The Flickering Myth writing staff react to Marvel and DC’s line-up of movies…
It’s been an exciting few weeks for comic book movie fans with both Marvel and DC announcing their line-up of movies for the next 6 years. If you fancy feeling a bit ill, just think how old you’ll be when Cyborg comes out in 2020…
But what do our writing staff make of this?
Tom Roach: As much as I am happy with the Marvel line up there was no real surprise for me. Don’t get me wrong this is great news but just no surprise. I always thought Civil War would happen at some point. I assumed it would be an Avengers film. DC I was less impressed with. I am a huge Batman fan but not really of DC. I don’t really care about Justice League, Wonder Woman, Flash. I am intrigued by Aquaman but that is it. I say that Marvel has won this one.
Matthew Skeen: I’m so glad my Facebook is working, I assumed that Marvel had broken the internet. Like Tom says it’s unsurprising but definitely interesting. I’m intrigued by how Thor: Ragnarok will affect the character. May do for Thor what The Winter Soldier did for Cap. Also like Chadwick Boseman for Black Panther and glad they haven’t thrown in a Hulk solo movie just because they can. Good decision on Marvels part.
Anthony Donovan Stokes: I would put money down that DC’s line up will not occur like they have it scheduled now. I don’t see a Cyborg movie coming out anytime soon nor Ray Fisher being a big enough name to carry it out. Kind of childish of DC at this point. Marvel’s line up was all rumoured so no big surprise but I’m incredibly excited for Black Panther and a two parter Avengers movie.
Jessie Robertson: I love both companies and would love to see all of them but I agree with Anthony. DC is still unproven and I don’t think half of those will get made. Marvel ,on the other hand seems to have a clear cut idea of where all their movies are going. Really stoked to see Inhumans personally.
Anghus Houvouras: My brain hurts. Thank God there are only two major comic book companies. All these announcements are filling me with anxiety. The Marvel lineup is far more interesting to me because were getting into the second tier of Marvel characters. Ant Man, Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel, Black Panther… these are the characters I want to see on the silver screen. I have to slog through five years of DC origin stories waiting for them to catch up. And frankly, I’m sick of origin stories and I have a feeling everyone else is too.
Chris Cooper: I think Marvel just put DC back in their corner. Whilst DC are faffing around introducing a cast, Marvel will just continue to crank out an increasingly diverse world of characters including stories that we know will be huge. As much as I’ll be up for seeing the DC characters, I’m still put out that Arrow and Flash won’t be involved (as I want them to be), and I’ve had loads of awesome Batman films. Marvel is going to introduce me to characters I have no idea about, but they’re track record says to me I’ll probably enjoy it.
Kris Wall: The announcement just further highlighted how far behind DC are lagging and how desperate their world building has become. DC’s only big interest point for me really is Batman, maybe Green Arrow. I have zero interest in The Flash, Aquaman, Wonder Woman and that bloody insufferable Man of Steel! Give me Guardians of the Galaxy 2 and I’ll be more than happy and satisfied, the rest of that line up is just a nice bonus at this point for me.
Villordsutch: Marvel just seem to be giving us Christmas every time they call an announcement, meanwhile back in the DC Cave they seem to be struggling with their two rocks to get anything like the Marvel spark appearing.
Anghus Houvouras: In terms of the business, its amazing to think how far ahead Marvel is now able to forecast. We used to live in a world where sequels and tie-ins were given the go ahead one movie at a time. Franchises are always one film away from being tossed into the dustbin. There are literally a dozen Marvel movies in production or rubber stamped for the go-ahead. The entire paradigm has changed. Marvel & Disney are re-engineering the franchise.
Jake Peffer: While Marvel’s line-up may not have been surprising it is a much more exciting line-up. That’s what Marvel has managed to do better than DC over the years is make everything exciting. Like others have said I don’t see DC actually coming out with everything they announced but Marvel will release all of theirs and then some. DC has some work to do if they even want to compete with Marvel.
Anghus Houvouras: I think Marvel’s success will allow DC grip tightly to their coattails. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is a bona fide billion dollar worldwide guaranteed blockbuster. So is the next Batman movie. Suicide Squad is more of a gamble, but so was second tier stuff like Iron Man before it was released. Still, I see DC’s second tier characters having a harder time hitting the 500 million worldwide number that has become required to justify the massive expense. Hell, Sony is panicking over Amazing Spider-Man only getting to 700+ million worldwide. With great price tags comes great accountability.
Kris Wall: Marvel have put in the time and detail to carefully craft their universe across the past few years, earning them the right to start introducing not so well known characters like Doctor Strange and Ant-man and the Guardians into their universe. Meanwhile DC have announced I’ll be getting a Cyborg movie and I should be excited for it, except I’m not, and until it was mentioned above I’d completely forgotten about it, and I still have no idea who Ray Fisher is. Given what Marvel have revealed today, I can see DC going into a bit of a tailspin trying to react to it.
Anthony Donovan Stokes: I’m not entirely sure Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is a sure fire billion dollar hit, especially after coming off of the Dark Knight Trilogy.
David Fleming: Marvel have so far created family movies that everyone from Grandpa to your little sister can enjoy. There is action, spectacle, thrills, scares, humour, romance (kept to a family friendly level) and heroes. This is what Star Wars and Indiana Jones were doing in the 80s. It works well because everyone enjoys it. I’m not convinced DC have what it takes to do the same thing. The last Superman movie was forgettable at best and couldn’t keep any age level satisfied (from my own family’s experience). I don’t blame their characters as much as their insistence on making everything so serious. Lighten up DC, you’re making comic book movies! Like the joker said, “why so serious? ”
Anthony Donovan Stokes: The moment that summed up Man of Steel was when my 12 year old cousin looked up at me during the middle of the 3rd act and said “this movie is going nowhere”, and I started busting out laughing.
Amon Warmann: Marvel certainly have the Midas touch about them right now, and this is a very exciting slate they’ve announced. Particularly hyped for Black Panther (finally!) and I’m really intrigued on how they’re going to depict Captain Marvel (please cast Katee Sackhoff) and Inhumans on screen.
We’ll have a much better idea of how far behind/close DC are once Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (please change that damn title) is released. No matter how good Marvel’s track record is, Batman and Superman are the biggest superheroes in the world. DC are putting their eggs in one basket essentially, but if they knock it out the park the rest of their slate could immediate look more enticing.
James Garcia: As someone who has NOT enjoyed a lot of what Marvel has put out, I left today’s announcement a bit lukewarm. I’ve always been a bigger DC fan, so I’m immediately more interested in and hopeful about their slate than whatever Marvel has coming down the pipeline.
I think it’s a bit unfair to criticize DC so much for “not doing enough” or not having as much variety in their slate; Marvel is now ten films deep into their universe while DC is just starting, and as much success as Marvel has had financially, they haven’t truly started making “great” films until the last few years and have released a handful of forgettable entries thus far. I am glad that they’re thinking outside the box now and greenlighting films like Black Panther, Captain Marvel and Inhumans, but I just can’t seem to get that excited about a third Thor film after the stinker that was The Dark World or a third and fourth Avengers film.
Alice Mary Rush: So much information to process.
Super happy with the Marvel announcements though most of it was kind of expected. Two parter Avengers movie?! Yes pleeease. And very interested about Thor: Ragnarok seeing as I’ve always felt a bit distant from Thor and it’s characters and if it’s in the same line as Winter Soldier this could be the best Thor movie yet. Kind of sad there’s still no prospect of a Black widow solo movie on the cards (yet) as I feel it’s getting more and more impossible as she’s more and more of a bit part. Oh well, at least we have the amazing announcement of Captain Marvel!
DC…oh DC. Prime example of ‘when you try your best but you don’t succeed’. These announcement have just made it even more clear how far behind they’re lagging. Only DC prospect that excited me was Wonder Woman, but I’m still angry at her introduction being as a a second fiddle in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
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It seems to be a clean sweep for Marvel, but it’s not like DC are lagging behind. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
