Why Nightwing Wasn’t On DCEU Comic-Con Slate

Chris McKay, director of Warner Bros' Nightwing movie, reveals why the in-development DC Extended Universe entry wasn't on the release slate at Comic-Con. The studio officially kickstarted the DCEU last spring with the debut of Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, followed later in 2016 by Suicide Squad. However, both films received divisive reactions from critics and moviegoers alike, which inspired a narrative around the DCEU that was largely negative. That narrative has since changed greatly due to buzz for this year's team-up film, Justice League, and the release of Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman - which was met by positive reviews, fan enthusiasm, and a record-breaking box office haul.

Still, in the wake of Batman V Superman and Suicide Squad - not to mention other setbacks like the departure of two directors from The Flash movie - Warner Bros. put a number of DC Comics-based films into development that weren't part of the DCEU's original film slate. These projects include David Ayer's Gotham City Sirens, Matt Reeves' The Batman, the Dwayne Johnson-starring Black Adam solo movie, Joss Whedon's Batgirl, and Chris McKay's Nightwing. While some of these were confirmed as part of Warner Bros' revised DCEU film slate during the studio's presentation at Comic-Con International in San Diego, Nightwing was notably absent - now McKay reveals why that is.

Responding to a fan on Twitter who asked about Nightwing's absence from the DCEU film slate at Comic-Con, McKay said he has "turned down films because they were backed into a release date that made it difficult to make a great film" - indicating the Nightwing movie simply isn't far enough along in the development process for it to make sense to lock down a release date. McKay continued on Twitter, saying that those working on the movie "need time to get it right." Read the exchange below:

I think you just did, Adam. I've turned down films because they were backed into a release date that made it difficult to make a great film.— Chris McKay (@buddboetticher) August 4, 2017

This isn't going to be like that. I want this movie to blow you away. We need time to get it right.— Chris McKay (@buddboetticher) August 4, 2017

As it currently stands, the upcoming DCEU release slate includes Justice League - due in theaters in November - James Wan's Aquaman (the only 2018 release), David F. Sandberg's Shazam! and Wonder Woman 2 in 2019, and Cyborg and Green Lantern Corps in 2020. Additional titles confirmed for the DCEU release slate at Comic-Con include Suicide Squad 2, Justice League Dark, The Flash movie - retitled as Flashpoint - and Batgirl. Of course, that means both Nightwing and Gotham City Sirens were absent, and speculation arose concerning the latter project about whether Ayer was still involved as the director.

So, it's not surprising that fans would also be wondering about the status of Nightwing, which was first announced earlier this year following McKay's success in helming The LEGO Batman Movie, also for Warner Bros. Still, those worried about Nightwing's absence from the tentative DCEU slate at Comic-Con - it should be noted, this slate simply included titles, not actual release dates for Warner Bros' DC projects - should be assured by McKay's latest comments. It seems he's working to craft the best possible Nightwing movie, rather than rushing to adapt the beloved comic character into a lackluster film.

Of course, fans will still eagerly await any updates on the Nightwing film and it remains to be seen when we'll learn anything concrete about the project. That said, with so many titles confirmed as part of the DCEU's upcoming projects, DC Comics fans have a release slate full of films to look forward to - which will, eventually, include a Nightwing movie.