This year, 20th Century Fox saw its latest ‘X-Men’ ensemble picture ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’ wither at the summer box office, which may have been disastrous for the studio had it not been for the earlier record-breaking success of the riskier (and more risqué) ‘Deadpool’, the R-rated, ultra-violent, profanity-laced romp that shattered everyone’s expectations.
Meanwhile, at Warner Brothers, the high stakes big-budget tentpole ‘Batman V Superman’ was met with universal disdain. And while it wasn’t an out-of-the-park hit, the lighter super villain-centered ‘Suicide Squad’ was more warmly embraced.
Fans seem to be wearying a bit of conventional superhero movies, but are embracing those that remain planted in those universes, but explore new corners in both storylines and tone.
Expect the same from WB’s upcoming ‘Justice League Dark’ which focuses on the supernatural aspect of the still unfolding DC Expanded Universe and is reported to include characters like John Constantine, Swamp Thing, Deadman, Zatanna, Madame Xanadu and Jason Blood a.k.a. Etrigan the Demon.
Director Doug Liman is currently promoting his new TV series ‘Invisible’ about a family that can turn invisible in order to impact the world’s economy.
Regarding ‘Justice League Dark’, he says to expect something completely different:
“I get asked to come in and do things that are ‘unconventional.’ If people want conventional, they don’t come to me. It’s why doing Invisible was like right up my alley — because how can you be conventional when there aren’t even conventions that exist? And so you know when Warner Bros. wants to sort of turn the comic book genre on its head, they call me.”
Liman was previously attached to direct ‘Gambit’ for Fox, but departed due to the constant delays plaguing that production. His most recent film was 2014’s ‘Live Die Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow’ which unfortunately flopped despite glowing critical reception. He has also scored hits such as ‘The Bourne Identity’ and ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith’.
He also directed the 90s cult comedy ‘Swingers’ which launched the careers of Ron Livingston, Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau, who of course directed ‘Iron Man’, a film which in its own way turned the comic book movie genre on its head back in 2008. So maybe Favreau could give Liman a few pointers on tackling a comic book movie in a new manner.
What would you like to see happen in ‘Justice League Dark’? Do you think Liman is the right choice to helm this film?
Source: Cinema Blend
