Warner Bros.’ merger with Discovery has resulted in even more uncertainty regarding the studio’s primary franchise, DC. The DCEU, WB’s response to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has had some ups and downs over the years and yet, remarkably, is approaching its tenth anniversary next year. After a start that was dark in tone and upped the dramatic gravitas of everything, two elements that were introduced by Zack Snyder, the universe was nearly all but abandoned after 2017’s failedJustice Leaguemovie. Everything eventually came together again, withThe Flashset to be a semi-reboot of proceedings in 2023.
And yet, things seem to have gone off track from the plan that was initially put forth back in 2020. Walter Hamada, still the current head of DC, was the one to decide to reintroduce Michael Keaton’s Batman in a supporting role to keep Robert Pattinson’s hero separate and without the burden of a surrounding universe. But afterBatgirl’sabrupt cancellation, that plan seems to have been scrapped by new CEO David Zaslav. Zaslav has since reportedly tapped producer Dan Lin to take over from Hamada and plan a future for the DCEU that is more akin to Marvel and leans heavily into interconnectivity.
RELATED:Where Will The Batman Fit Into Warner’s 10-Year DC Plan?
Lin has previous experience ona Justice League movie(thankfully for DC fans, not the 2017 one), and has spoken openly in the past of how big of a fan he is of the franchise and how he wants to see a team up movie, which perhaps lends a bit of an insight into the new head’s planning for the future. A new Justice League movie might be on the horizon.
Batgirl’scancellation was so abrupt that it created an air of confusion around the DC franchise, particularly since it was pitched as one of the projects set to be key and pivotal in their plan for the future. As of now,Batgirlwill never see the light of day, butThe Flashstill will, according to reports. That is in despite of star Ezra Miller’s repeated arrests and abuse allegations over the summer. They recently had a meeting with the studio to discuss these issues,and it appears that went smoothly enoughfor WB to be confident enough to go ahead with the release as planned (for now).
The Flashwill reboot the DCEU (to a certain extent), and in general gives them a blank slate of sorts with which to work with. In the future, there may be a new Superman actor, or Joker actor — virtually any other character (or plot element) can be changed. This is especially important going forward for the title character inThe Flash,as Ezra Miller’s repeatedpersonal life troubles have arguablyleft too many victims to be ignored.
This reboot aspect of the film could lend itself to a Justice League movie, especially given Dan Lin’s presence. Lin is a self-described fanboy of DC and is extremely knowledgeable of the property and its characters, one of the reasons he was chosen for the role. DC fans will be especially encouraged to hear that Alan Horn, a former Disney executive who helped pioneer the MCU, was the main advocate for Lin’s hiring.
Lin’s work prior to this new position is quite impressive,having produced the LEGO moviesamongst other successful titles, but he was also a major behind-the-scenes player onJustice League: Mortal, the film that was deep into pre-production before the writers' strike of the mid 2000s ended the project altogether. That film was so far into the process that there are leaked photos of the heroes in their costumes online, as well a full cast list that included Armie Hammer as Batman, Santiago Cabrera as Aquaman, Adam Brody as The Flash, Common as Green Lantern, Megan Gale as Wonder Woman, and Jay Baruchel as Maxwell Lord. It was also said to be directed by acclaimed filmmaker George Miller, who notably helmed the Mad Max movies.
Justivce League: Mortalappeared to have a lot of promise, making it a real shame that it got so close but ultimately never came to fruition. Still, it does show that Dan Lin is clearly passionate about the Justice League. What’s more, in the years since, he’s talked about how he’s still a fan and a great team up movie is the number one thing he wants to see from the DC franchise. Now that he’s set to helm the entire franchise, not just produce one movie, Lin has more control than ever when it comes to doing his own Justice League movie.It will understandably take some timebefore that project will happen, particularly as it needs a quality setup in order to achieve its full potential (like the MCU’s approach prior to the first Avengers movie). Still, Lin can navigate and plan that road leading up to a Justice League movie and have the final say, potentially putting his own personal stamp on everything.
Lin’s enthusiasm for and knowledge of the source material means that he is a fine choice to lead the franchise going forward. 2017’sJustice Leaguewas by far the biggest misstepof the DCEU so far (something that theyare still recovering from both image and story wise). Lin’s passion for the team up could lead to another attempt and, hopefully, a redemption.
MORE:The Batman 2 Sets Writer As Matt Reeves Inks Overall Deal At Warner Bros.
