#2 – Aquaman, Joker, Shazam!, Titans, Batwoman, and more

by | Jul 19, 2018

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As SDCC 2018 gets set to kick off, we break down all the news before the big event. This includes Aquaman, Shazam!, Birds of Prey, Joker, plus a first trailer for Titans and a Batwoman TV series being put in development by the CW.

Movies

Aquaman

Aquaman set visit reports (took place just after last year’s SDCC) – JoBlo

  • Epic in scope – characters, creatures, vehicles, and sets
  • Producer Peter Safran -“the new 52 version of Aquaman was definitely our touchstone and our starting point”
  • Aquaman will have a more classic-looking orange/green costume
  • Origin of Arthur Curry – with flashbacks to his youth
  • Epic adventure/swashbuckling/quest vibe (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Romancing the Stone)
  • 2/3rds of the film is underwater
  • James Wan specifically wanted to direct Aquaman to change the public’s perception of the character (being a joke in pop culture)
  • All the main actors were the filmmakers first choice (Patrick Wilson, Nicole Kidman, etc.)
  • Orm is primary villain, but his story will have some overlap with Black Mantas’
  • Black Manta will have his comic book origin; will be secondary villain and a larger threat in hopefully future films
  • Arthur’s parents’ meeting is compared to The Little Mermaid; meet and she has to leave
  • Orm and Arthur will have a gladiatorial battle for the crown in front of an active volcano
  • An Italian villa was created for one land scene
  • Atlanteans power/invulnerability is just less than Superman; can be damaged by own tech; bullets can break skin, but not necessarily penetrate
  • The 7 underwater kingdoms will all be in the film
  • The Atlanteans weapons/tech is compared to more colorful versions of the Elvish stuff in Lord of the Rings
  • Wan will homage Creature from the Black Lagoon in a Trench monster scene
  • The film is about Arthur becoming classic Aquaman
  • James Wan didn’t want Atlantis to be fully shown in Justice League – Zack Snyder and DC worked with him; conversations continued into additional JL photography
  • The plot of Justice League doesn’t directly impact Aquaman, but it is set after JL
  • Safran – The Arthur/Mera relationship is similar to Romancing the Stone
  • Safran on Wan – has taken elements from his horror and Fast and Furious work for this film – character driven, lets action develop, etc.
  • Amount of comedy in film is similar to Wonder Woman
  • Wants the score to have a “majestic” feel to celebrate a new world

Joker

Joaquin Phoenix/Todd Phillips Joker movie to be released October 4, 2019 – (The Hollywood Reporter)

  • Joker is the official title
  • 2 weeks after The Kitchen (September 20th), 4 weeks before Wonder Woman 1984 (November 1st)
  • Again no mention of Scorsese

Shazam!

Zachary Levi on the SDCC exclusive cover of Entertainment Weekly as Shazam!

Second official photo of Shazam! – Entertainment Weekly

First look at Asher Angel as Billy Batson in Shazam! – Entertainment Weekly

  • Larger photo here
  • Billy and Freddy in Freddy’s room
  • Tons of Easter eggs – Superman, Batman, is that an Aquaman shirt?
  • Jack Dylan Grazer – “Freddy’s a fanboy when it comes to Batman, Superman, the Justice League, so he becomes Billy’s mentor and sansei when it comes to being a superhero.”
  • Asher Angel on Billy – “He’s misunderstood, he’s mischievous, he’s been a foster kid since he was 5 years old and really has no one to trust.”
  • On screaming Shazam! – “My family and friends are asking if I’ll ever get sick of saying ‘Shazam!’ I’ll never be sick of it. Ever.”
  • EW on future Shazam! Appearances  – “I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Shazam play a role in the DCU,” Safran says. Sequels too, are being plotted, but they’ll have to factor in something that other superhero films don’t worry about – growth spurts. The 15-year old Angel won’t look like an adolescent Billy for long. “We have plans in place for sequels that take into account those realities,” Safran promises.”

Main characters in Cathy Yan’s Birds of Prey film – The Wrap

  • Harley Quinn – Margot Robbie reprises her Suicide Squad role
  • Dinah Lance/Black Canary
  • Helena Bertinelli/Huntress
  • Cassandra Cain – has been Batgirl, Black Bat, and Orphan in the comics
  • Renee Montoya – GCPD detective, has also been the Question
  • A Batman villain who hasn’t been in a movie will be the villain (so not Penguin)
  • Producers – Margot Robbie, Sue Kroll, Bryan Unkeless (I, Tonya)
  • Still called “Untitled Girl Gang Movie” at WB

DC Universe

DC Universe pricing details released

  • Releases “This Fall” with original programs, back library of Movies, TV, comics, and daily news program
  • 7 day free trial
  • U.S. – $7.99/monthly
  • $74.99/annual ($6.25/month average); pre-order now and get 3 extra months free (“Premium annual member benefits and rewards.”)

First trailer for DC Universe’s Titans released – YouTube

  • Thoughts on visuals, tone, story
  • TV-MA
  • Lots of Robin and Raven
  • Brief flashes of Beast Boy, Starfire, Hawk, and Dove

TV

The CW is developing a Batwoman TV series – Entertainment Weekly

  • Would debut in 2019 if ordered to series, after character’s debut in Arrowverse crossover
  • TV Line – Casting is “seeking an out lesbian actress, open ethnicity, to play age 25 to 29.”
  • Synopsis – “Armed with a passion for social justice and a flair for speaking her mind, Kate Kane soars onto the streets of Gotham as Batwoman, an out lesbian and highly trained street fighter primed to snuff out the failing city’s criminal resurgence. But don’t call her a hero yet. In a city desperate for a savior, Kate must overcome her own demons before embracing the call to be Gotham’s symbol of hope.”
  • Is in “script development stage” – no pilot order
  • Will be written by Caroline Dries – writer for Smallville (12 episodes from Season 5-8), Melrose Place, and The Vampire Diaries; Dries is expected to consult on the crossover
  • Executive Producers – Dries, Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schecter, and Geoff Johns
  • Note from Deadline – Johns “has been” producing Batgirl film for WB

This year’s Arrowverse crossover will only feature Arrow, The Flash, and Supergirl episodes

  • “EW has also learned that the forthcoming crossover will include Arrow, The Flash, and Supergirl — but not DC’s Legends of Tomorrow.”
  • scheduling, smaller crossover, will Legends characters still show up?

“Part 2” of Freedom Fighters: The Ray animated series is now available on The CW Seed

  • Titled “Earth-X” – is a single, 32-minute episode
  • “Part 1”, called “A Hero Rises”, has been edited into a single 35-minute episode

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