Coming Soon to a Screen Near You — Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman Flash, Aquaman, the Green Lantern and Martian Manhunter — LIVE ACTION and in the FLESH!
Don’t be too surprised if you see this are something very similar to it in ad campaigns all across the globe. Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Comics are seriously considering a lineup of these great superheroes for a live-action “Justice League of America” (JLA) flick for sometime in the near future.
The big question that remains is casting. The moviegoing public have just been introduced to Christian Bale as Batman and Brandon Routh as the new Superman and have overwhelmingly accepted them in these roles. If the studio can’t get them for this film will they opt to leave the characters out or vie for some other actors to play the role? If the latter, they may have a hard sell on their hands as fans will probably accept no less than Bale and Routh. So, with the announcement from Warner Bros. for the possibility of doing this film they have opened up the potential of a casting can-of-worms for themselves.
There is also the current “Wonder Woman” controversy. Joss Whedon is no longer attached to the project as writer and director. Warner has a script, but to date, no director, and to our knowledge no leading lady. Before the studio considers JLA they first need to get WW off the basement floor.
This news gives eager fans who have been clamoring for years to have a JLA movie something to look forward to, but in this writer’s opinion, it appears to still have a lot to work out before actually seeing the light of day… but, at least now Warner and DC or talking and doing.
This would be a really cool movie to see. Something tells me they won’t be able to get Bale and Routh to do it. Wasn’t there a really bad Justice League movie made in the 90s?
Gigidy Gigidy! I hope they can get Routh and Bale to play them.
It was a TV pilot for a television series though. It had David Ogden Steers (Winchester from MASH) as the Martian Manhunter
I’m far too afraid to see this project come to life. I would much, much rather see an animated Justice League movie – then you can do everything you want and need from a JL movie and it will look the way it should. I would to see a computer animated Justice League like The Incredibles.
There is one way I could see this working: as a spinoff movie after “Smallville” has finished its TV run using the characters/actors that were in the “Justice” episode as a base. That would give you Superman, Green Arrow, Flash, Cyborg, and Aquaman. Plus, they’ve used Martian Manhunter this season, too.
The Smallville spinoff sounds like it would be better for TV than the big screen though. I don’t know why I think that, but I just can’t see them making a serious full length film using those guys.
I’m having trouble picturing Bale and Routh in the same movie just because the tone seems so much different. I’d expect Bale to walk on screen with a cloud of darkness following him, just so he can keep growling and not look silly.
Sorry to rain on parades…but a live action JLA movie is about as likely as a good Watchmen movie.
As far as a “Smallville” version of the property, we’ll have the cast walking around in civvies and the most crap plot known to man.
There’s too many characters to screw up. Animation is the only way this could be done properly.
That difference in tone is what makes it so great, IMO. Superman’s and Batman’s differences have made for some really great stories. I really think if they pull inspiration from Alex Ross and Jim Krueger, they can come up with some really good stories. If they don’t make this, I would at least like to see a World’s Finest team-up with those two.
I think its a little too early for this… recasting batman and superman, instead of having bale and routh is a bad idea. First we need to see another batman and superman movie, then eventually batman vs. superman.. then maybe justice league can be next.
Well they are filming Superman: The Man of Steel as we speak Down Under, according to Routh’s myspace webpage and THe Dark Knight is currently in pre production.
I really do not want to see a Superman VS Batman. They’re both on the same side. IT’s just not what they need to do for it. It would be better if they had a team-up instead, highlighting their differences. Of course if they did Frank Miller’s – Return of the Dark Knight, then I’m willing to see a “VS” movie.
It’s a pipe dream, y’all. Although not as unlikely as a Marvel team-up film (because all the characters are licensed separately to various parties), the problems with this project would be overwhelming.
If Routh and Bale both agree, then their performances would be comprised by the direction (do you think Singer and Nolan will co-direct? Please.) Other characters will be cast with low cost no-names and written in with sub-par subplots, sacrificing their viability as individual franchises.
Although their have been a number of good comic movie adaptations lately, there is NO DOUBT that Hollywood is the worst thing that has happened to the comics industry. There is simply no way to encapsulate the iconic status, epic storylines and legendary images of the most popular superheroes into one, two or any number of movies. They will continue to try, however.
I’m kinda on the fence about this one…
I think it has possibilities, but i’m actually thinking it’ll tank. Don’t get me wrong; there have been some really GREAT comic based moves over the last few years, but they have definately been the exception to the rule. What works in a comic does not translate well to the big screen. And usually, when it does, it’s lame and cheezy. The only way to pull off a live action JLA is for WB to make a consious decision to put all their eggs in the basket and go balls out. BIG BUDGET. BIG EFFECTS. A decent plot and story, and the right characters.
I’m a writer, and I’ve actually been dreaming up a live action version of JLA for awhile (it was inevitable that someone would make it…)
The way I see it, the plot has to revole around a treat so HUGE, Superman can’t handle it alone. It has to be something so treatening to the entire world, that all the other heros just stop and drop what thier doing to help out. And under no circumstances should it involve any type of super villian group trying to take out all the heroe (that would be the biggest shot in the foot). Like some other diggers mentioned, the focus would be on the main characters (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman (maybe)) and the others would have to walk the fine line of support, without falling into the pit of sidekick. The script would have to focus on people who just happen to have powers and abilities, rather than super powered people. Their a few must have elements that need to be in the movie (if Batman doesn’t punch Superman at least once, I’m demanding a refund!) and has to be something as epic as Gladiator or Crouching Tiger. It has to be taken from the stand point of an X-men film, a drama that has action, rather an action movie that tries to be dramatic.
That being said… It’ll probably suck…