Shazam! producer Peter Safran confirmed that new solo movies like Joker or Batman could still be dark in tone.
We’re less than a week away from the theatrical debut of DC’s newest superhero Shazam!, a film that has been marketed as a more lighthearted film opposite that of other DC films like 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and 2017’s Justice League.
DC has shown before that it can put out lighter films with great commercial success. They produced a smash hit with 2017’s Wonder Woman led by Gal Gadot and then followed up with last year’s Aquaman starring Jason Momoa.
One could argue that the two films had a serious tone to them, but both had an element of childlike wonder and moments that warranted a good laugh without feeling forced. Which is what some early reviews of Shazam! have touched on. Warner Bros. producer Peter Safran spoke with IGN recently and said that the studio has realized that certain characters demand a darker tone and that DC would be willing to tell a dark story if the character demanded it. Check out what Peter Safran had to say about the subject below.
“I think that DC has the same idea we do now, which is every movie that they make should have the right tone for that particular character. Shazam is such a fun character. He is all about wish fulfillment. He is fun and funny, and that is the tone that you should have for the film. Aquaman has got a tone, fantastical element. Shazam! is fun and funny. Wonder Woman’s got her thing. I think they realize each tone has to be specific for each movie.”
Peter Safran then specifically referenced Batman and Joker as characters who could lead a film with a dark tone somewhere down the line.
“Listen, there are certain characters like Batman, like the Joker, that dark tone is perfect for them. It’s what you really want to see.”
Matt Reeves is currently working on a solo Batman movie that will hit theaters in June of 2021. Joker, a solo movie about the iconic Batman villain, hits theaters this October. Joker features Joaquin Phoenix as the titular Batman foe and it won’t tie into Jared Leto’s Joker featured in 2016’s Suicide Squad.
What do you think about producer Peter Safran’s comments regarding the tone of future DC films? Do you think Peter Safran’s previous DCEU films were great or do you prefer the first wave of DCEU films? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
The Batman is one of the many projects currently being developed by Warner Bros. and DC Films, including The Flash standalone film, Green Lantern Corps, Black Adam, Cyborg, Supergirl, New Gods, and Nightwing. Meanwhile, production on DC’s Birds of Prey spin-off titled Birds of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) starring Margot Robbie is set to begin this week.
The DCEU continues forward with Shazam! on April 5, 2019, Birds of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), on February 7, 2020, and Wonder Woman 1984 on June 5, 2020. A standalone Joker film set outside of the DC Films universe starring Joaquin Phoenix as the Clown Prince of Crime is also set to hit theaters October 4, 2019.
Stay tuned to Heroic Hollywood for the latest news on The Batman and the future of the DC cinematic universe as we learn it.
Source: IGN
Top Actors To Replace Ben Affleck In Matt Reeves’ ‘The Batman’
Ben Affleck is officially out as Batman and it’s a pretty sad day.
Words cannot describe how sad I am to see Ben Affleck announce that he’s no longer Batman. His Batman is why I do what I do. In Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, I fell in love with his comic book-accurate interpretation of the Caped Crusader. It was a breath of fresh air and it felt like we finally had the one true Batman.
Three years have quickly sped by and we’re officially going to receive a new Batman for his next movie. Last night, Ben Affleck announced that he will not return as the Dark Knight in Matt Reeves’ The Batman and now everyone’s attention has moved towards wanting to know who the next Bruce Wayne will be. Matt Reeves is said to want an actor that’s around 20 years younger than Affleck while Warner Bros. wants someone older. My guess is that Reeves wants a fresh start while the studio wants an older actor for crossover potential.
In this list, I will discuss the actors I think can replace Ben Affleck as Batman using the parameters that Matt Reeves and Warner Bros. want. Hit Next to see our picks to play the Batman.
Michael Fassbender
Michael Fassbender is an X-Men alum and no stranger to comic book franchises. The actor has shown multiple levels of range and could definitely handle the Batman/Bruce Wayne personality. If they go with the older range for the next Dark Knight, then Fassbender is probably one of the best choices to take over the role.
Ben Barnes
Ben Barnes is out of a job after The Punisher season 2 and he’s one of the best actors in that series. The second season tied up Barnes’ arc on The Punisher and the actor has already told us that that he’d love to play the Caped Crusader. Barnes definitely has the pretty boy look going on for him and I wonder what his take on Bruce Wayne could be.
Ryan Gosling
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: Ryan Gosling needs to star in a superhero movie. I’ve always thought Gosling would make a great Batman. Every role that he’s done has shown us his capability and he could crush it as Bruce Wayne.
Jon Hamm
Jon Hamm is my top choice for an older Batman. If Warner Bros. wants to cast an older actor for crossover potential, Jon Hamm is the studio’s best bet. He has a similar look to Ben Affleck, and c’mon, the guy’s look just screams Bruce Wayne.
Armie Hammer
Armie Hammer is 32 years old and was cast as the Caped Crusader in George Miller’s Justice League: Mortal. That film will never see the light of day, but that doesn’t mean that Hammer doesn’t deserve a second shot at being the Batman. He’s charming, broody and will probably give his all for this role. Armie Hammer is a great option because he’s young enough for Matt Reeves and Warner Bros. could work in a way for him to crossover with the rest of the DC Extended Universe.
Richard Madden
Game of Thrones alum Richard Madden is my top choice to replace Ben Affleck as Batman. The actor is young, has the look and definitely has the acting chops to play the duality of Batman and Bruce Wayne. Madden just won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Television series for the BBC drama Bodyguard, so Warner Bros. may want to quickly snatch him up.
