"Justice League" Feature Film Pre-Release Discussion (Spoilers) [Archive]

rggkjg1

02-23-2007, 11:18 AM

the superman/batman WILL come first and SHOULD come first. i guess it would be logical to have the wonder woman film first as well. then do justice league.

As of now, people are just gonna chuckle about this being some "Superfriends the Movie."
THATS THE WAY TO GO FOR THIS JUSTICE LEAGUE MOVIE. i can't even imagine what the sets for the hall of justice and hall of doom would look like. it think seeing those places would look incredible in a live action setting. it's also a good plot for the justice league movie. why would all the heroes come together? because lex luthor has brought all the other villians together in some scheme to take over the world (or just to get land cheap and make $$$$ ;)).

superfriends justice league movie is the way to go. i can't think of any other way that would get me excited for the project. i honestly don't want a justice league movie, but if its the superfriends. then bring it on. and if they don't do superman/batman movie for the justice league movie, it better be good. if it comes down to that, i'll have my low expectations set with no possible redemption from warner bros. unless its the superfriends justice league and there's a teaser for superman/batman attached to the movie.

heres another reason why they should do superfriends justice leauge:
CILLIAN MURPHY AS SCARECROW!!!!

just keep the "no namers" out of the movie. that means you hawkman...

fan poster:
http://usera.imagecave.com/anjow1060/JLPoster.bmp.jpg

denzel IS green lantern. if we weren't getting superfriends justice league and i felt the movie was going in the worst completely opposite direction i would still have to see the movie. it's denzel. as green lantern! how random could you get?

sleepydumbdude

02-23-2007, 01:16 PM

Kaner

02-23-2007, 01:20 PM

All I'm saying is Dean Cain Superman, George Clooney Batman, Lynda Carter Wonder Woman, and Jack Black Green Lantern. This could be the best movie ever if they made those casting decisions.

:evil: :shrug: . o O (Get thee behind me Satan and blaspheme no more)

DR.MID-NITE

02-23-2007, 03:01 PM

Frank Castle

02-23-2007, 03:12 PM

Batman vs. Superman is as far as I will go for the live action team-ups. I just can't see JLA ever happening.

Young Justice

02-23-2007, 04:01 PM

If they want to make this work, they could use the DC Animated Universe as an example:

First Batman, then Superman. After that, Superman and Batman and finally Justice League with all the others. Womand Woman could have her own franchise or not. But I think Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman and Martian Manhunter could have their own stories told inside Justice League movies.

CyborgRex

02-23-2007, 04:20 PM

The only way WB could make a Justie League movie is if they established some of the other heroes in their own films first. They did Batman and Superman. Next they should make Wonder Woman, The Flash, and Green Lantern. Maybe a few others. Next step before the League would be a Batman and Superman movie. Then and only then could they do the movie.

PeterFries

02-23-2007, 05:35 PM

Batman vs. Superman is as far as I will go for the live action team-ups. I just can't see JLA ever happening.

It would be awesome if Gregory Noveck clicked into this thread, saw that Toonzone fans said this project was a no go, and then cancelled it.

Have you guys actually read the Batman versus Superman script that almost went into production? It would have killed any chance of further Superman or Batman movies had it not been wisely shut down.

HEATXZ

02-23-2007, 07:39 PM

Awesome they are making a JLA movie

Noukon

02-23-2007, 07:45 PM

Establish the heavyhitters as real properties first, THEN you can assemble them for even heavier hits.

Actually, I think this would be a very clever way of establishing more of the DC heroes as being viable for mainstream films. Batman and Superman are well established, and would draw people to a Justice League film, where they'd be introduced to the other characters. Then, Warner could more easily market individual films for those heroes.

Personally, I'd love to see Green Arrow in this.

Gpoliceman

02-23-2007, 08:03 PM

Frank Castle

02-23-2007, 08:11 PM

It would be awesome if Gregory Noveck clicked into this thread, saw that Toonzone fans said this project was a no go, and then cancelled it.

Have you guys actually read the Batman versus Superman script that almost went into production? It would have killed any chance of further Superman or Batman movies had it not been wisely shut down.
Easy there scooter, I didn't specifically say that BvS movie they had planned.

PeterFries

02-23-2007, 09:34 PM

Starting a JL movie now is Warner Bros saying they don't think Flash, GL, Wondie, GA, and others are credible enough characters to support their own film. That's all it's saying. A JL movie NOW is the WB saying only Batman and Superman are strong enough characters to make it on their own.

I disagree with your sentiment about this being necessarily a bad thing but agree with your theory anyway.

If this actually was what WB was saying and thinking, is it so bad, or wrong? Could Flash, Green Lantern or whoever actually support their own film?

Batman Begins and Superman Returns did okay but not great box office versus their budgets. How expensive would a decent GL, WW or Flash movie have to be? Are those characters really strong or compelling enough to give a return on those kinds of budgets?

Now, together, you might get an event movie that could generate the box office to justify the required budget.

I'm just saying.

AdamYJ

02-23-2007, 10:13 PM

I have a feeling even if this does come out then it will be a movie with a bunch of DC characters most people have never heard of. Probably the ones who can't get their own solo deal. The only person i can think of from the first seasons of cartoon actually being in the movie is Martin Manhunter.

I'd be okay with that. Then again, I'm a huge comic book geek and would gladly pay money to see characters like Booster Gold, Elongated Man, Vixen and Red Tornado on the big screen.

How the hell is this going to work? Christopher Nolan's Batman DOES NOT and CANNOT exist in the same world as super-powered aliens from krypton (superman), martians (jonn jonzz), intergallactic space cowboys (green lantern), and amazon princesses (wonder woman).

I like Nolan's approach to the material to have some JL movie come in and muck it all up.

Well, that is something of a problem. Not so much mucking with Nolan's vision as convincing regular movie-goers to buy into such a world. You may be able to convince people of a world with costumed vigilantes and psychotic criminals(Batman). You may be able to convince people of a world where good and evil stem from the Greek pantheon (Wonder Woman). You may be able to convince people of a world where the greatest hero comes from a dying planet (Superman). You may be able to convince people of a world where people get powers from scientific accidents gone awry (Flash). You may even be able to convince people of a world where beings from the center of the universe choose a human to patrol the spaceways (Green Lantern). The question is: how do you convince them of a world that's all five of those at once (with or without Mars and Atlantis added in for good measure). That's a pretty big pill to swallow.

Honestly, I can't really imagine this movie getting too far off the ground. The budget for it would have to be tremendous to accomodate the special effects.

RedKing52

02-24-2007, 01:27 AM

In response to this news, allow me to channel my inner Brando:

"The horror...."

BatKid

02-24-2007, 02:11 AM

I'm AGAINST a Justice League live-action movie.

First...

It's too soon. Christopher Nolan's Batman and Bryan Singer's Superman have not yet met their full potential. Let them both round out their trilogies and have a JL movie start cooking in 2010-2012.
Of which it'd be pretty late to introduce a film that would be the start of a new franchise. I don't see a JL film, if there is ever to be one released, to be a one-shot. This IS WB's only shot at competing with the plethora of Marvel films. Bring all your heavy-hitters into one flick. Granted, the budget would be skyrocketing high, but if done right...the returns would be ginormous.

Second...

I would rather have a solo Flash film, a solo Wonder Woman film, a solo Green Lantern film, a solo Green Arrow film, etc....than a Justice League movie.

Give all the characters solo films, please!
It will never happen. WW and Flash I can see, but those have been in development hell forever due to WB's short-mindedness. If they can handle all birds with one stone, under a guy that has terrific vision, then why not?

Third...

How the hell is this going to work? Christopher Nolan's Batman DOES NOT and CANNOT exist in the same world as super-powered aliens from krypton (superman), martians (jonn jonzz), intergallactic space cowboys (green lantern), and amazon princesses (wonder woman).
And why CAN'T it work? I'm starting to see a trend of superiority from many bat-fans, like their character is "too good" to be bundled with these other superpowered heroes. Did we forget this character IS and will ALWAYS BE a comic book character? Let alone one that has teamed up with the other heroes various times?

You can cry "Realism" all you want, but I suggest people watch BB again. Let me restate many things in this film just in case:

Guy fighting crime in a batsuit
Fear-inducing gas from blue flowers
A "microwave" emitter that somehow doesn't harm humans
A piece of big towel that becomes a parachute from electricity
A military-grade vehicle jumping on rooftops

And very soon..

A criminally insane jokester, with white skin, green hair, and red lips.

Yes, those are PRIME examples of realism folks. Yup, no way are THOSE a stretch of the imagination. Nope, no way. :shrug:

I like Nolan's approach to the material to have some JL movie come in and muck it all up.
Good, then don't watch it. Pretty simple, no?

Well, that is something of a problem. Not so much mucking with Nolan's vision as convincing regular movie-goers to buy into such a world. You may be able to convince people of a world with costumed vigilantes and psychotic criminals(Batman). You may be able to convince people of a world where good and evil stem from the Greek pantheon (Wonder Woman). You may be able to convince people of a world where the greatest hero comes from a dying planet (Superman). You may be able to convince people of a world where people get powers from scientific accidents gone awry (Flash). You may even be able to convince people of a world where beings from the center of the universe choose a human to patrol the spaceways (Green Lantern). The question is: how do you convince them of a world that's all five of those at once (with or without Mars and Atlantis added in for good measure). That's a pretty big pill to swallow.
As opposed to people believing a guy can shoot red beams from his eyes, a woman that can control the weather, someone that can teleport anywhere he pleases, or a guy whose body turns to steel, no less...all under the control of a wheelchair-bound telekinetic?

:confused:

People...film is a form of entertainment. One that almost always features outstanding things. We're not watching a documentary here.

AdamYJ

02-24-2007, 08:11 AM

As opposed to people believing a guy can shoot red beams from his eyes, a woman that can control the weather, someone that can teleport anywhere he pleases, or a guy whose body turns to steel, no less...all under the control of a wheelchair-bound telekinetic?

:confused:

People...film is a form of entertainment. One that almost always features outstanding things. We're not watching a documentary here.

Well, in my experience, there's only so far you can stretch someone's "willing suspension of disbelief" before it snaps. It's not so much convincing people of one outrageous thing as it is convincing people of about seven unrealistic things at once. You mention the X-Men thing. However, once you've convinced people of mutants, you're pretty much set. In fact, if you look at those movies, a couple of non-mutant characters were changed into mutants. Lady Deathstrike is a cyborg in the comics and Juggernaut is a mystically-empowered human. Maybe it was done for story purposes, or maybe they wouldn't have fit into the world the movies created because people would have trouble believing that mutants, cybernetics and the Ruby of Cyttorak all exist in one world and can all grant people power. Superheroes exist in the most amazingly amalgous world around. Your average comic book universe has aliens, detectives, cyborgs, pagan gods, vampires and the lost continent of Atlantis all as canon. That kind of thing might be a little hard to swallow for people who aren't already comic book people. I mean, try explaining to people that two aliens, an Amazon warrior, a man with a cosmic ring, a guy who got powers in a lab accident, a brooding urban vigilante and a king of Atlantis meet regularly to figure out how to protect the world from alien invaders and stuff, and the world gets a bit hard to believe. I'm actually starting to think that this might work better as a more family-oriented movie like Fantastic Four, because kids are sometimes more open to fantastic stuff than grown-ups are.

I may just be whistling dixie, though.

KCJ506

02-24-2007, 09:49 AM

It's too early for this. The target date should be 2013 after WW, Flash and Green Lantern have all had their own movies. I also think at this point the Batman Vs. Superman movie would be a good idea.

This movie would cost like 300 million but if it's done correctly it could make 3 times that.

Young Justice

02-24-2007, 10:35 AM

How the hell is this going to work? Christopher Nolan's Batman DOES NOT and CANNOT exist in the same world as super-powered aliens from krypton (superman), martians (jonn jonzz), intergallactic space cowboys (green lantern), and amazon princesses (wonder woman).

I like Nolan's approach to the material to have some JL movie come in and muck it all up.

Aside from the commentary of BatKid, in which I agree, that the "ground in reality" from Nolan is not that real, I make the further addition to this line of thought:

Noland didn't invented "grounded in reality" as a way to portray comic book heroes. It comes from a long way. The Dark Knight Returns was grunded in reality. Watchmen was too. V for Vendetta, Marvels, Frank Miller's Year One, The Long Halloween, Dark Victory, Arkham Asylum and the list goes on and on.

Nolas was smart to do this approach on film, simply because he saw that the light fantasy approach of Burton and later Schumacher didn't worked so well.

Bryan Singer's Superman Returns was also somewhat grounded in reality. Just because you have a superpowered alien doesn't mean that you can't have a movie portrayted in realism. "Grounded in reality" is not that all things in the movie has to exist in the real world. Is how the characters look at the fantastic things that happened in it. It's how the fantastic is portrayted on screen.

You could make an entire comic book universe of super heroes "grounded in reality" if you choose to do it. The whole Crisis On Infinite Earths was an attempt to do it, in a way.

If you read Supeman's reboot Man of Steel miniseries from John Byrne you will recognize a lot of likenesses with the ideas behind Batman Begins. The whole explanation of Superman powers, the fact that Lex Luthor was a corporate villain and other details makes Man of Steel also grounded in reality.

So, being said that, I think that the grounded in reality is the only way I could see great super hero live action movies. And if they chose to do a JL movie, I am hoping that this movie will be going for that approach as well.

BatKid

02-24-2007, 11:43 AM

Well, in my experience, there's only so far you can stretch someone's "willing suspension of disbelief" before it snaps.
That pretty much only happens in movies set in the real-world, and have a outrageous thing happen (ala Transporter 2 where a car jumps off a ramp, turns sideways, and manages to hit a crane just enough so that it knocks off a bomb from its underside).

It's not so much convincing people of one outrageous thing as it is convincing people of about seven unrealistic things at once. You mention the X-Men thing. However, once you've convinced people of mutants, you're pretty much set.
That is my point. Going into the theater, the audience already KNOWS what to expect, in terms of what type of film it is, which is fantasy. Once that point is made, you can go all-out.

In fact, if you look at those movies, a couple of non-mutant characters were changed into mutants. Lady Deathstrike is a cyborg in the comics and Juggernaut is a mystically-empowered human. Maybe it was done for story purposes, or maybe they wouldn't have fit into the world the movies created because people would have trouble believing that mutants, cybernetics and the Ruby of Cyttorak all exist in one world and can all grant people power. [/quote]
Or maybe they just couldn't fit all of that into one story considering it's size. Comic books have the luxury of development time over a period of years. Movies only have 2 hours.

Superheroes exist in the most amazingly amalgous world around. Your average comic book universe has aliens, detectives, cyborgs, pagan gods, vampires and the lost continent of Atlantis all as canon. That kind of thing might be a little hard to swallow for people who aren't already comic book people. I mean, try explaining to people that two aliens, an Amazon warrior, a man with a cosmic ring, a guy who got powers in a lab accident, a brooding urban vigilante and a king of Atlantis meet regularly to figure out how to protect the world from alien invaders and stuff, and the world gets a bit hard to believe.
As long as the film is "grounded in reality", and the source material is taken seriously, there is no problem. LOTR and the Spider-Man films are perfect examples of translating the material to film pretty good, and have the masses accept it with open arms. It's only when you treat it like a joke, or just plain suck as a writer/director where you will fail with such a project.

I'm actually starting to think that this might work better as a more family-oriented movie like Fantastic Four, because kids are sometimes more open to fantastic stuff than grown-ups are.
....because fantasy movies never do well with the adult crowd...

:confused:

AdamYJ

02-24-2007, 11:59 AM

That pretty much only happens in movies set in the real-world, and have a outrageous thing happen (ala Transporter 2 where a car jumps off a ramp, turns sideways, and manages to hit a crane just enough so that it knocks off a bomb from its underside).

That is my point. Going into the theater, the audience already KNOWS what to expect, in terms of what type of film it is, which is fantasy. Once that point is made, you can go all-out.

In fact, if you look at those movies, a couple of non-mutant characters were changed into mutants. Lady Deathstrike is a cyborg in the comics and Juggernaut is a mystically-empowered human. Maybe it was done for story purposes, or maybe they wouldn't have fit into the world the movies created because people would have trouble believing that mutants, cybernetics and the Ruby of Cyttorak all exist in one world and can all grant people power.

Or maybe they just couldn't fit all of that into one story considering it's size. Comic books have the luxury of development time over a period of years. Movies only have 2 hours.

As long as the film is "grounded in reality", and the source material is taken seriously, there is no problem. LOTR and the Spider-Man films are perfect examples of translating the material to film pretty good, and have the masses accept it with open arms. It's only when you treat it like a joke, or just plain suck as a writer/director where you will fail with such a project.

....because fantasy movies never do well with the adult crowd...

:confused:

You know, I would try to think up some sort of response to all this, but . . . forget it. I just don't care anymore.

Web Head

02-24-2007, 01:31 PM

The first point I have on this movie is irrefutable. Much like any possible Avengers movie, you can't do this without the Big Three. If you can't get Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman in it then don't even bother with the movie.

Now after that, we have the question of who else is involved. Personally, I'd keep it small, only adding Martian Manhunter, Flash, and Green Lantern to the mix. Any more than that I think is overloading the uninitiated viewers. It'll need at least cursory intros to the non-Big Three, plus whatever villains are used. That's a lot of characters to meet in one movie.

I can't even begin to imagine the cost of this movie. I think you're looking at $300 million+

Overall, I do agree with previous posters who feel that this movie would be too soon. I look at the animated DCU, and how it built-up to JL. Honestly, after seeing the League, you've pretty much seen the culmination. After that, nothing else seems quite as spectacular.

DR.MID-NITE

02-24-2007, 02:12 PM

A few things. I think with the advancement of special effects (ala Lord of the Rings, King Kong,etc) you can do a lot of the effects without it costing 500 million. Also, people are so worried about having to explain origins of heroes that have not had a origin movies. For example I think casual moviegoers can enjoy and understand the Flash without having to know how he got his powers. They know he is a costumed hero who can run fast. So go into the movie just showing how they come to work together to work something out. Bale must be Bats in this movie. But, if they want to sub Welling for Routh...I will be happy. :D

AdamYJ

02-24-2007, 02:37 PM

The first point I have on this movie is irrefutable. Much like any possible Avengers movie, you can't do this without the Big Three. If you can't get Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman in it then don't even bother with the movie.

I'm not so sure that's true. Maybe it's because I'm a big comic book geek, but I'm generally more interested in the "little guys" of the League. On the Justice League cartoon, it was Flash I liked most. On JLU, it was Vigilante, Vixen and Question. Heck, there's a new JLA comic series out now with all of the "big 3" and I'm more interested in Black Lightning, Red Tornado, Hawkgirl and Vixen than them (of course, they sat around a table looking at pictures for more than half the story).

Now, I'm not saying not to use them entirely. I'm just saying they shouldn't neglect any possible smaller characters that could have a good role just for their sake, nor will I be shedding any tears if they don't include Batman.

Young Justice

02-24-2007, 04:10 PM

I'm not so sure that's true. Maybe it's because I'm a big comic book geek, but I'm generally more interested in the "little guys" of the League. On the Justice League cartoon, it was Flash I liked most. On JLU, it was Vigilante, Vixen and Question. Heck, there's a new JLA comic series out now with all of the "big 3" and I'm more interested in Black Lightning, Red Tornado, Hawkgirl and Vixen than them (of course, they sat around a table looking at pictures for more than half the story).

Now, I'm not saying not to use them entirely. I'm just saying they shouldn't neglect any possible smaller characters that could have a good role just for their sake, nor will I be shedding any tears if they don't include Batman.

I think it's possible to have a Justice League with all the minor heroes. But it wouldn't be a big movie like the ones made for Batman, Superman and possibly Wonder Woman. It would go more or less like the movie they made for League of Extraordinary Gentlemen or the first Fantastic Four.

But for a Justice League without the big 3 work, I think it would be wiser that those heroes don't have their own franchises alone. That fact would make the Justice League movie stronger.

The roll call could be: Green Lantern (John Stweart), Flash, Aquaman, Jonn Jonnz, Black Canary and Green Arrow.

Robin2099

02-24-2007, 05:47 PM

Anyway you look at it, this movie is a bad idea, and most likely will be stuck in development hell and never be mad. Here are just some reasons:

1.Franchis wrecking: Right now Warner Bros only has two movies that could be considered Franchises. Batman and Superman. If you put them both in a movie then, people will view it as "they have no more ideas anymore and now there just desperate". And before people start going "thats not true, they'l say it's cool". Well a lot of people were excited about FVJ and AVP, but they also realized the franchises ran out of steam. And you never saw anymore movies in any of those franchieses get off the ground again.

2.Budget: There is no way this movie clocks in at under $300 million dollars. Someone else mentioned King Kong and LOTR, but both of them were able to cut corners because Peter Jackson also owned the effects company. And for that matter KK still cost over $200 million dollars. Too much risk for too little reward.

3.Story: You can go two ways: Have it be the heavy hitters, or have them be unknowns and second stringers like when the JL consisted of Fire, Ice, Maxima, Booster Gold and Blue Beetle. If you have Bats, Supes and WW, then how do they meet the other heroes? JL tried in two hours to do an introduction episode and did a decent job, but unless you liked the comics you had no idea who they were. People are going to need to know who these people are and they will need to be introduced to the audience. And for that matter you need a big threat, for them to fight which would also need to be introduced to everyone.
This is why I don't see this movie getting any farther then devemopnet hell status. WB should just focu on doing a GA, GL, Flash, WW and the Batman and Superman franchises.

AdamYJ

02-24-2007, 05:52 PM

I think it's possible to have a Justice League with all the minor heroes. But it wouldn't be a big movie like the ones made for Batman, Superman and possibly Wonder Woman. It would go more or less like the movie they made for League of Extraordinary Gentlemen or the first Fantastic Four.

But for a Justice League without the big 3 work, I think it would be wiser that those heroes don't have their own franchises alone. That fact would make the Justice League movie stronger.

The roll call could be: Green Lantern (John Stweart), Flash, Aquaman, Jonn Jonnz, Black Canary and Green Arrow.

I agree to an extent (though I prefer Kyle Rayner over John Stewart). I'm probably biased though, because my favorite JLA story is JLA: Year One, which only had Superman and Batman in cameo roles and no Wonder Woman at all.

The point I'm making is that if these writers end up writing a good story about the League with a really good part for a less known character and no real part for a Big 3 character, they shouldn't try to rework the script to include them just for the sake of it. I don't want anyone saying to themselves: "Wow, this script is really good. The plot is tight, the characters are well written. It's interesting that it's got such a big part for Zatanna. The thing is, we don't have a part for Batman and we have to include him. We've also got enough characters. Oh well, we'll try to rework it so that we can put Batman in there in place of Zatanna. We'll find a way to make it work." If the lesser lights have a good part and the bigger ones don't, just let it be.

Young Justice

02-25-2007, 10:46 AM

I agree to an extent (though I prefer Kyle Rayner over John Stewart). I'm probably biased though, because my favorite JLA story is JLA: Year One, which only had Superman and Batman in cameo roles and no Wonder Woman at all.

The point I'm making is that if these writers end up writing a good story about the League with a really good part for a less known character and no real part for a Big 3 character, they shouldn't try to rework the script to include them just for the sake of it. I don't want anyone saying to themselves: "Wow, this script is really good. The plot is tight, the characters are well written. It's interesting that it's got such a big part for Zatanna. The thing is, we don't have a part for Batman and we have to include him. We've also got enough characters. Oh well, we'll try to rework it so that we can put Batman in there in place of Zatanna. We'll find a way to make it work." If the lesser lights have a good part and the bigger ones don't, just let it be.

If they decided to go with JLA without the big three I think it's wiser not even mention Batman, Superman and WW. The story could be placed in Gotham or Metropolis, or at least mention this cities to tell the viewers that this "new" heroes belong to the same universe of the big three. But I think that's enough.

About the whole John Stweart x Kyle Rayner x Hal Jordan discussion: I'm suggesting John because of the same reason he got the part in Justice League animated. Demographics. But in the end, he worked very well. He has grown up as a character since Bruce Timm's JL.

Draft

08-22-2007, 02:33 PM

http://www.screamscape.com/html/industry_news.htm#SixFlags

Remember earlier this year when there was suddenly a lot of buzz over a possible Justice League themed dark ride in development for Six Flags? While this turned out to only be an echo of an old project cancelled long ago, it seems someone at Six Flags actually agreed with it and apparently they are now rumored to be developing an all new Justice League of America dark ride concept that they would like to be able to drop into every Six Flags park over the next several years.
From the sound of things, the dissatisfaction with the new Spy Girl stunt show at Six Flags Great America combined with the past history of bland Batman stunt shows at the various parks for the last decade has turned Six Flags management off from any more live action Stunt Shows. They know the DC Comic Superheroes continue to be a popular draw, pretty much market themselves and sell tons of merchandise, so the best and only way to really bring the famous Superheroes to life for the Six Flags guests is to use them in an all new dark ride adventure. I imagine that the huge success of Universal’s Spiderman attraction has had a lot to do with this wise choice, but that isn’t to say that they will try to copy the technology used in Spiderman for the JLA. (We can HOPE however...)
Also helping push this new idea forward is the fact that Warner Brothers is apparently fast tracking an all new Justice League feature film project that will fit somewhere after the 2008 Dark Knight sequel to Batman Begins and the proposed sequel to Superman Returns. The studio sees this as a great launch platform that could spawn several spin-off films they’ve been wanting to make for years for other DC comic characters such as Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Aquaman and The Flash.
With the new Hollywood connections Six Flags now has after buying Dick Clark’s Production house and Shapiro’s past history with Disney/ESPN, it seems safe to say that they may become very Hollywood savvy once again when it comes to new attractions and taking advantage of their characters licenses. This is something we really haven’t seen out of Six Flags since the days when Time Warner was still running the show. With the new Batman / Dark Knight film coming out next summer, I’m sure they’re already working on some kind of promotion for the parks. Unfortunately I don’t have a solid timeline on when we may first see a JLA themed dark ride show up at a Six Flags park, but I’m guessing 2009 would be the earliest depending on how well the ‘07 and ‘08 seasons go.

So a JL Themed Dark Ride with the Movie sounds liek a reason to take the 4 hour drive to SFNE

Silly McGooses

08-22-2007, 02:39 PM

OH. MY. GOD.

An actually THEMED ride at Six Flags? With the Justice League? THAT would be AMAZING.

Draft

08-22-2007, 02:41 PM

Well originally there was going to be a stage shwo ,but i think that got tanked in favor of the mentioned Spy Girl Show, which failed..

dc_gothamite

08-22-2007, 03:12 PM

Silly McGooses

08-22-2007, 03:18 PM

I would have been bugged by Nolan's Batman in a JL movie, but Routh's Superman would've fit in fine...

Draft

08-22-2007, 03:21 PM

Well, to be fair, Dark Knight is when he''s at the begining of being Batman, and well, Maybe WB doesn't have enough faith in Routh, or maybe want to get a headliner for him so maybe they'l lget more peopel to go..

Silly McGooses

08-22-2007, 03:55 PM

OK, now the rumor is that this may be a motion-capture film in the vein of Beowulf. Hmmm...

dmxx116

08-22-2007, 04:06 PM

They should wait until 3rd Batman movie is done in that way you can have Bale star in Justice league.

Aizen

08-22-2007, 05:07 PM

Young Justice

08-22-2007, 05:34 PM

They should have some sort of DCMU (DC Movie Universe). Batman Begins, Superman Returns would qualify, and they should do another Superman movie, one more Batman movie after The Dark Knight, and then Superman/Batman movie. Other superhero movies are not necessary. Then we can look forward to JL movie. Talk about a loooong time...:ack:

I think they missed a great opportunity to create a consistent DC Live Action Universe when decided to go to Superman Returns rather than Superman Begins.

Silly McGooses

08-22-2007, 06:25 PM

I really hope the motion capture rumor is true, BTW, I could definitely deal with two versions of Batman and Superman in the movies at the same time if one of them were animated. I think it's just too much to have two huge-buget live-action versions of Batman and Superman going on at once.

Freedom_Fighter

08-23-2007, 09:42 AM

Ok guys, let's take this discussion to another level, read this:

http://www.superherohype.com/news/topnews.php?id=6235

(if the link doesn't work simply go to www.superherohype.com (http://www.superherohype.com) and scroll down, there is a topic on the first page)

Now, as for me, I am not yet sure if i'd love a JLA movie. Of course I would go watch it on the big screen, but i can't think of an original story that would fit for me. My main interest would be to see Batman and Superman together live...

screw on head

08-23-2007, 12:46 PM

I find the motion-capture look incredibly creepy and distant, so I hope they don't reach for that photo-real style. I'm still amazed that that style is still being produced and considered by studios!

Silly McGooses

08-23-2007, 12:52 PM

I think we'll see less of it once Beowulf inevitably tanks...

Aizen

08-23-2007, 12:57 PM

I think they missed a great opportunity to create a consistent DC Live Action Universe when decided to go to Superman Returns rather than Superman Begins.
Yeah I thought that too, I barely understood what was happening. I mean what were they continuing with? Superman Begins would have been good. They should have spent time with his origin, and they could have made Lex Luthor the villain because he couldn't "buy" Superman to work for him. So he hires some thugs with some huge robot and Superman fights it and wins, and the public loves Superman like that, and it could end with Luthor discovering Superman's weakness kryptonite.
Batman Begins was good, but i felt they ruined Scarecrow and Ra's Al Ghul. Scarecrow was given a really high position. It sounds to me like Scarecrow used his toxins on a man and he bacame the Joker...(The Dark Knight 2008 film) Ra's Al Ghul, well.. what happened to Talia?? And what happened to his Lazarus pits. Batman Begins' Ra's lacked some qualities. Though the movie was good, they could have made it better, well thats what I believe anyways.

Harley_Quinn

08-23-2007, 02:29 PM

Batman Begins was good, but i felt they ruined Scarecrow and Ra's Al Ghul. Scarecrow was given a really high position. It sounds to me like Scarecrow used his toxins on a man and he bacame the Joker...(The Dark Knight 2008 film) Ra's Al Ghul, well.. what happened to Talia?? And what happened to his Lazarus pits. Batman Begins' Ra's lacked some qualities. Though the movie was good, they could have made it better, well thats what I believe anyways.
Don't think that's how they played it at all. Scarecrow isn't the reason the Joker becomes the Joker. The discussion at the end between Gordon and Bats explains that these nuts have been released, via the Arkham escape but since Bats in fighting crime wearing a costume, escalasion, will lead to the criminals doing the same. Hence explaining, in as realistic terms as possible, why there would be costumed villians on the streets of Gotham.

Ra's, they dropped some of the more mystical stuff from his comic version to keep the movie grounded in reality as much as possible. Hence, he's not really immortal but great at smoke and mirrors to make it appear that way.

Anyway, back on subject, I actually like the idea of the motion capture, mainly because it'll open up a lot more possiblities for them story wise with having to worry how they'd create something real world and have cost be a major determining factor.

Stu

08-23-2007, 02:46 PM

Are they still so afriad of costumes? Stop Motion? Please.

Aizen

08-23-2007, 02:49 PM

Don't think that's how they played it at all. Scarecrow isn't the reason the Joker becomes the Joker. The discussion at the end between Gordon and Bats explains that these nuts have been released, via the Arkham escape but since Bats in fighting crime wearing a costume, escalasion, will lead to the criminals doing the same. Hence explaining, in as realistic terms as possible, why there would be costumed villians on the streets of Gotham.

Ra's, they dropped some of the more mystical stuff from his comic version to keep the movie grounded in reality as much as possible. Hence, he's not really immortal but great at smoke and mirrors to make it appear that way.

Anyway, back on subject, I actually like the idea of the motion capture, mainly because it'll open up a lot more possiblities for them story wise with having to worry how they'd create something real world and have cost be a major determining factor.
Well, at the end of Batman Begins, it says there has been a breakout in Arkham and that his guy has escaped (The Joker). And we know that the Scarecrow caused his gas to be used on Arkham Inmates. That means The Joker is influenced to be crazy becasue of Scarecorw's gas.
And for Ra's, I agree with you on those points but what about Talia...

Harley_Quinn

08-23-2007, 02:59 PM

Well, at the end of Batman Begins, it says there has been a breakout in Arkham and that his guy has escaped (The Joker). And we know that the Scarecrow caused his gas to be used on Arkham Inmates. That means The Joker is influenced to be crazy becasue of Scarecorw's gas.
And for Ra's, I agree with you on those points but what about Talia...
I get the feeling that the effect would wear off, or he'd get the cure, after a certain amount of time since it was concentrated like what the Scarecrow sprayed Falcone or Dawes with. Also keep in mind he was already in Arkham so it wasn't as if the Joker, pre Joker, was sane to begin with.

As for Talia, I think they mainly just cut her out for story purposes. If they introduce her, it becomes another story thread they would have had to flesh out. Think they just tried to streamline the story as much as possible.

Aizen

08-23-2007, 03:02 PM

I get the feeling that the effect would wear off, or he'd get the cure, after a certain amount of time since it was concentrated like what the Scarecrow sprayed Falcone or Dawes with. Also keep in mind he was already in Arkham so it wasn't as if the Joker, pre Joker, was sane to begin with.

As for Talia, I think they mainly just cut her out for story purposes. If they introduce her, it becomes another story thread they would have had to flesh out. Think they just tried to streamline the story as much as possible.
Guess you've won the conversation. I've got nothing left to argue. For now...

Azrael24

08-23-2007, 06:14 PM

Zam

08-23-2007, 07:03 PM

They could render it with pastel colors to look like a moving Alex Ross painting. That could be interesting.

Silverstar

08-23-2007, 07:18 PM

looks like Bale & Routh won't reprise their respective roles as the Dark Knight & Man of Steel for the live-action JL project.

While both actors are committed to their respective franchises, the powers-at-be will supposedly recast Batman & Superman for JL.

damn.

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/news/articles/3880.asp

According to this article, the confirmed Leaguers so far would seem to be Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Flash, Aquaman and Green Lantern. What? 5 guys and only 1 woman? And no J'onn?? Say it ain't so! I get that they could only fit so many characters on the team's roster without extending the movie to the something the length of Citizen Kane, but if we had to lose some people, I'd much rather have Martian Manhunter than Aquaman. J'onn's been in nearly every incarnation of the League; what are these people thinking?! But the film is still in its' early stages; hopefully, this will change by the time the film is complete.

Cortez2301

08-23-2007, 08:21 PM

If they make it CGI/motion capture, will it be kiddie or just like the other movies?

Azrael24

08-23-2007, 10:00 PM

They could render it with pastel colors to look like a moving Alex Ross painting. That could be interesting.
That would be a nice touch, even though i'm not a fan of his work

Robin2099

08-24-2007, 01:21 AM

Are they still so afriad of costumes? Stop Motion? Please. No. There probably doing it because it would be a heck of a lot cheaper to do then a live action movie. Ignoring the fact that choosing the right looking actors to play the roles, as well as not making the costumes look stupid in a live action setting would be hard enough.

i would hate that, its a comic movie, it just wouldnt fit
Why? You said it yourself that it's a comic movie, so why would photo realistic animation not fit? Alex Ross paints amazing comic books,where the characters look alive, but would you say that's bad since it's not too comic bookish?

Jacob T. Paschal

08-24-2007, 07:53 PM

Welling is Superman in JLA (http://www.iesb.net/index.php?option=com_ezine&task=read&page=1&category=1&article=3138)????????????

Bird Boy

08-24-2007, 08:13 PM

Welling is Superman in JLA (http://www.iesb.net/index.php?option=com_ezine&task=read&page=1&category=1&article=3138)????????????

I'm not one for making usual, one line spammy comments like I'm about to...but I really can't resist.

:(

Silly McGooses

08-24-2007, 08:15 PM

Man, that sucks. :sad:

Azrael24

08-25-2007, 12:31 AM

No. There probably doing it because it would be a heck of a lot cheaper to do then a live action movie. Ignoring the fact that choosing the right looking actors to play the roles, as well as not making the costumes look stupid in a live action setting would be hard enough.

Why? You said it yourself that it's a comic movie, so why would photo realistic animation not fit? Alex Ross paints amazing comic books,where the characters look alive, but would you say that's bad since it's not too comic bookish?
Well computer animated is not very realistic at all, or at least to me. and its not alex ross' style, its the way he draws superheroes. he makes them too ordinary, theyre supposed to be heroes not ordinary people

Robin2099

08-25-2007, 12:47 AM

Well computer animated is not very realistic at all, or at least to me. and its not alex ross' style, its the way he draws superheroes. he makes them too ordinary, theyre supposed to be heroes not ordinary people But there's the catch 22. With the exception of heroes like Superman, Martian Manhunter, and Maybe Wonnder Women, the people in the league are basically normal people. So having someone like Superman be big and bulky works, but having Batman, Flash or Hal Jordan look like they could double for Conan doesn't work as well.

dmxx116

08-25-2007, 04:40 AM

Welling is Superman in JLA (http://www.iesb.net/index.php?option=com_ezine&task=read&page=1&category=1&article=3138)????????????
This is all BS, Tom Welling will not make a great Superman(IMO).

Azrael24

08-25-2007, 03:54 PM

But there's the catch 22. With the exception of heroes like Superman, Martian Manhunter, and Maybe Wonnder Women, the people in the league are basically normal people. So having someone like Superman be big and bulky works, but having Batman, Flash or Hal Jordan look like they could double for Conan doesn't work as well.
But theyre superheroes, theyre supposed to be in shape, not like ordinary people. it would make no sense for a person who's not very built to be running around fighting crime. and his wonder woman looks waaay too manly. actually most of his women do

DR.MID-NITE

08-25-2007, 11:39 PM

I may be in the minority. But, I like the Welling as Supes decision...if true.

Bale not in it bums me out.

ShadowGUN

08-26-2007, 09:46 AM

No Welling as Superman in JL (http://www.supermanhomepage.com/news.php?readmore=3833).

Silly McGooses

08-28-2007, 04:07 PM

Yessss!

Batman

08-28-2007, 09:16 PM

This movie Got Disaster written all over it :(

thanos28542

08-29-2007, 03:30 AM

Seriously people, this movie's best chance at being done before or by 09' & being successful is the CGI/motion capture route ala Final Fantasy, Beowulf & even like the opening of Marvel's "Ultimate alliance " game, those are all great examples of how awesome a full length JLA movie would be if done in CGI/motion capture.

We wouldn't have to worry about so & so not being right for the role of Supes, Bats or Martian Manhunter, GL, Flash, etc! They could sport their comic accurate costumes, have the perfect builds & the budget will be way less expensive than what they would have to pay a bunch of egocentric actors/actresses that probably wouldn't even fit the role of the character they're playing.

We'd also have a way better chance of seeing 2nd tier JLers in this such as Hawkman, Green Arrow, BC, Reddy, Firestorm & Elongated man! Also the villian/villains for a movie like this should be either Darksied or the Legion of Doom.

Like I said, CGI/Motion capture is the way to go with this movie, same for if they ever decide to make an Avengers movie.

Just my 2 centavos!

DR.MID-NITE

08-29-2007, 08:53 AM

No Welling as Superman in JL (http://www.supermanhomepage.com/news.php?readmore=3833).

I read that IESB is still claiming its true. And that the Smallville producers are not admiting to it. So who knows.

Azrael24

08-30-2007, 05:56 PM

well, theyre only doing the CGI stuff for a couple of scenes. and with today's technology, they CAN do a live action movie. it cant be harder than Transformers

DR.MID-NITE

09-03-2007, 10:47 PM

;)

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/76/superwellinguj6.jpg

Jacob T. Paschal

09-04-2007, 09:49 AM

Now that is just lame. Save posting the manips for when things are actually going to happen, please.

maczero

09-04-2007, 01:11 PM

But there's the catch 22. With the exception of heroes like Superman, Martian Manhunter, and Maybe Wonnder Women, the people in the league are basically normal people. So having someone like Superman be big and bulky works, but having Batman, Flash or Hal Jordan look like they could double for Conan doesn't work as well.Exactly. In fact, I don't even like Superman looking like a steroid abuser. Sure he should be cut but a massive build doesn't work either. Remember he has to be Clark Kent too so a hulking physique kinda works against the whole "mild mannered reporter" image. IMO, Supes should only be slightly more muscular than Batman and perhaps an inch taller.

The Penguin

09-04-2007, 09:36 PM

;)

I know it's not very inspiring to say this, but it's time to give up on your dreams DR.MID-NITE. At least this one. ;)

DR.MID-NITE

09-05-2007, 08:42 PM

I know it's not very inspiring to say this, but it's time to give up on your dreams DR.MID-NITE. At least this one. ;)

Just having some fun. While I would enjoy seeing Welling as Supes. I am really holding out hope Warner comes to its senses and does whatever it takes to get Bale (w/Nolan's approval) in the movie.

DR.MID-NITE

09-20-2007, 06:05 PM

JLA movie confirmed!

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117972369.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

"Warner Bros. is moving aggressively ahead with the bigscreen adaptation of DC Comics’ “Justice League of America,” with George Miller on board to direct.
Project, which is the initial phases of casting, is a pre-strike priority for the studio, which needs a superhero tentpole in 2009.

Still, making all the pieces fit has been complicated by overlapping superhero projects in the pipeline, since “Justice League” features a pantheon of superheroes, including Superman and Batman.

Batman and Superman are active properties for the studio, though the next installment in the Superman franchise has taken a backseat to “Justice League” in part because Warners is so keen on the “Justice League” script by Kieran and Michele Mulroney.

“Justice League” will likely feature the characters of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash and Aquaman.

Warners is in the preliminary phases of casting for “Justice League.” Several sources close to the project said that Christian Bale, star of the revived Batman film franchise, and Brandon Routh, star of Bryan Singer’s “Superman Returns,” would probably not appear in the movie.

However, helmer Chris Nolan, current steward of the “Batman” franchise for the studio, would prefer that Warners delay “Justice League” until after he finishes “Batman” projects in development; Bale has also let his uneasiness about “Justice League” be known.

To work around these issues, the studio explored making “Justice League” as an animated film or with motion capture, but all indications are that the film will be special-effects driven live action.

The project is so complicated -- and casting dependent -- that even those deeply involved in the project are holding their breath until production begins.

“They’re working very hard to get it to happen,” said one party close to the project. “But there are so many characters it’s complicated.”

It was for this very reason that many believed Warners would move ahead first with a follow-up to Bryan Singer’s “Superman Returns.” Singer, however, is busy with Tom Cruise starrer “Valkyrie.”

Miller has a warm relationship with Warners. He last helmed “Happy Feet,” which generated $379 million worldwide box office for the studio."

Wounded_Dragon

09-20-2007, 06:19 PM

This has all the earmarks of debacle in the making.

Don_East

09-20-2007, 06:21 PM

What, no Green Lantern? He was a founding member, he deserves to be on the roster for this even more than Batman & Superman.

NinjaJack

09-20-2007, 06:26 PM

Good, now FORCE Tom Welling into that blue suit, Force him!

The Myst

09-20-2007, 06:38 PM

What, no Green Lantern? He was a founding member, he deserves to be on the roster for this even more than Batman & Superman.

Speaking as the biggest Green Lantern fan I know, I'm actually happy that he's not in it.

I'm predicting this will be one of the worst comic movies ever made right here and now.

Simpler Simon

09-20-2007, 06:45 PM

I was on a short film shoot a few weeks back, and our lead actor mentioned that everybody in Toronto who was "between 18-34 and looked like a superhero" was being asked to go in to audition for the new Justice League movie. These were prelimiary, prelimiary auditions, and they were asked to perform from a selection of monologues (nothing comic-related, one choice was the "You can't handle the truth" bit) and relate one happy story and one sad story.

I have no idea if they're starting completely at the bottom to cast relative unknowns for the key heroes, or if the script will be a "Kingdom Come" scenario with lots of other hero cameos.

RedKnight

09-20-2007, 07:35 PM

Hmmm... This could go either way, me thinks... If they handle it juuust right, it could be the most fangasmic movie experience ever. If they mishandle it juuust slightly, though... not so much. :(

Looking at the preliminary roster, what I'm wondering is how they'll reconcile these vastly different characters on the big screen. I can swallow the idea of guy in a bat costume working alongside a planet-shakingly powerful alien and an Amazon warrior princess, -- in a comic book. In a movie, -- no way. Suspension of disbelief can only go so far. :shrug: Even as a DC nerd, I find it hard to picture Batman and Superman existing within the same universe. Adding outlandish characters like Wonder Woman and Aquaman on top would bring ithis whole scenario down like a house of cards for me.

There sure are a lot of pitfalls associated with this project... Advance kudos to any writer capable of doing this without completely alienating either the hardcore fan base or the general cinema audience .

JohnCrichton

09-20-2007, 07:41 PM

Peter Paltridge

09-20-2007, 07:50 PM

The best-told superhero stories I have seen on film from the last 20 years have for the most part been from Timm and company. When is WB going to wise up and hand him the writer's job on a real, big, expensive live-action superhero movie?

If not handled delicately, this will be nothing but explosions and confusion. It's a LOT of heroes to juggle around.

And Welling is a nerd; I don't want him to actually play Blue-Tights Superman.

Azrael24

09-20-2007, 08:16 PM

well, im glad its finally official and im really excited for it, i cant wait to see it!

HG Revolution

09-20-2007, 08:26 PM

Something which may be interesting is that another pre-strike priority for WB is 1906. A new film by some guy. Brad Bird, the name is? What did he do?
Any Oscars under his belt?

(in less sarcastic words, I'm really excited)

The Weed Of Cri

09-20-2007, 08:31 PM

Jeez, what a bunch of sob-sisters. Can even one of you wait long enough to actually see the movie before you drop the ax on it. Do you think a movie can't handle five heroes in the same story without collapsing? Guess you haven't seen X-Men. The rest of you are fuming because your favorite hero or actor isn't in it. Guess what? The script hasn't been written and the film hasn't been cast. With a project like this, anything can change and anything can happen. Nolan, Singer and Bale are critical of the decision because there's a possibility that this film could turn out to be more popular than what they're doing. It's not a certainty, but where the public is concerned, anything can happen.

They could do a lot worse with this film than just not include Green Lantern. They could make it a comedy, or make Lex Luthor the main villian and have the actor playing him do the Gene Hackman/Kevin Spacey schtick through the whole movie.

Though he wouldn't be my first choice, we could do worse than Tom Welling as Superman. I'm not a fan of Smallville (although I admit it's gotten better in later seasons), but he's got the look and the acting chops to handle it. And if I were handling the casting, I wouldn't reject the idea of casting Michael Rosenbaum as The Flash. That would get the DCAU fans interested.

My choices for casting:
Superman: Paul Tefler
Batman: Victor Webster
Wonder Woman: Aishwarya Rai
The Flash: Michael Rosenbaum
Aquaman: Eric Johnson

DR.MID-NITE

09-20-2007, 09:08 PM

Welling not in JLA!...Well maybe.

Robert from IESB had this to say...

Justice League and Man of Steel Updates
Written by Robert Sanchez
Thursday, 20 September 2007
Finally some official news was released today regarding the Justice League film in the works over at WB but I 've got a few more things to share with you all.
George Miller was confirmed as director (duh) and Variety also confirmed that at one point WB was looking into doing the film in mo-cap.
But, I’ve got some further info to share. I was waiting to get final verification this week before I broke the bad news and I’ve gotten it. I really wanted my readers to hear it from me…Tom Welling is completely out of the running for Superman.
We first heard this from the same source that first confirmed him to us, I then confirmed it with 3 other studio sources. I am asking for an explanation but they have not been able to give me one quite yet.
What happened? I don’t know, I really don’t. He was the shoe in. I am lost for words. Why did he not sign? He was the favored pick. Was it scheduling? Was it something else? All we know is the negotiations went south. We will do some digging and try to find out why the deal didn’t go through and let you know as soon as we do.
Does this mean Routh is in? I am looking into it. I heard he had talked to someone from WB as recently as this week but that could have been about anything. No one is talking at this point, I will let you guys know as soon as I hear something concrete.
So the dilemma is do you recast and have a new Supes on JL (which would bring our current # of Supes to 3) or bring in Routh? With the production start date quickly approaching, they’ve got to come up with something quickly.
Now, as for Batman, in my original Welling post I mentioned a bit about Batman, but wasn’t willing to confirm the name just yet. However, my message boarders got the best of me and I soon announced that it was Oscar nominated actor Ryan Gosling whose name had been thrown around the WB offices to fill the Bats shoes.
Now don’t go posting that “IESB said Ryan Gosling has been cast as Bats.” He hasn’t. But, from what I’ve heard he’s at the top of a very short list. He’s a bit lanky to pull off Bruce Wayne but considering this is Justice League and we only ever see the “Super” side of our heroes, a well made rubber suit can take care of that.
One more thing that has a lot of people wondering, what happens to the Bryan Singer Superman sequel Man of Steel? Well folks, it’s been pushed back indefinitely. Variety called it “taking a backseat” but my inside source says it will at least be a few years before we see any movement on that end.

But wait. Someone who is supposedly in know posted this...

The latest from emi_jayne at countingdown.com
It's not over til the fat lady sings...
I just got a call from my usual source. It's true that Welling did not sign. However, I was told yet again that they plan to keep working on a deal. They are also looking at other actors, but Welling is still their #1 choice.
The 5 contract signings did turn out to be false. There were 3 but none of them involved actors.
Also, Man of Steel is done. Dead. Gone. The studio execs have decided if another Superman film is made it will be a restart as they did with Batman Begins. Routh was told the news about a week ago. Being under contract for MOS, he was guaranteed a shot at keeping the role. I didn't like that info, but oh well.
So that's it for now. All we can do is hope and pray for a deal to be worked out but it looks like the triangle of WB, Smallville's producers, and Welling were unable to figure things out before Miller signed his deal.
I'll keep you all updated as I hear things.

desi

09-20-2007, 09:19 PM

Wonder Woman: Aishwarya Rai
The Flash: Michael Rosenbaum

I wouldn't mind seeing Wonder Woman with an indian accent. LOL.
...And just because he does every other role of Flash in Animation doesnt mean he can only play him...It would be cooler if he played an older version of Lex in the movie.

RedKnight

09-20-2007, 09:25 PM

Do you think a movie can't handle five heroes in the same story without collapsing? Guess you haven't seen X-Men.

Dude, the difference between JL and X-Men is humongous! With the X-Men, you are looking at characters who were created tofunction as part of a team. Having Cyclops, Storm and Nightcrawler in one movie is no problem. No one would expect them in movies of their own; and although characters like Wolverine or Magneto have developed a lot of weight and backstory over the years, they still work the way they were designed to. The X-Men have always been a team. Solo adventures came along later.

Not so with the JLA. They are comprised of the greatest heroes the DC universe has to offer. They come from vastly different backgrounds, are mostly known to the casual viewer, could easily support movies on their own.

Cortez2301

09-20-2007, 09:55 PM

IS the movie going to be as serious as the batman franchise or even Superman? I mean I know That Miller did MAD MAX but is the movie going in a good direction?

BCVM22

09-20-2007, 10:02 PM

IS the movie going to be as serious as the batman franchise or even Superman? I mean I know That Miller did MAD MAX but is the movie going in a good direction?

The movie is (supposedly; pssh) just going into pre-production now. How would you expect someone to know what the tone and direction of the movie will be?

Silverstar

09-20-2007, 10:06 PM

I admit I'm disappointed to hear no word on Martian Manhunter being in the movie, but I've been waiting for a JL flick for some time, so I'm going to see the movie even if it sucks, just so I can come onto the boards and say "It sucked!"

Damien

09-20-2007, 10:29 PM

Of course Bale would be uneasy, given the realism they've given Batman lately and the fantastical elements usually associated with the JLA. What they need to do is write JLA around the Nolan/Bale Batman. I don't mean make him the most central character, but write him into the story in a way audiences will believe he'd get involved.

I guess Routh is Superman? Unless they want this to branch off of Smallville, but that would include the "Justice" cast and work better as a television movie.
Anyway, I love the line-up. GL needed? Not really, I guess, but the line-up is great other than his absence.

Charlie

09-21-2007, 04:23 AM

This will be either really great, or really bad. There is no in between. Also they should have swapped Aquaman out for someone else. He's a mock character in the eyes of the public and would be better suited as a 2nd tier hero.

BCVM22

09-21-2007, 04:27 AM

Also they should have swapped Aquaman out for someone else. He's a mock character in the eyes of the public and would be better suited as a 2nd tier hero.

Perhaps, but if one is going strictly by comic book lore, Aquaman has as much legitimacy as a League member as Green Lantern and the Flash do; he's been a founding member since the Silver Age and in every retcon since then.

David64

09-21-2007, 07:39 AM

If Bale and Routh are not in this, I'm going to be very dissapointed... I'l' still watch it, but Bale and Routh ARE Batman and Superman of this decade, IMO. I just don't see anyone doing a better job then them right now.

Welling would be good... but I guess for Superman on the big screen, I think Brandon Routh would be a better choice.

BatKid

09-21-2007, 12:26 PM

I'm very disappointed that we won't be seeing a return of Brandon Routh as Superman.

I predict failure. The signs of a bad comic book movie is when they choose to tick off the established fans first and that what they're doing by throwing both Christian Bale and Brandon Routh to the wind to just slap together some new heroes.
I don't know about you, but I'm of the mind that Batman/Superman are much bigger characters, and therefore transcend the actors playing them.

As long as the actors cast for these parts look the part and act it, then I'm fine.

Dude, the difference between JL and X-Men is humongous! With the X-Men, you are looking at characters who were created to function as part of a team.
And what was JL created for? To hang out and have slumber parties at the Watchtower?

Of course Bale would be uneasy, given the realism they've given Batman lately and the fantastical elements usually associated with the JLA. What they need to do is write JLA around the Nolan/Bale Batman. I don't mean make him the most central character, but write him into the story in a way audiences will believe he'd get involved.
I think the best route would be to leave Bats out of it for now. Batman is already a proven franchise, so he's on safe ground. Part of the reason why JL was made was to gauge audience reaction to these other DC characters.

If it's successful, then worry about working Bats (or Bale) into the equation for the sequel.

If Bale and Routh are not in this, I'm going to be very dissapointed... I'l' still watch it, but Bale and Routh ARE Batman and Superman of this decade, IMO. I just don't see anyone doing a better job then them right now.
Bale, I can see. Routh....not so much. He had next to nothing to work with, so I don't see how people can proclaim this he's the definitive Superman of this decade. That only defaults to him because he's the only one to play the role.

He did ok with what was given to him, but a far cry from what I'd expect of the World's Greatest Hero. If they keep him, fine, but he'd better have more screentime than he did in SR. Frankly I'm tired of Supes having nothing to do.

David64

09-21-2007, 02:32 PM

That only defaults to him because he's the only one to play the role.

Well, some people consider Tom Welling to be the Superman for this decade...

BatKid

09-21-2007, 03:13 PM

Then they must be delusional, considering Welling not only hasn't put on the suit, but he hasn't actually played the role of Superman.

Azrael24

09-21-2007, 04:04 PM

There's so many more talented actors that can fit as batman and superman, i think its incredibly ridiculous to say that bale and routh are the only two people out of the 6.2 billion in the world to play them

Robin2099

09-21-2007, 04:06 PM

I don't know about you, but I'm of the mind that Batman/Superman are much bigger characters, and therefore transcend the actors playing them.

As long as the actors cast for these parts look the part and act it, then I'm fine.
The difference being that both heroes still have movies and sequels coming out. Heck, TDK comes out next year, then in 09, you have someone else playing Batman, then Bales playing Batman again in the next one. When people hear that Batman and Superman are in it, then they'll automatically associate it with Bale/Routh. Why run the risk of confusing the public by recasting the roles, and releasing new movies with the same actors.

Nexonius

09-21-2007, 06:55 PM

This is the talkback thread for JLA Movie Finds a Director (http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=18999).

I might check this out.

The Penguin

09-21-2007, 07:28 PM

Silly McGooses

09-21-2007, 08:07 PM

George Miller has more diversity than almost any director I can think of, and I have faith that he will do a good job, even though I would rather see this movie wait a few years. How many men could direct both "Babe" and the absolutely terrifying "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" sequence at the end of the Twilight Zone movie?

adoptedBatpuppy

09-21-2007, 08:59 PM

This is good news, this movie has more chances of happening now then ever! :D

Hanshotfirst113

09-21-2007, 09:02 PM

Personally, I'd love to see Green Arrow in this.

Cary Elwes?

Silverstar

09-21-2007, 09:30 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by RedKnight http://forums.toonzone.net/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?p=2656048#post2656048)
Dude, the difference between JL and X-Men is humongous! With the X-Men, you are looking at characters who were created to function as part of a team.

And what was JL created for? To hang out and have slumber parties at the Watchtower?

The JL was indeed created to be a team book for DC; however unlike X-Men, the core Leaguers were already established heroes in their own right who also starred in their own solo books. The X-Men characters, by contrast, were created to be a team and didn't originally have their own books. (The offshoots like the Wolverine comics wouldn't come until later.)

I think the best route would be to leave Bats out of it for now. Batman is already a proven franchise, so he's on safe ground. Part of the reason why JL was made was to gauge audience reaction to these other DC characters.

If it's successful, then worry about working Bats (or Bale) into the equation for the sequel.

A Justice League movie with no Batman would be like a Star Wars movie with no Jedis or Sith: those responsible would be targeted for execution at the hands of enraged nerds. They wouldn't dare do the movie without any member of the Trinity. Besides, Bats has already been confirmed for the film.

BatKid

09-21-2007, 10:57 PM

The JL was indeed created to be a team book for DC; however unlike X-Men, the core Leaguers were already established heroes in their own right who also starred in their own solo books. The X-Men characters, by contrast, were created to be a team and didn't originally have their own books. (The offshoots like the Wolverine comics wouldn't come until later.)
How does that have ANY relevance to the film or quality of writing? Despite their merits as characters, they still function as a team.

A Justice League movie with no Batman would be like a Star Wars movie with no Jedis or Sith: Umm...no. Not even close. It's more comparable to a Star Wars film without Yoda. JL is NOT Batman. He's a core member, but there are 6 other core players as well. Losing him is not much of a detriment.

Silly McGooses

09-22-2007, 07:58 AM

Hanshotfirst113

09-22-2007, 09:24 AM

Something I feel I must point out is that George Miller not only directed Happy Feet, he also wrote it (though not by himself). I like Happy Feet just fine, but I was so irritated by the fact that it crammed every single possible coming of age storyline into one movie. Miller is not slated to write JLA, but I don't know what that says about his creative vision.

Have you ever seen The Road Warrior? I think that he clearly understands comics very well in that film; their style, their look, their energy, their rhythm are all on display in that movie. I think that like Guillermo del Toro, Sam Raimi, and Richard Donner, he really "gets" comic books and their stylings.

Cortez2301

09-22-2007, 11:51 PM

The movie is (supposedly; pssh) just going into pre-production now. How would you expect someone to know what the tone and direction of the movie will be?You know what I made a mistake.I'm also fed up with you answering me and almost everyone else with a rude and sarcastic attidude.You're pissing me off.

A.J

09-23-2007, 03:01 AM

Umm...no. Not even close. It's more comparable to a Star Wars film without Yoda. JL is NOT Batman. He's a core member, but there are 6 other core players as well. Losing him is not much of a detriment.

That would be your opinion of course...personally no batman in a JLA movie would be suicide..

Silly McGooses

09-23-2007, 09:33 PM

So I guess it's really, seriously, definitely getting made. And quickly.

Hell, might as well get excited about a live-action JL film if there's nothing I can do about it!

Silverstar

09-23-2007, 11:02 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by BatKid http://forums.toonzone.net/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?p=2657060#post2657060)
Umm...no. Not even close. It's more comparable to a Star Wars film without Yoda. JL is NOT Batman. He's a core member, but there are 6 other core players as well. Losing him is not much of a detriment.

That would be your opinion of course...personally no batman in a JLA movie would be suicide..

Thank you. Several hundred fan boys and girls 'round the world will tell you the same.

And as was stated previously, Batman has already been confirmed for the film, so speculating about his not being used is akin to a broken pencil: pointless.

dmxx116

09-24-2007, 06:17 AM

They should cast Brandon Routh as Superman first to get some good buzz about this film.

dmxx116

09-24-2007, 06:19 AM

You know what I made a mistake.I'm also fed up with you answering me and almost everyone else with a rude and sarcastic attidude.You're pissing me off. Same here i'm with you on this one King zrz.

Silverstar

09-24-2007, 08:43 AM

They should cast Brandon Routh as Superman first to get some good buzz about this film.

That was the initial plan, but they're not getting Routh, apparently.

The Myst

09-24-2007, 03:02 PM

They should cast Brandon Routh as Superman first to get some good buzz about this film.

That wouldn't get good buzz...

Cortez2301

09-24-2007, 04:31 PM

Same here i'm with you on this one King zrz.Thanks.We're not the ony ones either.

Robin2099

09-24-2007, 06:49 PM

That wouldn't get good buzz...

Hey it's better then the alternative. You cast Routh, some may not like it but they would be in the minority most likely. You cast Welling, and everyone will be split but leaning more toward the angry side. You cast an unknown people get annoyed that it's not Routh or Welling, and hundreds of other fan boy reasons. At least with Routh people know what to expect.

dmxx116

09-24-2007, 07:21 PM

Hey it's better then the alternative. You cast Routh, some may not like it but they would be in the minority most likely. You cast Welling, and everyone will be split but leaning more toward the angry side. You cast an unknown people get annoyed that it's not Routh or Welling, and hundreds of other fan boy reasons. At least with Routh people know what to expect.
You're right and they should cast Batman last for enough time for Bale to finish The Dark Knight and cast every body else right of way.

DR.MID-NITE

09-24-2007, 10:54 PM

Some interesting Justice League/Wonder Woman casting news...

EW is reporting that Jessica Biel is in talks to play WW:

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20058504,00.html (http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20058504,00.html)

Will Jessica Biel play Wonder Woman?
According to industry sources, Biel is in talks to swing the trusty Lasso of Truth in the upcoming ''Justice League'' movie
JESSICA BIEL
Steve Granitz/WireImage.com
All About
Jessica Biel
By Nicole Sperling

Will Jessica Biel be the next Wonder Woman? Industry sources say that the former 7th Heaven teen star may wield the Lasso of Truth in an upcoming film version of Justice League of America, and Hollywood was buzzing about the potential casting news on Monday. (Biel's reps say that it's way too early to know if a deal will happen; Warner Bros. won't confirm.) The movie, set to be directed by George Miller (Mad Max, Happy Feet), is a live-action adaptation of the popular comic book. It will mark the first time Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman will appear together on the big screen. Biel last starred in Adam Sandler's summer comedy I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. She is currently shooting the drama Powder Blue with Forest Whitaker.
Posted Sep 24, 2007 | Order Article Reprints

BCVM22

09-24-2007, 11:46 PM

I would like to go on record (and hopefully I'm not the only one) as saying that Jessica Biel, attractive as she may be, would not at all be a good casting choice for Wonder Woman.

David64

09-25-2007, 07:27 AM

That wouldn't get good buzz...

yes it would

ShadowGUN

09-25-2007, 07:56 AM

Jessica Biel as Wonder Woman? (http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=130630) Interesting.

Silverstar

09-25-2007, 08:31 AM

I would like to go on record (and hopefully I'm not the only one) as saying that Jessica Biel, attractive as she may be, would not at all be a good casting choice for Wonder Woman.

Seconded. Biel gives off too much of a teenybopper vibe for me. I have nothing against her as an actress, but she's all wrong for Diana, IMHO.

The Myst

09-25-2007, 01:05 PM

yes it would

You mean except for all the people that hated Superman Returns?

It really was not that popular of a movie.

Wounded_Dragon

09-25-2007, 07:30 PM

You mean except for all the people that hated Superman Returns?

It really was not that popular of a movie.

Boxofficemojo rates it as a B, Rotten Tomatoes gives it a 77%. Hardly a movie that wasn't at all popular.

The Myst

09-26-2007, 02:12 AM

Boxofficemojo rates it as a B, Rotten Tomatoes gives it a 77%. Hardly a movie that wasn't at all popular.

That's great that critics liked it but I've never met a single person before that actually liked the movie.

BCVM22

09-26-2007, 02:16 AM

That's great that critics liked it but I've never met a single person before that actually liked the movie.

And it's great that you've informally polled your friends and acquaintances like that, but surely you don't believe that represents the entire viewership of the movie.

The Myst

09-26-2007, 03:16 AM

And it's great that you've informally polled your friends and acquaintances like that, but surely you don't believe that represents the entire viewership of the movie.

Not just my circle of friends. Look around the internet once in a while.

Hell, the Marvel/DC After Hours thing was started on the basis of Superman Returns being an awful movie and Spider-Man being so much better.

dmxx116

09-26-2007, 03:27 AM

Not just my circle of friends. Look around the internet once in a while.

Hell, the Marvel/DC After Hours thing was started on the basis of Superman Returns being an awful movie and Spider-Man being so much better.
Spider-man 3 is so much better then that boring ass Superman returns and everybody know that , And that why Wb is doing a Justice League movie and not superman sequel.

BCVM22

09-26-2007, 03:30 AM

Spider-man 3 is so much better then that boring ass Superman returns and everybody know that.

To quote one's own opinion as concrete fact is a logical fallacy of significant proportions.

Not just my circle of friends. Look around the internet once in a while.

I look around the Internet plenty. The sentiments I found were largely mixed, and furthermore, the Internet, all-powerful as it may seem, is not always a reliable barometer for public opinion, especially when one considers a topic like comic book movies. Such productions are the subject of heated, venomous discussions and criticism on the Internet, but to the majority of the viewers of said movies they inspire no such vehemence.

David64

09-26-2007, 07:25 AM

You mean except for all the people that hated Superman Returns?

It really was not that popular of a movie.

Well, even most haters admit that Routh did a good job. People blame the movie on Singer, not Routh... most people would admit that Brandon Routh was one of the good things about SR.

That's great that critics liked it but I've never met a single person before that actually liked the movie.

Well, I liked it :(

Silverstar

09-26-2007, 08:35 AM

Spider-man 3 is so much better then that boring ass Superman returns and everybody know that , And that why Wb is doing a Justice League movie and not superman sequel.

Incorrect. They are making a sequel to Superman Returns, which is why Routh most likely won't be in the Justice League movie.

FTR: I didn't think Spider-Man 3 was all that great; IMO, I'd say it and Superman Returns were equally mediocre. Stating your opinions as facts doesn't automatically make them true.

rggkjg1

09-26-2007, 09:18 AM

i had no problem with this movie when it was announced, maybe because i felt it wasn't actually going to get made (just because it's announced doesn't mean its going to be made). now i want them to stop. all the new dc movies should be in the same universe. i'm also not really impressed with the casting for wonder woman and that they will recast superman and batman. routh and bale should make cameos or have small parts and the movie should focus on the rest of members (like the early 60's jla comics). i also want to see if they'll stick to that "seperate universe" rule thing if they make the wonder woman movie. hopefully they won't give biel the role.

since they have to recast superman, lets give it to tom welling (i liked superman returns and had no problem with routh, but it's obvious he's not going to be in it). it will add some kind of logic to this movie since there will be 2 different supermans and batmans now. one more thing, NO JOSH HARTNETT AS SUPERMAN.

sigh, i wish they would just do a routh/bale superman/batman movie.

BatKid

09-26-2007, 09:43 AM

I look around the Internet plenty. The sentiments I found were largely mixed, and furthermore, the Internet, all-powerful as it may seem, is not always a reliable barometer for public opinion, especially when one considers a topic like comic book movies.
Maybe for the smaller, independent films. But for blockbusters? I can't really name one highly marketed film that had different opinions from fans and the average joe.

Such productions are the subject of heated, venomous discussions and criticism on the Internet, but to the majority of the viewers of said movies they inspire no such vehemence.
True. With the casual moviegoer it's either "really good, i'm telling everyone i know to go watch this must-see movie", "don't waste your money", or "it was alright, go see it if you have nothing else to do".

With SR, I found it was the latter. Judging from it's box office, I'd say it's fairly accurate.

NinjaJack

09-26-2007, 01:01 PM

Though, I would like them to pick Smallville's Green Arrow actor to continue the part in this movie

The Myst

09-26-2007, 01:59 PM

Well, even most haters admit that Routh did a good job. People blame the movie on Singer, not Routh... most people would admit that Brandon Routh was one of the good things about SR.

Well, I liked it :(

Routh did well with what he was given but he was a bland Superman overall. That coupled with a less than successful movie in the eyes of many wouldn't bring much "good buzz" to the JLA movie.

Spider-Man

09-26-2007, 03:28 PM

Given the realistic tone of the new Batman movies I would prefer not to have Bale reprise his role. Batman on Film wrote a good editorial on why Bale (and even Batman) should not be in the Justice League movie. I'd rather just see Bale recasted and the suit redesigned myself so moviegoers can tell the difference between the two franchises.

http://batman-on-film.com/opinion_jett_dear-wb-about-justice-league-movie_9-4-07.html

Stu

09-26-2007, 03:44 PM

Redi

09-26-2007, 05:55 PM

Silverstar

09-26-2007, 06:12 PM

I'm sorry but this is just stupid.

I'm sure comic book fans will buy into the whole "multiverse" aspect of this but I doubt that everyone else will understand why someone else is playing Batman and Superman. They just won't get it and to be honest, I don't get it.

After all the time and money that they invested in getting people to associate the new Batman with Bale and the new Superman with Routh, they're going to find two new actors to take on these role in a JL film.....then recast Bale and Routh later in sequels to the Batman and Superman movies...and then it explain it to Mr. and Mrs. "Never Read A Comic" as it being in two different universes?

Why? If this movie didn't have Superman and Batman in it, I would have no problem. But why add this unnecessary confusion? I know people who think that Batman Begins is apart of the same continuity as Batman & Robin. Some People still can't separate the new Doomsday movie from the Superman TAS because it looks the same. And I'm pretty sure that Smallville was one of the reasons why Superman Returns wasn't received so well. So how is this going to work?

Maybe they can pull this off without confusing the majority of the audience. If the movie does well, they'll probably make sequels and there will be 2 different versions of Batman and Superman on the big screen....that will be....ummm....something.

Bale and Routh's exclusion from the JL movie is most likely for showbiz reasons rather than artistic ones. The actors may have other commitments or clauses in their contracts which prevent them doing their respective sequels and this film, or perhaps they just don't want to be typecast as The Man of Steel and The Dark Knight, respectively.

And you may not have a problem with no Supes or Bats in the movie, but you're most definitely in the minority. A great deal many people wouldn't pay 2 cents and a peso to see a JL film without either one of them. Heck, there are lots of people who only watched the JL show for Batman or Superman. No Supes or Bats would be box office suicide; I can guarantee a Batsy and Supey-less Justice League movie would be a bigger bomb than Ishtar.

Jacob T. Paschal

09-26-2007, 06:21 PM

Well, even most haters admit that Routh did a good job. People blame the movie on Singer, not Routh... most people would admit that Brandon Routh was one of the good things about SR.

Well, I liked it :(

Singer's biggest problem was how he dropped us into a situation with little backstory.

I think he did Jason's story the best, though.

The Myst

09-27-2007, 12:15 AM

I'm sorry but this is just stupid.

I'm sure comic book fans will buy into the whole "multiverse" aspect of this but I doubt that everyone else will understand why someone else is playing Batman and Superman. They just won't get it and to be honest, I don't get it.

After all the time and money that they invested in getting people to associate the new Batman with Bale and the new Superman with Routh, they're going to find two new actors to take on these role in a JL film.....then recast Bale and Routh later in sequels to the Batman and Superman movies...and then it explain it to Mr. and Mrs. "Never Read A Comic" as it being in two different universes?

Why? If this movie didn't have Superman and Batman in it, I would have no problem. But why add this unnecessary confusion? I know people who think that Batman Begins is apart of the same continuity as Batman & Robin. Some People still can't separate the new Doomsday movie from the Superman TAS because it looks the same. And I'm pretty sure that Smallville was one of the reasons why Superman Returns wasn't received so well. So how is this going to work?

Maybe they can pull this off without confusing the majority of the audience. If the movie does well, they'll probably make sequels and there will be 2 different versions of Batman and Superman on the big screen....that will be....ummm....something.

The reason Bale isn't involved is cause he only signed for three movies and they're not wasting his third movie on this. It wasn't because they didn't want him.

Singer's biggest problem was how he dropped us into a situation with little backstory.

I think he did Jason's story the best, though.

There was plenty of backstory. You just had to see the Donner movies to know that backstory. You also had to take massive leaps in logic to explain the behavior of the characters but that's just poor writing, not a lack of backstory.

Robin2099

09-27-2007, 01:29 AM

The reason Bale isn't involved is cause he only signed for three movies and they're not wasting his third movie on this. It wasn't because they didn't want him.

Bales contract was for three Batman movies and "a team up movie" and that was straight from his mouth. WB had no interest in bringing him or Routh in because they want to keep the movies separate and the universes separate, which is incredibly stupid.

The Myst

09-27-2007, 03:28 AM

Bales contract was for three Batman movies and "a team up movie" and that was straight from his mouth. WB had no interest in bringing him or Routh in because they want to keep the movies separate and the universes separate, which is incredibly stupid.

If that's true, it's stupid but I can see where they're coming from. Bale's Batman is too real for the JLA.

Young Justice

09-27-2007, 12:56 PM

Using Bale simply wouldn't work - the tone of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight wouldn't fit when you've got a Manhunter from Mars, an intergaltic traveller and a woman from an island without men.

If you must use Batman, recast him and redesign his suit completely, no black rubber!

I think there's something we need to consider when talking about Batman Begins vs. Justice League: Grounded in Reality is an artistic concept.

BB is called that way not because Batman doesn't have any superpowers, but because of the tone of the story. There are a lot of things in BB that are fantastic, but the way they are showed to the people, is they key to make them "grounded in reality".

A super powered hero or heroes movie could be portrayed in the "grounded in reality" fashion. As a matter a fact, there were a lot of comic books that were grounded in reality and portrayed super powered beings: Marvels, Kingdom Come, Dark Knight Returns, Watchmen. Donner's Superman, Superman Returns, Spider Man 1 to 3, and X-Men 1 to 3, were grounded in reality. The key of this concept is to think how would be the real consequences in our real world if there were super powered beings among us. Another aspect of this concept is to make the heroes to look like us, normal people, with emotions, flaws etc.

Hanshotfirst113

09-27-2007, 01:10 PM

I would like to go on record (and hopefully I'm not the only one) as saying that Jessica Biel, attractive as she may be, would not at all be a good casting choice for Wonder Woman.

I never though that I'd see the day when I agreed with you, but there you go. I do.

BCVM22

09-27-2007, 03:13 PM

I never though that I'd see the day when I agreed with you, but there you go. I do.

It was only moderately funny the first time you said it.

Justice League 2000

09-27-2007, 04:30 PM

JLA Movie would be great.:)

Hanshotfirst113

09-27-2007, 04:33 PM

It was only moderately funny the first time you said it.

What are you talking about?

Russkafin

09-27-2007, 04:49 PM

The "Back Row Chatter" column from the website ugo.com has some possible spoilers for the movie. I have no idea how valid these are, but, if they are true, it looks like they are borrowing some plot elements from the Tower of Babel and/or OMAC storyline... i.e. Batman having files on all the team's weaknesses.....

The whole column can be found here: http://movieblog.ugo.com/index.php/movieblog/more/bhc_exclusive_spoiler_details_on_the_jla_movies_storyline/

Here are some highlights:

Unbeknownst to the League Batman has a piece of technology that he developed called the "Redeye", a cool piece of hardware that he can use to spy unbeknownst on the other League members. Want to know what the secret identity of Superman is? Not a problem. Want to find out what can cripple or kill each League member, their Achilles heel? It's a snap with the Redeye. Batman files away the knowledge in case the day might ever come when he will need to use it to take down a member of the JLA that goes rogue or becomes a villain.
The Redeye is a fulcrum to the events that transpire in the movie. A villain - and I'm not at liberty to say which specific one or ones - will gain control of the Redeye. Instead of serving as a means of protecting the planet's populace from the threat of a superhuman out of control, this creation of Batman's will come back to haunt him, threaten the lives of the League and the safety of everyone on the entire planet.
During the course of the movie the day that Batman feared would come happens: a member of the League will, and we directly quote our source here, "go bad."

Redi

09-27-2007, 11:19 PM

The reason Bale isn't involved is cause he only signed for three movies and they're not wasting his third movie on this. It wasn't because they didn't want him.

That really doesn't address my issue with this film. My problem is that they're going to confuse the audience by not having Routh and Bale in this movie. I understand why they're not in the film but the fact they're recasting these roles while continuing the Superman Returns and Batman Begin franchises might not be such a great idea.

Most of the movie audience for comic book movies aren't comic book fans and they're banking on these people being able to accept this "multiverse" thing. That might be a problem. They're also running the risk of Superman/Batman overkill. If this movie comes out in 09', The Dark Knight will have only come out 1 year earlier and 2010 will probably have the Superman Returns follow up. Three consecutive summer blockbusters starring Superman and/or Batman(played by 2 different actors respectively)? Thats a bit ambitious. I know DC feels the pressure to catch up to Marvel's big screen success but I'm not sure this is the best way to go about that.

BatKid

09-28-2007, 11:28 AM

http://www.superherohype.com/news/topnews.php?id=6356

Entertainment Weekly (http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2007/09/biel-passes-on-.html) has learned that Jessica Biel has decided to pass on playing Wonder Woman in Warner Bros.' live-action Justice League (http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=36577). The former "7th Heaven" star had been in early talks to play the Amazonian princess.

George Miller (Happy Feet) will direct the big screen adaptation. Kieran and Michele Mulroney wrote the script.
Eh...it doesn't totally disappoint me, but it seemed like they were going on the right track with her. It's incredibly difficult to find anyone in Hollywood with a suitable physique like WW, and Biel was one of those few.

Silverstar

09-28-2007, 01:09 PM

http://www.superherohype.com/news/topnews.php?id=6356

Eh...it doesn't totally disappoint me, but it seemed like they were going on the right track with her. It's incredibly difficult to find anyone in Hollywood with a suitable physique like WW, and Biel was one of those few.

It doesn't disappoint me either, as I never thought Biel was a good choice for Wonder Woman n the first place. She might have made an OK Wonder Girl, but not Wonder Woman, IMHO.

Knight

09-29-2007, 06:35 PM

Rapper T.I. reading for Green Lantern.

http://www.iesb.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3347&Itemid=99

Sorry T.I. is no John Stewart IMO. The guy is like 5'7 140lbs.

Silly McGooses

09-29-2007, 07:14 PM

Interesting article in EW this week gives a surprisingly large amount of the plot away...

Robin2099

09-30-2007, 01:05 AM

Yeah god forbid they should cast Michael J White who has the perfect look and as already played John Stewart before.

BCVM22

09-30-2007, 01:16 AM

Yeah god forbid they should cast Michael J White who has the perfect look and as already played John Stewart before.

He has? In what production?

Cortez2301

09-30-2007, 01:37 AM

He has? In what production?Justice League Heroes.

BCVM22

09-30-2007, 01:46 AM

Justice League Heroes.

Forgot about that. Not surprised though, as casting for comic characters rarely carries over from medium to medium, even when the actor's physical appearance would allow for it. Patrick Stewart reprising his Xavier role for some of the recent video games is the only one that comes to mind, and that's a visual performance to a voice performance.

Knight

09-30-2007, 10:03 AM

Yeah god forbid they should cast Michael J White who has the perfect look and as already played John Stewart before.

I have been saying this forever.

Redi

09-30-2007, 01:12 PM

Yeah god forbid they should cast Michael J White who has the perfect look and as already played John Stewart before.The guy can't act so hopefully they can find someone else.

Silly McGooses

09-30-2007, 01:39 PM

I'm kinda dissapointed with the choice of villain...

OK, very dissapointed. I was hoping for something other than the Eeevil Businessman in a Superhero movie.

Knight

09-30-2007, 02:11 PM

The guy can't act so hopefully they can find someone else.

And this is based on which of his films(other than Spawn)?

Cortez2301

09-30-2007, 05:24 PM

I'm kinda dissapointed with the choice of villain...

OK, very dissapointed. I was hoping for something other than the Eeevil Businessman in a Superhero movie.Huh? what are you talking about? Do you have a link to the plot?

Silverstar

10-10-2007, 08:29 AM

Bumped for an update: According to G4's "The Feed", all 7 of the founding JLA members have been confirmed for the JL movie. Those being Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, a Green Lantern, Aquaman and Martian Manhunter. All will most likely be played by unknowns.

BonyT

10-10-2007, 02:18 PM

KCJ506

10-15-2007, 03:21 AM

The Vine: Young actors seek 'Justice'

By Borys Kit
Oct 15, 2007

This weekend, Young Hollywood stepped into the superhero hall of justice to see who will get the parts in the big-budgeted Warner Bros. tentpole movie "Justice League of America."

Director George Miller flew in Saturday from his native Australia for a marathon casting session that started Sunday and continues Monday, seeing 35-40 actors test for roles in the comic book movie.

Miller is seeing about four or five actors for the parts of Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Flash, Aquaman, Green Lantern and the Martian Manhunter, with a few overlaps. A few nonhero parts might be testing as well.

On the roll call are Adam Brody (Fox's "The O.C."), Joseph Cross ("Running With Scissors"), D.J. Cotrona ("Windfall"), Mary Elizabeth Winstead ("Grindhouse"), Michael Angarano ("Sky High"), Teresa Palmer ("Wolf Creek"), Max Thieriot ("Jumper") and rapper Common.

The cast of NBC's "Friday Night Lights" is well-represented as well, with Minka Kelly, Adrianne Palicki and Scott Porter also among those testing for parts. No costumes are involved in the tests, which are being taped as actors read script pages.

If the names feel young, it's because Miller is looking for actors to grow into their roles over the course of several movies. Sources say Miller, known to be a methodical director, is testing not only for the roles themselves but how the actors interact with one another while keeping an eye on the look of the whole group. The director is due to present his findings to the studio midweek.

I'm absolutely baffled by those rumored choices. It's not that they're young...it's like they're Teen Titans young. I mean wth, I thought this was a Justice League movie??

They probably are good actors, but it would make a lame movie to have a bunch of kids running around as the justice league. Kids don't have to see other kids on screen in order to relate to it. Think about Keaton as Batman, I was 5 when that came out. Christopher Reeve also. Hell Hugh Jackman's almost 40. I just feel an older justice league would have more class, please more fans and would not be looked at as if it were a teen action movie with a hit soundtrack.

The Penguin

10-15-2007, 03:36 AM

I'm absolutely baffled by those rumored choices. It's not that they're young...it's like they're Teen Titans young. I mean wth, I thought this was a Justice League movie??They're not quite Teen Titans, I did "the research" and the youngest (Thieriot) just turned 19. I figure the younger guys are being consider for maybe The Flash or a young Green Lantern and since they thought of the more inexperienced heroes (at least how I think of them), they could work just fine. Some of the other actors just currently play high school students, but are certainly not that again. Scott Porter (who I could see as a young Batman or Superman) is actually older than I am.

It's always fashionable to tell people not to overreact, just as it is fashionable to overreact, but I think that really is the course to take here. These aren't high school students, they're college students or older.

KCJ506

10-15-2007, 03:48 AM

Well the thing is that the majority of them look too babyface teenagerish and well they should be more manly looking even if this is a starting out orgin of a JL film. Heck Superman and Batman didn't become heroes until their late 20s-early 30s right?

I could accept Adam Brody as Flash, but he wouldn't be my first choice. Also, they keep saying Flash is the youngest, so I'm ok with that, since Brody is almost 28. That would mean everyone else should at least be that old.

The Myst

10-15-2007, 06:25 AM

Why do they insist on having a rapper as Green Lantern?

Does WB think all black men are rappers?

KCJ506

10-15-2007, 06:26 AM

Why do they insist on having a rapper as Green Lantern?

Does WB think all black men are rappers?

Have you ever seen Smokin Aces? Common was pretty good in that. Plus he's not just some thug rapper he's pretty educated.

Jacob T. Paschal

10-15-2007, 06:17 PM

If I were Bale or Routh I'd get my agent to get me back my role!!!

DarkAngel

10-15-2007, 06:21 PM

Give Batsy a practical choice of suit material that a real-world crimefighter might choose to be able to wear for hours at a time in relative comfort as well as fight in, something much closer in look to the comic book design, with no rubber beyond the soles of his boots.
And if that happens, maybe WB, Nolan, and the others working on the Batman movies will take notice and make a similar move. Oh, how I'd love that.

Man, so this is really moving forward? I never thought we'd actually see a JL movie. If they can pull this off...

BatKid

10-15-2007, 07:14 PM

I'm absolutely baffled by those rumored choices. It's not that they're young...it's like they're Teen Titans young. I mean wth, I thought this was a Justice League movie??
Hm, sounds familiar. I could've sworn I typed this exact sentence at another forum (say, SHH?). Small world. ;)

They're not quite Teen Titans, I did "the research" and the youngest (Thieriot) just turned 19. I figure the younger guys are being consider for maybe The Flash or a young Green Lantern and since they thought of the more inexperienced heroes (at least how I think of them), they could work just fine. Some of the other actors just currently play high school students, but are certainly not that again. Scott Porter (who I could see as a young Batman or Superman) is actually older than I am.

It's always fashionable to tell people not to overreact, just as it is fashionable to overreact, but I think that really is the course to take here. These aren't high school students, they're college students or older.
That's exactly the problem. Justice League isn't supposed to be composed of high school OR college-looking students. This is the All-Star team right here, most, if not all these choices do not look like men/women.

I could see going somewhat young for Flash and GL (depending on which version), and Wonder Woman (since she's practically immortal). But the rest, they have to look like adults. No question about it.

Looking at these choices, this is more fitting for a Teen Titans movie. Frankly, I will be horribly disappointed if the final cast even remotely resembles these guys. They have got such a great crew working on this project, and I'd hate to see that go to waste on a Babyfaced Hollwood group.

KCJ506

10-15-2007, 07:26 PM

^Exactly. Justice League is supposed to be about veteran superheroes at the prime of their career, not a bunch of 20 year olds who are just starting out.

Michael Angarano? Max Thieriot? Um..who are they going to play? What part could they possibly be considered for? I know its not Superman or Batman. They would be too busy fighting over Wonder Woman, and their voices would keep cracking. Aquaman and Flash? It would be more like Aqualad and Kid Flash. No, sorry..no deal.

The Myst

10-16-2007, 03:32 AM

^Exactly. Justice League is supposed to be about veteran superheroes at the prime of their career, not a bunch of 20 year olds who are just starting out.

That's not true. I don't support the "Teen Titans" approach either but the team was formed when all the heroes were just starting out.

BonyT

10-26-2007, 10:26 AM

Man, so this is really moving forward? I never thought we'd actually see a JL movie.Ditto --- or at least not one with the Bat in it. I could've sworn that I read somewhere that WB didn't want to throw their "biggest superhero property" into an ensemble movie; hope that's not the case though.

They're not quite Teen Titans, I did "the research" and the youngest (Thieriot) just turned 19. I figure the younger guys are being consider for maybe The Flash or a young Green Lantern and since they thought of the more inexperienced heroes (at least how I think of them), they could work just fine. Some of the other actors just currently play high school students, but are certainly not that again. Scott Porter (who I could see as a young Batman or Superman) is actually older than I am.

It's always fashionable to tell people not to overreact, just as it is fashionable to overreact, but I think that really is the course to take here. These aren't high school students, they're college students or older.I'm reading a lot of concern about the ages of the actors who were floated in the article; and I admit I'm not familiar with really any of those names mentioned. (I'm not a huge TV guy.) But just for giggles I did look up the Scott Porter guy, and he's like 28: It's worth noting that that's exactly the age that Frank Miller has Batman begin his career, and it's actually older than The Batman has Bruce Wayne first don cape and cowl. ... And as far as that goes, this Porter guy looks to me like he could probably pull off the look of a Batman with precisely that kind of The Batman vibe anyway --- which would tie in nicely with The Batman's new Justice League emphasis if that show continues beyond this season, or if it should perhaps morph into a new Justice League show. As I said, I don't know anything about the other actors mentioned; but at least as far as Porter goes, I think I'm with The Penguin in seeing the possibilities there.

Silly McGooses

10-26-2007, 03:13 PM

So the word is now that the team is already established from the start of the movie?

I really hope so, I don't want to sit through another superhero origin movie...

Knight

10-27-2007, 01:39 PM

Word on the street is that Teresa Palmer has been cast as Wonder Woman.

www.superherohype.com (http://www.superherohype.com)

News

Is this Justice League's Wonder Woman?
Source: Moviehole (http://www.moviehole.net/news/20071026_theresa_palmer_the_new_wonder.html)
October 26, 2007

Moviehole (http://www.moviehole.net/news/20071026_theresa_palmer_the_new_wonder.html) has received good word that The Grudge 2, December Boys and Wolf Creek star Teresa Palmer has landed the role of Wonder Woman (http://www.superherohype.com/news/topnews.php?id=6449#) in George Miller's anticipated Justice League (http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=36577) adaptation at Warner Bros. According to the site, Palmer just nudged out competition Minka Kelly and Mary Elizabeth Winstead (http://www.superherohype.com/news/topnews.php?id=6449#).

http://images.askmen.com/women/celeb_profiles_actress_60/77_teresa_palmer.jpg

Not too bad overall. They will have to dye her hair though.http://http://images.askmen.com/women/celeb_profiles_actress_60/77_teresa_palmer.jpg

BatKid

10-27-2007, 02:13 PM

Doesn't look to be the case at all, according to IESB and other insiders. What's interesting is they've indicated a cast leak very soon, even as soon as next week.

KCJ506

10-27-2007, 09:23 PM

They say that she and Mary Elizabeth Winstead are the leading choices. I've also read from three different sources that Palmer is NOT WW.

Regardless of which one of these two is cast for real or not, I simply do not like the direction this is going. It's the whole Alba/Bosworth again. Casting a girl or at least girly-looking actress to play a woman and the queen of all tough chicks no less. After the world has seen Michelle Pfeiffer play Catwoman, Angelina Jolie play Lara Croft, and Lucy Lawless play Xena, WW will have to settle for some mousey chick who looks like she in a teen soap opera?

Redi

11-11-2007, 12:11 PM

And this is based on which of his films(other than Spawn)?
...and Trois 2 and Undisputed 2 and anything other thing I've seen him in.

Frozen

12-01-2007, 01:48 PM

According to Empire, Aussie model Megan gale has been cast as Wonder Woman (http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=21581).

How do you feel about that? I think she looks the part (tall, broad, dark haired and fit), but I have no idea is she can act or not.

Silly McGooses

12-01-2007, 01:56 PM

Photos I've seen of her look like Wonder Woman, though it is anyone's guess as to whether she can act or not. Wasn't Brandon Routh a model? I thought he was great.

The Weed Of Cri

12-01-2007, 02:49 PM

There's a link on the page about the casting of Batman for the same film and, typically, every butthead poster has an equally mal-informed, ignorant, negative opinion of how badly the film will suck. Personally, I'm going to wait until I see the film before I decide if it's any good. I think there are definite advantages to having unknown (and inexpensive) actors playing the main roles. I'm looking forward to seeing this film more than I am to seeing The Dark Knight (sorry, Batfans, I'm not loving Heath Ledger as the Joker. He looks like a mime that got caught in the rain. Someone seems to have forgotten that The Joker's signature look is based on a clown, not an albino homeless guy with proriasis), or the next Singer/Routh Superman film (Luthor again?). But even so, singular misfires won't necessarily ruin either film, and I still want to see both.

Azrael24

12-01-2007, 06:22 PM

And the other known cast are:

Adam Brody as Flash
Common as Green Lantern
Teresa Palmer as Talia

this should be merged with the JL Thread

Silly McGooses

12-01-2007, 07:19 PM

Is Adam Brody really confirmed? Darn...

Wait, Talia, as in R'as' daughter? Is she in this film?! If so, I hope they at least mention R'as

Azrael24

12-01-2007, 10:03 PM

Yes Adam Body is Flash (confirmed in person by Scott Porter) and Yes Talia Al Ghul

mr.happy

12-01-2007, 10:12 PM

Superficially speaking, that does look like mighty find casting... if it's true.

http://www.raisport.rai.it/pub/static/1400/20020509MeganGale.jpg

Silly McGooses

12-01-2007, 10:13 PM

Yes Adam Body is Flash (confirmed in person by Scott Porter) and Yes Talia Al Ghul
Thanks! Surprised they'd go with Talia as a villain. At first I thought that would be cool, but then I realized it probably rules her out for the current Batman series...:sad:

mr.happy

12-01-2007, 10:18 PM

Thanks! Surprised they'd go with Talia as a villain. At first I thought that would be cool, but then I realized it probably rules her out for the current Batman series...:sad:The JLA movie itself could rule out further installments in the current Batman series.

However, considering that Welling was supposedly cast as Superman a few months ago, I would wait for an official announcement before jumping to any conclusions about who's who in this movie.

Anarky

12-01-2007, 10:39 PM

ah, so the "no heroine feature film" policy at WB studios stands hence this is a casting for JL.

another Aussie at that.
Is there truth to the Welling casting? My friend boycotted SR because Welling wasn't casted. Looks like he may getto see his Superman at theatres. Interesting to hear Talia come up. Curious if she's a bit part of the promary antagonist.

Silly McGooses

12-01-2007, 11:34 PM

I hope it's not Welling. That would confuse the situation more...if that's conceivable. :shrug:

Shawn Hopkins

12-02-2007, 12:04 AM

She sure is pretty, but this is like casting Fabio to play Aragorn. From what I can tell her main talent is posing nearly nude for magazines.

Maybe Wonder Woman will be a non-speaking role? That would fit with Warner's new policy pretty well.

JLApe

12-02-2007, 01:27 AM

She does look like the Lynda Carter personification of Wonder Woman.

The Penguin

12-02-2007, 02:45 PM

Maybe Wonder Woman will be a non-speaking role? That would fit with Warner's new policy pretty well.Keep up, that was disproved months ago (http://forums.toonzone.net/showpost.php?p=2676841&postcount=67). If you're gonna bring the negative, make sure you can back it up.

Azrael24

12-03-2007, 06:20 PM

Welling WILL NOT be superman in the movie (thank goodness)

The JLA movie itself could rule out further installments in the current Batman series.
where did this ignorant comment come from? the batman movies are moving right along with JL

Robin2099

12-03-2007, 07:09 PM

where did this ignorant comment come from? the batman movies are moving right along with JL

They most likely won't be if JL is a gigantic turd at the box office.

Silly McGooses

12-03-2007, 07:32 PM

If anything, there'd be more chance of them going ahead with the Batman franchise if it's outgrossing the JL one...

mr.happy

12-03-2007, 07:36 PM

where did this ignorant comment come from? the batman movies are moving right along with JLIt's actually an informed comment. The Batman movie(s) are only moving along with JL to the extent that the second movie was already in production by the time WB gave the go-ahead for the JL movie. It's no secret that Nolan is unhappy about having another Batman appear in a different movie to his series, and there have long been rumors that Bale wants off the Bat-train, and if the next Batman movie doesn't do significantly better than the first one, and JL is a big hit, don't hold your breath for any more Batman movies from Nolan and Bale. Remember, Superman Returns only did marginally better than Batman Begins, and the sequel for that one appears to have been shelved in favor of the JL movie.

dc_gothamite

12-03-2007, 08:50 PM

It's actually an informed comment. The Batman movie(s) are only moving along with JL to the extent that the second movie was already in production by the time WB gave the go-ahead for the JL movie. It's no secret that Nolan is unhappy about having another Batman appear in a different movie to his series, and there have long been rumors that Bale wants off the Bat-train, and if the next Batman movie doesn't do significantly better than the first one, and JL is a big hit, don't hold your breath for any more Batman movies from Nolan and Bale. Remember, Superman Returns only did marginally better than Batman Begins, and the sequel for that one appears to have been shelved in favor of the JL movie.

Ya, I know about Bale/Nolan being unhappy about there being another live-action batman in film... but where exactly did you read about Bale wanting OUT of the Batman franchise? I've seen nothing but praise for the projects and the source material from Bale.

mr.happy

12-03-2007, 09:04 PM

Ya, I know about Bale/Nolan being unhappy about there being another live-action batman in film... but where exactly did you read about Bale wanting OUT of the Batman franchise? I've seen nothing but praise for the projects and the source material from Bale.I can't remember the specific sources, but it's been mentioned from time to time, particularly around the time JL was announced, and WB couldn't get Bale onboard. He obviously hasn't confirmed it, and it goes without saying that he wouldn't come out and publicly criticise the movies. MacGuire has also always sounded very positive about the Spidey movies in public, even though everyone knows he nearly bailed after the first one.

I wouldn't pretend to know all the details, but I very much doubt Bale has anything specific against the Bat movies, but is probably just looking to do other things, particularly since he's now in a position to command considerably higher fees and get better roles than when he signed for the Batman movies. From a career point of view, it's hardly surprising if he would rather see Batman 3 shelved.

Azrael24

12-06-2007, 06:37 PM

Nolan isnt mad at all about the JL movie:

IGN: Are you concerned at all about the Justice League of America (http://movies.ign.com/objects/887/887771.html) movie and of a new Batman being introduced to audiences while your franchise is still going?

Nolan: Not really. To be perfectly honest, it's not really something I've thought about much. I really am just immersed in making this movie. Whatever will happen will happen, and we're just working very hard to make this movie the best it can be.

http://movies.ign.com/articles/839/839933p1.html

mr.happy

12-08-2007, 12:34 PM

Nolan isnt mad at all about the JL movie:Nolan's objections to JLA are well known, but it goes without saying that neither he or WB would want the upcoming wave of Batman press to focus on negative comments about JLA.

Azrael24

12-08-2007, 06:07 PM

what objections? ive heard of RUMORS that he's mad but ive heard nothing official. anyways, it would be extremely childish of him to get mad

mr.happy

12-08-2007, 06:40 PM

what objections? ive heard of RUMORS that he's mad but ive heard nothing official.If you're waiting for him to call a press conference to announce his objections, you might want to pull up a chair. :)

anyways, it would be extremely childish of him to get madNot at all. It seems like a little bit of a creative slap in the face for them to go with a different incarnation of Batman before Nolan has wrapped up his series, particularly after Singer's much criticised Superman had been shelved, and that the two movies performed very similarly at the box office. Nolan was probably wondering if they would pull the plug on him too after DK.

BatKid

12-08-2007, 07:23 PM

I can't remember the specific sources, but it's been mentioned from time to time, particularly around the time JL was announced, and WB couldn't get Bale onboard. He obviously hasn't confirmed it, and it goes without saying that he wouldn't come out and publicly criticise the movies. MacGuire has also always sounded very positive about the Spidey movies in public, even though everyone knows he nearly bailed after the first one.

I wouldn't pretend to know all the details, but I very much doubt Bale has anything specific against the Bat movies, but is probably just looking to do other things, particularly since he's now in a position to command considerably higher fees and get better roles than when he signed for the Batman movies. From a career point of view, it's hardly surprising if he would rather see Batman 3 shelved.
Bale isn't on Justice League simply because either he feels his spot is best reserved for Nolan's creative incarnation, or he's doing Nolan a courtesy favor by not straying to the other "Team" so to speak.

As for his future in the role, it's simply not true that he's wanting to get out. Bale has said numerous times that Batman was the role that gave him all the opportunities he now reaps, so he owes the character a favor. So as long as he keeps getting the good roles in between Batman movies, and as long as Nolan stays, he'll gladly keep the cowl.

If you're waiting for him to call a press conference to announce his objections, you might want to pull up a chair. :)

If Nolan was displeased or worried about JL, he would've said so in a professional manner. He doesn't have to rant and rave about it to get his point across. Nolan clearly said he's "not really" worried. Pretty short and clear there. He's not fazed, and it won't affect his projects. Simple as that.

mr.happy

12-08-2007, 07:34 PM

Bale isn't on Justice League simply because either he feels his spot is best reserved for Nolan's creative incarnation, or he's doing Nolan a courtesy favor by not straying to the other "Team" so to speak.Bale isn't on Batman because WB couldn't get him to commit to a further multi-picture deal to play Batman.

As for his future in the role, it's simply not true that he's wanting to get out. Bale has said numerous times that Batman was the role that gave him all the opportunities he now reaps, so he owes the character a favor. So as long as he keeps getting the good roles in between Batman movies, and as long as Nolan stays, he'll gladly keep the cowl.This seems like wishful thinking on your behalf. In Hollywood, that sort of loyalty is a commodity that's in short supply.

If Nolan was displeased or worried about JL, he would've said so in a professional manner. He doesn't have to rant and rave about it to get his point across. Nolan clearly said he's "not really" worried. Pretty short and clear there. He's not fazed, and it won't affect his projects.That may be what WB have told him, but it's by no means a guarantee. JLA could be the end of Nolan's Batman.

Simple as that.Nolan is putting on a smiley face for the sake of business. Simple as that.

BatKid

12-08-2007, 07:50 PM

Bale isn't on Batman because WB couldn't get him to commit to a further multi-picture deal to play Batman.
That would have been true, if it weren't known fact that Bale has signed for at least 3 films. Not to mention that he's already eager about continuing the story past TDK. He's said at least twice in interviews that he likes where Nolan has set up for the third film.

This seems like wishful thinking on your behalf. In Hollywood, that sort of loyalty is a commodity that's in short supply.
That might be true had it not been a known fact that Bale and Nolan continually praise each other's work. Need I mention this is their third consecutive time working together on a film? Clearly this is not a simple employer/employee mandated partnership. They want to work with each other and enjoy it.

That may be what WB have told him, but it's by no means a guarantee. JLA could be the end of Nolan's Batman.
Except for the fact that one of WB's executive spokesperson specifically said that Nolan's franchise would run concurrent with Justice League.

mr.happy

12-08-2007, 08:07 PM

That would have been true, if it weren't known fact that Bale has signed for at least 3 films.That's the factual part...

Not to mention that he's already eager about continuing the story past TDK.... and that's the wishful part.

He's said at least twice in interviews that he likes where Nolan has set up for the third film.And then he thought to himself "I'd just rather not be part of it."

That might be true had it not been a known fact that Bale and Nolan continually praise each other's work. Need I mention this is their third consecutive time working together on a film? Clearly this is not a simple employer/employee mandated partnership. They want to work with each other and enjoy it.I'm sure there's a lot of respect between Nolan and Bale, but the same could be said for Singer and his SR writers, who recently jumped ship... or were pushed, depending on who you ask.

Except for the fact that one of WB's executive spokesperson specifically said that Nolan's franchise would run concurrent with Justice League.Was it the same executive spokesperson who said WB were happy with Superman Returns' box office, and that they were doing a sequel for Summer 2009? I like him. He's funny.

BatKid

12-08-2007, 08:17 PM

That's the factual part...

... and that's the wishful part.
How is it wishful when the words came right from his mouth? "I'm really liking where they set this film up for the third". That's what HE said. Not me.

And then he thought to himself "I'd just rather not be part of it."Now who's wishing? When asked about JL, he said he'd prefer if they waited until he AND Nolan finish up with THEIR franchise. How more clear-cut can you get than that? He has every intention to finish off this planned trilogy.

I'm sure there's a lot of respect between Nolan and Bale, but the same could be said for Singer and his SR writers, who recently jumped ship... or were pushed, depending on who you ask.There's a difference between being the star of a multi-film franchise, and being hired writers for your director friend. It's a lot easier to get rid of one than the other.

Was it the same executive spokesperson who said WB were happy with Superman Returns' box office, and that they were doing a sequel for Summer 2009? I like him. He's funny.No, it wasn't that guy. It was the guy that admitted the SR franchise wasn't as well received as they had hoped.

mr.happy

12-08-2007, 08:27 PM

How is it wishful when the words came right from his mouth? "I'm really liking where they set this film up for the third". That's what HE said. Not me.I'm sure he's telling the truth about liking the setup for the 3rd movie. That doesn't mean he's crazy about doing it, though. Don't take everything you hear at face value.

Now who's wishing? When asked about JL, he said he'd prefer if they waited until he AND Nolan finish up with THEIR franchise. How more clear-cut can you get than that? He has every intention to finish off this planned trilogy.In the sense that he's contractually obligated, I would imagine he does have every intention of finishing up the series, should they move ahead with a 3rd movie, but that doesn't mean he'd rather they didn't.

There's a difference between being the star of a multi-film franchise, and being hired writers for your director friend. It's a lot easier to get rid of one than the other.But is it impossible?

No, it wasn't that guy. It was the guy that admitted the SR franchise wasn't as well received as they had hoped.I don't like him as much. He's not as funny as the other guy.

BatKid

12-08-2007, 08:31 PM

I'm sure he's telling the truth about liking the setup for the 3rd movie. That doesn't mean he's crazy about doing it, though. Don't take everything you hear at face value.

In the sense that he's contractually obligated, I would imagine he does have every intention of finishing up the series, should they move ahead with a 3rd movie, but that doesn't mean he'd rather they didn't.
Where are all this assumptions coming from? It has no merit because there is next to no proof to back up these claims. There has been nothing to suggest anything farce from his comments, so why bother thinking the complete opposite?

mr.happy

12-08-2007, 08:43 PM

Where are all this assumptions coming from? It has no merit because there is next to no proof to back up these claims. There has been nothing to suggest anything farce from his comments, so why bother thinking the complete opposite?It's my analysis of the situation, and I don't buy spin or spread it. If you were familiar with my posts, you would know how often I get these things right. Check out the BSG threads in particular, where I predicted the ratings drops and subsequent demise of the show, while virtually everyone else were still putting their faith in the new viewers "surge" campaign, because Moore and Sci-Fi said there was nothing to worry about.

Don't worry, I'm not calling the end of Nolan's Batman yet, or of Bale sticking it out. But don't fall off your chair in shock if I do soon. ;)

BatKid

12-08-2007, 09:03 PM

Your predictions of the show, I'm sure, had some foundation. That of which I do not see here, since all indications point to Nolan and Chris being committed to finish this off to the end.

If anything, it's Nolan who you should be concerned of leaving. For some reason, he refuses to talk about sequels. It's Bale who has been enthusiastic from the beginning about this trilogy (look back at his video interviews for BB). And it's Bale who would only likely leave if Nolan took that step first.

Jacob T. Paschal

12-08-2007, 09:08 PM

It's my analysis of the situation, and I don't buy spin or spread it. If you were familiar with my posts, you would know how often I get these things right. Check out the BSG threads in particular, where I predicted the ratings drops and subsequent demise of the show, while virtually everyone else were still putting their faith in the new viewers "surge" campaign, because Moore and Sci-Fi said there was nothing to worry about.

Don't worry, I'm not calling the end of Nolan's Batman yet, or of Bale sticking it out. But don't fall off your chair in shock if I do soon. ;)

Were not sales of the tickets and DVDs for Batman Begins high? I doubt that The Dark Knight will do poorly. When the climax of this wait begins I'm sure we'll see the marketting go into overdrive and word will get out. If fans alone do not spread the word enough, ET, magizines, and the news most certainly will.

mr.happy

12-08-2007, 09:30 PM

Your predictions of the show, I'm sure, had some foundation. That of which I do not see here, since all indications point to Nolan and Chris being committed to finish this off to the end.It's really a very similar situation, considering everyone were taking the comments and reassurances of Moore and Sci-Fi at face value.

If anything, it's Nolan who you should be concerned of leaving. For some reason, he refuses to talk about sequels. It's Bale who has been enthusiastic from the beginning about this trilogy (look back at his video interviews for BB). And it's Bale who would only likely leave if Nolan took that step first.Keep in mind, I'm not saying Bale will definitely leave, just that he would be happy if the opportunity to get off the Bat-train presented itself, as would be case if JLA, or even Nolan himself, killed the bat franchise.

Were not sales of the tickets and DVDs for Batman Begins high?It was more or less in the same region as Superman Returns, but BB was cheaper to produce and WB didn't have as high expectations for it as they did for Singer's movie.

I doubt that The Dark Knight will do poorly. When the climax of this wait begins I'm sure we'll see the marketting go into overdrive and word will get out. If fans alone do not spread the word enough, ET, magizines, and the news most certainly will.I'd need to see a trailer before making any predictions, but they will need to raise the bar from the first movie by a considerable margin. The novelty factor of superhero movies have worn off to the extent that they now have to earn their box office far more than was the case 2 or 3 years ago.

BatKid

12-08-2007, 09:43 PM

It's really a very similar situation, considering everyone were taking the comments and reassurances of Moore and Sci-Fi at face value.
The difference that (presumably) those spokespersons were trying to save face for a series that was losing ratings (is that what was happening?). Nolan and Bale have nothing to sugarcoat, as the hype for TDK is going extremely well.

Keep in mind, I'm not saying Bale will definitely leave, just that he would be happy if the opportunity to get off the Bat-train presented itself, as would be case if JLA, or even Nolan himself, killed the bat franchise.
Again, that's an assumption that I see no reason to put much merit on.

It was more or less in the same region as Superman Returns, but BB was cheaper to produce and WB didn't have as high expectations for it as they did for Singer's movie.
Also remember that the hype and expectation for TDK is much higher than it was for BB, and certainly more welcomed than a Singer Superman follow-up.

I'd need to see a trailer before making any predictions, but they will need to raise the bar from the first movie by a considerable margin. The novelty factor of superhero movies have worn off to the extent that they now have to earn their box office far more than was the case 2 or 3 years ago.
For B-list comic book heroes, maybe. But for A-listers, and especially well received established franchises? Not much of an uphill battle. SM3 and XM3 both did considerably well due to their previous films being popular.

mr.happy

12-08-2007, 09:52 PM

The difference that (presumably) those spokespersons were trying to save face for a series that was losing ratings (is that what was happening?). Nolan and Bale have nothing to sugarcoat, as the hype for TDK is going extremely well.What they have to sugarcoat is that Nolan is cheesed off with JLA Batman, and Bale wants off the Bat-train altogether.

Again, that's an assumption that I see no reason to put much merit on.Suit yourself.

Also remember that the hype and expectation for TDK is much higher than it was for BB, and certainly more welcomed than a Singer Superman follow-up.That's extremely speculative at this point.

For B-list comic book heroes, maybe. But for A-listers, and especially well received established franchises? Not much of an uphill battle. SM3 and XM3 both did considerably well due to their previous films being popular.SM3 and X3 were action blockbusters of the somewhat braindead variety, so they're playing a different box office game. If Nolan is sticking with the style of the first movie and doesn't inject a lot more action and general braindead goodness, TDK is likely to do worse or no better than the first movie.

Jacob T. Paschal

12-08-2007, 10:04 PM

What they have to sugarcoat is that Nolan is cheesed off with JLA Batman, and Bale wants off the Bat-train altogether.

Suit yourself.

That's extremely speculative at this point.

SM3 and X3 were action blockbusters of the somewhat braindead variety, so they're playing a different box office game. If Nolan is sticking with the style of the first movie and doesn't inject a lot more action and general braindead goodness, TDK is likely to do worse or no better than the first movie.

The length of film (if not the plot) seems to suggest much more action we be in this film, if not tension. We must also take into account that The Dark Knight will also have a few new toys he is going to need to test out. :)

mr.happy

12-08-2007, 10:08 PM

The length of film (if not the plot) seems to suggest much more action we be in this film, if not tension. We must also take into account that The Dark Knight will also have a few new toys he is going to need to test out. :)So did Schumacher's Batman. ;)

My early concerns are the generally useless Heath Ledger, the god-awful Maggie Gyllenhaal and the apparent robofication of the Batsuit. No nipples, though. Phew.

How did this turn into a Bat-thread?

BatKid

12-08-2007, 10:29 PM

What they have to sugarcoat is that Nolan is cheesed off with JLA Batman, and Bale wants off the Bat-train altogether.

Suit yourself.
My point was that your assessments had nothing to back them up. I would have no problem with your opinions/predictions if there were some legitimate signs, but as I've said, I don't see them. We'll just end it there since it seems to be going in circles.

That's extremely speculative at this point.
Look at any entertainment site or any entertainment mag/publication, and you'll see that TDK is consistently in the Top 3 most anticipated films of the summer, being neck and neck with Indiana Jones.

SM3 and X3 were action blockbusters of the somewhat braindead variety, so they're playing a different box office game. If Nolan is sticking with the style of the first movie and doesn't inject a lot more action and general braindead goodness, TDK is likely to do worse or no better than the first movie.
With next to no competition for it's release and being a very anticipated movie with the most well-known comic book villain of all time, I highly doubt this will do the same gross or worse than BB. A film that had very little marketing, and no notable villains.

Judging from the prologue I saw a couple days back, it's clear that Nolan has raised the stakes with the film. So I'm not too worried about it's success.

mr.happy

12-08-2007, 10:56 PM

My point was that your assessments had nothing to back them up. I would have no problem with your opinions/predictions if there were some legitimate signs, but as I've said, I don't see them.That's OK. I do, though.

Look at any entertainment site or any entertainment mag/publication, and you'll see that TDK is consistently in the Top 3 most anticipated films of the summer, being neck and neck with Indiana Jones.Like you said, the competition seems weak so far, and entertainment sites and publications are pushing what they feel are the best choices from a limited selection. Batman and Indy make for great covers and interesting features on gadgets, costumes and that sort of thing, but Hulk got a lot of press too. Hype only counts for so much. How the movie appeals to its intended audience is what will determine its success.

DarkAngel

12-08-2007, 10:59 PM

I'm sure he's telling the truth about liking the setup for the 3rd movie. That doesn't mean he's crazy about doing it, though. Don't take everything you hear at face value.
Nor should we assume that everything that's stated is a lie. We can't really read Bale's mind (at least I can't ;) ), so I don't think there's any more reason to say he doesn't want to do a third than to say he does. There's no doubt he and Nolan aren't particularly happy about JL. But I haven't had any sense that Bale wants to, well, bail on Batman. He might. And I'd understand that, since it take a lot of time to do a trilogy, time he could spend on other roles. But unlike with Tobey and the Spidey movies, I haven't picked up on that with Bale. Maybe its just his acting skills, but something about the way he's talked about the character has seemed, at least to me, to betray a genuine interest in the mythos and seeing the trilogy through. But maybe its the opposite and I'm just oblivious.

Check out the BSG threads in particular, where I predicted the ratings drops and subsequent demise of the show, while virtually everyone else were still putting their faith in the new viewers "surge" campaign, because Moore and Sci-Fi said there was nothing to worry about.
Are you including me among "virtually everyone else"? :) I'm a BSG fan and I've posted in those threads, but always as a fan of the work and in defense of its quality. I've cared about the ratings only in so far as they'd allow the show to continue to a conclusion, which it will with the 4th (assuming the writers strike doesn't screw that up, but that's a different issue). But that aside, I don't really care what the ratings are as long as I'm able to enjoy it. After all, I can't obsess about what other people are watching. That's out of my control. I'd like to think I'm not into spin, either. I love the show. I'll defend the creative aspects til my last breath. But I've never (to my recollection) denied the declining ratings. Nor, honestly, do I care as long as we get a completed run.

mr.happy

12-08-2007, 11:12 PM

Nor should we assume that everything that's stated is a lie.It's Hollywood. Which means there's at least a 75% chance it's a lie.

We can't really read Bale's mind (at least I can't ;) ), so I don't think there's any more reason to say he doesn't want to do a third than to say he does. There's no doubt he and Nolan aren't particularly happy about JL.Nolan certainly isn't, but I don't think Bale is all that bothered. If anything, he might see JLA as his way out of a 3rd Batman movie.

Are you including me among "virtually everyone else"? :)I can't remember, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. ;) Doesn't matter anymore anyway.

DarkAngel

12-08-2007, 11:21 PM

It's Hollywood. Which means there's at least a 75% chance it's a lie.
Could be. But I still believe there are individuals that do genuinely enjoy roles they've taken on. Bale's interviews seem colored in that manner. When I feel I'm picking up on something like that, I can't bring myself to take the opposite stance (that he wants out) when I haven't seen/heard/felt anything that supports that. Obviously, I could be misreading things. But all I can do is go by my senses.

Nolan certainly isn't, but I don't think Bale is all that bothered. If anything, he might see JLA as his way out of a 3rd Batman movie.
In the interview I think someone referenced above in which Bale stated his preference that JL be filmed after the Batman trilogy is completed, it did seem like he didn't like the idea of another film with Batman in it while theirs was still in progress. In whatever article I'd seen those quotes, there wasn't much there, so I could be reading things into it that weren't present. But it could be similar to how William Petersen felt about CSI spin-offs. He didn't want watered down, crappy spinoffs that seemed to exist only to cash in on his CSI and dilute the quality of the whole thing. And that I can understand.

Jacob T. Paschal

12-08-2007, 11:28 PM

So did Schumacher's Batman. ;)

My early concerns are the generally useless Heath Ledger, the god-awful Maggie Gyllenhaal and the apparent robofication of the Batsuit. No nipples, though. Phew.

How did this turn into a Bat-thread?

Should not you wait until actually seeing the actors in action before passing judgement? This Batman has already been proven to be grounded in setting that very much so lacks any of the sort of fantastic elements of the Burton and Schumacher films. Chances are the new equipment will not be over the top nor will they be handled that way.

It's Hollywood. Which means there's at least a 75% chance it's a lie.

Nolan certainly isn't, but I don't think Bale is all that bothered. If anything, he might see JLA as his way out of a 3rd Batman movie.

I can't remember, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. ;) Doesn't matter anymore anyway.

If Bale is half the actor-actor he is deemed then I would be surprised if he wanted off of the Batman film franchise. He, along with Nolan, have crafted well dimensioned characters and relationships that are just fun to watch on the screen (espicially the Bruce-Alfred scenes in which the camaraderie is charming).

Azrael24

12-08-2007, 11:40 PM

Mr.happy:

why would JL be the end of Nolan's Batman series? Please help me understand why people keep saying this?

Robin2099

12-09-2007, 01:16 AM

Mr.happy:

why would JL be the end of Nolan's Batman series? Please help me understand why people keep saying this?

Because if Justice League bombs, then this will most likely be WB's thought processes:

"This was supposed to be our biggest super hero movie ever and it didn't make any money. Most likely the public is tired of superhero movies so lets just quit making them." And before you say "that's not going to happen I have three words for you: Batman and Robin.

DarkAngel

12-09-2007, 07:45 AM

Because if Justice League bombs, then this will most likely be WB's thought processes:

"This was supposed to be our biggest super hero movie ever and it didn't make any money. Most likely the public is tired of superhero movies so lets just quit making them." And before you say "that's not going to happen I have three words for you: Batman and Robin.
I think its an issue of JL possibly doing great at the box office and TDK not as well (at least in comparison). If that were to happen, WB might not see much incentive to continue with the Nolan series. They'd think "JL is doing much better AND it features Batman, so why waste money and effort on the other series."

That, I believe, is what mr.happy was offering as a possibility.

Of course, what you mention could happen also: JL bombs. But given that people seem to love big action-packed summer extravaganzas, even if they completely lack in any meaningful story or effort, I think its more likely that JL brings in big money. If Transformers can do as well as it did, I don't see how a JL movie could fail (in terms of box office, not creatively). So if JL does great and TDK brings in similar (or less) than Begins, then its very possible a third movie would be in jeopardy.

mr.happy

12-09-2007, 07:58 AM

Should not you wait until actually seeing the actors in action before passing judgement? This Batman has already been proven to be grounded in setting that very much so lacks any of the sort of fantastic elements of the Burton and Schumacher films. Chances are the new equipment will not be over the top nor will they be handled that way.The "toy" comment was a joke. The comments on the actors were not.

Mr.happy:

why would JL be the end of Nolan's Batman series? Please help me understand why people keep saying this?Nolan's own movie does have a say in this, of course. If it's a huge Spider-Man sized hit, it's safe almost regardless of what happens with JLA. If it only does the same business as the first, or worse, JLA being a huge hit or a huge flop could both mean that WB would no longer be interested in a 3rd Batman movie.

Trent Lane

12-09-2007, 07:50 PM

The Penguin

12-10-2007, 12:57 AM

Rrrr-Weeaaahrrrr... I went to a JL movie thread and it appears a cat fight has broken out... Geez, enough already... back to the topic at hand, could someone post who is "confirmed" for the movie as to this point? I heard about Brody but was unsure as to whether there were more... thanks...Well six days and two pages ago when we were last taking about the movie instead of its implications (real or theoretical), the most recent news was the following...

According to Empire, Aussie model Megan gale has been cast as Wonder Woman (http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=21581).

How do you feel about that? I think she looks the part (tall, broad, dark haired and fit), but I have no idea is she can act or not.

And the other known cast are:

Adam Brody as Flash
Common as Green Lantern
Teresa Palmer as Talia

Trent Lane

12-11-2007, 12:14 AM

Thanks, Penguin, I went thru several pages and saw more bickering than news or talk of the movie, so I appreciate the recap there... cool so far, I'm curious to see who they get for the top two of the League...

The Penguin

12-11-2007, 12:38 AM

I'm curious to see who they get for the top two of the League...Well IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0974015/) will tell you that Friday Night Lights (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=198660)' Scott Porter (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2187603/) has been cast as Superman, but I believe it's more or less confirmed he was beaten by Brody for The Flash (although I (http://forums.toonzone.net/showpost.php?p=2681566&postcount=172) could see him as Superman). Little known Armie Hammer (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2309517/) (recently seen as Mike Delfino's pill pusher, med student Barrett on Desperate Housewives (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?p=2717233#post2717233)) is also listed there. He is rumored for Batman. (http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/11/30/armie-hammer-is-batman/) However if both were true, 6'5 Batman (Hammer) would tower over 6' Superman (Porter).

I don't claim to be the expert, but at this point I don't believe anyone is officially confirmed by director George Miller or Warner Bros.

Toddman

12-11-2007, 01:10 AM

Little known Armie Hammer (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2309517/).... is rumored for Batman. (http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/11/30/armie-hammer-is-batman/) .

So Batman is going to played by baking soda...?

http://shopuncleharrys.dukestores.duke.edu/images/bake%20026.jpg

This movie had better have some unbelievable CGI...

Toddman

The Penguin

12-11-2007, 02:17 AM

So Batman is going to played by baking soda...?Not quite, but the joke was not lost on Armie's great-grandfather, Armand Hammer, for whom he is named...

Wikipedia: Armand Hammer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armand_Hammer) (May 21, 1898 – December 10, 1990) was an American industrialist and art collector. Hammer was CEO of the Occidental Petroleum Company, an oil and natural gas exploration and development company.)

Hammer claimed that his father had named him after a character, Armand Duval, in La Dame aux Camélias, a novel by Alexandre Dumas, fils. In fact, according to Carl Blumay, his biographer and former press agent, Hammer was named after the "Arm and Hammer" symbol of the Socialist Labor Party (SLP), in which his father, a committed socialist, had a leadership role at one time. (After the Russian Revolution, a part of the SLP under Julius' leadership split off to become a founding element of the Communist Party USA.)

Despite popular myth, the relation between Hammer's name and the household product Arm and Hammer baking soda is coincidental. The pun was not lost on Hammer, though: during the 1980s, he attempted to buy Church and Dwight, makers of the Arm and Hammer line of products. He did succeed in buying a sizable minority interest and eventually sat on its board of directors.