This week already brought confirmation of Warner Bros.’ plans to follow the Man Of Steel sequel with a Justice League movie, and today’s news cycle offers a hint at what else the studio has planned for the big-screen side of DC Comics.
In a profile of the studio that features an interview with DC Entertainment president Diane Nelson, The Wall Street Journal reports that Warner Bros. has nine films currently planned for DC Comics properties — and that’s in addition to the upcoming Man Of Steel sequel and Justice League movie. While the identities of a few of those projects are relatively easy to guess, the full scope of WB’s plans — nine films beyond those that have been announced — comes as a surprise.
So far, the list of likely candidates includes the planned film based on Neil Gaiman’s Sandman series, which is being produced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt (who may also direct and/or star in the project). Earlier this month, Gaiman gave his approval to British writer Jack Thorne as the intended screenwriter for the film and met with Gordon-Levitt to discuss the project.
In announcing the Justice League movie, Warner Bros. President of Worldwide Marketing Sue Kroll also indicated that the studio hopes to turn Gal Gadot’s debut as Wonder Woman in the Man Of Steel sequel into a solo movie featuring the character.
A third possibility is WB’s plan for a Fables movie based on Bill Willingham’s fairy tale adventure series. Back in June 2013, A Royal Affair director Nikolaj Arcel was attached to direct the film, but there haven’t been many updates since that announcement.
Other long-rumored projects include a Shazam movie that once had Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson attached to play the film’s villain, as well as a Justice League Dark movie that Guillermo del Toro has thrown his support behind. There have also been various other DC Comics properties in different stages of development over the years.
Before fans get too caught up in theories regarding a potential DC Comics cinematic universe like the one Marvel has created, it’s worth noting that the article suggests Nelson isn’t sold on the idea of creating a unified universe for DC’s cast of characters.
“It isn’t about a single approach to everything,” said Nelson on the subject of whether DC is looking to create their own live-action universe across movie and television properties. “It’s the right character matched with the right talent in the right medium.”
