While Warner Bros. attempt to play catch-up to Marvel and their host of box-office superhero successes, over at 20th Century Fox, things are a bit more hushed, as the studio attempts to find ways to blend the X-Men, Fantastic Four, and Deadpool into compelling entries. But fear not, brash remarks and exaggerated claims live on in Fox's consultant Mark Millar, and he's got a few for WB's high-stakes venture.
Just a few weeks after WB supposedly leaked their “Justice League” filmic line-up, Millar took right away to describing through some very odd arguments why the franchise is dead in the water. “I actually think the big problem for them is the characters are just too out of date,” he told Sci-Fi Now. “The characters were created 75 years ago, even the newest major character was created 68 years ago, so they're in a really weird time.”
Perhaps the “Kick-Ass” creator has forgotten that the 50-plus-year-old James Bond just made a billion dollars at the box office, or that even the X-Men under his watch aren't exactly fresh faces, but regardless, his criticisms move swiftly on to Green Lantern and The Flash, who look to join Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman in the film.
Describing Green Lantern's imagination-fed powers of green plasma as “not exactly raucous,” or cinematic, he also cited The Flash as having “door handles on the side of his mask, and if he doesn't wear that mask, I'll be pissed off, you know what I mean?” He continued: “[WB's] in a weird, weird situation — if you've got a guy who moves at the speed of light up against the Weather Wizard and Captain Cold or whatever, then your movie's over in two seconds.”
In all, Millar thinks, “The actual logistics of each member of the Justice League is disastrous,” and when put together, “you get an excellent way of losing $200 million.” In the case of Ryan Reynolds' “Green Lantern,” he may touch some truth, but it's also interesting to note which aspects Millar references as crucial flaws, when so much pertaining to them can be remedied with the properly invested approach.
Of course, we might not get any of it if “Man of Steel” doesn't do expected business on opening weekend, but if all goes to plan, look for “Justice League” to move forward whether Millar likes it or not. [via Bleeding Cool]
Don't pay this guy any attention. He is the biggest egotist and self promotor in an industry filled with those types of people. Upon the release of Superman Returns he talked/ blogged nonstop of how much Bryan Singer ruined the character and shouldn't be making these movies. Fast forward six years and he and Fox don't bring that up. Similarly, prior to the release of The Dark Knight, Millar repeatedly said Batman hit a glass ceiling of profitability with Batman Begins. News flash Millar, excluding The Avengers, Nolan's two sequels out grossed all of Marvel Studios films combined. All success takes is a filmmaker with talent and a desire to work on said film (ex: Nolan, Singer, Vaughn). I'll take that over the overproduced commercials Marvel churns out for their next 'mega feature.'
So I'm assuming he's only talking about the characters not working on film and not in comics? Because not only has the man written a few of those characters in their own books, he's done a JLA book. I'm sure he's just doing this because of his new job of being in charge of the Marvel movies made for Fox. I will say this, he may not be too off about some of the costumes looking weird on screen. X-Men and Hawkeye in the Avengers did a great job of toning down a loud costume. He might have something about the flash's "door handle" on the side of his mask. I'd just have them sown in like the logo on the chest. And yes I'm going to go there, please make sure Wonder Woman is wearing pants. I know comic fans fear change but it would be for the better. I just hope Millar is wrong because I'm a DC fan and really a comic book fan in general. I just want to see a good Justice League movie.