Let’s forget everything we think we know about the Justice League film for a second and look at the facts: George Miller, the guy behind Mad Max and Babe, is attached to direct; the screenplay is from two unproven writers; Christian Bale and Brandon Routh are not in it; and as of today Peter Jackson’s Weta Workshop is a lock to create the slew of iconic costumes for the 2010 tentpole. Knock, knock, it’s Adam Brody from The O.C. as the Flash. Get out Brody! You’re not a fact. You’re just “probably true”! Call me bonkers, but I’m not ready to trash this project yet, pretty no-name faces attached. Even with moderate expectations, I say some spectacular visuals from Miller’s vision the likes we haven’t seen before are guaranteed; and if they’re PG visuals, so be it.
Producer Barrie Osbourne (LOTR, Face/Off, The Water Horse) confirmed the involvement of the physical-effects arm of Weta to The Dominion Post and stated that Weta Digital might join the project at a later date.
“They are doing all the costumes and they’re doing a brilliant job. A lot of people thought it would be too hard, that you can only make those things in Hollywood.”
Osbourne also lent his full support to the project, saying…
“George Miller has a great take on the material, so it elevates it to something that’s not a comic-book movie,” he said.
Does Weta’s involvement in any way change your hopes for the first movie that will see Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, the Flash and Aquaman together on screen?
January 7th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Your post brings up the conundrum that is this movie. On the one hand we have terrible internet buzz due to leaked cast lists. On the other hand, we have a great production/tech team working on the film. If I had never heard those cast lists, I’d be excited for this film. If I heard this was the directing/producing/writing/fx team behind the next Superman or Wonder Woman or whatever movie, I’d be excited for it’s potential.
But I have heard those cast lists, and that can’t help but color how I see this film. That cast list calls somebody’s judgment into question. I don’t know who is in charge of casting here: Miller, Osborne, WB exec, or casting director, but whoever it is now is suspect to me.
From the first announcement of JLA came the news of no Bale or Routh. I get that. I’ve internalized that and moved on. The DC execs can talk about multiple continuities/writers/crossovers whatever. I sometimes agree with it and sometimes don’t. What works in comic books might not in movies. But I get their logic, even if I think it’s a gamble. But I also thought that meant we’d be opening the door to a Gerard Butler type as Batman or tv Superman Tom Welling getting the call or James Caviezel and Brendan Fraser as Batman/Superman. Maybe not these particular actors, but these kind of actors. Actors of weight, with a fandom, who could generate buzz yet still do the role justice. These aren’t A-listers pulling down $20 million a film, but still actors of some substance. I’m not sure I’m wording it right to get my point across. Not a particular actor, so much as a particular kind of actor.
Instead, we may be getting Hammer and Catrona? I really don’t understand that.
January 7th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
No friggin way does it change my opinion. The cast is too young, I want to see the Justice League, not the Teen Titans. What is wrong with DC, how do they sit there and let Warner Bros cast these people, and say “oh yeah, thats a great choice!!. I’m ashamed that I even read DC comics now. Look at how successful Batman Begins was. Any retard can see why it was so successful, it was dark, edgy, and most importantly, done RIGHT!! But how Warner Bros can see how well that movie did and then do these atrocities to a now seemingly doomed Justice League Of America film blows my friggin mind. Just like with Superman Returns, what the hell?? How many times is Lex Luthor going to trick Superman???? Write a different stroy for God’s sake, imagine that. David Goyer(wrote the story for Batman Begins..hint hint) had a script for Superman returns where Superman died at the end. So what that he died at the end, at least it was friggin different. David Goyer has written so many great scripts, why wasn’t he commisioned to write a script, or to even direct this movie. Would it have cost too much money? Guess what, who cares, spend the frickin money, it’ll pay off in the end. I just don’t undertand the movie business anymore, and I don’t understand how DC of all people, just sits there with their thumb up their but. There are so many proven directors and writers out there who have proved they know what they are doing when it comes to Comic Book movies, but they are continously overlooked or passed up for reasons that are simply frustrating. They should enforce a law that would fine Movie Studios for destroying great ideas.
January 7th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
a bunch of nobody’s in a big bugdet movie blockbuster,come on dc don’t f@#k this up to us fans that ever since the old superfriends cartoon have dreamed of a live action jla movie, the story sounds like it’s going to suck!!!! come on dc , make mine marvel!!!!
January 7th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
I just cant see how this would work with these actors I would have much prefered this to be an all cgi pic with weta handling all animation but alas we get this the only characters I can see this movie benefiting would be The Flash ala Johnny Storm and possibly maybe if he’s lucky Aquaman but man how will talking to fish translate into anything of interest with an actual human playing the role I can see the whole epic controlling whales and what not but seriously what the hell are they gonna do with Aqua I just dont see that working I can already see the lame talking to goldfish crap who knows maybe were all wrong and this will be the greatest film of all time or maybe Im just really high off this blunt and I dont know what Im talking about
January 7th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
No doubt man who the hell is gonna be the villain? I would have loved to have seen Darkseid that would have been epic maybe in the future but what the hell is this gonna be about batboy aqualad wondergirl and boyscout it has 90210 written all over it except with superpowers oh wait thats called smallville
January 7th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
The Justice League was kind of a ridiculous idea to begin with, so I’m not expecting much from this movie. The nerd rage is always amusing, though.
January 8th, 2008 at 2:57 am
I know you keep saying that it’s a different franchise, but I don’t understand why it should be. They could very well place it in the same continuity as the Nolan/Singer movies, use the same actors, and start franchises for the other characters.
January 8th, 2008 at 6:56 am
The Justice League would never with Nolan’s Universe…
January 8th, 2008 at 7:01 am
work*
January 8th, 2008 at 9:23 am
It’s amazing to read these opinions on casting. You know, I’m going to make my own horrible movie. Cast the kid from Goonies, the kid from Flipper, the old gay guy from Gods and Monsters and the Prof. Arturo from Sliders. Wow, this movie is going to suck. It’ll be the worst thing ever! You know, I’ll hire the guy from that Michael J. Fox horror movie to direct it. No chance in hell it will be any good. Hmmm, what should I call it? How about Lord of the Rings.
January 9th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
no high expectations here, but i’ll probably go and see it anyway