Unlike some who claim to have absolutely hated Man of Steel and despise the idea of Ben
Affleck as Batman, I am actually quite excited for The Dark Knight and Kal-El’s
first cross over adventure. However I have a few concerns after hearing that a
casting call for Wonder Woman is happening and an actor (Adam Driver) is
possibly up for the role of Dick Grayson, aka Robin. And with the rumours that
Flash may appear too, I think it’s time I share my thoughts on the whole
ordeal.
As much as I am all for the Superman/Batman crossover idea
(I even like to think I predicted this as Warner Bros’ next move for Batman). I
think it is too early to cross over less established characters. Especially characters
who have huge origin stories like Wonder Woman. Batman can be reintroduced like
this because the mainstream audience are totally hooked on him now. Wonder
Woman and Flash need good solid solo films if they have a hope of being
successful in at today’s box-office.
It just seems strange to me that Warner Bros. would want to
convolute their Batman vs. Superman
film with new characters that will either appear with uselessly forced cameos
or take up screen time that can be put to better use elsewhere. Seriously this
film is set up to be the ultimate crossover, the film everyone has been waiting
for, it’s the film that’s pushing two huge characters like Batman and Superman
on screen together for the first time. Why must we have other characters
present who can only act as a distraction? To me this is being considered for
one of two reasons.
One, with Superman now established Zack Snyder may be
thinking about the other franchises he can possibly claim. Because let’s be
honest if these characters are in the film (particularly Wonder Woman and the
Flash) and the film is very successful then Warner Bros. will let Snyder do
whatever he wants with these characters in the future. And it will be
successful, it’s ‘Batman vs. Superman’
for God’s sake!
Two, coming off of what I just said about Batman vs. Superman making a shitzillion
dollars worldwide, it is possible that Warner Bros. is making this call, not
Snyder. They know a film with Batman in it will do well. Maybe they’re simply
using Batman to carry other heroes onto the big screen, because as much as I
hate to say it, I personally still can’t visualise characters like Wonder Woman
and Aquaman as modern blockbuster stars. But hey, put them in a film with Batman
and they’ll immediately be a hit. People love Batman.
Having them in the same movie straight away also cheapens
the excitement when they all actually do unite in the Justice League. I hate comparing DC to Marvel but this is something
that Marvel grasped early on. The audience loves continuity and seeing these
characters cross over, but it’d make for more excitement and entertainment to
save that for a film that is engineered for this very purpose. Otherwise it’s
just a gimmick to the audience and removes a lot of the emotional impact for
the characters in the story itself.
As for Robin, I am happy for him to be included in the
films, really I am. He just needs to be done well. Robin is a character that
audiences and writers get frustrated with, myself included. I just think that having
him in this universe could work if done properly. However I am not happy about
the idea of him being in Batman vs.
Superman because the way I see it, he has no place in being there. The film
should be exactly as pitched: Batman fights Superman. No Robin. Simplified this
is the same reason I don’t want Wonder Woman or any other members of the
Justice League in the film.
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