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What We Learned From DC FanDome: Hall of Heroes

By | August 23rd, 2020
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For eight hours from 12 pm ET on Saturday, August 22, 2020, DC Entertainment held the first of two DC FanDome livestreams, featuring virtual panels from the creators and stars of DC Comics, Films, TV, and video games. Despite the last-minute rearrangement of the event, the presentation had it all, from trailers to casting announcements, and some comic book news:

General:

As well as John Ridley and Nick Derington’s “Batman” miniseries, and the return of Milestone Comics, DC Comics brought Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins, and Gal Gadot and Lynda Carter, to unveil Wonder Woman’s 80th anniversary logo, which will be used across the character’s birthday celebrations during 2021.

During the Multiverse 101 panel, DC publisher Jim Lee, DC Films president Walter Hamada, and TV executive producer Greg Berlanti discussed the benefits the concept has for their overall film/TV plans, and were keen to emphasize how much it enables opportunities for inclusivity and diversity across all their projects. They mentioned how it means Matt Reeves doesn’t have to worry about the DC Extended Universe while working on The Batman and its HBO Max spinoff.

When asked, Jim Lee said to expect less crossovers with the Watchmen Universe after “Doomsday Clock,” though there will be more explorations of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’s world, like the upcoming “Rorschach” maxiseries by Tom King and Jorge Fornes, especially after the success of the HBO series. Hamada also expressed openness to more “Elseworlds” movies like Joker, as long as a filmmaker had a strong pitch.


Films:

The Batman:

Director Matt Reeves introduced the trailer for his new vision of a younger Dark Knight, starring Robert Pattinson, on the trail of Paul Dano’s proto-Riddler:

Reeves spoke extensively about the project, stating the idea of Batman being the World’s Greatest Detective is essential to the plot, as he investigates murders that reflect the corrupt history of Gotham, and gradually reveal the role the Wayne family played in the city. He stressed this isn’t about how Batman began, but an inexperienced Batman during “Year Two,” so it will be different in that it does not depict Bruce’s alter-ego as his “best self.”

In addition to ’70s crime movies like Chinatown, Reeves namedropped Darwyn Cooke’s 2000 one-shot “Batman: Ego” as an influence on the film. He also explained the movie is partly about the origins of the rogues gallery, as neither Dano’s Edward Nygma, Zoe Kravitz’s Selina Kyle, or Colin Farrell’s Oswald Cobblepot go by their comic book nicknames yet (he specifically mentioned Oswald dislikes being called the Penguin here).

Robert Pattinson briefly appeared at the start of the panel, where he expressed impatience to resume filming, after principal photography was shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic. Reeves cited Pattinson’s recent work in films like The Lost City of Z as being reason for casting him, and revealed the advice Christian Bale gave when Pattinson asked him about playing the part: mainly, to have a Batsuit that allows him to relieve himself.

Reeves also talked about the HBO Max series that he is creating with Terence Winter, that will be set in the same universe: he revealed the show, which will further explore the corruption of the GCPD, will be set during ‘Year One,’ when the cops were discovering Batman’s existence. It will feature new characters alongside ones from the comics.

The Batman releases October 1, 2021.


The Suicide Squad:

Director James Gunn unveiled the characters The Suicide Squad cast will be playing:

The new cast members consist of Idris Elba as Bloodsport; John Cena as Peacemaker; Peter Capaldi as the Thinker; Pete Davidson as Blackguard; David Dastmalchian as Polka-Dot Man; Michael Rooker as Savant; Nathan Fillion as T.D.K; Flula Borg as Javelin; Daniela Melchior as Ratcatcher; Mayling Ng as Mongal; Sean Gunn as Weasel; and Alice Braga as Sol Soria. The cast also includes Steve Agee, who plays King Shark on set as well as John Economos, and Storm Reid as Tyla DuBois, Bloodsport’s daughter, plus Margot Robbie, Viola Davis, Joel Kinnaman, and Jai Courtney.

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Gunn talked about being a fan of John Ostrander’s seminal 1987 run, and described the movie as like a sequel to it, using obscure, classic villains who could’ve been added to Task Force X if Ostrander had continued writing the comic. In a behind-the-scenes featurette screened after the panel, he stressed how different it is from other comic book movies, with producer Peter Safran describing it as a ‘70s war movie, mixed with Gunn’s trademark humor. Gunn also revealed two (variant) teaser posters for the film on Twitter:

The Suicide Squad releases August 6, 2021.


The Flash:

A behind-the-scenes featurette with DCEU Barry Allen actor Ezra Miller, director Andy Muschietti, producer Barbara Muschietti, and writer Christina Hodson was shown, discussing the Flash’s upcoming solo movie. Muschietti’s balance of humour, horror and drama in the IT movies was emphasized, while the director also pointed out he was keen to direct the film as it is a time travel movie. He also showed concept art of Barry’s new, streamlined suit, designed by Bruce Wayne, and Michael Keaton’s Batman:

Hodson talked about how the source material, Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert’s “Flashpoint,” was a huge, epic comic book, but also a personal, intimate story about Barry trying to undo a family tragedy. She and Miller emphasized how the movie will open up the multiverse on the big screen.

The Flash releases June 3, 2022.


Black Adam and Shazam: Fury of the Gods:

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson introduced a concept art trailer for the upcoming Shazam! spin-off, depicting Black Adam’s origins in ancient Kahndaq, and his revival in the present day. He talked about how Black Adam will be more complex than a typical hero or villain, and revealed the film will pit him against the Justice Society, who consist of Hawkman, Doctor Fate, Cyclone, and Atom Smasher (whom Noah Centineo has already been cast as).

Meanwhile, Shazam! star Zachary Levi was joined by Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Faithe Herman, Meagan Good, Adam Brody, director David F. Sandberg, and comedian Sinbad for a “Shazoom” session that eventually revealed the sequel will be titled Shazam: Fury of the Gods.

Black Adam releases December 22, 2021, while Shazam: Fury of the Gods will follow on November 4, 2022.


Wonder Woman 1984:

Patty Jenkins, Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig, and Pedro Pascal unveiled the second trailer for Wonder Woman 1984, featuring the first footage of Wiig as Cheetah:

Having been delayed by COVID-19, Wonder Woman 1984 is now set for release on October 2, 2020.


TV:

Zack Snyder’s Justice League:

Director Zack Snyder introduced a trailer for the HBO Max cut of the 2017 film, releasing next year. It features Superman’s black suit, Darkseid in flashback, and Steppenwolf’s new look:

Snyder confirmed that the reworked take will be presented as a four-part miniseries, and teased that Cyborg will be the heart of the new version, as well as a new superpower from the Flash. He also commented that they are discussing how to release the cut in countries without HBO Max.


Titans and Harley Quinn:

In a panel featuring the Titans cast, executive producer Greg Walker confirmed that Curran Walters’s Jason Todd will become the vengeful Red Hood in the third season of the show. He also revealed Barbara Gordon will be introduced as the new Commissioner of the GCPD, while Dr. Jonathan Crane (aka Scarecrow) will appear as an inmate at Arkham Asylum, who offers to become a criminal profiler and consultant for the police.

Meanwhile, Harley Quinn star Kaley Cuoco appeared in-character for a Q&A, and revealed WarnerMedia executives had yet to make a decision about the renewal of her series.


The Flash:

Finally, the CW released a trailer for The Flash season 7, featuring all the footage intended for season 6 before COVID-19 shut down production:

The Flash season 7 premieres next year.

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Video Games:

Gotham Knights:

Batman: Arkham Origins developer Warner Bros. Montreal unveiled their new game, Gotham Knights, which, despite appearances, is not a sequel to 2015’s Arkham Knight. Regardless, it follows Nightwing, Robin, Batgirl and Red Hood assuming responsibility for the protection of Gotham, after Bruce Wayne (and Jim Gordon) are assumed dead.

The open world, co-op game will feature villains like Mr. Freeze (who was also showcased in a gameplay demo), and the Court of Owls. It will be playable as either a solo game or a two-player co-op experience, and will be released on the PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X, and PC in 2021.


Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League:

Main Arkham series developer Rocksteady Studios revealed their new game, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, with a cinematic trailer starring Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang, Deadshot, and Killer Shark:

The game, which will feature four player co-op, sees the quartet being ordered to take out Superman after Brainiac possesses him, and presumably the rest of the League (as well as everyone else in Metropolis). Rocksteady creative director Sefton Hill said Kill the Justice League would cross firefights with the classic Arkham gameplay, and described Metropolis as the “fifth character” of the game. Unlike Gotham Knights, this will take place in their universe.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will be released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC in 2022. DC FanDome will return, in the meantime, with DC FanDome: Explore the Multiverse, on Saturday, September 12.


Christopher Chiu-Tabet

Chris is the news manager of Multiversity Comics. A writer from London on the autistic spectrum, he enjoys tweeting and blogging on Medium about his favourite films, TV shows, books, music, and games, plus history and religion. He is Lebanese/Chinese, although he can't speak Cantonese or Arabic.

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