DC EU round-up!

 So, there's been a huge amount of news and material released by DC/WB as part of its DC Fandome, its online convention this weekend. Here' are my thoughts on some of the more interesting titbits.

The Batman

Hmm, not sure about this. I mean, it looks stunning, but also miserable as hell, and I'm kind of done with grimdark Batman for now. I'm still not entirely sold on Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne (although I do like the guy), but we've been wrong before about unusual casting choices in the Batman films. He's very emo-looking in this, but then again, I guess Bruce is a bit of an emo. I'll see this, but it looks so joyless I'm not sure it's going to work for me. Best comment on YouTube: "Looks like a Batman who's watched his parents die as many times as we have."

Flashpoint

Which might actually just be called The Flash, but in either case is a) the long-delayed Flash movie and b) an adaptation of the Flashpoint comics arc. The Flash TV series already did a version of that, but this is likely to be closer to the source material since they can actually use Batman, and we're, astonishingly, getting two of them: both Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck are returning to the role, presumably as alternative versions of the character. We've had it confirmed that the Ezra Miller iteration of Barry Allen calls himself the Flash now because he got the name from Grant Gustin's version in Crisis on Infinite Earths, so the door's open for even more unexpected cameos. (If John Wesley Shipp turns up I'll scream.)

Wonder Woman 1984

This is more like it. There's an edge to it, yes, but it looks fun and colourful in a way The Batman just fails to capture. Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman is one of the best things in the DCEU so it's a treat to have her back headlining a film, but I'm most excited about the wonderful Kristin Wiig as the Cheetah. I love it when the films aren't afraid to embrace the very silly villains of the source material. Good to have Chris Pine back as Steve Trevor, bringing to mind when the 70s TV show jumped ahead thirty years and recast Lyle Waggoner as the son of the original Trevor. That doesn't seem to be what's going on here though.

Black Adam and Shazam 2

We've had confirmation at last of the Shazam! sequel, provisionally titled Shazam: Fury of the Gods, which will apparently feature the comedian Sinbad in some capacity. Other than, not much info.

The long-gestating Black Adam film starring the Rock is still in the works, with confirmation that Noah Centineo is signed up to play the Atom Smasher. Intriguingly, it's been revealed that Adam will be forming his own Justice Society, seemingly as a rival to the Justice League, and has recruited Hawkman, Cyclone and Dr. Fate.

The Suicide Squad

Both a trailer and roll call for this one, but it has to be said, having James Gunn behind the wheel is the most important thing. The previous film was flawed to say the least, although it had its moments, and I'm hopeful about this one. Peter Capaldi as the Thinker is my most favourite thing for a while. Full roll-call analysis coming up!