What.is.going.on over at DC Films and Warner Bros? The film industry is suffering from whiplash in the last 24 hours thanks to schizophrenic news coming out of Warner Bros.’ DCEU. First up, you’ve got a spin-off origin Joker film announced last night coming from producer Martin Scorsese and director Todd Phillips, and it was meant to live outside of the current DC Films continuity; yes, this would be a new Joker not played by Jared Leto but possibly someone much younger. OK.
READ MORE: Matt Reeves Says ‘The Batman’ Is “A Standalone, It’s Not Part Of The Extended Universe”
Less than 12 hours later, before we’ve barely had time to process the news of another Joker movie while a current Joker storyline still exists through the “Suicide Squad” movies, “War Of The Planet Of The Apes” filmmaker Matt Reeves tries to fuck with our minds, announcing that “The Batman” movie with Ben Affleck would be a stand-alone movie and it too would not be part of the extended DC Universe.
Now, in what is not a cruel joke meant to mess with our brains, and a sign that DC Films is giving out new movies like lollipops (pitch them now!), yet another superhero film has been announced, and this time it’s within the current extended universe (there will be a test after this story).
READ MORE: Rumor: WB/DC Films Working On ‘Harley Quinn Vs The Joker’ Spin-Off Film
So remember in “Suicide Squad,” The Joker is played by Jared Leto and Margot Robbie is Harley Quinn? Well, despite the fact that it seems like Warner Bros. is focused on everything but the current brand they are building, they’re going back to their current universe and are making a Joker and Harley Quinn movie.
Rumored recently around Comic Con, it appears the news is true and the filmmakers who found the project at the bottom of a cracker jack box are Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, the writer-directors behind “Crazy.Stupid.Love,” “Focus” and “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.” You’ll also remember at one point there was going to simply be just a Harley Quinn spin-off movie, but who knows what’s going on with that now (or the mooted “Gotham City Sirens” film which David Ayer is scheduled to direct).
Frankly, my brain hurts, and by now even the Average Joe in Idaho is convinced Warner Bros. have no fucking clue what they are doing. Seriously, when the average reader expects “Justice League” to be a mess, and has more faith in “Tulip Fever” than they do the DC extended universe, you know someone is in big fucking trouble.
According to THR, the movie is being described as a “criminal love story,” and the plan is for the film to follow the planned “Suicide Squad” sequel.
The trade writes, “this strategy will distinguish Warners’ superhero movies from those of competitors, namely Disney, which has a highly interconnected Marvel universe of films as well as Star Wars.” Look, I’m all for trying to blaze a path outside of the interconnected studio strategy that all studios are chasing, but to quote Willard from “Apocalypse Now” — “I don’t see any method at all, sir.” [THR]
Joker Origin Story Movie Announced & We’re Shocked And Confused [Podcast]
