DC streaming/Max: Creature Commandos trailer

[crazy_asian_man]

Aug 23, 2022 20:39:05 GMT -5 Metallo said:

www.darkhorizons.com/hbo-max-exits-batman-caped-crusader/

HBO Max Exits “Batman: Caped Crusader”

By Garth Franklin
Tuesday, August 23rd 2022 6:20 am

Back in May last year, HBO Max and Cartoon Network announced a straight-to-series order for the new animated series “Batman: Caped Crusader”.

The project was to be executive produced by filmmakers J.J. Abrams (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”) and Matt Reeves (“The Batman”), along with original 1990s “Batman: The Animated Series” co-developer Bruce Timm.

The aim was that the new show would recapture the magic of that iconic early 1990s series with deeper psychological dives and a cinematic and evocative noir-style to its presentation.

That’s all out the window now as TV Line reports that the series is one of seven animated projects HBO Max will no longer produce. All six projects, which mostly come from Warner Bros. Animation, will continue production though as they are shopped to other outlets.

The other projects include the animated family action comedy “Merry Little Batman,” the animated Looney Tunes film “The Day the Earth Blew Up” and the musical “Bye Bye Bunny,” an animated musical holiday special about “Family Matters” character Steve Urkel, and “The Amazing World of Gumball” movie.

This news comes amidst an in-transition HBO Max as Warner Bros. Discovery guts various departments in order to save costs, with the animation department being heavily impacted.

I'd heard a rumor Disney Plus was interested in it. THAT would be hilarious if Disney actually was able to buy it.

[Metallo]

I can’t see that happening. I’d think Disney would want something of their own that they fully own and can fully monetize in every way possible. They couldn’t do it with this Batman show.

I can’t see WB selling the streaming rights to the show to them because they are more direct competitors in far more ways and they aren’t going to want to help a competitor even if they do pay them for it.

At least with Netflix or Apple WB don’t compete with them in as many entertainment arenas as Disney does. I think Netflix will do their best to get this show. They need far more than Disney Plus does.

[Metallo]

www.darkhorizons.com/titans-showrunner-on-the-new-lex-luthor/

“Titans” Showrunner On The New Lex Luthor

By Garth Franklin
Monday, September 12th 2022 8:54 am



The fourth season of “Titans” is on track for a release on HBO Max in November, with one of the most exciting elements being a key new cast addition – Titus Welliver.

The “Bosch” star enters the series playing one of DC’s most iconic villains – Lex Luthor. Series showrunner Greg Walker recently sat down with EW to discuss hiring Welliver for the character.

It turns out it didn’t take much convincing as Welliver is not only a big fan of the comics but had watched the whole series up to that point. Walker says:

“You usually have to do this whole dog-and-pony show to get an actor to do the show, but when I called to kind of lure him in, I could barely get a word in. We were talking on the phone, and he was just walking through his library, telling me about all his Wolfman/Perez Titans editions. He’s a giant, giant fan. He’d watched every episode of the show and could tell me about certain stories, certain shots. It was the most unexpected call I’ve ever had.”

Talking about how they approach Luther in this incarnation, Walker says he’s a very unique villain as he has;

“A very sensitive, thoughtful approach to evil and power. You know what he’s done, what he’s capable of doing, except, like many of those people, he’s personable…

He’s curious, which I think is very interesting about his character. He wants to know about people and what makes them tick, and how they’re different from him. He sees the world through the lens of both his own power and his own inadequacy and tries to compensate for both.”

In the series, Joshua Orpin’s Superboy was made from both Superman and Lex’s DNA, and this season will tackle that connection as Conner, who has explored his Superman side, hasn’t really explored his Lex side, which is going to come out in the new run.

The first photo of Welliver confirms Lex’s bald head, but this one had a rather major beard as he can be seen talking with Anna Diop’s Starfire.

Welliver now joins the long list of Luthors, including Gene Hackman, Michael Rosenbaum, John Shea, Clancy Brown and Jon Cryer.

[crazy_asian_man]

Titans is a frustrating mixed bag to me.... the production values look great, some of the casting is great, and even some of the scripting is great, and I'll even add it to my blu ray collection, but---

The bad parts drag down the good- and I'm way tired of the F bombs that are distracting... though that's not the least of the things I dislike on the show.

Why not get Cryer and tie the universes together?

[Metallo]

Sept 12, 2022 16:18:28 GMT -5 crazy_asian_man said:

Titans is a frustrating mixed bag to me.... the production values look great, some of the casting is great, and even some of the scripting is great, and I'll even add it to my blu ray collection, but---

The bad parts drag down the good- and I'm way tired of the F bombs that are distracting... though that's not the least of the things I dislike on the show.

Why not get Cryer and tie the universes together?

I agree that Titans is a mixed bag. Like you said sometimes it looks good but the writing let’s it down. I don’t mind the Titans universe being different from the Arrowverse and the show having its own different Lex Luthor. When it comes to the opportunity to make them the same universe that horse left the barn a long time ago. The shows/backstories diverged too much almost from the start. Technically the two universes have tied together though through the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover.

The bigger waste to me was setting Titans and Doom Patrol in separate universes especially since it was clearly intended that Doom Patrol would spin off of Titans with the episode they guest starred in. Those shows were conceived close enough together and similar enough in tone that they could have been set in the same universe but once again one group of showrunners wanted the creative freedom to do what they wanted. It’s why we’ve got so many separate on screen DC universes right now.

Two shows I’d like to see tied together are Superman & Lois and Krypton. Since S&L has been established as being set in a universe different from the one The Supergirl/Earth 38/Arrowverse/Earth Prime Superman is from that means the differences in history and timelines would no longer be in the way.

S&L’s history is still unexplored enough that they might be able to fit the continuity of the Krypton series into it and make the Krypton of that universe the same one from Superman & Lois. They could also use the opportunity to tie up some loose ends from the short lived Krypton tv series.

[crazy_asian_man]

Sept 12, 2022 17:37:54 GMT -5 Metallo said:

Sept 12, 2022 16:18:28 GMT -5 crazy_asian_man said:

Titans is a frustrating mixed bag to me.... the production values look great, some of the casting is great, and even some of the scripting is great, and I'll even add it to my blu ray collection, but---

The bad parts drag down the good- and I'm way tired of the F bombs that are distracting... though that's not the least of the things I dislike on the show.

Why not get Cryer and tie the universes together?

I agree that Titans is a mixed bag. Like you said sometimes it looks good but the writing let’s it down. I don’t mind the Titans universe being different from the Arrowverse and the show having its own different Lex Luthor. When it comes to the opportunity to make them the same universe that horse left the barn a long time ago. The shows/backstories diverged too much almost from the start. Technically the two universes have tied together though through the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover.

The bigger waste to me was setting Titans and Doom Patrol in separate universes especially since it was clearly intended that Doom Patrol would spin off of Titans with the episode they guest starred in. Those shows were conceived close enough together and similar enough in tone that they could have been set in the same universe but once again one group of showrunners wanted the creative freedom to do what they wanted. It’s why we’ve got so many separate on screen DC universes right now.

Two shows I’d like to see tied together are Superman & Lois and Krypton. Since S&L has been established as being set in a universe different from the one The Supergirl/Earth 38/Arrowverse/Earth Prime Superman is from that means the differences in history and timelines would no longer be in the way.

S&L’s history is still unexplored enough that they might be able to fit the continuity of the Krypton series into it and make the Krypton of that universe the same one from Superman & Lois. They could also use the opportunity to tie up some loose ends from the short lived Krypton tv series.

With Titans at least Geoff Johns is partially involved- there's good stuff there.... with Krypton & Goyer- it was just incredibly dark and depressing to me to even finish a first season (much like Blade the tv series also showrun by Goyer)....

[Metallo]

Sept 12, 2022 19:37:00 GMT -5 crazy_asian_man said:

Sept 12, 2022 17:37:54 GMT -5 Metallo said:

I agree that Titans is a mixed bag. Like you said sometimes it looks good but the writing let’s it down. I don’t mind the Titans universe being different from the Arrowverse and the show having its own different Lex Luthor. When it comes to the opportunity to make them the same universe that horse left the barn a long time ago. The shows/backstories diverged too much almost from the start. Technically the two universes have tied together though through the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover.

The bigger waste to me was setting Titans and Doom Patrol in separate universes especially since it was clearly intended that Doom Patrol would spin off of Titans with the episode they guest starred in. Those shows were conceived close enough together and similar enough in tone that they could have been set in the same universe but once again one group of showrunners wanted the creative freedom to do what they wanted. It’s why we’ve got so many separate on screen DC universes right now.

Two shows I’d like to see tied together are Superman & Lois and Krypton. Since S&L has been established as being set in a universe different from the one The Supergirl/Earth 38/Arrowverse/Earth Prime Superman is from that means the differences in history and timelines would no longer be in the way.

S&L’s history is still unexplored enough that they might be able to fit the continuity of the Krypton series into it and make the Krypton of that universe the same one from Superman & Lois. They could also use the opportunity to tie up some loose ends from the short lived Krypton tv series.

With Titans at least Geoff Johns is partially involved- there's good stuff there.... with Krypton & Goyer- it was just incredibly dark and depressing to me to even finish a first season (much like Blade the tv series also showrun by Goyer)....

Geoff Johns has been involved with a lot of stuff that’s been hit and miss himself. He co-wrote the pilot for Blade: The Series with David Goyer. Despite its flaws and how much Goyer’s work often makes me cringe I thought Krypton was a better show than Titans.

[crazy_asian_man]

I think I'm biased with Titans- seeing bits and pieces actually faithful to the Wolfman/Perez/Johns comics gives me a kick.... whereas with Krypton, I just never connected to any of the main characters I was supposed to care about.

[Metallo]

Sept 12, 2022 23:23:56 GMT -5 crazy_asian_man said:

I think I'm biased with Titans- seeing bits and pieces actually faithful to the Wolfman/Perez/Johns comics gives me a kick.... whereas with Krypton, I just never connected to any of the main characters I was supposed to care about.

I appreciate faithfulness to the source material too but when it’s still bad that doesn’t do much for me when it comes to the overall product. You can adapt something closely and still it can suck. It’s all about execution. I also thought Titans rushed through Jason Todd’s run as Robin and turn into Red Hood far too quickly.

Krypton gave me a few characters I liked. Seg-El and his grandfather were solid characters in my opinion. So was Nyssa. I thought Colin Salmon was a very good Zod. Most of my problems with Krypton came with the blandness and over reliance on Superman elements that should have been years away from being seen. Too often Krypton had the same problem Smallville had of trying to be a Superman show without Superman instead of a proper prequel series.

Krypton did give us the best live action version of Doomsday to date. That’s a low bar to clear but I still though their take was pretty good. Plus unlike some other Superman and DC characters his inclusion on the show made sense.

[Metallo]

[crazy_asian_man]

Titans is painful, because it's such a near-miss... I like most of the characters, the actors, the production values- and SOME of the writing.... but the overall showrunner (Akiva Goldsman?) just nudges it into 'bad enough'. But it's sad because I even show parts of this to my nephew who loved Arrow- and it wouldn't have taken too much to nudge it into a great show on the CW. The constant 'f' bombs and excessive violence don't help. Pity. I still can extract enough joy out of parts of it (what are the odds we'll ever see another live action Titans show at all ever again?)- but it's sad I have to extract it.

[Metallo]

[crazy_asian_man]

No Donna Troy???

[Metallo]

Seems like she might be gone. She might be lucky because this show has never lived up to what it could have been.

[Metallo]

www.darkhorizons.com/campos-to-run-batman-spin-off-arkham/

Campos To Run Batman Spin-Off “Arkham”

By Garth Franklin
Tuesday, October 25th 2022 2:18 pm

Filmmaker Antonio Campos will direct and serve as showrunner/executive producer on “The Batman” spin-off TV series about Arkham Asylum for HBO Max.

Variety broke the news saying this will happen should his version of the show ultimately go forward, but Campos marks the third writer brought onto the DC project since it was originally announced in July 2020 with a series commitment.

Originally the project was being developed to focus on the world of the Gotham Police Department and would take place a year before the events of “The Batman”. At the time, Terence Winter was set to write and executive produce.

In November that year, Winter exited and “Giri/Haji” creator Joe Barton. Then the project’s focus shifted from the Gotham PD to the famed asylum and adopted a more haunted house horror film tone – which led to Barton’s exit.

Reeves, Daniel Pipski and Adam Kassan are executive producing. The project is the second known “The Batman” spinoff in the works, with the much further ahead Colin Farrell-led “The Penguin” series set to begin shooting early next year.

Campos previous served as director/showrunner of HBO’s “The Staircase” and has directed episodes of “The Sinner” and “The Punisher” along with writing/directing films like “Simon Killer” and “The Devil All the Time”.

[crazy_asian_man]

Oct 25, 2022 10:33:44 GMT -5 Metallo said:

Seems like she might be gone. She might be lucky because this show has never lived up to what it could have been.

Such a pity. Perfect casting- but.... this show could have been a blockbuster. It sort of hits the notes that were in the Wolfman/Perez books, but it's also sloppy and has things that pull it down too much...

[Metallo]

Oct 25, 2022 21:19:05 GMT -5 crazy_asian_man said:

Oct 25, 2022 10:33:44 GMT -5 Metallo said:

Seems like she might be gone. She might be lucky because this show has never lived up to what it could have been.

Such a pity. Perfect casting- but.... this show could have been a blockbuster. It sort of hits the notes that were in the Wolfman/Perez books, but it's also sloppy and has things that pull it down too much...

It was screwed as soon as Akiva Goldsman's name was on it.

[crazy_asian_man]

Oct 25, 2022 22:56:16 GMT -5 Metallo said:

Oct 25, 2022 21:19:05 GMT -5 crazy_asian_man said:

Such a pity. Perfect casting- but.... this show could have been a blockbuster. It sort of hits the notes that were in the Wolfman/Perez books, but it's also sloppy and has things that pull it down too much...

It was screwed as soon as Akiva Goldsman's name was on it.

Yeah... It still has bits and pieces I like - and I have this bad feeling that this will be the only-ever version of Titans live action that's going to exist in my lifetime, so I begrudgingly will stick with it...

[Metallo]

Oct 25, 2022 23:45:03 GMT -5 crazy_asian_man said:

Oct 25, 2022 22:56:16 GMT -5 Metallo said:

It was screwed as soon as Akiva Goldsman's name was on it.

Yeah... It still has bits and pieces I like - and I have this bad feeling that this will be the only-ever version of Titans live action that's going to exist in my lifetime, so I begrudgingly will stick with it...

I think we will see something else. It might be a movie and it might take a while but in an era where so much content is being produced that only increases the chances. I don’t think we will see a totally unrelated titans series for a long time though.

[Metallo]

www.darkhorizons.com/hbo-maxs-green-lantern-starts-over/

HBO Max’s “Green Lantern” Starts Over

By Garth Franklin
Wednesday, October 26th 2022 8:09 am

HBO Max’s currently in development “Green Lantern” TV series is starting over.

Previously “Arrow”-verse creator Greg Berlanti was set to executive produce the show, which was to focus on the Green Lantern characters Guy Gardner (played by Finn Wittrock) and Alan Scott (played by Jeremy Irvine).

It was also tipped to be the most expensive DC Comics-inspired series to date, with a serious $120 million budget behind it. That’s almost all out the window with writer and showrunner Seth Grahame-Smith exiting the series after completing scripts for a full season of eight episodes.

Grahame-Smith reportedly chose to leave the project after weathering a number of regime changes at HBO Max and its parent company Warner Bros. Discovery.

Combined with DC Comics topper Walter Hamada’s recent exit, the previously off-the-table option of putting the focus on the character of John Stewart has now been taken up, with the production now starting over and being built around him.

The Sidney Poitier-inspired Stewart first appeared in the early 1970s but really shot to fame as one of the core cast of characters in the 1990s “Justice League” cartoon. With the change, the show’s proposed budget is expected to be slashed.

Despite the timing, the overhaul reportedly has nothing to do with James Gunn and Peter Safran taking over as heads of DC Studios. That hiring goes into effect next week.

Berlanti Productions remains attached, and Warners is expected to take a tax write-down on Grahame-Smith’s work so far.

[Metallo]

[crazy_asian_man]

Oct 26, 2022 12:57:11 GMT -5 Metallo said:

www.darkhorizons.com/hbo-maxs-green-lantern-starts-over/

HBO Max’s “Green Lantern” Starts Over

By Garth Franklin
Wednesday, October 26th 2022 8:09 am

HBO Max’s currently in development “Green Lantern” TV series is starting over.

Previously “Arrow”-verse creator Greg Berlanti was set to executive produce the show, which was to focus on the Green Lantern characters Guy Gardner (played by Finn Wittrock) and Alan Scott (played by Jeremy Irvine).

It was also tipped to be the most expensive DC Comics-inspired series to date, with a serious $120 million budget behind it. That’s almost all out the window with writer and showrunner Seth Grahame-Smith exiting the series after completing scripts for a full season of eight episodes.

Grahame-Smith reportedly chose to leave the project after weathering a number of regime changes at HBO Max and its parent company Warner Bros. Discovery.

Combined with DC Comics topper Walter Hamada’s recent exit, the previously off-the-table option of putting the focus on the character of John Stewart has now been taken up, with the production now starting over and being built around him.

The Sidney Poitier-inspired Stewart first appeared in the early 1970s but really shot to fame as one of the core cast of characters in the 1990s “Justice League” cartoon. With the change, the show’s proposed budget is expected to be slashed.

Despite the timing, the overhaul reportedly has nothing to do with James Gunn and Peter Safran taking over as heads of DC Studios. That hiring goes into effect next week.

Berlanti Productions remains attached, and Warners is expected to take a tax write-down on Grahame-Smith’s work so far.

Mixed reaction to this.... the whole WB superhero universe is so fragmented that I'm not sure how much of a loss this is. Berlianti has made some stuff I really loved, but also his output is a mixed bag.

[Metallo]

www.darkhorizons.com/titans-showrunner-wants-superman-inclusion/

“Titans” Showrunner Wants Superman Inclusion
By Garth Franklin Sunday, December 4th 2022 3:33 pm

The fourth season of HBO Max’s “Titans” is underway, with the team taking on several baddies as the action shifts to Metropolis.

The series has already introduced Iain Glen as Bruce Wayne/Batman, and this season gives us Titus Welliver as Lex Luthor, so an appearance from the Man of Steel himself is not entirely out of the question.

Certainly, Joshua Orpin’s Conner Kent/Superboy has been a core member of the cast since the show’s second season – the clone-son of Superman and Lex Luthor. While he’s met Lex, Superman is off halfway across the universe.

In an interview with Screen Rant recently, showrunner Greg Walker has expressed a keen interest in introducing Superman on the show and says it ties in with the larger themes of the season:

“Well, we would love it, and I think that’s a story, that our show often that deals with [which is] fathers and sons. It feels like it would be a huge get to be able to do, and we could really do a lot with it if we got it.

For now, we’re letting the DC Universe settle the way that it’s settling. We have hints of Superman, and there’ll be more; this is not the only one. So stay tuned. But it’s something that we would love, and hopefully, one day, we’ll come to realize on Titans.”

The obvious question is, with the greater DCU being mapped out and redone, will “Titans” even survive beyond the current season? It’s not clear at this point. The current run began on November 3rd and wrapped its first half on December 1st. The second half is expected to air early next year.

[crazy_asian_man]

Dec 14, 2022 23:33:51 GMT -5 Metallo said:

www.darkhorizons.com/titans-showrunner-wants-superman-inclusion/

“Titans” Showrunner Wants Superman Inclusion
By Garth Franklin Sunday, December 4th 2022 3:33 pm

The fourth season of HBO Max’s “Titans” is underway, with the team taking on several baddies as the action shifts to Metropolis.

The series has already introduced Iain Glen as Bruce Wayne/Batman, and this season gives us Titus Welliver as Lex Luthor, so an appearance from the Man of Steel himself is not entirely out of the question.

Certainly, Joshua Orpin’s Conner Kent/Superboy has been a core member of the cast since the show’s second season – the clone-son of Superman and Lex Luthor. While he’s met Lex, Superman is off halfway across the universe.

In an interview with Screen Rant recently, showrunner Greg Walker has expressed a keen interest in introducing Superman on the show and says it ties in with the larger themes of the season:

“Well, we would love it, and I think that’s a story, that our show often that deals with [which is] fathers and sons. It feels like it would be a huge get to be able to do, and we could really do a lot with it if we got it.

For now, we’re letting the DC Universe settle the way that it’s settling. We have hints of Superman, and there’ll be more; this is not the only one. So stay tuned. But it’s something that we would love, and hopefully, one day, we’ll come to realize on Titans.”

The obvious question is, with the greater DCU being mapped out and redone, will “Titans” even survive beyond the current season? It’s not clear at this point. The current run began on November 3rd and wrapped its first half on December 1st. The second half is expected to air early next year.

Titans is endlessly frustrating because there are parts that feel just right, buried in other things that feel disastrous.

Not sure what options are on the table. Reboot or only cancellation? So, like everything else, will see...

[Metallo]

www.darkhorizons.com/hbo-max-cancels-doom-patrol-titans/

HBO Max Cancels “Doom Patrol,” “Titans”

By Garth Franklin
Wednesday, January 25th 2023 4:53 pm

An HBO Max spokesperson has confirmed that the current fourth seasons of both “Titans” and “Doom Patrol” will be the final runs of the DC Comics dramas.

A spokesman for the streamer tells THR: “While these will be the final seasons of Titans and Doom Patrol, we are very proud of these series and excited for fans to see their climactic endings. We are grateful to Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television for making such thrilling, action-packed, heartfelt series.”

According to the trade, producers on both shows “saw the writing on the wall” amidst all the changes with DC Entertainment and thus plotted their current seasons with proper endings in mind.

The two titles were amongst several that originated on the now defunct DC Universe streaming service – the others being “Swamp Thing” which was cancelled after one season, “Stargirl” and “Young Justice” which ended after several seasons each last year, and the acclaimed adult animated series “Harley Quinn” which is ongoing.

The decision to wrap both shows comes amid changes at DC and HBO Max under Warner Bros. Discovery. The decision to end both shows was reportedly made before the announcement of James Gunn and Peter Safran taking over DC. The pair are reportedly plotting a new, more integrated roster of films and TV series.

That leaves the fate of the handful of DC shows currently on the air in question. With “The Flash” finishing up, the only shows left are Gunn’s own “Peacemaker” which is expected to get a second season, The CW’s “Superman & Lois” which is about to kick off its third season, and “Gotham Knights” which will premiere shortly.

Greg Berlanti is reportedly reworking “Green Lantern” for HBO Max, but the Arrow-verse show creator is not expected to be heavily involved with DC Comics programming under his new pact with Warners. His new medical drama “Wolf” recently scored a pilot order on NBC which follows a larger-than-life neurologist and his interns as they deal with mental health.