OK, so news has broken that Arrow/Flash is going to get a spin off series.
Initial rumours were that is was going to be an Arrow/Flash team-up series. I think this is an unworkable idea. The schedules for writing/filming a complete series leaves very little time for a second series to be written and filmed. This is not going to happen.
However, news has come out today that it is going to be more of a spin off series featuring other characters from the show. The Atom, Canary, Firestorm and Captain Cold are possible characters, along with three previously, unseen on TV, characters from the DC universe. It is an interesting concept that suggests to me a team show. I have no idea what team though.
I could be wrong, it could be an anthology series, with an episode for each character alternating throughout the series, with a couple of team up episodes. "DC Nation" maybe?
My biggest issue is this though, why are they having two universes. Apart from the acronyms DCCU and DCTVU, what is the point. Having announced Ezra Miller as the cinematic Flash, just before the brand new TV series started, it has been confirmed that these are separate. At the moment DC is playing catch up with the Marvel cinematic universe (MCU) but I don't think they need to.
For a start the TV series can easily run the "B" level characters. Arrow, and Flash are going well, as well as Constantine seeming to have finished quite strongly, and Gotham running as a prequel series. With this spin off series and Supergirl in development there is optimism for the future. Why not keep the "Big Three", Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman for the big screen, run the others on the small screen, and join them for the Justice League movies. They are developing a universe fairly well.
But this Flash casting, and the announcement that these are separate universes keeps coming back. I think this is the same DC Universe, and I think the Flash announcement might be the key clue. I wouldn't be surprised if the Justice League movies are their Crisis. I think they are going to merge the universes with a Crisis on Infinite Earths/Flashpoint type story. And I think Ezra Millers' Flash is going to be the sacrifice.
Only time will tell, but it's going to be an interesting journey.
Saturday 28 February 2015
Wednesday 25 February 2015
Welcome home Spider-Man!
So, now we have had time to digest the news of Spider-Man coming home, (Excellent story by J. Michael Strazinski) lets consider what this really means.
OK, so we are gonna get a new Spider-Man, but that doesn't mean we need another origin story.
Picture the scene...
A beautiful sunny day, panning across New York City, a voice over "I'm Peter Parker, I've lived in New York all my life, and one day my life changed when I was bitten by a radioactive spider. Now I protect the city." Swings into view, full costume, cue swinging through the city montage, and opening credits.
Boom, five minute pre-credits sequence, stunning visuals of swinging through the city, a advertising hoarding for the Daily Bugle, claiming "Spider-Man: MENACE!" and it's job done. You can touch on it during the film, but there is no need to dwell on such a well known story that has been shown in cinemas twice in the last twelve years, along with animated versions too. If you don't know the Spider-Man story by know, buy one of the many trades it is in, download it from Comixology or Marvel Unlimited, or rent Spider-Man or Amazing Spider-Man.
Let's see a story that dives straight into an action sequence and see what Spidey does best!
But this isn't the only part of the tale is it? In fact it's not even going to be the first part of the Marvel/Sony story. First Spider-Man is going into Captain America: Civil War.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS (You have been warned) (Wiz down to read after the spoilers, thanks)
If you have read the comic Civil War, then you will know that Spidey plays an integral part. Rumours say that Black Panther was going to be the centre character, torn between two sides. Whether they keep this plan, or change it to Spidey, who knows. I think it would work better with Spidey. I think it would be too damaging to the King of Wakanda. Besides, what better way to meet the new Peter Parker, with an unmasking. Keep him heroed up until the pivotal press conference.
However, I don't think he will be quite the focus in the cinematic version. I think this movie is more about Captain America, including the death, and passing of the mantle.
Another issue is that Sony have just appointed Tom Rothman, head of Sony Pictures. This is the man who produced the comic book movie classics, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four Rise of the Silver Surfer, Daredevil and Elektra. He also fast-tracked X-Men: The Last Stand, meaning Bryan Singer couldn't do it and we ended up with Brett Ratner instead! So will he try and interfere with the Marvel appearances of Spidey.
At this juncture we honestly don't know, only time will tell. But surely Marvel regaining one of their benchmark characters, and "helping" Sony with production on new Spider-Man movies can only be a good thing can't it? They haven't really messed anything up yet, apart from Iron Man 2.
In the mean time, Roll on April 23rd! "Assemble!"
OK, so we are gonna get a new Spider-Man, but that doesn't mean we need another origin story.
Picture the scene...
A beautiful sunny day, panning across New York City, a voice over "I'm Peter Parker, I've lived in New York all my life, and one day my life changed when I was bitten by a radioactive spider. Now I protect the city." Swings into view, full costume, cue swinging through the city montage, and opening credits.
Boom, five minute pre-credits sequence, stunning visuals of swinging through the city, a advertising hoarding for the Daily Bugle, claiming "Spider-Man: MENACE!" and it's job done. You can touch on it during the film, but there is no need to dwell on such a well known story that has been shown in cinemas twice in the last twelve years, along with animated versions too. If you don't know the Spider-Man story by know, buy one of the many trades it is in, download it from Comixology or Marvel Unlimited, or rent Spider-Man or Amazing Spider-Man.
Let's see a story that dives straight into an action sequence and see what Spidey does best!
But this isn't the only part of the tale is it? In fact it's not even going to be the first part of the Marvel/Sony story. First Spider-Man is going into Captain America: Civil War.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS (You have been warned) (Wiz down to read after the spoilers, thanks)
If you have read the comic Civil War, then you will know that Spidey plays an integral part. Rumours say that Black Panther was going to be the centre character, torn between two sides. Whether they keep this plan, or change it to Spidey, who knows. I think it would work better with Spidey. I think it would be too damaging to the King of Wakanda. Besides, what better way to meet the new Peter Parker, with an unmasking. Keep him heroed up until the pivotal press conference.
However, I don't think he will be quite the focus in the cinematic version. I think this movie is more about Captain America, including the death, and passing of the mantle.
Another issue is that Sony have just appointed Tom Rothman, head of Sony Pictures. This is the man who produced the comic book movie classics, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four Rise of the Silver Surfer, Daredevil and Elektra. He also fast-tracked X-Men: The Last Stand, meaning Bryan Singer couldn't do it and we ended up with Brett Ratner instead! So will he try and interfere with the Marvel appearances of Spidey.
At this juncture we honestly don't know, only time will tell. But surely Marvel regaining one of their benchmark characters, and "helping" Sony with production on new Spider-Man movies can only be a good thing can't it? They haven't really messed anything up yet, apart from Iron Man 2.
In the mean time, Roll on April 23rd! "Assemble!"
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