The Hollywood Reporter recently did an extensive report on some of the new projects that DC Comics and partner Warner Bros. have in the works. There was mention of an Adam Strange movie, a Teen Titans project and even talk of two Green Arrow films – but the two biggest nuggets of news had to do with progress that is (sort of) being made on the big-screen adaptations of Aquaman and The Flash.

.

THE FLASH

According to the report, DC Comics writer Geoff Johns recently did a new treatment for a Flash movie, which was previously scripted by Dan Mazeau. Johns has been writing The Flash comic book series since 2000 and was also responsible for such notable (comic book) events such as the return of Hal Jordan as Green Lantern in 2005; re-launching the Teen Titans in 2003; and he even did some work on the book JSA with a guy named David S. Goyer you might know. Suffice to say: Geoff Johns knows his way around the DC universe.

It’s also ironic to hear that he’s helping to bring Flash to the big-screen: Johns has recently been busy with Flash on the comic book page, working to bring back fan-favorite “silver age” Flash, Barry Allen – who, might I add, could be the very character Warner Bros. uses for The Flash movie, especially since Ryan Reynolds (the top fan-nominated candidate to play “modern day” Flash, Wally West) has already signed-on to play Green Lantern/Hal Jordan.

I expect DC/Warner Bros. will be showing Barry Allen a lot of love in the near future. It’s awesome to hear a proven comic book vet like Geoff Johns is a the center of it all.

.

AQUAMAN

We saw it on Entourage and it looked pretty awesome; then we saw it again on the CW’s blink-and-it’s-gone TV pilot (which became a cult-hit-download); now we’re finally getting word on the Aquaman feature film.

Reportedly Aquaman is “in production” over at Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way production company. I only use the quotes because a quick look at the company’s extensive roster of films-in-the-works pretty much places Aquaman (for me at least) in the “believe-it-when-I-see-it” category.

Don’t get me wrong: I hope Appian Way is really moving ahead with an Aquaman film, because if DC/WB wants to do things “The Marvel Way” and start building their superhero properties toward bigger joint paydays, then after The Green Lantern hits in 2011 they need to start getting other second-tier heroes like Flash, like Aquaman out on the big-screens. Especially if Chris Nolan is still on the fence about another Batman film, while Superman might slip out of DC/WB’s grasp next year.

IMHO, It’s time for DC/WB to officially go to the benches. Let’s hope we hear more about both Aquaman and The Flash in the near future.

Sources: Slash Film, Beyond Hollywood & THR

• Geoff Johns Tries NOT to Discuss The Flash & Green Lantern Movies
• ‘The Flash’ Development Slows Down Just A Bit [Updated]
• Who Should Play The Flash?
• Update: The Flash Speeding Forward As Planned
• Shazam! Is (Once Again) Gaining Momentum
• Green Lantern Movie To Have Iron Man Vibe

It has been a long time in coming, but it now appears that Warner Bros. has finally decided to make use of their stable of DC Comics characters.

Following the financial and critical success of The Dark Knight Warner Bros. has realized that they are sitting on a gold mine – not only from box office receipts, but also from DVD, television, video games and other sources of revenue.

Last month the company held a strategy meeting in an attempt to figure out what was needed in order for them to match Marvel Comics in the comic book movie stakes, and it would appear that they have finally come up with a plan.

Variety spoke with Warner Bros head honchos Jeff Robinov and Alan Horn who touched on topics such as the sequel to The Dark Knight (and director Chris Nolan’s involvement), the development of DC Characters movies and the chances of there ever being a Justice League movie.

It looks like the company is about to go to town on their stable of iconic characters that includes: Batman, Superman, The Flash, The Green Lantern, Aquaman and Wonder Woman.

Warner Bros chief Alan Horn said that Warner and DC were committed to turning:

“the properties into viable movie product in an intelligent way so that we introduce them like planes on a runway. They have to be set up the right way and lined up the right way and all take off one at a time and fly safe and fly straight.”

With regards to Justice League, Jeff Robinov as good as admitted that the studio almost made a terrible mistake.  Robinov said:

“We’re not off the notion of a Justice League. There’s a massive interest and knowledge in the comicbook industry and it takes time to sort of catch up and understand the characters and the history, where they’ve intersected with each other and what their worlds are. That’s part of the education that we’re going through.”

There’s a lot of B.S. that flies around Hollywood, but it’s good to see somebody own up to making a mistake – or as close to owning up as you can in the City of Angels.

That said the studio isn’t totally off the idea of the multi-character superhero film.  Gregory Noveck senior VP of creative affairs for DC Comics stated:

“These are big, iconic characters. So when you make them into a movie, you’d better be shooting for a pretty high standard. You’re not always going to reach it, but you have to be shooting for it. We’re going to make a Justice League movie, whether it’s now or 10 years from now. But we’re not going to do it and Warners is not going to do it until we know it’s right.”

With regards to the sequel to The Dark Knight, there is a deal with Christopher Nolan –  if he is interested, but Horn says: We have no idea where Chris is going with this. We haven’t had any conversations with him about it.”

I find it very hard to believe that in the month since The Dark Knight has opened and broken all sorts of box office records that the studio has not started talking to the brains behind the film. You can bet that Warner Bros. wants to get into the Nolan-Batman business but it sounds to me like Nolan is playing a bit of hard ball (echoes of the Marvel/Iron Man/Jon Favereau situation). If he does decide to do the film (and I’m pretty sure that he will) Warner Bros will be bankrolling some of his passion projects for the next few years.

There will be more announcements next month with regards to Warner and DC’s plans, but it looks like the studio has finally decided to fight back on the comic book movie front. It would appear that Marvel will finally be getting some serious competition for the superhero limelight.

Source: Variety

• Chris Nolan On Batman 3: Worth the Wait?
• Aquaman & The Flash Movies Moving (Sort of) Forward
• Counterpoint: How To Make DC Comics Movies That WORK
• DC Entertainment: What’s The Game Plan?
• Bale Will Do Next Batman Movie Without Nolan
• Batman 3 Status: Gary Oldman Jumped The Gun

I’ve seen reported on a couple of websites that there is a new trailer/commercial posted over at Google Video for an Aquaman TV series. Before you get all excited let me point out that this video has been out for about 10 months and is the promo trailer for the Aquaman pilot that was supposed to air on the CW network but was never picked up (which I first reported on back in November 2005).

You can see the video for yourself here.

If you watch the video, notice that Justin Hartley is playing the title role. After the failed pilot he went on to play Green Arrow in Smallville instead.

Oh, and if that’s not enough, you can check out AquamanTV.com for verification.

• Smallville Season 9 Trailer [Updated]
• Meet Smallville’s Speedy
• Might Smallville Make It To Season 10?
• Aquaman & The Flash Movies Moving (Sort of) Forward
• Smallville Season 9 Premiere Pics & TV Spot
• YouTube Makes Deal with WB and Turner Broadcasting