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Warner Bros. ' newDCEUhas found a way onward without its biggest stars , but leavingSupermanbehind would be a big mistake . With WB and the DCEU finding its feet after a few unmanageable years of critical dashing hopes , it ’s an exciting meter to be a DC fan . Yet it ’s happening without the franchise ’s two biggest and most historically significant characters at the helm . It seems almost bilk to any funny Bible buff that DC ’s most late movie iterations ofBatmanand Superman trip so significantly .
WhileMan of Steelkicked off a young age of the DC canyon on the grown screen with relative achiever , Batman V Superman : Dawn of Justicewas a notorious decisive disaster upon waiver , andJustice League ’s fiscal under - performance had sports fan wondering if the enfranchisement was on life support . Yet a new way forward formed through DC ’s other heroes . Wonder Womanwas a true cultural zeitgeist , Aquamanmade over $ 1 billion worldwide , and whileSuicide Squadwasn’t precisely darling , the upcomingsequel / reboot helmed by James Gunnhas garnered much enthusiasm . Now , the upcomingShazam!has collect rave review and spirit set to do well at the box situation . The future of DC looks burnished , from theWonder Womansequel to theBirds of Preymovie to the highly intriguingJokerfilm that will happen separate from the DCEU canon . While it seems probable that Batman and Superman may make cameo or be referenced in some of these films ( a Superman cameo inShazam!has long been rumour ) , it ’s notable that they are no longer front and center in this narration .
Related : Superman Just Became a Grandpa , Thanks to Superboy
Batman will return to the bad screen in Matt Reeves ’s solo pic , The Batman , although Ben Affleck will not reprise his role as Bruce Wayne . However , the future of Superman is far less sure . AMan of Steelsequel has been oft - reported since 2016 , where it was reportedly a top priority for WB - but nothing official has come from it . It did n’t help that many of Superman ’s themes were bollix up inBatman V Superman , then rumors set out to swirl thatHenry Cavill would no longer be playing the lead function . Cavill ’s team refute the claims that he was holding out on sign up for more Superman due to need over producer reference and script approval . However , his future still remains unreadable , specially now that Affleck has bowed out as Batman . decently now , he does n’t seem to be linked to any formally annunciate DC projects beyond that much - speak aboutShazam!cameo and the upcomingDC Super Petsmovie .
The DCEU’s New Heroes Can Replace Superman
In one way , polish off Superman and Batman from the center of the DCEU is exciting and creatively unparalleled . If DC fans had been secernate five year ago that the most profitable film in the franchise would beAquaman , it ’s doubtful anyone would consider that . Superman and Batman have rule the DC landscape of cinema for 10 now and been a all important part of comic book movie history . It ’s hard to have a conversation about the skilful superhero moving-picture show ever made without cite Christopher Nolan’sThe Dark Knighttrilogy or Christopher Reeves’Supermanfilms .
However , this newfangled tenacious - condition plan from WB and DC to shift some of the focus to heroes with a much smaller and often non - existent cinematic footprint is one that carries many originative possibilities . It ’s dramatically change the tone of DC ’s output signal , fetch a more consciously silly and vibrant attack to the dealership in comparison to the dismal Zack Snyder run esthetical that previously define it . It ’s also produce a whole new series of heroes for audience to see grow from their origin onward , adding instant freshness to a dealership where fans get wind the deaths of Thomas and Martha Wayne recur every few years like clockwork .
In this respect , the DCEU is replicatingMarvel ’s form 1 . Marvel did n’t have the right to arguably their most famous characters - Spider - Man and the tenner - valet - so they dialed back and focuse on less familiar figures to the universal public , build them up to A - List status . For DC , the combination of Shazam , Wonder Woman , and Aquaman allows the DCEU to explore various facets of Superman without ready nothing but Superman flick . It ’s not voiceless to see why WB would need to pivot aside from Clark Kent since Diana Prince and Arthur Curry ’s solo movies made much more money than his , as well as having won over more decisive favor . in good order now , they call for to intrust to gain strategies , and Superman is n’t winning for them , especially not when equate to the so - called B - squad .
Page 2 of 2:Why DCEU Still Needs Superman & What They Should Do
Why Any DC Movie Universe Needs Superman
Still , it feels like a waste material for DC and WB to just shelve Superman for the clock time being . It does n’t suffer to give audience meter to miss a role but they ’re not incisively doing the same for Batman , and he ’s already got way more of a cinematic presence than Superman has ever had . Cavill ’s most recent , and potentially last , appearance in the theatrical role was halter by poor characterization and the now notorious CGI remotion of hisMission : inconceivable – Falloutmustache . disregarding of whether Cavill himself will don the cape once more or if Superman ’s future liminal nation hap with or without him , keeping the original embodiment of the superhero to the side - line of merchandise would be detrimental to DC , even with the savvy diversifying of their ensemble .
TheSnyder iteration of Superman was a potentially interesting one- in a post-9/11 world where American domestic insurance policy is work up on fright of the unidentified , how would people react to this all - powerful exotic effect make out to Earth and claiming to be their friend ? - that never got the infinite or consistent narrative to truly rise . Regardless of what people think ofMan of Steelor the evolution of the DCEU , it was always a confutable creative programme to spend every new movie hurriedly specify job in reshoots and post - output , if only because it greatly hamper how these arcs unfold . Superman was the case who suffered the most from these issues , arguably even more than Batman , because Superman had his solo movie to build his new loop .
As the DCEU embraces a more positive and somewhat silly tone , jellyfish dress and all , now would be the perfect fourth dimension to bring back that most iconic version of Superman , the overwhelming force for good in the world who cares about everyone and remains unshakably heroic , even in the face of darkness . break that Superman is one of the personal hoagie inShazam ! , it would make more horse sense to keep him in the dealership as that influential force than to sideline him . There are so many great stories to be say about that sort of Superman , especially now that the DCEU is on more solid ground .
What The DC Should Do
It would be graspable if WB decide to let Cavill ’s contract lapse and start over with another Superman . Cavill ’s performance was n’t specially well - have by universal audience - though his carrying out was extol by rooter - and Affleck ’s retreat would give them greater freedom to wipe the slate white for a unexampled phase . Still , it ’s not as though Cavill was unenthusiastic about playing the role ( Cavill has routinely verbalise his passion for Superman as well as his noesis of Superman ’s stories ) , and he can be very charismatic under the right direction ( seeThe Man From U.N.C.L.E.orMission : Impossible – Falloutfor trial impression of that ) . However , with Netflix’sThe WitcherTV show taking up so much of his time , it ’s not insufferable to see him defer out for now , which would open up possibilities for recasting .
If DC Films simply care to scale back Superman ’s presence and get the eternal sleep of the DCEU acquire without him being fundamental to the narrative , then there ’s certainly way for Cavill to go full Nick Fury and just pop in now and then for cameos , acting as the helpful leader of hero sandwich throughout the DC landscape . It would help to widen the scope of the franchise without needlessly complicating the story and it would help to found the breadth of influence Clark Kent has over this ensemble , something that build Superman so unreproducibly particular . It ’s understandable why WB and the DCEU would want to let Superman take a backseat while formerly patronize players receive their moment in the glare , but as the enfranchisement move onward with a more unassailable tint and spirit , there ’s most sure as shooting a way of life for the Man of Steel to join them on that journeying .
More:The DCEU Is Dead, Long Live The DCEU
