Warner Bros., a Time Warner company, owns DC Entertainment and after the release (and fallout) of BATMAN V. SUPERMAN the studio created DC Films for their expanded DC Extended Universe (DCEU) movies. Studio executive Jon Berg and DC Comics CCO Geoff Johns are reportedly co-heads of the newly formed DC Films and they will be leading the charge of making sure each new DCEU movie can appease both critics and fans alike.
So far, Warner Bros. execs have been interfering behind-the-scenes and SUICIDE SQUAD reportedly has really suffered from executives sticking their head into the business of super hero movies thinking they know what's best for the theatrical cut of these films. This is clearly said by new film reporter at TheWrap, Umberto Gonzalez, on Twitter.
DC FANBOY NATION! Our common enemy is not RT or critics but as you can now clearly see this morning - it's Warner Brass.— Umberto Gonzalez (@elmayimbe) August 3, 2016
This should not be a revelation because two days ago The Hollywood Reporter came out with a report claiming Warner Bros. executive meddling with SUICIDE SQUAD during post-production and putting loads of pressure on director David Ayer to lighten up the movie after BATMAN V. SUPERMAN was critically panned as being too dark and without any fun. That report was corroborated by TheWrap, as they reported the following:
"The biggest fight in Warner Bros.’ 'Suicide Squad' didn’t take place on a film set — it was waged in the editing room at the studio between director David Ayer and the executives behind his $175 million super villain gamble, insiders told TheWrap.
"Ayer envisioned the DC Comics adaptation as a dark story of bad guys weaponized by the U.S. government. But after a lackluster performance from the studio’s equally dark 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice' in March, top brass insisted on a 'lighter take' for 'Suicide Squad,' an individual close to the director said.
"This meant there were additional shoots to insert humorous bits, and the production burned through editors who worked with Ayer to reach the final cut that satisfied the studio — and that fans will see in theaters on Friday, a second individual close the studio said of the changes."
What is odd about this is that Warner Bros. always claims they are a filmmaker-friendly studio who do everything in their power to support their filmmakers. Obviously, things aren't as warm and friendly inside the confines of the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, Cali.
Despite all this dirty laundry being reported about Warner Bros. and their need to get involved in DC super hero movies, it also sounds like the creation of DC Films is a (hopeful) way for execs who shouldn't be putting their nose into super hero properties to have less involvement. It sounds like Johns will oversee the movies starting with next summer's WONDER WOMAN.
The Geoff Johns era begins with Wonder Woman. https://t.co/NdhCJXO04j— Umberto Gonzalez (@elmayimbe) August 3, 2016
While your optimism for DCEU movies may be slipping after the release of BATMAN V. SUPERMAN and SUICIDE SQUAD, it's hard not to get excited for a period piece, origin story WONDER WOMAN movie. Especially if Warner Bros. is finally giving control of their DC super hero movies to the one guy who knows DC's heroes (and villains) better than anyone else... DC Comics Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns.
Surely Warner Bros. will still put lots of pressure on Mr. Johns to appease both critics and fans. But let's not release a theatrical cut which is not as good as an extended cut of a movie months later. Give the critics and fans an edit of the movie that is worthy of its theatrical release. (Pretty please!)
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