on The CW.
