The first foray into film and TV was by DC. In 1951 Superman and the Mole Men was released in the cinema. This was a pilot for an Adventures of Superman TV series. Marvel's first efforts were on TV in 1977 with The Incredible Hulk and The Amazing Spider-Man TV series'.
But it wasn't until as recently as 2008 did either of them start work on a cohesive Cinematic Universe. While DC were basking in the success of Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight, second of the Nolan Batman trilogy, Marvel sowed the seeds of a larger universe of movies with Iron Man. A small clip, post credits hinted much, much more was to come.
Unfortunately Marvel sold off the rights to many properties such as Spider-Man, X-Men, Fantastic Four and DaredevIl, although the rights to Daredevil have recently reverted back. However this has meant that Marvel have been able to concentrate on a core number of characters. Focussing initially on the Avengers 'big three', Iron Man, Captain America and Thor, Marvel have weaved a story and joined them into one universe.
Now the ground work has been laid and the first phase is complete, the universe can start opening up to other characters, including the Cosmic Universe, with Guardians of the Galaxy. They also have Agents of Shield, which although has a weak beginning, is intertwined into the universe. Plus the Netflix exclusive series of Daredevil through to Defenders on the way.
Personally I can only see an agreement with Fox and Sony working with Marvel being of benefit to them. But this would take a lot of work, but I can see it happening.
So Marvel seem to have set their stall out, and are working hard to keep things together. Now for DC.
They seem to be struggling. After coming out of two excellent Batman movies, they gave us something new, Green Lantern. Rumoured to be the beginning of a DC Cinematic Universe, it stank, and it flopped. The DCCU stalled.
While Dark Knight Rises concluded the Nolan trilogy, work started on Man of Steel, a Superman reboot. Again rumour suggested that maybe they could right the wrongs of Green Lantern, and launch a Cinematic Universe, which Marvel was already launching the second phase of.
Man of Steel hit, and although I felt it had many problems, it hit big. A sequel was announced and it was one of the DC movies people wanted, Superman/Batman. Arrow was launched, focussing on another member of the DC universe, Green Arrow. Its first season gave a good account of itself. Introducing several DCU characters, including Black Canary and Deathstroke, it moved on to a second season and introduced The Flash, another of the DCU big hitters, ready for his own series to be launched later this year.
Casting for Superman/Batman has already announced Wonder Woman as a character. If the two series can keep going, a Justice League movie can only be a couple more years after. However, they are very reliant on several things for this to happen. Both series need to keep going, and possibly introduce a rebooted Green Lantern for his own series. Also Superman/Batman has to be good...very good! Because fanboys are already hammering the casting of Ben Affleck as Batman and Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman. Both are apparently lined up for three movies each.
I'm not going to judge until I see it, but after Man of Steel I don't hold much hope. It's like Warner don't really get the characters they own. They keep trying to ground them in reality, an alien who can fly, and Amazonian Princess, an alien power ring, a man who can run at the speed of sound. They have a fear of going all out on the fantasy aspect of the fantasy characters. This is the same studio who bought us 8 movies about a magic school and evil wizards trying to kill a boy! Why do they keep getting stuck?
Their screenwriters just don't seem to get to grips with it. Maybe they feel comic books are below them? David S. Goyer has written or cowritten many comic book movies now, and yet he is still very hit and miss. Blade, Batman Begins and The Dark Knight are great, Dark Knight Rises, Man Of Steel and Blade Trinity, not so much. Maybe it is time to give someone else a go, although I admit it didn't work on Green Lantern. Personally I think they should hand over control to the writers of the comic books. Comic books that have lasted for 50/60/70 years, and then let the directors put it on the screen.
I seem to bitch a lot about DC/Warner, but I'm not a hater. I have loved load of the comic books, many of them are among my favourites. They just keep getting the movies wrong, and at a time when comic book movies are doing so well, it seems a shame not to get a great bunch of DC movies too.
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