Warner Bros. Entertainment has confirmed plans to shoot a “Justice League” movie to follow 2016’s “Batman vs. Superman,” and will aim for a release date sometime between 2017 and 2018.
Director Zack Snyder of “300,” “Watchmen,” and “Man of Steel” fame is on board to direct following his work on “Batman vs. Superman,” and Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, and Gal Gadot will take up their previous roles as Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman from the preceding two films
“It will be a further expansion of this universe,” Warner Bros. President of Worldwide Production Greg Silverman said in a Wall Street Journal Report. “‘Superman vs. Batman’ will lead into ‘Justice League.'”
Silverman would not comment on whether any other DC comic book heroes would be joining the other three on screen, although the studio has begun casting the cybernetically enhanced hero “Cyborg” for a cameo in “Batman vs. Superman.” Among the numerous Justice League members from the comic books are notable standouts (some of whom have already appeared on-screen) like Green Lantern, Flash and Aquaman.
Ryan Reynolds portrayed Green Lantern in the 2011 film of the same name, and “The Flash” is reportedly on track for release in 2016. Warner Bros. has also indicated the possibility of a stand-alone Wonder Woman film.
“That is our hope,” Warner Bros. President of Worldwide Marketing Sue Kroll said. “With the right script, that could be viable. The world is ready for her.”
The Batman portrayed by Ben Affleck in the upcoming film will reportedly not pull from the canon established by director Christopher Nolan’s recent trilogy, and instead take place in a future timeline established in “Man of Steel,” in which Batman is semi-retired and polices Gotham City via drones, according to a tweet by producer Daniel Alter.
Can’t wait for #BatmanvsSuperman.. #batfleck semi-retired/not speaking to Robin anymore.. Controlling drones from the batcave.
— Daniel Alter (@DAlter007) November 15, 2013
Warner Bros. initially gave the go-ahead for a “Justice League” film in 2008, but cancelled at the last minute before going into production. The new film featuring multiple heroes from the DC comic book universe is Warner and DC’s latest attempt at rushing to catching up to the comic film universe established by Marvel and Disney’s “Iron Man,” “Thor,” “Captain America,” “Hulk,” and “The Avengers” films. All have been enormous successes at the box office, with “The Avengers” alone bringing in more than $1 billion in box-office sales worldwide to become the third-highest grossing film ever.
The Journal estimates “Justice League” won’t see release until 2018, while sources cited by The Hollywood Reporter said Snyder will shoot it back-to-back alongside “Superman vs. Batman,” and hit theaters in 2017.