-
AQUAMAN Movie Finds its Black Manta; Nicole Kidman in Talks to Join
As we gear up for the beginning of production on Aquaman later this year, the film is in the process of casting its supporting characters. Today, we have word of two actors who are in talks to play key supporting players in the DC film. According to The Hollywood Reporter, The Get Down star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II has entered negotiations to play Black Manta. This confirms last year’s report that the iconic Aquaman villain is in the movie. While a deal hasn’t been closed, director James Wan recently decided on Abdul-Mateen after meeting with several other actors. Black Manta is the second villain confirmed for Aquaman, following Patrick Wilson’s Orm. In…
-
Ben Affleck Won’t Direct THE BATMAN After All
For the past couple years, Ben Affleck has been attached to direct his own solo Batman movie, which he will also star in. The project is tentatively titled The Batman, and he is co-writing the script with Geoff Johns. But in recent weeks, Affleck has repeatedly discusses his involvement during press junkets, and the excessive attention clearly put pressure on him. Now, the movie needs a new director. Variety has confirmed that Affleck has stepped down as director of The Batman. This decision follows discussions between Affleck and Warner Bros. on how to make the best movie they can. However, Affleck is still on board to star in and produce…
-
FLASH SPOILER Review: Episode 3×10 – “Borrowing Problems From the Future”
The Flash (3×10) – “Borrowing Problems From the Future” Written by: Grainne Godfree & David Kob Directed by: Millicent Shelton Welcome to Season Three, part two! And after a new precap and an actual recap we open on Barry and Iris. A month has passed since we last saw our friends and Barry is understandably disturbed by his glimpse of the future. It’s caused more than a few nightmares it seems and Iris has taken notice, when she asks if he wants to talk about it Barry pulls out a classic superhero move: he deflects and turns the conversation to unpacking before they’re interrupted by a furniture store…
-
OFFICIAL: 7 Days of THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE on Watchtower of Babel News
This year, the Dark Knight returns to the big screen in Warner Bros.’ The LEGO Batman Movie, a spin-off from the wildly successful The LEGO Movie. Will Arnett’s Batman is back, and we’re getting an in-depth look inside this world’s version of Gotham City and other DC characters. To celebrate the release of The LEGO Batman Movie, we at Watchtower of Babel News are planning a week-long series of reviews, features, editorials, and more original posts. We begin this Saturday, February 4th. These are all inspired by the upcoming motion picture, as well as the LEGO Batman franchise as a whole. One post will be published per day, with our…
-
BLACK LIGHTNING Pilot to Begin Production in March
Last fall, it was announced that Fox has picked up a pilot for Black Lightning, the latest television project from DC Entertainment. Husband-wife duo Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil are developing the pilot, with Arrowverse mastermind Greg Berlanti helping them bring their vision to life. Now, we know when production begins. According to My Entertainment World (via Omega Underground), the Black Lightning pilot will start shooting in March. Production will take place in New Orleans. With a start date in place, casting for Black Lightning and other characters should be announced within the coming weeks. Black Lightning stars Jefferson Pierce, who retired as the titular vigilante years ago. But with…
-
THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE Tracking for $50 Million+ Opening Weekend
We’re only two weeks away from the release of Warner Bros.’ The LEGO Batman Movie, the highly anticipated spin-off from The LEGO Movie. The new film opens on a crowded weekend, as it has to face sequels Fifty Shades Darker and John Wick: Chapter 2 for the top spot. If early tracking is any indication, then Batman should have no problem staying on top. According to Deadline, The LEGO Batman Movie is expected to open with more than $50 million in its opening weekend. This puts it ahead of Fifty Shades‘ $30-42M and John Wick‘s $20M expectations. For comparison’s sake, The LEGO Movie grossed $69M in its opening weekend back in…
-
Marc Guggenheim Teases More Arrowverse Crossovers This Season; Black Flash Confirmed for LEGENDS OF TOMORROW
Following last fall’s historic four-show crossover event, The CW will continue to have smaller crossovers with its DC shows in the second half of the year. Supergirl and The Flash will have a musical crossover episode in the spring, while several characters, such as Malcolm Merlyn and Laurel Lance, are series regulars across all of the shows. Now, Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow producer Marc Guggenheim teases even more crossovers. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly on the “Superhero Insider” SiriusXM radio show, Guggenheim discusses what’s coming up this season. He says that next week’s Arrow will feature the “fastest” Flash crossover ever, while other Arrowverse characters are being lined up to…
-
THE FLASH Movie Hires a New Screenwriter
Last year, development on DC Films’ The Flash hit a stumbling block with the departure of director Rick Famuyiwa. The filmmaker exited the project over “creative differences,” resulting in a delay in production and likely release. Since then, we haven’t gotten a lot of updates on this movie. But now, a script rewrite is underway. According to Variety, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword scribe Joby Harold is doing a page-one rewrite on The Flash. Warner Bros. has apparently been taking its time with finding a new director, and star Ezra Miller is prepping to shoot the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them sequel this year. In the meantime,…
-
Zack Snyder Teases Superman’s “Big” Role in JUSTICE LEAGUE As Another New Still Releases
While we’re waiting for that trailer and for the marketing campaign to formally kick off, we have some more tidbits on DC Films’ Justice League. The superhero ensemble is featured in the latest issue of Empire Magazine, and included in the coverage is another new still. This image features the team – minus Superman and Aquaman – standing side by side, looking at…something/someone. Of course, Superman died at the end of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. So while his resurrection has been confirmed for Justice League, details on his exact role have been under wraps. We saw him in the first group photo, but he never popped up in…
-
SUICIDE SQUAD Has Been Nominated for an Oscar
Traditionally, comic book movies don’t get a lot of attention at the Academy Awards. There may be the occasional nomination in a minor category, such as Best Visual Effects or Sound Editing. Of course, the big exception to this trend is Heath Ledger’s posthumous Oscar for his performance as The Joker in The Dark Knight. This year, one of DC’s 2016 films is up for an Oscar, but again, it’s not a huge category. Suicide Squad has been nominated for the “Best Makeup and Hairstyling” award. Makeup artists and hairstylists Alessandro Bertolazzi, Giorgio Gregorini and Christopher Nelson are credited in the nomination. The other nominees for this award are Star…