In this edition of The Week in Spandex, we look at Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Superman Lives, Suicide Squad, Justice League Dark, Hellboy III, Arrow, The Flash, Gotham, Supergirl, Gotham, Vixen, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Blackbirds, Ant-Man, Captain America: Civil War, Black Panther, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Doctor Strange, Thor: Ragnarok, Thor: The Dark World, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Agent Carter, Avengers Assemble, Ultimate Spider-Man, Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, X-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men: Apocalypse, Deadpool, Gambit, Heroes Reborn, Electra Woman and Dyna Girl and more…
As Warner Bros. gears up to showcase its DC Cinematic Universe at Comic-Con (with the likes of Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Jeremy Irons and Holly Hunter all set to feature on the Hall H panel), Entertainment Weekly gave us an early look at the hugely anticipated superhero blockbuster Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice thanks to its SDCC edition. As well as a new image of the Trinity of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman on its cover [see here], the magazine offered up an image of Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince together [see here], as well as new shots of The Dark Knight, Man of Steel and Lex Luthor [see here]…
…Inside the issue, Ben Affleck spoke of his reaction to being offered the role of Batman, as well as adding fire to the rumours that he could direct a solo move for the masked vigilante: “My first reaction was ‘Are you sure?’ At the time I was 40, 41, and had just finished Argo, and I felt like ‘This seems like a strange way to get to Batman.’ But Zack convinced me… I thought if I was going to direct a movie like this, which I would like to do at some point, I need to have something of a refresher course of how these movies are done.” Meanwhile, Affleck also chipped in on the never-ending DC vs. Marvel debate, stating that: “[DC] is more mythic, it is more grand in that way, and it is a little more realistic. Just by their nature, these films can’t be as funny or as quick or as glib as Marvel movies…”
…In other Batman v Superman-related news, we’ve also got a look at some SDCC exclusive merchandise, including a Funko Pop! Vinyl two-pack [see here], a LEGO Batman and Batmobile [see here], and Mattel action figures, Hot Wheels and a Wonder Woman Barbie [see here]. Meanwhile, we’ve also posted an op-ed from Samuel Brace entitled ‘4 DC Villains That Ben Affleck’s Batman Has To Battle’, which you can read here…
…We’ve had a glimpse of what might have been for the Man of Steel if Tim Burton’s Superman Lives had taken flight in the 90s, with some test footage of Nicolas Cage in the Superman suit arriving online courtesy of the documentary The Death of Superman Lives: What Happened?, which is set for release this coming week…
…Despite rumours of its inclusion, Suicide Squad was absent from Warner’s SDCC announcement, but while we wait to see if the supervillain ensemble is one of the “special surprises” Margot Robbie has given us another look at herself in full costume as Harley Quinn, posting a behind-the-scenes snap of her celebrating her 25th birthday with a giant Harley cake on the set of the film…
..It was reported this week that Warner Bros. has had a bit of a reshuffle with its DC properties, moving its Vertigo properties over to sister-studio New Line Cinema to focus on its shared superhero projects. However, as part of the news, it was also revealed that Guillermo del Toro has left his long-gestating Justice League Dark adaptation Dark Universe, although the project itself is seemingly still on the cards…
…While we’re on the subject of Guillermo del Toro, Ron Perlman has been doing a lot of talking about Hellboy III over the past month, and this week saw him making a rather intriguing post on Instagram suggesting that the long-rumoured final chapter in the Hellboy series could be moving ahead. Might that explain del Toro’s departure from Justice League Dark…?
…Moving back to DC and TV Guide has shared its annual San Diego Comic-Con International covers, featuring new promotional images from Arrow, The Flash, Gotham and Supergirl…
…Young Gotham star David Mazouz offered up a few words on Bruce Wayne’s journey in the upcoming second season of the Batman prequel series, stating that: “He’s on a mission and he really is gonna start his dual personality into becoming Batman. When he’s Batman there is his Batman side and then his public persona which is a more playboy/party boy persona and in season two he’s really going to start developing that second persona. He’s going to start having that, and developing that with Alfred, and I think it’s going to be really cool…”
…The CW is set to unveil its upcoming CW Seed animated series Vixen during SDCC next week, and it’s been announced this week that Megalyn Echikunwoke (The 44oo) is set to voice the title character of Mari MacCabe, while Arrow and The Flash stars Stephen Amell (Oliver Queen/Arrow), Grant Gustin (Barry Allen/The Flash), Emily Bett Rickards (Felicity Smoak) and Carlos Valdes (Cisco Ramon) will all be lending their voices to their live-action counterparts. Meanwhile, an official description has been released, which reads: “Originally from Africa, Mari McCabe’s parents were killed by local greed, corruption, and wanton violence. But the orphaned Mari refuses to succumb to the terrors surrounding her. Inheriting her family’s Tantu Totem, Mari can access the powers of animals-anything from the super-strength of a gorilla to the speed of a cheetah. As Vixen, she fights valiantly to protect the world from threats like those that claimed her family…”
…The CW is also set to expand the live-action side of its DC universe with DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, and some new concept art for the Arrow and The Flash spinoff has arrived online this week featuring Firestorm, The Atom and Captain Cold in action. Take a look here…
…It’s been reported this week that TNT’s planned Teen Titans live-action series has received a title change from Titans to Blackbirds, and the pilot episode is expected to start shooting in Toronto this October…
…Click below to continue on for Ant-Man, Captain America: Civil War, Black Panther, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Doctor Strange, Thor: Ragnarok, Thor: The Dark World, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Agent Carter, Avengers Assemble, Ultimate Spider-Man, Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, X-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men: Apocalypse, Deadpool, Gambit, Heroes Reborn and Electra Woman and Dyna Girl…
