As if the DC news couldn’t get more exciting with the announcement of Cathy Yan directing a Birds of Prey film comes news that Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment have attracted one of the biggest names in directing to their slate. Steven Spielberg, fresh off directing Ready Player One, has been announced to join DC to direct Blackhawk, a film about a group of fighter pilots within the DC universe.
Created in the 1941 in the comic of the same name, Blackhawk centers on a team of World War II fighter pilots who are led by a mysterious man known as Blackhawk and face down fantastical threats. It was a very popular title throughout the 1940s, outselling most comics save Superman. The team has gone through several changes, but it is always led by a leader named Blackhawk or Lady Blackhawk. Their popularity in comics wanes from time to time now, but their most prominent use in comics recently was in DC: The New Frontier (and its animated adaptation) and a brief role in Dark Nights: Metal.
David Koepp, who has frequently collaborated on many of Spielberg’s projects, including Jurassic Park and War of the Worlds, will reportedly write the script. Spielberg will also produce the film with Kristie Macosko Krieger under Amblin Entertainment while Sue Kroll will executive produce under her Kroll & Co. Entertainment banner.
“It was wonderful working with the team at Warner Bros. to bring Ready Player One to the screen,” Spielberg stated. “They bring a blend of passion and professionalism to everything they do and have a tremendous history in this genre. I am excited to reunite with them on Blackhawk.”
“We are so proud to be the studio behind Steven Spielberg’s latest hit, and are thrilled to be working with him again on this new action adventure,” said WB chairman Toby Emmerich. “We can’t wait to see what new ground he will break in introducing Blackhawk to movie audiences worldwide.”
Interestingly, Spielberg was interested in directing a Blackhawk film in the early 1980s, but that project fell through at the time. Before he films Blackhawk, Spielberg will direct the next instalment of the Indiana Jones franchise with Harrison Ford returning in his iconic role and a remake of West Side Story.
Are you excited at the prospect of a Spielberg-directed DC film? Let us know below…
