JUSTICE LEAGUE Movie To Be Helmed By Zack Snyder

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that a JUSTICE LEAGUE movie has received the green light.

“Confirming the studio’s plans for a movie based on its iconic super-team for the first time, Warner Bros. president of worldwide production Greg Silverman said the studio has set plans to make a JUSTICE LEAGUE movie.”

“Like MAN OF STEEL and its follow-up, which starts production next month, JUSTICE LEAGUE will be directed by Zack Snyder. Henry Cavill is expected to return as Superman, along with Ben Affleck and Gal Gadot, who play Batman and Wonder Woman, respectively, in 2016’s MAN OF STEEL sequel tentatively titled BATMAN vs. SUPERMAN.”

The report also states,

“It will be a further expansion of this universe,” said Mr. Silverman. “’Superman vs Batman’ will lead into ‘Justice League.’”

A script is still in development and Warner has not set a release date, though the movie is unlikely to come out before 2018. Mr. Silverman would not comment on what other heroes might join Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman in the movie. However the studio has recently been casting the role of Cyborg, a half-robotic hero who is expected to have a cameo in “Batman vs. Superman” and then appear in “Justice League.” Other DC heroes who have been in Justice League comic books include Aquaman, Flash and Green Lantern.

The Justice League (of America) really began in 1940 in All Star Comics #3 as the Justice Society of America (JSA) which united the early heroes of National Periodicals Publications: Green Lantern, the Flash, Hawkman, Dr.Fate, Hour-Man, the Spectre, Sandman, and the Atom.

Superman and Batman were charter members with Wonder Woman and Black Canary along with other superheroes joining the team in later issues. That series ended its run in 1951 with All Star Comics #57.

When National (now referred to as DC, Detective Comics) began the silver age of comics with their re-introduction of the Flash in Showcase #4, they eventually decided to bring back the JSA concept under a new name, the Justice League of America (JLA) in Brave and Bold comics #28 in 1960 with founding members the Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, and Wonder Woman. After getting their own title, Superman and Batman became full time members.

Over the years this has proven to be one of DC’s most popular books as the team roster has expanded to include nearly all of the company’s heroes. The JLA first came to TV in 1967 as a segment of Filmation’s ” The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure” on CBS Saturday mornings. A few years later a paired-down JLA, “The Super Friends”, produced by Hanna/Barbara began a long run on ABC.

In live action, members of the team were featured in a two-part NBC prime special as “Legends of the Superheroes”, and in 1990 an unsold JLA live action pilot was produced, but not aired, in 1997. The group returned to animation in 2001 in the “Justice League” series running for five seasons on cable’s Cartoon Network.

Snyder’s BATMAN vs. SUPERMAN will also star Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor and Jeremy Irons as Alfred, and reunites MAN OF STEEL stars Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane.

Newcomers include Oscar-winning actress Holly Hunter, Callan Mulvey of “300: Rise of an Empire,” and Tao Okamoto of “The Wolverine.” All three actors will play characters newly created for the film.

BATMAN vs. SUPERMAN is written by Chris Terrio, from a screenplay by David S. Goyer. Charles Roven and Deborah Snyder are producing, with Benjamin Melniker, Michael E. Uslan, Wesley Coller, David S. Goyer and Geoff Johns serving as executive producers.

BATMAN vs. SUPERMAN is set to open worldwide on May 6, 2016, and is based on Superman characters created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster, Batman characters created by Bob Kane, and Wonder Woman created by William Moulton Marston, appearing in comic books published by DC Entertainment.

Contributed by Jim Batts, Michelle McCue and Tom Stockman