Exploring The DC Cinematic Universe: Justice League Pt.2

Justice League Pt. 2

Release Date: June 14th, 2019

What is the Justice League?: DC's greatest superheroes came together to form The Justice League in order to protect the Earth from threats that were too great to take on individually. Created in 1960 by Gardner Fox, the League has had many iconic tales told over it's 50 year history battling the likes of Darkseid and The Injustice Gang.

Director: Zack Snyder (Man Of Steel)

Why?: By 2019 Zack Snyder will have dedicated the last ten years of his life to DC comic movies. He will have directed Watchmen, Man Of Steel, Batman V Superman, and Justice League Pt.1. Tell me any director with a more impressive comic resume than that? You can't. Watchmen was a superhero ensemble film and personally I think Zack did an amazing job with that story. He will be able to put the group's dynamics on full display while providing us with captivating action sequences. 

Proposed Story: After Brainiac has weakened the world's defenses in Justice League Pt. 1, Lex Luthor forms the Legion Of Doom (or Injustice Gang either name works) to counteract the Justice League and destroy his Kryptonian enemy once and for all.

Inspired By: This film should be inspired by Justice League and Justice League Unlimited's episodes "Injustice For All" Pt. 1+2,  "Secret Society" Pt. 1+2, and "I am Legion".  Also throw in a dash of Grant Morrison's JLA storyline "Rock Of Ages" for good measure.

This was the most badass use of any song ever

Lead Characters (Cast): Our heroes remain the same all while a team of their arch-nemisises are just beginning to form.

1. Superman/Clark Kent (Henry Cavill)

Why?: He is the Team Leader/ Resident Boy Scout. Cavill is a beefcake.

2. Batman/Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck)

Why?: Batfleck will have graced the silver screen two times by the release this film. If all goes well he could be the definitive version of Batman. He is the team's tactician and greatest mind.

3. Wonder Woman/Diana Prince (Gal Gadot)

Why?: Wonder Woman is one of my favorite characters. She will have appeared 3 times in the DCU already. She is a expert fighter and part of the Holy Trinity.

4. The Flash/Barry Allen (Ezra Miller)

Why?: Grant Gustin is killin' it on The Flash TV show, so let's hope Ezra Miller can do the same in the movie-verse. He definitely has the acting chops to do so.

5. Green Lantern/Hal Jordan (Jensen Ackles)

Why?: Hal and Barry's friendship will have become stronger by this movie and be integral to both their story lines.

6. Cyborg/Victor Stone (Ray Fisher)

Why?: Vic Stone is the tech guy. He also can beat ass if need be.

7. Aquaman/Arthur Curry (Jason Mamoa)

Why?: The Justice League needs the ocean on their side and Aquaman is the king of the Seven Seas. Mamoa is a physical specimen and hopefully will have displayed how cool this character is by the time this movie rolls around.

Legion Of Doom

1. Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg)

Why?: Eisenberg will have played Luthor twice by now (In BVS and SS) so the general audience should really know what makes him tick. He wants to be the most powerful man on Earth so he is making one final effort to destroy his alien foe by bringing together the world's strongest villains.

2. The Joker (Jared Leto)

Why?: Joker would be the uninvited member of the team much like he was in "Injustice For All". My guess is that Lex and Joker will have had met before in Suicide Squad and because of events that took place Lex wants nothing to do with the crazy clown. So what makes Lex let Mr. J join the team? Well, because Ben Affleck is playing an older Batman it should be expected that he has faced off against the Joker before (perhaps many times).  And because of this he will prove his worth to the team with of his extensive knowledge of the knowing the way the Bat thinks. 

Leto has been rumored for the Clown Prince of Crime and I'm a big fan of it. His Joker should be more unpredictable and comedic than Ledger's chaotic interpretation.  

3. Black Manta (Will Smith)

Why?: All the biggest guns from the Justice League's rogues gallery will be on hand and it's not a party without Black Manta. He adds the water angle and he fucking despises Aquaman. Enough said.

4. Captain Cold (Gabriel Macht) 

Why?: Flash's biggest baddie should be invited to join the Legion. He will have been previously introduced in The Flash. Maybe at this point he even has cold powers and not just a gun.

5. Bizzaro (Henry Cavill)

Why?: Lex Luthor creates Bizarro from DNA obtained from General Zod's corpse and Superman. His relationship to Luthor should be modeled after Geoff John's "Forever Evil" run. In which Bizarro is a loyal yet simple-minded protector of Lex, who Lex actually grows to care about.

6. Cheetah (Maggie Q)

Why?: Cheetah like Joker will have fought her arch foe Wonder Woman before. Her backstory and hatred for WW are not too complex to introduce into this story.

7. Deathstroke (Manu Bennet)

Why?: I love Deathstroke. You love Deathstroke. We all love Deathstroke. Lex surely has the capital to secure DC's most ruthless assassin for his new squad.

8. Sinestro (Daniel Craig)

Why?: Sinestro was Hal Jordan's mentor who later became his greatest enemy. He has his yellow ring that controls fear, but has yet to form his Sinestro Corps. His introduction here provides a great lead-in for the new Green Lantern movie if WB chooses to adapt "The Sinestro Corp War". Craig is an outside the box choice, but he has done well portraying villainous characters before in Road To Perdition and Layer Cake.

Cameo: A fun little teaser for a potential Justice League Pt. 3.

 Darkseid (Michael Ironside)

Why?: Teasing Darkseid and his Parademons as the villains of a potential sequel. Ironside has voiced Darkseid in various DC animation and I would love to see him continue to do so in the movies.

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this article check out  all our other articles on the DCCU by clicking the links below. And make sure to follow us on Twitter @Caped_Informers or follow me @cstrand73 for all comic book news.

• Suicide Squad
• Wonder Woman
• Justice League
• The Flash
• Aquaman
• Batman

Exploring The DC Cinematic Universe: Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman

Release Date: June 23rd, 2017

Who is Wonder Woman?: Diana is an Amazonian princess, demigod (in the New 52), and a founding member of the Justice League. Her mother is Queen Hippolyata and (in the New 52) her father is Zeus. She left her homeland in Themyscira to help protect "Man's world". She is gifted with a wide range of superhuman powers and superior combat and battle skills. She possesses an arsenal of weapons, including the Lasso of Truth, a pair of indestructible bracelets, a tiara which serves as a projectile. Recently she has been fighting with and against various members of her "new" god family.

Director: Kathryn Bigelow (Zero Dark Thirty)

Why?: Funny I wrote this now because it was reported earlier today that WB is looking at a shortlist of female directors to helm Wonder Woman. And of course my choice Kathryn Bigelow was right at the top of the list. She has been a fan favorite choice among the comic community to direct Diana's first solo movie for a while now, so I know she isn't the most original pick, but the reason she is mentioned all the time is because she is the best one. Bigelow knows how to balance action and characters. She gets great performances for her casts. Hell, her last two films have been nominated for shit load of Oscars (She won Best Director and Best Picture for The Hurt Locker). Gal Gadot will need a strong director to help guide her in her first lead role. Bigelow is the woman with the credentials to bring her to the promise-land.

Imagine if theres a Flashpoint Movie down the road!!!

Proposed Story: For the entire DC cinematic universe I propose NO ORIGIN STORIES. By this movie we will have seen Diana in action in Batman V Superman. So this shouldn't be about the first story of Diana in "man's world". She is already active, so let's get rocking and rolling. This story should be about Wonder Woman learning she is a demigod and that Zeus has vanished from Olympus (Automatically differs from Thor who has Odin around in his flicks). Which leads her to protecting Zola's baby (Her new little half brother) against a pissed off and scorned Hera. And eventually the First Born is unearthed and vows to conquer Olympus and the entire planet. Lastly I do want flashbacks to Ares training a young Diana (including that awesome Minotaur scene from #0). It showcases their relationship and isn't a total origin tale. It also adds emotion when Diana kills Ares to become the God of War. 

Inspired By: I believe this movie will be heavy inspired by Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang's New 52 run. Recently producer Charles Roven said that Diana is a demigod in Batman V Superman, which is a key component to her most recent comic stories. 

Lead Characters (Cast): By following the New 52 mythology most the cast will be Greek gods and demigods. I also decided to cast Orion in a minor role because although he only factors a little bit into the New 52, blockbuster films always have love interests (even thought they don't need them). And Orion leads to the introduction of New Genesis before Darkseid comes in Justice League Pt. 2.

1. Wonder Woman/ Diana Prince (Gal Gadot)

"I'd like to keep the illusion that there is a shade of moral difference between us and those we fight."

Why?: The lead character and hero of the story, Diana has long deserved a big screen treatment. I'm just glad it's finally happening. Let's hope Gal Gadot is up for the challenge of bringing such an iconic character alive. I think she looked great in her costume in the pictures from SDCC. We will get our first taste of her Diana in March 2016. Can't wait.

2. Queen Hipolyata (Lucy Lawless)

"Jupiter's Cock"

Why?: This an absolute lay-up. Lucy Lawless is meant to play the Queen of the Themyscrians. She has a history of playing Greek/Roman roles. Formerly she was Xena and more recently she starred as Lucria on Sparatcus: Blood and Sand. Hippolyata is in the story to tell Diana of her real father Zeus.

3. Apollo (Idris Ebla)

Why?: Idris Ebla is one of the coolest actors around. Apollo is the smoothest and coolest God around. This is just another match made in Olympus. In the movie, Apollo takes over Olympus after Zeus's departure. He must then join with Diana to defeat the First Born and keep his crown.

4. Hades (Peter Dinklage)

Why?: In the film Hades teams with Poseidon and the First Born to remove his nephew (Apollo) from the throne of Olympus. He does this so that he and his brother Poseidon won't lose their positions in Hell and in the Sea to the First Born as well. I casted Dinklage because he is a great actor and would definitely bring a fun take of the king of Hell.

5. Poseidon (Ron Perlman)

Why?: Giant Fish Poseidon is the best. He aligns himself with Hades and the First Born. He would be 100 percent CGI so anyone with a great voice could play him. I chose Ron Perlman because I enjoy his voice work as DC villains Clayface and Deathstroke.

6. Lennox (Tom Hardy)

Why?: Lennox is a tough as nails British demigod and half brother to Diana. His body made of organic rock. Lennox helps Diana protect Zola's baby and fight the First Born. Tom Hardy would be perfect for this role as well (casted him as Deadshot or Boomerang yesterday). I really should just cast Tom Hardy as role in the DCU. He is that good.

7. Hera (Rose Byrne)

Why?: Rose Byrne can do funny or dramatic roles. She is starting to nab roles in major movies and I think she would own as the jealous Queen of the gods. And she doesn't have to be naked the entire time like the New 52 run. (Unless she wants too!)

8. Orion (Liam Hemsworth)

Why?: Sent from New Genesis to aid Diana in her quest, Orion is both a love interest and pain in the butt for the Princess of Themyscira. His personality allows for moments of humor between him and Diana. Orion is also a major force on the battlefield. Liam Hemsworth's brother is Thor. To counter he should be the New God Orion (Darkseid's real son).

9. Ares (Liam Neeson)

Why?: He has already trained Batman and Anakin Skywalker so why not add Wonder Woman to that list. Neeson is a badass who can provide gravitas and grit to the character.

And now for the Villain...

10. The First Born (Javier Bardem)

Why?: A great menacing villain created by Azzarello and Chiang. He wants to conquer Olympus because Zeus trapped him in the center of the Earth. He and Diana collide towards the end of the film. Javier is an Oscar-winner known for his villainous portrayals.

Thanks for reading! Those are my thoughts on Wonder Woman. Who is your villain for the movie? Should Diana be a demigod? Sound off in the comments.

Make sure to check out the next 10 days of Exploring the DC Cinematic Universe. A different DC movie each day. Next up is Justice League Pt.1. You can also check out our entire schedule by clicking here. Click the link below to read our first article on the DCCU.

• Suicide Squad

Rumor: "Justice League" Movie Villain Is Brainiac

Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice is the most hotly anticipated comic book adaption of 2016. Everyone wants to see Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman team up for the first time on the big screen. After what hopefully is a masterpiece, the DC movie universe will follow up with The Justice League. A film that will assemble all of DC greatest heroes to fight their largest threat yet. For years the rumored villain for a JL film has been one of their most frequent foes Darkseid, the all powerful dictator of Apokolips who is on an endless path of destruction in order to discover the Anti-Life Equation and rule all. That was until today when the Latino Review reported that Brainiac will most likely be the first villain to face the all powerful DC team. 

Source: Latino Review

The story supposedly is that when Superman activated the Kryptonian scout ship that alerted General Zod in Man Of Steel, it alerted Brainiac as well. Brainiac has had many incarnations over the years, but all of them want to attain all the knowledge of the universe which the alien android achieves in a variety of ways. The character is definitely powerful enough to face off against the League and is even the main antagonist of DC Universe Online. What do you think of Brainiac as the JL villain? Sound off in the comments.

If this rumor is true there is only one man for the job...

CUMBERBATCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will not stop until this casting is announced!

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson to Play a DC Character?!

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is known for being one of America's biggest action stars. So it is big news to hear that according to an interview courtesy of Comic Book Resources, that The Rock is claiming he has been chosen to play a DC comic character. 

Here is a direct quote from the interview: 

When pressed for which role he was in talks to play Johnson cryptically responded with three qualities of the character.

“The first quality we were looking for was that he had to be extremely complex and have a lot going on,” he said. “What that does for me as an actor and the studio is it gives us space that we can explore; his complexities. The other quality was that he had to – the character we were looking for had to be well-known but never brought to life. Then what that does again as an actor, it gives me a little bit of space, and we talked about personality. It just gives me a chance to put an imprint into his personality, with the set of tools that I could bring to the table and put a very unique twist on his personality, but still pay homage to who he is.”

So that leaves us with a ton of characters to speculate about. Lots of people are saying he will be playing Darkseid or John Stewart. I'm gonna be different and say he will play Amazo. He does not confirmed that he will be seen in Batman vs. Superman, so I am going to assume he will be part of the Justice League film instead. Anyway, Batman vs. Superman is filming now and is expected out in theaters 2 years 1 month and 12 days from now. Not like I am counting or anything.

Read the interview: http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2014/03/25/dwayne-johnson-talks-up-hercules-teases-badass-dc-comics-role/