DC Comics Properties Lining Up (Minus the 'Big Three')

A lot of DC superhero movies are getting under way, but the "Big Three" may be getting left behind. (This photo manip was done by JMC.) A new article in The Hollywood Reporter shows that Warner Bros. and DC Comics may be doing a better job at lining up some movie franchises than many have feared.

The article confirms some rumblings we have heard behind the scenes, and also introduces some brand-new developments.

The good news:

* Warner Bros. hired Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison and Marv Wolfman (three top comic book writers) to serve as "consultants and writers for its superhero line of movies."

* The studio took back the reins on "The Flash" and "Teen Titans" from a pair of producers.

* Johns created a treatment for "The Flash," with the script to be written by Dan Mazeau. Johns will be a producer on the project.

* The studio is taking pitches on Adam Strange and Aquaman, with the latter set to be produced by Leonardo DiCaprio.

* Also in the pipeline: "Bizarro Superman"; a "Constantine" sequel; two Green Arrow projects, an origin story and "Super Max"; and "Shazam," with Pete Segal attached to direct.

The bad news:

* Warner Bros. and DC have no idea how to translate "Wonder Woman" to the big screen.

* Superman remains in limbo.

* A sequel to "Dark Knight" is a long way off.

* The Justice League movie franchise is inactive.

The full article can be found here. It's well worth reading.

It's also worth noting that for as much progress as the studio is making on its DC projects, the "Big Three" of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman may be off the silver screen for longer than we all would like.

Lawsuit Sheds Light on Status of 'Superman' Franchise

The United States District Court, Central District of California, released a finding today in the case of Joanne Siegel and Laura Siegel Larson vs. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., Time Warner Inc. and DC Comics Inc.

According to the court document: "The question of 'whether the license fees paid' by Warner Bros Entertainment Inc. to its corporate sibling, DC Comics, for the audiovisual rights to the Superman copyright pursuant to various licensing agreements entered into during the 1999 to 2002 period 'represents the fair market value therefor, or whether the license for the works between the related entities was a sweetheart deal.’"

After a 10-day trial, the court determined there is "insufficient evidence that the Superman film agreement between DC Comics and Warner Bros., whether judged by its direct economic terms or its indirect ones, was consummated at below its fair market value." The court also ruled that "the non-exclusive rights conveyed by DC Comics to Warner Bros. in the Smallville television agreement was not for below fair market value and, therefore, finds for the remaining defendants on this point as well."

During the trial, several statements came up that shed some light on the staus of a potential sequel to "Superman Returns."

Regarding the current development of the movie, the document says that Alan Horn -- referred to as "the head of Warner Bros." -- testified that "aside from his 'hopes' to develop the Superman character, at present the property is not under development at Warner Bros. No script has been written, filming has not commenced, and the earliest a Superman film could be theatrically released would be 2012. As Mr Horn explains 'we had hopes to keep the [superman] character alive and to once again reinvent Superman. We are -- our hope is to develop a Superman property and to try again. What hurt us is that the reviews and so on for the Superman movie ... did not get the critical acclaim that Batman got, and we have other issues with superman that concern us.'"

However, the lawsuit also details why it is in the company's interest to get moving on another Superman movie:

"Given that Mr. Horn testified that the release of a sequel to Superman Returns movie could occur in 2012, it is certainly now possible, based on the only competent evidence related to this issue introduced at trial, that filming of such a sequel could occur within the 2009 to 2011 time frame.
"Unless and until it can be shown at that point in time that no filming of a sequel to Superman Returns has commenced, it cannot be said, with any degree of certainty, that the Superman film agreement’s failure to contain a reversion clause keyed to continued and regular development of the property in film has caused any harm.
"In making this statement, the Court is certainly mindful of how close this market deficiency in the Superman film agreement is from shifting from speculation to concrete harm. Even under Mr. Horn's hopeful estimate, no filming of a Superman sequel will commence this year nor is it likely that it will commence next year. Without a script, and there is none at present, filming cannot be commenced. It is only the possibility that filming could begin on a Superman sequel in 2011 that has stayed the Court from making a finding on the reasonable certainty of harm having occurred.
"Given that the potential for said commencement of filming exists at the present time, plaintiffs have not shown that the Superman film agreement, sans a reversion clause, is below the reasonable range for what a willing buyer would pay for the property from a willing seller. If, however, by 2011, no filming has commenced on a Superman sequel, plaintiffs could bring an accounting action at that time to recoup the damages then realized for the Superman film agreement's failure to contain a reversion clause."

Click here to read the lawsuit in its entirety.

Truth, Justice & the Japanese Way

Awhile back, we reported on a series of Japanese commercials for the 2009 Toyota Prius featuring actor Matthew Bomer (whose most notable for the series Chuck and will soon headline the forthcoming White Collar for USA Network) as Superman/Clark Kent.

Well now a TMT reader has sent us a nice picture of Bomer (who had previously auditioned and screen-tested for the role years back and was said to be then-director Brett Ratner's top-choice) in the red-and-blue suit that is to be used in local Japanese publications to promote the Prius. Notice again, they're using the suit used in Bryan Singer's Superman Returns.

He certainly looks the part. But I wouldn't be jumping to conclusions like I'm sure some have already done so. The film franchise

is in hibernation at this time with the news of current Man of Steel Brandon Routh's contrast just recently expiring. The truth of the matter is if Routh doesn't return to the role, then his successor will be another unknown actor. Sorry, Tom Welling fans!

In other "What the fuck?" related news, a Japanese Tim Burton fan-site got a hold of the director's designs for Brainiac during the time he was working on Superman Lives back in 1997. Said site also provided a video presentation of sketches and models for how Kal-El's alien adversary would have looked had Lives seen the light of day. You can thank your lucky stars it fell apart, folks.

Jeph Loeb Talks 'Superman/Batman: Public Enemies'

WorldsFinestOnline.com has scored an interview with Jeph Loeb, where they discuss the forthcoming animated movie "Superman/Batman: Public Enemies."

Among the highlights:

The World's Finest: Any thoughts on seeing one of your stories being adapted into an animated feature? Were you surprised by the announcement?

Jeph Loeb: I got a call from DC asking if I wanted to write the script, which caught me totally off guard because I had no idea they were thinking about this series. I love the Justice League: The New Frontier DVD both in terms of look and how faithful they were to the story. My schedule wouldn't allow it, so all I could do was hope for the best. And from what I've seen it's better than the best!

WF: Is there another Superman/Batman arc of yours you would like to see adapted?

JL: Sure! All of them! I'd love to see them adapt the next arc, Supergirl, and do it in Mike Turner's style. That's what makes these DVD's so unique is that they have been following the designs of the specific artists. The “McGuinness” look to Superman/Batman: Public Enemies just rocks!

For the full interview, check out WorldsFinestOnline.com.

Routh Says Terms of His Superman Contract Have Expired

Among the many ways the Internet continues to improve our lives, one of the coolest is Google Translate. 

I love that you can take a story written in another language and, with a few keystrokes, turn it into something that you can read in your own language.

The translations aren't perfect, of course, but you can certainly get the idea.

Anyway, Omelete.com recently visited the site of the forth-coming comic book movie "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World." While there, they took the time to sit down and talk with Brandon Routh.

Here is the Google Translated version of the site's article:

During our visit to the set of Scott Pilgrim, adaptation to the screens of of Brian Lee O'Malley's independent comic, the omelet chatted with Brandon Routh, who plays "evil ex-boyfriend number 3."

Obviously, we could not stop without asking him about the status of the franchise's Man of Steel, where he played Clark Kent / Superman in Superman Returns.

"I do not know of anything," said Routh. "I'm sure that Warner Bros. is moving there, but everything is still uncertain. Really, I do not know anything."

Then commented that he thought a certain injustice that Batman Begins, the reboot of the franchise of Batman had opened lower than expected by the studio - as Superman - but won a second chance and ended up proving to be an absurdly lucrative series in Batman - The Knight of Darkness.

"It's exactly how I feel," agreed Routh.

Then discuss the main reason why the film may not have excited the public as it should: the lack of action scenes. "I think missing some beating. You know, it is curious, but in the middle of the show I realized it - I just noticed that caught the whole movie and had no chance to retaliate."

Routh also confirmed he has no contract to play the super-hero. "The term contract has expired. But if they call me again, back to the character without thinking twice."

The full interview with the actor will be published towards the release of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World in 2010.

The key parts are:

* Routh still does not know what's going on with the Superman series

* The terms of his contract to play Superman have expired

* He still wants to play the role, and would return without thinking twice

* Routh admits the movie needed more action

Hopefully, we will get a true translation of the article soon enough. But you can definitely pick up what Routh is saying. And Routh, even in a broken English translation of Portugese, still sounds far more lucid about the movie series than Bryan Singer does these days.