Warner Bros. and DC Films are in the process of re-tooling their superhero universe. With the upcoming release of “Aquaman,” WB/DC is banking on a resurgence after the dismal box office showing of “Justice League.” However, after 2019’s “Shazam!” and “Wonder Woman 1984,” the upcoming slate of DC films is blank, at least officially, with many projects in various stages of development. And by all accounts, “Cyborg” isn’t one of those films. In a new interview with star Ray Fisher, we probably know at least one reason why.
For those that didn’t see “Justice League,” and judging by box office receipts, there’s a fair amount that didn’t, Cyborg is the superhero played by Fisher that, as the name suggests, is a half-man/half-robot being with an odd variety of powers. He can fly, he can communicate with machinery, and he was created by something called a Mother Box (honestly, I couldn’t be bothered with paying attention in the film). The movie didn’t do much to flesh out the character, other than showing him fight with unconvincing CGI and say “Boo-yah!”
However, despite the character not having a strong showing in “Justice League,” it looks like a “Cyborg” film isn’t in the cards for another reason too — budget.
When asked about the solo film, Fisher said at the recent Heroes & Villains FanFest (via Comicbook.com):
“I don’t know. I can’t comment on that specifically, because they don’t tell me anything until the very last minute. There’s a ton of people making those kinds of decisions behind the scenes. And it would be a very, very costly movie to make because it is so CGI heavy with Cyborg, because I’m the only member of the League that’s not in a practical costume. You’re going to be looking at $200 million just to make it. So it’s one of those things you have to take into consideration. It’s a numbers game for some people at the end of the day.”
Let’s cut to the chase. At $200 million, there’s no way in Apokolips that a “Cyborg” film will get made. If “Justice League” can barely reach $600 million worldwide, and fail to make a profit, a solo film with arguably one of the worst characters in the film is definitely not getting the green light.
The reason people even ask about the film is because of WB/DC’s ambitious (and wholly unrealistic) original film slate, which included “Cyborg,” “Flashpoint,” “Green Lantern Corps.” and more. Only a few years later, we’re now in a world where Todd Phillips is making a mid-budget “Joker” with Joaquin Phoenix and Matt Reeves is struggling to get “The Batman” in front of cameras. Needless to say, “Cyborg” isn’t even on the WB radar.
“If we keep making noise, it can happen. It’s about what the people want. And that’s what people understand, that’s what they recognize,” Fisher said.
Fisher seems like a great guy, and during the “Justice League” press tour, he was clearly the biggest cheerleader of the bunch, but sadly, it just doesn’t seem like a possibility, at all. Hell, they’ve recast the character to appear on “Doom Patrol” in the DC Universe streaming series.
Oh well, keep having that faith, Mr. Fisher.
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