The low-down on the DC vs. Marvel rivalry

VOICE OF THE WILDCATS

Entertainment The Ups and Downs of the DC Extended Universe

By A.J Price

Ever since it was established, the DC Extended Universe has been a tumultuous whirlwind of off-screen drama and inconsistent storytelling. Likewise, since the creation of both Marvel Comics and DC Comics in the 1930s, there has been a silent, subtle, and unspoken rivalry between the two companies. The rivalry carried on throughout the 1900s with both companies --- having been absorbed through sales and mergers, hence the change in names to DC Extended Universe (DCEU) and Marvel Entertainment --- releasing low budget television shows and movies. The rivalry heated up in 1989 when DC and Warner Bros. released the live action movie “Batman” starring Michael Keaton. Three more Batman movies were released between 1992 to 1997, starting with the sequel “Batman Returns” in 1992. Also, two different actors played the role of Batman.

This was the true beginning of the trend of superhero movies that we know and have today.

In 2000 Marvel released the first big budget movie based on a comic book--“X-Men.” After the release of “X-Men,” Marvel went onto to release a series of other movies in nonchronologically order and continued to do so throughout the decade. In response, DC jumped in the race with the release of “Batman Begins” in 2005 featuring a new actor playing the caped crusader--Christian Bale. The film was the start of DC’s reign of comic book movies from 2005 to 2012. Meanwhile, Marvel established Marvel Studios in 2008 and stepped up its game with the release of “Iron Man.” During the next five years, the studio released several other films including “Iron Man 2,” “Iron Man 3,” “Thor” and “The Avengers.” In 2011 DC released the “Green Lantern” movie starring Ryan Reynolds, which was been considered as DC’s first and original failure. After the failure of “Green Lantern,” DC decided to jump in the race establishing its own cinematic universe following the release of its first movie “Man of Steel” starring Henry Cavill in 2013. The film earned $668 million worldwide, leaving fans wondering when the next installment of the DCEU would arrive. Three years after the release of “Man of Steel,” came the next movie of the extended universe titled “Batman vs. Superman.” The announcement of this movie left fans wondering why Batman would fight Superman and why wouldn’t there be a solo Batman movie beforehand to introduce the character. Once the movie premiered it left fans confused about the death of Superman toward the end of the movie, while also questioning the purpose of the future projects project DC such as “Suicide Squad, ”Wonder Woman,” and eventually “Justice League” movies.

At the time of the release the “Suicide Squad” movie it was well received. Margot Robbie played the character “Harley Quinn,” who was a fan favorite but over time the movie has not aged well among the fans. Luckily after the release of “Suicide Squad” came “Wonder Woman” in 2017 that was well received by the fans. Fast forward to November of 2017 came the release of the long anticipated “Justice League” movie directed by Joss Whedon, who also directed and produced the first two “Avengers” films.

The initial reaction to this movie was not positive. Fans of the franchise were not pleased with the story, the directing style, and the director in general. Critics said Whedon’s directing style was too brightly shot for DC’s darker tone. They also did not like the dark story. And it was reported that some of the cast members, specifically Ray Fisher who played the character “Cyborg,” were treated poorly by Whedon and Warner Bros. studios. Both fans and cast members pleaded with Warner to rehire former “Man of Steel” and “Batman vs Superman” director Zack Snyder. He had been fired by Warner Brothers in 2017, which disabled him from releasing his version of the Justice league movie now known as the “Snyder Cut.” In December 2018, DC released a solo “Aquaman” film to follow the release of Justice league, as the movie was a success in the box office and with the fans. After the release of the film “Shazam” in 2019, it seemed as if DC was on a subtle decline as the 2020 pandemic affected the release and filming of multiple DC projects. During the quarantine of 2020,a petition for the releasing of the Snyder Cut was being passed around online hoping for a response from Warner Bros. Much to fans delight, the Snyder Cut was released in March 2020, as a “Thank you” to fans from Zack Snyder. It would be the last project he would release with DC and Warner Bros. Now in 2022, DC continues to have its fair share of ups and downs.

This year DC released a hit series on HBO Max called “Peacemaker” that was well received and loved by the fans. Also, it saw mass success with the release of another “Batman” movie, this one starring Robert Pattinson, making him the third person to portray the character in film since 2005.

Meanwhile, thanks to the pandemic, three DC movies have been pushed back for the third time in two years.