For years now, Warner Bros. has been in pursuit of a DC Cinematic Universe that lives up to the gold standard Disney offers set with the MCU. From the particular inception of the MCU, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige provides sat at the helm of it all, producing every entry in the franchise and overseeing the direction, plus finding DC’s equivalent has been no easy task .
It’s tough to narrow down exactly what DC needs within its franchise chief, but Feige has long been described as the template for what Warner Bros. needs to emulate. Not only will this figure serve as a top executive, but also a creative leader who needs to have the passion and knowledge associated with the business.
Over the years, director Zack Snyder, comic book writer Geoff Johns, TV producer Greg Berlanti, plus even Feige himself have all had their names thrown into the particular ring for the top job in the DC franchise. But along with Warner Bros. now under new management as CEO David Zaslav unites a team to formulate the next ten years of the particular comic guide franchise .
Now, producer Dan Lin has been the latest of those names put into contention with reports claiming he may be the top candidate for the job . Although there are reportedly still obstacles to Lin receiving the particular job – in which this individual would replace current DC Films President Walter Hamada – there’s plenty in order to suggest he may be the right man for the job.
How DC Almost Launched a Cinematic Universe in 2009
Following reviews that maker Dan Lin is being eyed at Warner Bros. Discovery to r eplace Walter Hamada as DC Films President , both recent and old comments of his have surfaced that reveal why he might be the perfect choice with regard to DC’s Kevin Feige-like figure.
Speaking with The Ankler earlier this particular month, Lin revealed there were plans for him to lead the DC franchise because far back as 2008 when George Miller’s Justice League Mortal was in the works. The manufacturer referred to the particular job since “the one that got away” and teased the “really exciting” things he wantsed to do in the DC business:
“Honestly, DC was the one that will got away. When I first started my producing career within 2008, I was producing Proper rights League Mortal with George Miller directing. I moved my family to Australia, I was going to have a very different life, and We were basically going to be overseeing the DC franchise, but that got away. Why I wanted in order to make LEGO Batman is my way of getting back into DC but in a very different way. If I could have only done the points I needed to do along with DC, that would have been really exciting. ”
The plan was regarding Justice Little league Mortal to launch a DC franchise with younger actors that would grow into their own roles over several movies and many years. The cast included D. J. Cotrona’s Superman, Armie Hammer’s Batman, Megan Gale’s Wonder Woman, Santiago Cabrera’s Aquaman, Common’s Green Lantern, Adam Brody’s Flash, and Hugh Keays-Byrne’s Martian Manhunter.
Unfortunately, Justice League Mortal , which was planned intended for a summer 2009 release, never came in order to be after several delays and even having been near production. Warner Bros. opted to shift its focus in order to standalone projects like 2008’s The particular Dark Knight and 2011’s Green Lantern , the decision it probably regrets to this day.
DC’s Rumored New President is a Super Fan
Rewinding to December 2009, Lin discussed Justice Little league Mortal with Collider and known the superhero event as his “dream project, ” before heading on to reveal his DC fandom plus why he or she may become the right person to guide the franchise today.
The producer said his DC ambitions were “the reason [he] began his production company” before explaining how Warner Bros. plans changed from starting with the particular Justice League assembled to building towards it more than time:
“Yeah. I mean it’s… I’ll say it’s the reason We started my company. You know, I thought that has been the ultimate project. I had been a fanboy, so for me to work with all those characters together on the team and kind of the themes of that movie. That’s my dream. It’s on hold right now as DC sorts out its strategy but because you’ve talked to Alan Horn plus Jeff Robinov it seems like they’re building to Justice League instead of going along with the team movie first and doing individual films after that will. ”
Lin discussed the programs at the time in order to reveal a DC technique in January 2010, which in no way came to be, but additionally revealed he was working upon a Suicide Squad movie inspired by Dirty Dozen:
“Right. The only one right now as you probably know, they may unveiling their particular DC strategy in January, so you’ll hear more about that, and they’ll speak about that within the new year. The just other one besides Justice League that I’m working on will be the Suicide Squad. So that’s the different kind of super-hero movie. For us, that’s a supervillain film. It’s almost Dirty Dozen set in the particular world associated with supervillains. Which the only one for me that’s on the front burner. inch
When asked if it was becoming easier to pitch comic book movies since their success was beginning to build, Lin explained the three key factors in pitching a project including their source material, fan base, and a recognizable brand name:
“It’s certainly helpful. I would state what is simpler, in general, is usually to message something with the source materials. So the first layer is it’s easier to set something away with source material, therefore it’s something tangible that will executives and even producers can discuss. The next layer is if they possess a fan base. Therefore, that’s certainly comic books that would qualify as that will. And I actually would say the next layer upon that if we’re looking at this particular like the cake-the following layer would be a real brand name. So not only do they have a fan base like Bone, yet I’d state Justice League is the particular next layer up where I’m in the street…. you talk about Batman Superman that’s really well known. Therefore those are the 3 things that really factor in. inches
He went on to discuss the difficulties behind pitching superhero movies with so many on the particular market, which given this interview had been conducted within 2009, is definitely nothing compared to the number of superhero outings coming out each year today:
“Is it simpler to set with a comic guide? Yes, for sure. Because now the business model has been proven, but just like any other comic book movie there’s a glut of them in the marketplace right now. So the particular question now is how do you differentiate the comic guide you bring to the studio or actually the comic book movie you provide for the studio room makes this different. Because you mentioned Losers amusing book, Avengers comic book, you know even in the particular Justice Little league comic guide during the area associated with team movies there are usually already the lot of comic book heroes. A person have in order to figure out how you differentiate yours. very well
Being asked if DC might copy Marvel’s early plan for exactly how to build a cinematic universe, Lin shared that will he felt that may be the particular direction becoming taken:
“I don’t know for sure, but as a fan, it feels like which what could possibly be doing as I watch their own movies getting laid out there. micron
Why Dan Lin Should Be DC’s Kevin Feige
So , Dan Lin was already being lined-up to lead the DC Motion picture Universe over a decade ago, back in the early days from the MCU. With Justice League Mortal having forged the original seven members, there is no denying this was close to becoming a reality, as the ensemble expected it to then spin-off into films starring Hammer’s Batman, Cotrona’s Superman, and more.
The particular thought associated with seeing Marvel and DC build franchises alongside each other, but in reverse, as one started having a team-up and the other ended with it, is truly fascinating. But alas, this never ever came to be, since Marvel followed through upon its plans to great success while DC can be still trying to kickstart a connected universe fourteen yrs later.
Lin clearly proved with Justice Little league Mortal that he was not just committed to this particular franchise, but also an avid fan of it. Who knows how we might handle the particular DC business today? Perhaps he would stick to his guns of starting with the Proper rights League assembled, or maybe he would follow the Marvel design template, but either way, his nod to “the things [he] wanted in order to do along with DC” is certainly intriguing.
Only time will tell whether the Warner Bros. producer is able to secure the job. Lin currently has conflicts that could prove troublesome in taking on such a major position with the studio as their production company has existing contracts with other studios.
But as the producer has shown his commitment to DC, experience within working with major franchises, plus a strong relationship along with Warner Bros., he will be 1 to keep an eye on as the search for a rival to Marvel’s Kevin Feige reaches the head.