But with the prior film’s take on Shredder relying more on CGI and high-flying battles than the actor beneath the suit, actor Brian Tee (The Wolverine, Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift) has been called upon to give the villain a bit more personality. Although his casting in a role already filled will raise a few questions.
The casting news comes courtesy of Variety, claiming Tee has joined the ongoing production as Shredder, played in the previous film by Tohoru Masamune (Inception). Fans only had a handful of looks at Masamune’s face beneath his signature armor, but fans will remember the villain’s fate following the movie’s climax, plummeting hundreds of feet to the streets of New York City below.
Shredder was presumed dead at the time, but the mysterious ooze trickling onto his body left the doors wide open for a sequel storyline (it being the same substance responsible for turning a rat and batch of turtles into intelligent martial artists). Now it seems Tee – no stranger to the comic book community, given his roles in the Mortal Kombat: Legacy series and The Wolverine – will be taking up the mantle of Shredder a.k.a. Oroku Saki.
No extra details surrounding Tee’s take on the character are given, but the surprisingly little time spent on Oroku Saki’s origin story and history could offer one explanation. Perhaps Tee’s casting means Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 (aside fromintroducing Stephen Amell’s Casey Jones) will offer some insight into Oroku Saki’s younger, pre-Shredder days.
The actual effects that the mysterious ooze would have on a human being are open to the imagination, and in a world of talking Turtles, a man being chemically rejuvenated isn’t too hard to believe. But it’s also unknown if this take on the Ninja Turtles fiction has the title of ‘Shredder’ applied to just one man, or acting as a rank for the Foot Clan’s leader. Could Tee play the successor of Oroku Saki – or perhaps the ‘true’ version of the iconic villain comic fans will most covet?
We’ll keep you posted as more information arrives, but what do you make of this casting news? Is there an explanation that you most hope to see come true, or does a look back into Shredder’s early days in Japan seem like an odd choice? Sound off in the comments.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 is scheduled to premiere June 3rd, 2016.
Avengers: Age of Ultron has already begun setting new box office records for Marvel Studios, ahead of the U.S. debut for Joss Whedon’s Avengers sequel this Friday. However, there won’t be much (any?) time for many of Age of Ultron‘s stars to rest once they’re finished promoting Whedon’s film – as production on Captain America: Civil War (the movie that will kickoff Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe) begins early next month, with several members of Team Avengers confirmed as cast members.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier directors Anthony and Joe Russo are calling the shots on Civil War, before they move on to their third Marvel project: Avengers: Infinity War, the two-part film event that will close out Phase 3 of the MCU and bring Thanos’ (Josh Brolin) ongoing quest to unite the Infinity Gems to the forefront. Chris Evans, who is reprising as Steve Rogers in Civil War (and at least one of the Infinity War movies), has now revealed just how much time has been set aside for production on the big fight between the Mad Titan and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes (and probablysome other heroes too).
Evans, in an interview with Esquire as part of the Age of Ultron press tour, offered the following breakdown of his work load for the next two years (or so):
“You know, you plan around the Marvel responsibilities. You have to. We start [Captain America: Civil War] in a couple weeks, and then that shoots until August or something like that. August or September. Then I’ve got some downtime and I can do with it as I please. I don’t know if I want to take time off or go pursue another directing job or find a movie to act in or, you know, do whatever I’m creatively inclined to pursue or wait, relax, enjoy my life. And then we start the Infinity War, I think, some time in the third quarter. Fall or winter of 2016. That’s going to be like nine months to shoot both movies back to back.”
It sounds as though there will be some twelve to fourteen months between Civil Warfinishing production this year and the Infinity War movies beginning principal photography in late 2016. There’s been talk about the Russos potentially directing the developing Channing Tatum Ghostbusters reboot spinoff in between their Marvel projects, but that seems unlikely now – given the Russos would be hard-pressed to fit in another effects-heavy vehicle in the same time window they’ll need to partly devote to post-production and promotion of Civil War (as well as pre-production on Infinity War – Part 1 & 2).
Whedon’s reason for passing on the Avengers: Infinity War event can probably best be summed as “sheer exhaustion,” following his work on two Avengers movies and helping hand in co-creating Marvel/ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. TV show. The Russos aren’t responsible for writing their upcoming Marvel films (unlike Whedon), but the sheer amount of time that the duo are going to have to spend making Infinity Warraises concerns that they’ll likewise soon hit the wall hard – and not after they’ve finished their Phase 3 MCU movies, either. After all, back-to-back shoots are known for pushing directors to/beyond their limits (just ask Peter Jackson), which never helps the final product.
On the other hand, Infinity War – Part 1 & 2 is being written and directed by four people total (including Winter Soldier and Civil War writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely) – not one person, as was true with Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron. That’s a key difference that shouldn’t be overlooked, not least of all when it comes to a project being assembled by the increasingly efficient production machine that is Marvel Studios (and its many, many film crew members). Everyone involved is no doubt well aware of just how challenging a shoot Infinity War is going to be, at that, so they’ll be preparing accordingly.
The Russos and Chris Evans filming ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’
Infinity War – Part 1 and Part 2 will hit theaters a year apart, which should help to further ease the stress of the extensive post-production and visual effects processing that each movie will require. The narrative structure and visual design of the Russos’Avengers films should also be all but carved in stone by the time the cameras start rolling; which (odd it may seem) hasn’t always been the case for these sorts of back-to-back studio tentpole shoots, as we saw most recently with The Hobbit going from two films to three films part-way through production.
The short of it: there’s plenty that could go wrong with Infinity War, but there’s also plenty that could go right too. We’ll just have to wait and see if that general outlook improves, worsens, or remains the same over the course of the next year – and what noticeable effect the work-load has on everyone playing an ongoing role in the MCU, on both sides of the camera.
The Avengers: Age of Ultron will be in theaters May 1, 2015; Ant-Man on July 17, 2015; Captain America: Civil War – May 6, 2016; Doctor Strange – November 4, 2016; Guardians of the Galaxy 2 – May 5, 2017; Spider-Man reboot – July 28, 2017;Thor: Ragnarok – November 3, 2017; The Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 – May 4, 2018; Black Panther – July 6, 2018; Captain Marvel – November 2, 2018; The Avengers: Infinity War Part 2 – May 3, 2019; Inhumans – July 12, 2019.
We’ve discussed on numerous occasions why the heroes known as the Fantastic Four needed to be updated, and how Twentieth Century Fox’s film franchise reboot is its own thing – a “contemporary re-imagining” of the property as described in its own official synopsis. The casting and tone of the trailers alone are proof of this, and judging by the latest official marketing assets, Fantastic Four may have a few other notable differences from the comics as well.
The Fantastic Four teasers have showcased brief glimpses of Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm taking advantage of a scientific breakthrough to journey into another dimension, a concept lifted directly from the Ultimate Marvel Comics version of the FF. We see them get their seemingly traditional powers and throw on practically designed containment suits. There are hints from the cast that more traditional superhero costumes may be worn at some point by the characters in the film, since this is a superhero origin story after all, but not everything is as it seems.
On the official Fantastic Four movie website, the four heroes of the film have been given little biographies, each also coming with additional voice-over diary entry from Dr. Franklin Storm (Reg E. Cathey) who describes their personality and how he plans to work with them. Pay attention to the description of Reed Richards:
Reed Richards
REED RICHARDS IS A SCIENTIFIC PRODIGY WHO HAS BEEN QUIETLY EXPLORING THE UNIVERSE’S DEEPEST MYSTERIES IN HIS GARAGE, AFTER SCHOOL. AFTER BEING TRANSFORMED BY ONE OF HIS EXPERIMENTS, HE CAN WARP THE SPACE AROUND HIM, AND APPEAR TO STRETCH HIS BODY INTO IMPOSSIBLE FORMS AND TO INCREDIBLE LENGTHS.
Dr. Franklin Storm’s report:
“Reed Richards, a scientific prodigy. Unfortunately his home life was not condusive to intellectual growth. I’ve seen it before, an ambitious mind in a hostile environment, groundbreaking ideas mistaken for delusions. He has yet to reach his full potential. With help I have faith he will get there.”
Susan Storm
SUE IS BRILLIANT AND BEAUTIFUL, INDEPENDENT AND SARCASTIC. THE POWER TO BECOME INVISIBLE AND TO GENERATE HER OWN FORCE-FIELDS CAN MAKE HER HARDER TO REACH THAN EVER—BUT THAT WON’T STOP SOME OF HER TEAMMATES, ESPECIALLY REED, FROM TRYING.
Dr. Franklin Storm’s report:
“Sue Storm, independent and prefers to work alone which is no surprise. She wasn’t always the easiest child but she is her own person. Her mind is unique, operating at a different tempo, visualizing things the rest of us can’t see. If only she would let us in, the possibilities are endless.”
Johnny Storm
A TROUBLEMAKER AND A THRILL-SEEKER, JOHNNY IS THE ROCK STAR OF THE TEAM. HIS POWERS ALLOW HIM TO SHOOT FIREBALLS, FLY AT BREAKNECK SPEEDS, AND REALLY LIGHT IT UP.
Dr. Franklin Storm’s report:
“Johnny Storm, extremely bright and good-natured but unfocused with unbridled energy. His acts of defiance compensate for feelings of insecurity and at times his rebelliousness is a distraction. I need to help him see the value of his contributions. And also, teach him how to be a team player.”
Ben Grimm
A RARE BREED OF BRAWN AND HEART, BEN IS WARM, EVEN SENSITIVE, DESPITE HIS ROUGH-AND-TUMBLE UPBRINGING. HE IS ROCK-SOLID—IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. A LOYAL AND PROTECTIVE FRIEND, HIS STONE BODY GIVES HIM EPIC STRENGTH AND MAKES HIM VIRTUALLY INDESTRUCTIBLE.
Dr. Franklin Storm’s report:
“Ben, uncooperative, disinterested and far from a team player. Ben’s abrasiveness stems from a callous upbringing and though he is despondent there is hope. As he is fiercely protective of his friends, perhaps I can break through to him by earning his loyalty, but this will be no easy task.”
For more, and to hear the dialogue from Dr. Storm himself and see little microscopic visuals of how the cells of each character have adapted with their powers (Johnny Storm with extreme temperatures and Sue Storm with electric currents, etc.), head to the official site here.
The major call out here is the description and analysis of Reed Richards’s abilities. His experiment, which we assume is the method of interdimensional travel, gave him not the traditional powers of flexibility and stretchy skin due to physical changes in his body, but the power to “warp the space around him.” This idea may open Reed up to a new power set in the films, something perhaps never seen any version of the character from the comics. If anything, the idea of altering reality around him in a sense is certainly more deserving of the codename “Mr. Fantastic” and its a more fitting power to match Reed’s personality. After all, we already have a physically-inspired power set from Ben Grimm a.k.a. The Thing.
Looking at the cell structure of Reed Richards on the site, the analysis indicates that “micro black hole energy” is his source of power.
We suspect there are lots of surprises to come in this version of the Fantastic Four, not for the sake of twists, but for the reasons producer Simon Kinberg and director Josh Trank discussed while promoting the movie’s first trailer. They’re trying to savor the experience for viewers seeing it theatrically. It’s a sci-fi adventure that really focuses on the science fiction element and the character drama – hence the casting of proven dramatic actors who each embody the personalities of their respective onscreen characters
Josh Trank directs Fantastic four from a screenplay by Jeremy Slater and Simon Kinberg and himself. It’s produced by Matthew Vaughn, Simon Kinberg, Hutch Parker, Robert Kulzar, Gregory Goodman and stars Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara, Jamie Bell, Toby Kebbell.
Fantastic Four opens August 7, 2015, Deadpool on February 12, 2016, X-Men: Apocalypse on May 27, 2016, Gambit is coming October 7, 2016, The Wolverine 3 (not the official title) on March 3, 2017, Fantastic Four 2 on June 9, 2017, and some as-yet unspecified X-Men film on July 13th, 2018.
Marvel has yet to confirm Bruhl’s role and the Doctor Strange connection caused confusion among comic readers since the character he was rumored to play, Baron Zemo, doesn’t have much to with Strange in Marvel Comics. So, while that part remains up in the air, we can at least finally confirm that Bruhl is indeed playing Zemo in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The confirmation comes from the Spanish-born, German-raised star himself in an interview with The Independent where – with Captain America: Civil War beginning to shoot in the coming days – felt comfortable (read: safe from Marvel) enough to finally spill the beans when asked about playing Baron Helmut Zemo (the “Helmut” is significant – more on this later):
“I think I can tell you that without being thrown into Marvel prison… For the first few days I’ll walk around like a little boy, just amazed by the megalomania of it. It’s such a huge project. We could do 20 films with the budget.”
It’s an unsurprising confirmation even if for some reason Marvel is attempting to keep the reveal secret. About two months after Bruhl was announced to have a role by Marvel, casting calls for the Atlanta production listed Zemo’s name. The “Marvel prison” reference is a funny one though since a month prior, in a separate interview, Bruhl said something similar when sharing his excitement for joining Captain America: Civil War:
“I am not supposed to say anything. I cannot even talk about the part, really, because I would be too afraid to give something away and then I’ll end up in the Marvel prison and I do not want that.”
Usually, actors with Marvel contracts (looking at you, Don Cheadle and Paul Bettany) joke of being taken out by Marvel snipers. From our previous discussions on Zemo:
Baron Zemo is a creation of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby whose history dates back to WWII where he fought with The Red Skull (played by Hugo Weaving in Captain America: The First Avenger) against Captain America. Zemo was also a Nazi scientist and weapon maker, visually distinctive thanks to a unique hood that got stuck to his face during a confrontation with Cap. Given the timelines of the movies and when audiences will meet Zemo in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s more likely that Zemo’s son, Baron Helmut Zemo, will be adapted instead with his father potentially used as connective thread to Cap’s past. It’s a potentially smart way to tie back to the character’s origins, the Red Skull and Hydra, which are all being explored still in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on ABC.
With Marvel continuing to embrace the past in its projects (see: Agent Carter and flashbacks in the upcoming Ant-Man), bringing in major Marvel Comics players such as the Zemo family – one of our own top villains we wanted to see in Captain America 3 – is a smart way to connect present days events of the upcoming Civil War to Captain America’s origins in the past. In the comics, Helmut Zemo begins his journey of villainy when he discovers Captain America is still alive in the present day so there’s room to weave the character’s heritage into the events of prior films.
With Avengers: Age of Ultron finally opening domestically this week, we can expect news to immediately begin rolling in around the start of production on Captain America: Civil War – the film where fans will also be introduced to the new Spider-Man. So far, the cast of Civil War includes many familiar Avengers but we’ll save that conversation until after May 1st.
The Avengers: Age of Ultron releases in theaters on May 1 2015, followed by Ant-Man on July 17 2015, Captain America: Civil War on May 6 2016, Doctor Strange on November 4 2016, Guardians of the Galaxy 2 on May 5 2017, Spider-Man on July 28, 2017, Thor: Ragnarok on November 3 2017, Avengers: Infinity War – Part 1 on May 4 2018, Black Panther on July 6 2018, Captain Marvel on November 2 2018, Avengers: Infinity War – Part 2 on May 3 2019 and Inhumans on July 12, 2019.
Ex Machina is memorable and downright challenging, full of sharp performances that blur the lines between humanity and programming.
In the near-future, young computer coder Caleb Smith (Domhnall Gleeson), working for the world’s most powerful tech company, is selected to assist in an unorthodox experiment. Caleb travels far from his office job to an isolated homestead, and research facility, of the company’s reclusive CEO, Nathan Bateman (Oscar Isaac) for a weeklong visit. However, when the eager employee actually meets his employer, Caleb finds that, in his isolation, Nathan has become unhinged and obsessive - rarely seen without an alcoholic drink in hand.
Nevertheless, when Nathan reveals to Caleb the purpose of his visit, the coder dismisses his initial discomfort (and fear) in favor of jumping head-long into scientific discovery. Hidden away in his compound, Nathan has been working on an advanced artificial intelligence named Ava (Alicia Vikander) – and has brought Caleb in as a consultant, hoping the programmer can successfully administer a Turing Test: intended to determine if an A.I.’s personality and self-awareness is equal or greater than a flesh-and-blood human (meaning the A.I.’s “artificial” intelligence is imperceptible to “normal” people).
Alicia Vikander as Ava in ‘Ex Machina’
Ex Machina marks the directorial debut of 28 Days writer Alex Garland - a name that should be familiar to viewers of other fan-favorite genre stories: Sunshine and Dredd, especially. While Garland didn’t spend much time in a director’s chair prior to his work on Ex Machina (depending on how much you believe about the upheavals on Dredd‘s set), the acclaimed novelist and screenwriter has collaborated closely with several high-profile filmmakers (including Danny Boyle). As a result, while certain moviegoers might be skeptical that a freshman filmmaker could deliver a thought-provoking, visually arresting, and outright haunting sci-fi story, Ex Machinais definitive proof of Garland’s talent on the page and behind the camera.
Indicated by Garland’s choice of titling (a play on the latin phase: deus ex machina, “a god from the machine”), audiences should proceed with clear expectations: Ex Machina is not a mainstream sci-fi thriller, it’s a contemplative character study that juxtaposes intelligence and the “human” soul – in a stream of dense philosophical and technical rumination. Garland doesn’t abuse his viewers with technobabble but he does expect them to keep up. Beyond three engaging leads and brainy sci-fi storytelling, Ex Machina is a movie about questions and debate – both layered into the subtext and full-on portrayed in scenes of interview as well as, at times, interrogation.
Domhnall Gleeson and Oscar Isaac in ‘Ex Machina’
Fresh off a well-received performance in About Time (and gearing up for a lead role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens), Domhnall Gleeson is an absorbing and empathetic stand-in for the film’s audience – a wide-eyed optimist quickly enamored by Nathan’s creation. In most scenes, Gleeson is playing the straight man, a sounding board to educate and challenge viewers but, even though the actor offers a quality performance, he’s often overshadowed by his co-stars – especially Isaac. Even in a film starring a sentient artificial intelligence, Isaac’s Nathan is a fascinating and entertaining addition - a man that embodies the conflicted nature of humankind: a creative savant, crippled by his own intellect, exiled in a prison (both mental and physical) of his own invention.
In any other movie, Isaac’s tortured genius would steal the show but, unsurprisingly,Ex Machina‘s Ava (played by Alicia Vikander) succeeds as the main attraction – and the crux on which the film comes full circle. Vikander’s layered performance required a subtle touch (she is, after all, a person playing an artificial intelligence that is near-indistinguishable from a real human) - to ensure that Ava is neither too human or too robotic. It is Vikander’s vulnerable portrayal that keeps Ava locked in a captivating middle ground – forcing Caleb, Nathan, and Ex Machina‘s audience to face a range of complicated human emotions: wonder, uncertainty, and fear, along with some flat-out challenging questions that our world (outside of the theater) will inevitably have to ask in the not-too-distant future.
What happens to me if I fail your test?
That said, after a brave and alluring performance from Vikander, android Ava was brought to life through an inventive mix of live-action and CGI (via the combined efforts of Millennium FX, Double Negative, and Milk VFX), as well as beautiful cinematography from Rob Hardy. It’s fair to say that in addition to being one of the most thought-provoking science fiction films of late, Ex Machina is also one of the most visually arresting.
Ex Machina is memorable and downright challenging, full of sharp performances that blur the lines between humanity and programming – as well as twists that playfully defy the film’s audience. It’s an art-house movie, one that may move too slow or spend too much time in subtle reflection for casual viewers, but that doesn’t mean Garland has missed his mark. Tracing a careful line between good and evil, genius and insanity, as well as soul and soullessness, Ex Machina is a captivating viewing – one that will leave moviegoers with plenty to contemplate.
Ex Machina runs 108 minutes and is Rated R for graphic nudity, language, sexual references and some violence. Now playing in theaters.
Let us know what you thought of the film in the comment section below. If you’ve seen the movie and want to discuss details about the film without worrying about spoiling it for those who haven’t seen it, please head over to our Ex Machina Spoilers Discussion.
The wishes of many comic book movie fans were granted earlier this year whenMarvel Studios and Sony stuck a deal that would allow Spider-Man and related characters to take part in the ever-expanding and ultra-luctrative Marvel Cinematic Universe. Yes, this meant yet another reboot of the renowned web-slinger, but the possibilities such an agreement presented were too exciting for moviegoers to gripe too much – especially since the origin story will be bypassed this time around.
Ever since that major announcement, many have been wondering who will portray Peter Parker in the MCU (an actor shortlist has been revealed), and when we’ll get our first chance to see him. All signs are pointing to the new Spidey getting his debut in next year’s Captain America: Civil War, but there’s also a solo Spider-Manmovie that’s in the works for a July 2017 release. That project is the subject of a new rumor, one pertaining to the film’s title.
Previously, we heard that the standalone Spidey reboot would be called The Spectacular Spider-Man, but it apparently has a different working name. Super-scoopster Umberto Gonzalez was back at it again, taking to his Instagram page to detail the supposed title of the new movie, one that hints at potential plot threads and story arcs:
In all honesty, giving the third cinematic incarnation of Spider-Man the name Spider-Man: The New Avenger is smart from a business viewpoint. It instantly creates brand association with the super-popular Avengers franchise and lets the uninitiated immediately know that this version of Peter Parker will be able to play with Tony Stark and Steve Rogers. Ideally, the subtitle (while a little on-the-nose) will generate tons of excitement for the new take; something that is much-needed after the character’s reputation was weakened by mixed reaction to The Amazing Spider-Man 2 last year.
One of the other rumors that has been floating around for the reboot is that it will feature Robert Downey, Jr. in his Iron Man role once more, as Tony Stark “tests” Spider-Man to see if he is indeed Avenger material. The specification that Parker is The New Avenger seemingly confirms that this story beat will be explored at some point in the film, since the meaning behind the full title suggests the main narrative will involve Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man proving his worth as a hero and earning his spot alongside Earth’s Mightiest when all is said and done.
Furthermore, the possible title has another connection to the larger MCU. It has largely been expected that when the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron have played out, the team will be fractured and in need for some new recruits. With the subtitle in mind, it’s possible that the new Spider-Man film will be a launching point to usher in the era of the New Avengers, with characters like Spidey, Black Panther, and others filling in for the old guard of Thor, Hulk, and the rest – as the original Avengers are allegedly going their own separate ways before the Infinity War brings everyone together.
Of course, this is just a rumor, so it’s important for readers to take it in with that trusty grain of salt until Marvel comes out and says something. That said, this is a strong title that accomplishes a lot in just a few words (arguably more than The Spectacular Spider-Man even), and would get the buzz for the film going strong right off the bat. However, it won’t matter if the reboot has the greatest title ever if the actual content in the film isn’t up to par. That’s the real challenge the filmmakers face by bringing Spider-Man home.
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The Avengers: Age of Ultron will be in theaters May 1, 2015; Ant-Man on July 17, 2015; Captain America: Civil War - May 6, 2016; Doctor Strange – November 4, 2016;Guardians of the Galaxy 2 - May 5, 2017; Spider-Man reboot – July 28, 2017; Thor: Ragnarok – November 3, 2017; The Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 – May 4, 2018;Black Panther- July 6, 2018; Captain Marvel – November 2, 2018; The Avengers: Infinity War Part 2 - May 3, 2019; Inhumans – July 12, 2019.
After three years, two movies (Avengers, Avengers 2) and one TV show (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Joss Whedon is officially done with Marvel, at least for the time being. The esteemed writer-director, who recently handed over the reins of Avengers: Infinity War to the Russo brothers, cited exhaustion from strict deadlines and high expectations as to why he couldn’t continue on.
And while it’s uncertain what Whedon will do next (whether it’s the long-awaited Dr. Horrible sequel or something entirely new), it is clear that he’s left behind a legacy of work in two of the highest-grossing films of all time. But for his next project, Whedon hopes to move away from ensembles and focus on only one character. Still, the director can’t help but wonder about some other possibilities, too.
When asked during press for Avengers: Age of Ultron whether he’d ever want to direct a movie for DC, Whedon got his comic book geek on with IGN, saying:
“Sure. I’d be like ‘I have all these joke ideas.’ And they’d be like ‘No, we don’t do that here.’ I desperately wanted to do a Batman film – who doesn’t? And I wanted to do Wonder Woman. I was a Marvel kid growing up, but I was always DC-curious. And I see myself on the spectrum in between.”
Fans may remember that Whedon tried and failed to get a Wonder Woman movie off the ground back in 2005. (DC reportedly turned down his outline for the film.) That ship has since sailed, of course, with Warner Bros. now pulling Wonder Woman into the DC shared cinematic universe. However, the news about Whedon wanting to do a Batman movie is also not new.
Whedon recently went on record with his excitement for Batman v Superman after the trailer released, telling Yahoo! Movies, “Batman and Superman are gonna fight! I’m so excited! I’m so excited!” Then there’s that time he talked about which Marvel character he’d like to bring to the big screen: “If I could get my hands on absolutely anybody it would be Batman. He’s a Marvel character in the DC universe.”
But there’s already been multiple versions of Batman over the years, and a new one isn’t likely to happen again anytime soon. Besides, Whedon’s adaptation of The Dark Knight would likely be more lighthearted than either Christopher Nolan or Zack Snyder’s most recent incarnations. That doesn’t mean Whedon couldn’t try and tackle a very similar character though, like say his idea for a turn-of-the-century female Batman? I, for one, would be very interested in seeing Whedon do a darker and harder action movie.
But what do you think, Screen Rant readers? Would you want Whedon to direct Batman? Or how about something in a similar vein, like his female Batman idea? Let us know in the comments.
Avengers: Age of Ultron premieres in U.S. theaters this week on May 1st.
With a second season officially confirmed – as well as a planned Defendersteam-up – Daredevil will be busy battling enemies on the small screen. But that hasn’t stopped Cox from expressing interest in and excitement for an appearance on the silver screen. While speaking to IGN, the actor touched briefly on the topic of a standalone film:
Yeah that would be awesome – I’d love to do that… And usually when you’ve got a two-hour movie, it’s action-packed, and so I think that’s one of the things that the show has really benefitted from – having that extra time to really get to know and sit with these characters and see them as humans. But I’d love to see ‘Daredevil’ on the big screen again. It would be great. And if I could be involved with that, I’d be thrilled.
As Cox hinted at, one of the primary reasons the show has struck such a chord with audiences is its ability to balance thrilling and expertly choreographed action set pieces with equally engaging and emotionally complex character moments. The long dialogue sequences allow viewers to catch their breath following the exhilarating and exhausting fight scenes. So the question then becomes, is a solo film really necessary for the hero’s journey? Or is television a more suitable format to explore his development?
Certainly the juxtaposition of Cox’s grounded Daredevil with the more embellished Iron Man and Thor would be fun to see (understatement). And cameo appearances in the upcoming Captain America: Civil Warand Avengers: Infinity Warwould certainly be appreciated by fans (understatement part two). But the need for a solo film along with the TV show – which could be in its third season by the time a movie is even considered – is questionable, especially when Marvel would arguably benefit more from exploring newsuperheroes on the big screen.
So far, Netflix has given us characters we want to spend time with – preferably more than two hours. And unlike other villains who have recently appeared onscreen,Wilson Fisk’s Kingpin is a rich, dynamic, and inherently tragic foil to Matt Murdock’s Daredevil. The arc and development of their relationship is one that requires time for growth, as do the relationships between Mattl, Foggy, and Karen.
That isn’t to say Marvel’s cinematic characters are not as fully-rendered or engaging, but it is interesting to consider what it would ultimately be like to see Thor and Loki or Captain America and Red Skull explored in a 13-episode format.
