Warner Bros. and DC Comics Develop DC Entertainment

The first reaction one gets when they hear the Warner Brothers has worked with DC Comics to create DC Entertainment is that this is a defensive strategy against Disney purchasing Marvel.   However, if you think about it, this strategy from both DC and WB is long overdue.   Being a merged company for 40 years now, it seems a huge missed opportunity that Warner Brothers has not tapped into the plethora of film, TV, and interactive entertainment (ie. video games) ideas they had with DC Comics more than they have.

It was announced today the creation of DC Entertainment, Inc.   In a press release, it was said this new company looks to “fully realize the power and value of the DC Comics brand and characters across all media and platforms.”   The new company will be run byDiane Nelson, President of Warner Premier.   If you are wondering how Nelson qualifies for this new role from her current position, note that most of what WB has been putting out in terms of DC properties has been in the home video market.   This is Warner Premier’s mainstay.

Paul Levitz, DC Comics President and Publisher since 2002, will serve as writer for DC and contributing editor and consultant for DCE.

What this means for the film world remains to be seen, but the opportunities under this new DCE convergence are staggering.   For years, film projects based on DC properties have been started and stopped numerous times.   With this creation of DCE, it won’t be surprising if DC Comics end up becoming fully realized into feature film adaptations as quickly as Marvel properties have become in recent years.   This includes ‘Wonder Woman,’ ‘Flash,’ ‘Green Lantern,’ and a possible ‘Justice League of America’ film all on the foreseeable horizon.   ‘Green Lantern,’ in fact, is looking to begin production early next year.   The other properties have been long in development.   This news could also push a third ‘Batman’ film along and may lay the brickwork for the restarting of the ‘Superman’ franchise.

Here is what Barry Meyer, Chairman and CEO of WB had to say:

DC Comics and its super hero characters are truly touchstones of popular culture, and the formation of DC Entertainment is a major step in our company’s efforts to realize the full potential of this incredible wellspring of creative properties.

Here is what Alan Horn, President and COO of WB had to say in the press release:

It’s no secret that DC has myriad rich and untapped possibilities from its deep library of iconic and lesser-known characters. While we’ve had great success in films and television, the formation of DC Entertainment will help us to bring more DC properties across additional platforms to fans around the world, while maintaining brand integrity and authenticity. Diane is a terrific choice to lead DC Entertainment, and with Paul in his new role as a valued consultant and contributing editor, both our company and comic fans win.

Also in the press release was a listing of film projects currently in, at least, the pre-production stage.

— “Human Target” is being produced by Warner Bros. Television for a mid-season debut on Fox.

— “Midnight Mass” is in series development at Warner Bros. Television for consideration for the 2010-11 season.

— “Jonah Hex,” Warner Bros. Pictures’ supernatural Western starring Josh Brolin, Megan Fox and John Malkovich, recently wrapped production in Louisiana.

— “The Losers,” Dark Castle/Warner Bros. Pictures’ action-adventure drama starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Zoe Saldana and Chris Evans, began principal photography mid-July in Puerto Rico.

— “The Green Lantern,” Warner Bros. Pictures’ next big superhero tentpole release, recently cast Ryan Reynolds as the titular character. The film has a projected second quarter 2011 release date.

— “Lobo,” based on the DC Comics anti-hero, has Guy Ritchie attached as a director; Joel Silver, Akiva Goldsman and Andrew Rona are producing for Silver Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures.

Again, what is soon-to-be set in stone is anyone’s guess, but knowing this new company is in place and knowing WB’s intentions with it certainly sets the gears in motion for a lot of DC properties finally finding their way to the silver screen.