DC Universe

[Ben]

[Daniel]

Latest rumor: Henry and Gal's cameos have been cut from The Flash.

[Randall]

I don't see why that's necessary. Just retool The Flash to set up a whole new universe at the end of the film, then it doesn't matter what is shown along the way.

At this point, though, I'm expecting things to constantly be shifting for a while. There's still a lot of dust yet to settle.

[Ben]

It’s a dumb idea (to cut the cameos). Unless these were specifically in there to set up future films that now won’t happen, I say leave it as a way to sign off the Snyderverse…even though Aquaman 2: The Wet Of Water and Shazams may also do that..

I don’t think you can retool anything in The Flash at this point and not make more mess. And who knows what they try and set up doesn’t happen and then it’s even muddier. No, just cut this iteration off as they want to, but let the film be as it is. Leave the last appearances in there. Let those heroes still be "out there" as Aqua swims off into a reflection of the sunset, as that universe closes.

But…current management isn’t like that. Current management is thinking, "hey, we scrapped an entire Batgirl movie, we can scrap a couple of cameos for films we’re not gonna make anyway". Current management is thinking that if they cut apparently redundant cameos then they know they don’t need to pay any residuals to those artists. Current management is, at this point, wrapping up the Snyderverse by spending as little as possible, or at least curbing future expenditures and losses as much as possible.

That’s the thinking. It’s a shame for fans, it’s a shame for the characters and chances of seeing last hurrahs. It’s not a creative choice. It’s all about the money.

[Bill1978]

Let's hope the writers for Doom Patrol and Titans are smart like the writers of Stargirl and write an alternate ending (and the showrunner allows it to be filmed) so that fans can have closure in the event they too get cancelled (which at this stage I think is highly likely based on the madness happening at HBO Max/Discovery). Really don't want to see a repeat of Legends of Tomorrow that had a perfect ending moment but then ruined it with an extra scene that produced a cliffhanger that will now be unresolved.

[Ben]

Yep…total clean sweep: no more Black Adam for now:

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie ... 1235282822

[Randall]

Well, that was a no-brainer. The first film doesn't look to be profitable, and it was always a strange choice for a DC franchise to start with. What is it with all the villain movies? We can't get Man of Steel 2, or Green Arrow, or Plastic Man, but we get a Black Adam film?!?

Black Adam's actually a good character, but he belongs in a Shazam movie. (Though not the silly take they've gone with.)

[EricJ]

That was the whole point, BA seems to be the product of some lingering contractual obligation with Johnson, since the confused state of DCU couldn't get it ready in time for Shazam or Suicide Squad 2, as hoped.

[Dacey]

Just finished Black Adam. It's fun. A bit of a mess in some areas, and very silly, but the action is extremely enjoyable. And James Bond as Dr. Fate is dream casting that delivers. Actually, all of the JSA stuff is pretty great.

Shame the Snyderverse is ending on the messy "what if" note that it is.

[Randall]

It was Johnson who convinced WB early on that Black Adam deserved his own film, and they bought the idea. And though BA is a Captain Marvel/Shazam foe, Johnson refused to appear in those films at all (or SS 2), insisting he only headline his own series. It's like WB was so anxious to be in the Duane Johnson business that they let him dictate how their DC plans should be run, no matter how much sense it made. I do look forward to seeing BA, but it is so odd that we got THAT, but we never got MOS 2. Johnson does deserve his own series, and he wanted it to be BA, but the general audience couldn't really be expected to care.

It is obvious by now that a whole new era is planned. Onward and upward!

[Ben]

To be fair, he was positioning BA as a potential foe in a potential Superman sequel or future Shazam after the initial first headliner outing. Would have been interesting to see if they’d go full villain with it, though, seeing as he’s nice 'n' friendly blockbuster family entertainer movie star Dwayne Johnson now, and not just The Rock. And still has the Hobbs & Shaw and Jungle Cruise franchises, which both have sequels coming.

Duane Johnson is someone completely different, though…

[Randall]

Twomato tumato.

[Ben]

Not in this case! Duane Johnson is actually a completely different person!

[Dacey]

The weird thing is Black Adam is ultimately a supporting player in what is supposed to be "his movie," as much of the film is centered around other characters trying to decide what to do about him rather than him himself.

In a way it's really a JSA film disguised as a Black Adam film, with an annoying kid thrown in. But I'm not sure if he would have been a "main character" going forward, or if he simply would have been in an actual Man of Steel sequel.

I'm sure many stories will be told in the future over whatever behind-the-scenes drama took place during all of this. Though hopefully no more of them will involve Ray Fisher.

[Ben]

I'm sure many stories will be told in the future over whatever behind-the-scenes drama took place during all of this.

Really? I don’t see this as a minor blip in the slow death of DC as has been occurring since the Justice League fiasco, and a footnote at best.

And…ohh, what’s Fisher got to do with Black Adam?