Everyone knows that Hollywood reacts to the success of any film by throwing a series of imitations into production.
So, when the The Avengers became the third-most successful film ever in the US, it seemed inevitable that some sort of clone would be quickly green-lit. But hang on. The summer schedules are already groaning with superhero movies. What can the moneymen do?
Comic fans will know where this conversation is heading. Warner Bros seems set to reignite plans for a film version of Justice League, essentially the DC equivalent of Marvel’s Avengers. Such a film would, in theory, unite Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman.
It’s a slippery notion. Would this Batman be a variation on the one perfected by Christopher Nolan? Would DC really want to bring back Green Lantern after the relative failure of the Ryan Reynolds venture? What will happen if Man of Steel, the upcoming Superman reboot, fails to do the business? It’s not quite money in the bank.
A film with me in it
It will be of no interest to sane Reel News readers, but, if they screw up their eyes and peer closely, they will catch a glimpse of your current correspondent in this week’s Woody Allen: A Documentary (reviewed on page 11). A small square of bald pate is visible on the right-hand side of the audience at the Cannes press conference for Allen’s You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger. Just thought we’d mention it.
