DC Movie Nooz: Delays for The Batman and Black Adam, But James Gunn Says New Suicide Squad is “On Schedule”
Disney and Marvel Studios made the decision to reschedule their entire slate of upcoming films in response to the coronavirus pandemic and its resultant quarantines and theater closures, but DC and Warner Bros. seem to be taking a different tact, making the decision to delay, or not to delay, on a movie-by-movie basis. At least, we think they are, since most of the information we get about their upcoming DC superhero movies comes from the creatives involved, rather than from the studios directly (and “officially).
Black Adam
One of those creatives, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, has been linked to the role of the black-clad, anti-hero wielder of the powers of SHAZAM, Black Adam, since 2014 and has consistently offered updates on the movie in the absence of studio announcements about its development and pre-production. It’s no surprise then that the latest on the SHAZAM! spin-off should come, once again, from The Rock himself. In a live stream Twitter interview, Johnson described the movie as a “passion project” for him and part of his “DNA,” and said that the movie’s summer start date is likely going to be delayed by three to four months.
We still plan on shooting probably at the end of summer now, probably pushed, maybe into August, maybe September. So, we will see. But I can’t wait for that. I had been training so hard for months and months and months and months for ‘Black Adam.’ And that is a passion project for me. That is a role that I hold dear and here, into my DNA, so I can’t wait.
Superhero movies have DOMINATED the last decade and yet the world’s biggest action star has yet to get involved… until now.
We asked our man @TheRock for an update on BLACK ADAM and why *this* is the superhero for him⚡️ pic.twitter.com/M31aUkW9EZ
— BroBible (@BroBible) April 13, 2020
The Batman
The quarantine stopped writer-director Matt Reeves‘ from shooting more than a quarter of his relaunch of the Batman franchise starring Robert Pattinson as a svelte young Batman. He recently explained to Deadline that he is “not officially editing” any of the footage “right now,” but he has been “pouring through dailies, looking at takes, and what’s to come.”
Reeves said that he will not be re-writing the script of his “very specific mystery noir” movie about a young detective Batman, but that the extra prep time might grant him “an opportunity to explore” some of the “happy accidents” that occur when shooting.
It happens any time you shoot anything. The unexpected — happy accidents and things you didn’t quite expect: That is the lightning in a bottle for something that is alive.
The halt in production will certainly affect the movie’s release date and other considerations, but Reeves downplayed the impact of delays, calling the situation “fluid.”
The Suicide Squad
The coronavirus apparently hasn’t slowed down post-production work on writer-director James Gunn‘s “re-imagining” of the franchise. In a series of tweets, Gunn said that they had been “extremely fortunate” to wrap before quarantines started to shut down other movie productions and the effects and editing teams can continue work from home. He also said that the planned August 6, 2021, release date should not be affected by current events.
On The Suicide Squad? We are still on schedule as of now. https://t.co/bP9XDHFDsJ
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) April 9, 2020
Right now there’s no reason for #TheSuicideSquad release date to move. We are on or ahead of schedule. We were extremely fortunate to wrap shooting & set up editing from our homes (due to a post production team & studio with foresight) before quarantine. https://t.co/URRFXX58r3
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) April 12, 2020
tentatively slated for release in theaters on August 6, 2021.
Images courtesy of DC Entertainment/Warner Bros.
