Geoff Johns & Jon Berg Talk Justice League Movie Universe & Changes

Following the revelation that Joe Manganiello is playing Deathstroke in the Ben Affleck Batman movie, now co-chiefs of the DC movies, Geoff Johns and Jon Berg, talk about Justice League and more.

The WSJ notes Warner Bros. is “charging full speed ahead” with its DC Justice League movie universe, which comes following the disappointing reception for Batman Vs. Superman, with the article noting: “while conceding the movies to date have fallen creatively short, a rare public admission in Hollywood.”

Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel and Batman vs. Superman were considered a bit too dark, with Suicide Squad coming up short at the end and with the Jared Leto Joker. Johns and Berg offer the forthcoming movies will be lighter and more hopeful.

“Mistakenly in the past I think the studio has said, ‘Oh, DC films are gritty and dark and that’s what makes them different.’ That couldn’t be more wrong,” Geoff Johns said. “It’s a hopeful and optimistic view of life. Even Batman has a glimmer of that in him. If he didn’t think he’d make tomorrow better, he’d stop.”

“To have these characters be part of the fabric of pop culture is so rewarding, though of course we’re disappointed the movies weren’t better reviewed,” Berg added. “We accelerated the story to get to the hope and optimism a little faster.

The article also reveals:

• Zack Snyder is weeks away from completing the five-month shoot on Justice League.

• Justice League will directly address Batman’s extreme actions in Batman Vs. Superman (suggesting that’s not the normal Batman, but which came about as a result of something catastrophic).

• Justice League is “expected to have fewer of Mr. Snyder’s controversial flourishes, like the dream sequences in Batman v Superman, in favor of focusing more tightly on the plot.”

• Plans to make Justice League a multi-movie story were also abandoned. Instead, a 2019 sequel will stand alone.

• Johns rewrote the Wonder Woman script working with director Patty Jenkins.

• Johns has pulled back from his work on DC television shows and comic books.

• Geoff Johns offered they are going a similar route with the movies that they are with the successfull DC Rebirth relaunch:  “We’re trying to take a really hard look at everything to make sure we stay true to the characters and tell stories that celebrate them.”

“Justice League” has a November 17, 2017 release directed by Zack Snyder starring Ben Affleck as Batman, Henry Cavill as Superman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Jason Momoa as Aquaman, Ezra Miller as The Flash, Ray Fisher as Cyborg, J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon and Willem Dafoe as an Atlantean.