Many years ago I had a Hall Of Justice play set, the place where the Justice League would hang out and wait for a disaster to take place, the kind of disaster that could only be solved by DC’s finest. Or maybe the X-Men, but that could get complicated, and Stan Lee might want a piece of the back end.
Anyway, I’m glad that I held on to that play set (it’s in the attic somewhere), because now it looks like The Justice League film or Justice League Mortal as the working title would have it called is looking for a home… not only a home but a continent!
It would seem that the Justice League is just too American for Australian tax breaks.
Now there’s the ultimate super villain: The Tax Man!
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Man, if I were George Miller (and I’m not) I’d drop this project ASAP, call Mel Gibson and make Mad Max: Fury Road.
Justice League appears to be a jinxed project. A project that not even comic book fans want!!
Simon Whipp; the director of the equity section of the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (I have no idea what this guy does or what his title means) says:
“For the public, both in Australia and outside of Australia, it will be seen as an American film. I have tremendous respect for George and his work, which has been some of the most successful films that we have ever produced. But the studio I think in this instance is seeking to push the limits of the envelope.”
One thing is for certain about this Whipp dude: He has cajones the size of mellons if he can knock back a $200 million budgeted film like Justice League just because they speak with American accents.
As a reply to Whipp, Australian-born Miller said:
“A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Australian film industry is being frittered away because of very lazy thinking. If that’s going to be the final decision, they’re throwing away hundreds of millions of dollars of investment that the rest of the world is competing for and, much more significantly, highly skilled creative jobs.”
Miller intends to appeal this decision in the hope that he gets to make the film in his backyard. Well… not really his backyard, but you see what I’m getting at – his home country.
Is it just me or is it more fun reading about the (un)making of this film than it will be watching the final product (if it is ever made)?
Source : The Sydney Morning Herald
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29 Comments
I say screw Australia!! Film the movie in upstate NY!!!! LOTS of remote mountains here!
I’m at the point where I don’t care if this movie EVER gets made. I’m enjoying Justice League Unlimited on BOOM every night at 11:30…..
I’m starting to think the walls are closing in on JUSTICE LEAGUE. There is zero support from the fan-community, THE MAN OF STEEL is moving forward for 2010 and THE DARK KNIGHT is only a few months away with huge anticipation.
WB might actually grow some balls and pull the plug on JL…for good.
Jamie
I guess I’m in the miority, I’m a LOOOOOONGTIME comix (JLA)fan and I WANT a JLA film to happen, I really hope this gets made. Grant it, the rumored Superman and Batman actors have got me down a bit, but they’re only RUMORS. The actual confirmed cast members are quite good, IMO.
I don’t care where they shoot it, just as long as it gets made. I don’t mind the recasting of Superman and Batman as long as they’re GOOD choices.
I’ll be rather pissed if a JLA movie doesn’t happen. What’s with everyone bad mouthing it anyway? We hardly know anything about it! Give it a break, guys!
This film is doomed.
If the aussie bastards won’t let them shoot there, then let ‘em shoot in canucklehead land, dammit! There are HUNDREDS of other shooting options.
JLA fans want this film to happen, so to say that no one wants it is untrue.
Kel, I think that quite a few fans would like to see the Batman and Superman films run their course at the minute- making a justice league film will just confuse people and cheapen the brand. I’ve nothing against DC team-ups- just not at the minute. I’d love and Bats and Supes movie, just wait a few years.
Niall
KEL,
I hear ya, buddy; honestly I do. It’s just the wrong time to be making a JLA film with the BATMAN and SUPERMAN franchises both active (i.e. TDK = July 2008 and TMOS = Summer 2010).
I want to see Routh and Bale together onscreen instead of these diaper-clad teenagers playing adult superheros. Let the solo films play out (which they will no doubt about that) and THEN give us JLA.
Better yet, give us a WORLD’S FINEST-type film. WB could make a huge $$$-making franchise off Supes/Bats team-up films with Routh and Bale.
Jamie
I completely agree with Jamie on this.
This film has bad timing working against it.
Oi oi, come on people calm down. I’m Australian, and while a Marvel fan at heart, I love the Justice League as much as anyone. If it where up to the majority of us, I’m sure none of us care whether the movie is seen as American or not. I don’t see why this should be any different than all the other movies set in the US but filmed over here. Just yeah, lets lay off the slander eh?
“It’s an American film, so we can’t make it here in Australia!” There’s more to all this non-sense if THAT’S the best excuse they can “officially” come up with.
Jamie
I’d glady pay the price of admission for these guys to not make this movie.
I think it’s pretty disgraceful to even consider making this film without Routh and Bale. Why the heck wouldn’t they make it with them? It would turn a bloody mess into something incredible that I’d love to see…why are they stupid? Why does this keep happening with all comic book movies…is it really that complicated? I think screenrant should run the movie industry.
Guys, I would LOVE to see this movie made NOW with Routh and Bale. But if they can’t/won’t use them, as long as they have other GOOD actors for the roles, recasting doesn’t bother me that much.
I honestly couldn’t see Nolan’s Batman sharing the same world as sci fi heroes like Green Lantern and magic based characters like Wonder Woman anyway. But it would still be great if Bale would play Batman, IMO.
I’m sorry, guys, but I’m impatient. I’m a longtime JLA fan and want this film to be made ASAP!! This might be the only chance it ever gets at being made so I’m going to support it anyway.
But if they don’t make it until the Superman and Batman films are done with or at least until after MOS so Routh and Bale can be in it then that’s fine by me, just as long as it gets made.
Personally, I’m not happy with the rumored Superman actor (DJ Cotrona)for JLA at all. He doesn’t look ANYTHING like Superman and is entirely too short for the part. I think that Michael Trucco should play Superman: http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh147/GLKEL/pensa1.jpg
He reminds me of comic book artist Jim Lee’s Superman :http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh147/GLKEL/Jim_Lee_Superman.jpg
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh147/GLKEL/superman_jimlee.gif
If anyone is interested and would like Michael Trucco to somehow contact WB about playing Superman in JLA, tell him so here :
http://www.mediablvd.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=59633
IF this movie is made without Routh/Bale, I STILL say they should use the characters from Smallville. Tom Welling would make a GREAT Superman, so the only parts that would need to be recast are Wonder Woman, Batman and Flash (can’t really use a kid, right?). The guy playing the Green Arrow is fantastic, as was the dude playing Cyborg and Aquaman. Maybe Erica Durance as Wonder Woman???
http://scifipedia.scifi.com/images/thumb/e/ef/Erica_Durance.jpg/300px-Erica_Durance.jpg
I guess the point I am trying to make is that I can LIVE with recasting if it’s done right and I think that using some of the characters from Smallville will go a long way to easing the loss of Bale/Routh. IF WB decides to go this route, they can even introduce Bruce Wayne during Season 8 of Smallville….
I don’t think were getting the real story from Miller on this.
This smells of spin-control.
Smallville? Is that the “Friday Night Lights meets 90210″ version of SuperMan’s youth.
In my world that show is banned….
Its funny some of the same people that say there sick of Lex like Smallville. Isn’t he one of the main heartthrobs ,eechm I mean villians?
Smallville, Lois and Clark, to me those tv shows only dishonor Super Man.
But that’s me…
If they were to use that cast or some of them I would not see the JL film.
Casting will make or break this film if the start it up now.
Right on, 790!
Smallville sux, but I think that Welling could play a good Superman. But he isn’t doing it, he’s made it clear that he wants nothing to do with Superman past Smallville.
Also, Cyborg isn’t part of the JLA. He’s part of the Teen Titans. Something else Smallville screwed up….
The Smallville JLA ISN’T the JLA and should NEVER be on screen (or even TV), IMO.
Welling’s made it a point to distance himself from the SUPERMAN franchise…beyond his obligations to SMALLVILLE (i.e. he was a no-show in the LOOK UP IN THE SKY! documentary).
I can’t help but laugh out loud when I hear irrate Welling supporters say that “they know” he’ll replace Routh in the films. That’s never gonna happen.
In fact, his decision (to distance himself from it all) has a good chance of helping him in the long run. He’s been quick to say he’s never played Superman per say, but Clark Kent (minus the glasses).
He’ll have a solid TV career imo. I definitely see him starring in a hit television series on one of the “big four” networks post-SMALLVILLE.
Jamie
It’s kind of ridiculous when Australian films are rarely anything but “quirky” comedies that make next to no money. If they think long-term, perhaps bringing large productions here might lift our game with our own productions. Might as well make something worth watching in the meantime, even if it is a clearly “American” film. I can’t imagine anyone truly thought ‘Moulin Rouge’, ‘The Matrix’ or the last two ‘Star Wars’ films were “Australian”.
As for the Tom Welling comment… puleeeeeease… Must we always link these things to existing franchises? ‘Smallville’ is even LESS ‘Justice League’ than the rumoured film was going to be to begin with. As much as my preference is for the Marvel template (ie. release solo films with a clear goal of a team-up later), I’d much rather ‘JLA’ to be it’s own entity than to try and shoehorn it into alternate reality TV shows just to have a familiar actor.
How are stand-alone film franchises any different to having both ‘Ultimate Spider-Man’ and ‘Amazing Spider-Man’ on comic store shelves anyway…? We’re more than happy to watch ‘The Batman’ on Cartoon Network AND read Frank Miller comics at the same time… so how about thinking outside the box when it comes to the films?
My only problem with ‘JLA’ is that it sounds like it’s being made for purely business reasons… not creative ones.
Australia great people!
I will allways remember Australia when I watch Farscape.
I would sure love to see more Autralian actors in US films. Wayne Pygram for one!!
I agree, Kane. We had Batman on TV in both THE Batman and in Justice League Unlimited at the same time and audiences didn’t have a problem. Why should it be any different on screen? And why should the Routh Superman movies and the Bale Batman movies and JLA movie have to be in continuity with each other?
And I agree with you on Welling, Jamie. If he would do it tho, he’d be a good Superman for JLA if they weren’t going to use Routh.
Personally, I’m not happy with the rumored Superman actor (DJ Cotrona)for JLA at all. He doesn’t look ANYTHING like Superman and is entirely too short for the part. I think that Michael Trucco should play Superman:
Kel, I just took a look at Cotrona and Trucco and I 100% agree with you; but Trucco looks a lot like Christian Bale to me.
Anyway, I want this movie made as well but I feel that the consensus (wait until TDK and MOS is finished) is the logical thing to do.
You sound like a weakling Vulcan, petaQ!!
Sit Kahless, sit!
)
There’s a lot to be said for taking your time and doing it right.
Hey, thanks, “Kahless”.
I don’t see a resemblence between Bale and Trucco, honsetly. I think Trucco really looks uncannily like Jim lee’s Superman, but to each his own. Has anyone seen him on Battle Star Galactica?
Also, I think that the rumors are mixed up, “Kahless”. I think that DJ Cotrona was cast as Batman and Armie Hammer (here are some pics of Hammer: http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh147/GLKEL/armiehammersnsuperman.jpg ) was cast as Superman. But I’m not 100% sure tho…..
I’m still vouching for Trucco as Superman.
……and honestly? Who the heck names their kid Armie Hammer? I mean, the dude’s last name is “Hammer” and his parents make his 1st name….”Armie”? I have a feeling that someone made a printing error with his name somewhere…..
“Baking Soda”…..
Maybe it should have been ARMAND HAMMER.
)
Haha!I thought that once too!! LOL!
=D
So, John “Kahless” Taylor, what do you think of Mr. Hammer based on the link I posted? Do you think he could play Superman or at least be a better Superman then lil 5′ 9″ DJ Cotrona?
With the cast you have now, I think that Common would be to old. You need a man that has the look and body to feel the role. I think Tyson Beckford would feel the role perfect! And he’s in the age group too. What do you think? But if you want to target the “semi-rap” groupies, then he’s your MAN. Tell me what you think?? MB..out
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2007-9/1277291/tysonb.jpg
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