The online DC Fandome event (which took place on the 15th October) is an annual way for DC and Warner related-companies to unleash a barrage of promotional trailers and information about forthcoming projects. This year’s line-up of news items was pretty impressive giving audiences a glimpse of various features heading our way in the months to come.
If the news that Superman‘s son Jon Kent is bisexual wasn’t enough to get some corners of the clickbait news-media chattering then DC Fandom‘s announcement that Superman‘s motto was changing from ‘Truth, Justice and the American Way…‘ to ‘Truth, Justice and a Better Tomorrow…‘ surely was. Some commentators are saying this is linked to America’s damaged stance in the world, its innate dream, ideals and image somewhat tarnished in recent years by harder-line politics and questionable policies. However DC‘s Chief Creative Officer and Publisher Jim Lee says there’s a wider reason for the tweak:
“Superman’s new motto of ‘Truth, Justice and a Better Tomorrow’ will better reflect the global storylines that we are telling across DC and to honor the character’s incredible legacy of over 80 years of building a better world,” he noted. “Superman has long been a symbol of hope who inspires people from around the world, and it is that optimism and hope that powers him forward with this new mission statement.”
Director Patty Jenkins has confirmed that there are still plans for a third Wonder Woman movie to finish out a planned trilogy of stories. The first film – released in 2017 – was a huge critical and financial success, but the second film, WW1984 – released last year in the middle of the pandemic – had decidedly mixed reviews, though its box-office take (through streaming and cinemas) was impressive given the COVID restrictions.
“We’re super excited about Wonder Woman 3,” Jenkins said, noting that star Gal Gadot was also “so bummed” to not be present to announce the film with her, but that she’s “…the busiest person in the world, with now three little kids and shooting”.
There was no news on story, script or the current time-line.
Noticeably The Batman got a new and more comprehensive trailer giving not just a look at Robert Pattinson’s version of the iconic character but a better over-all feel of the tone and interpretation that director Matt Reeves will bring to the project. The likes of Tim Burton, Joel Schumacher and Christopher Nolan have all brought their very different ideas to the concept and premise and it looks as if Reeves’ version has a very crime-noir feel with big set-pieces but a very street-level take to proceedings.
The reaction to this latest trailer has been mostly very positive and Batman seems to be the kind of character ripe for regular re-invention. That also seems to be true for the Dark Knight’s supporting cast and the trailer gives us a solid look at Paul Dano as Edward Nashton / The Riddler, Colin Farrell as Oswald Cobblepot / The Penguin and our first real images of Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle / Catwoman and Andy Serkis as Alfred.
It hits cinemas, courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures on 4th March 2022
If that’s not enough Batman for you, then there’s at least one more (and possibly more than that) in a sneak-peek at the forthcoming The Flash movie in which Barry Allen’s unparalleled speed tempts him to alter time itself, crossing the multiverse and encountering other versions of himself and of Batman. It’s now known that both Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck’s version of Batman will also feature in the film with other visual call-backs to previous Caped Crusader movies. The film is technically still in production but star Ezra Miller introduced Fandome audiences to a selection of scenes that certainly whet the appetite…
Audiences who saw James Gunn’s recent The Suicide Squad movie – but who didn’t stay until after the credits – may have believed that John Cena’s Peacemaker was a casualty of the story but a post-credit scene revealed the character had survived. That’s a potentially good thing because he’s needed for his own HBO Max series which sees the overtly patriotic, overtly-violent villain/anti-hero team up with some new partners to save the world. It’s a production that feels like The Boys but with an even more OTT and dark comedic line to it. Peacemaker also stars Danielle Brooks as Adebayo, Freddie Stroma as Vigilante, Jennifer Holland as Harcourt, Steve Agee as Economos, Chukwudi Iwuji as Murn, and Robert Patrick as Auggie Smith. Gunn wrote all eight episodes of Peacemaker and directed five, including the first. The DC series debuts on HBO Max on Thursday, 13th January.
