New glimpses of The Batman, Black Adam, The Flash and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom are offered in this sizzler for DC Film's 2022 slate. The Batman is less than one month away with a March 4 release date. Black Adam hits theaters July 29. The Flash speeds in November 4. The Aquaman sequel arrives December 16.
The Batman is the 2022 feature film adapting DC Comics' flagship character of the same name.
Matt Reeves (Cloverfield, War for the Planet of the Apes) directs the latest iteration of Batman, this time starring Robert Pattinson (Good Time, The Lighthouse) as the Dark Knight.
Warner Bros. provides this synopsis: Two years of stalking the streets as the Batman (Pattinson), striking fear into the hearts of criminals, has led Bruce Wayne deep into the shadows of Gotham City. With only a few trusted allies—Alfred Pennyworth (Andy Serkis), Lt. James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright)—amongst the city’s corrupt network of officials and high-profile figures, the lone vigilante has established himself as the sole embodiment of vengeance amongst his fellow citizens. When a killer targets Gotham’s elite with a series of sadistic machinations, a trail of cryptic clues sends the World’s Greatest Detective on an investigation into the underworld, where he encounters such characters as Selina Kyle/aka Catwoman (Zoe Kravitz), Oswald Cobblepot/aka the Penguin (Colin Farrell), Carmine Falcone (John Turturro), and Edward Nashton/aka the Riddler (Paul Dano). As the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator’s plans becomes clear, Batman must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit, and bring justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued Gotham City.
Peter Sarsgaard as Gotham D.A. Gil Colson and Jayme Lawson as mayoral candidate Bella Reál.
The movie has endured a tumultuous development effort. It was originally announced as a vehicle for writer/director/star Ben Affleck (who played the character in Batman v Superman and Justice League). A short time later Matt Reeves replaced Affleck as director. Reeves' plan was to focus the film around the Dark Knight's early years, contrasting with Affleck's portrayal as a senior superhero in the DCEU. Reeve's take was also described as "noir," and leveraging Batman's detective skills. Eventually Affleck dropped out and Pattinson was cast.
According to a press release, Reeves and Dylan Clark are producing the film, with Simon Emanuel, Michael E. Uslan, Walter Hamada and Chantal Nong Vo serving as executive producers. Reeves' behind-the-scenes creative team includes Oscar-nominated director of photography Greig Fraser, his Planet of the Apes production designer, James Chinlund, editors William Hoy and Tyler Nelson, Oscar-winning VFX supervisor Dan Lemmon, Oscar-nominated SFX supervisor Dominic Tuohy, Oscar-nominated sound mixer Stuart Wilson, Oscar-winning costume designer Jacqueline Durran and costume designers Glyn Dillon and David Crossman, hair designer Zoe Tahir and Oscar-nominated makeup designer Naomi Donne.
Black Adam is Warner Bros. Discovery's 2022 live-action feature film spin-off of the 2019 movie Shazam!, based on the character Black Adam and incorporating elements of the Justice Society of America.
Dwayne Johnson (who has long been attached to the Shazam! franchise, and served as an executive producer on the 2019 film) plays the title role.
Black Adam first appeared in The Marvel Family comics in 1945 He is an ancient Egyptian called Teth-Adam who receives the gift of the wizard Shazam's power long before Billy Batson does, but is ultimate corrupted by them. He is initially presented as a villain. In more recent comics the character has been played less as a villain and more as a ruthless anti-hero, which appears to be the way the movie is going as well.
Warner Bros. provides this synopsis for the movie: Nearly 5,000 years after he was bestowed with the almighty powers of the Egyptian gods—and imprisoned just as quickly—Black Adam (Johnson) is freed from his earthly tomb, ready to unleash his unique form of justice on the modern world.
Actor Aldis Hodge (Lovecraft Country) plays Hawkman in the film. Versions of this character are linked to the same Egyptian period as Teth-Adam.
Noah Centineo (To All The Boys I've Loved Before) has been cast as Atom Smasher, a character who, in the comics, reluctantly teamed with Adam. Atom Smasher was skeptical that the villain was ready to act as a hero. Quintessa Swindell is cast as Maxine Hunkle, better known as Cyclone. Sarah Shahi has also been cast to play a university professor leading freedom fighters in Kahndaq. Pierce Brosnan is playing Kent Nelson, aka Doctor Fate. Viola Davis reprises the role of Amadna Waller. The cast also includes Marwan Kenzari, James Cusati-Moyer and Bodhi Sabongui.
In his social network announcement of the movie, Johnson expressed his affinity for that anti-hero spirit in his post. "I realized that Superman was the hero, I could never be. I was too rebellious. Too rambunctious. Too resistant to convention and authority," the film star wrote. "Despite my troubles, I was still a good kid with a good heart - I just liked to do things my way. Now, years later as a man, with the same DNA I had as a kid - my superhero dreams have come true."
Jaume Collet-Serra (Jungle Cruise) is the director. Beau Flynn, Dany Garcia and Hiram Garcia are also producing
The Flash is the 2023 Warner Bros. Discovery film spinning out of the 2017 DC Extended Universe film Justice League. It is based on the DC Comics speedster character of the same name.
Ezra Miller, who played the character in Justice League and had a cameo in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, reprises his role as the multiple versions of DCU's scarlet speedster.
According to press materials: Worlds collide in The Flash when Barry uses his superpowers to travel back in time in order to change the events of the past. But when his attempt to save his family inadvertently alters the future, Barry becomes trapped in a reality in which General Zod has returned, threatening annihilation, and there are no superheroes to turn to. That is, unless Barry can coax a very different Batman out of retirement and rescue an imprisoned Kryptonian albeit not the one he's looking for. Ultimately, to save the world that he is in and return to the future that he knows, Barry's only hope is to race for his life. But will making the ultimate sacrifice be enough to reset the universe?
The cast also includes rising star Sasha Calle as Supergirl, Michael Shannon (Man of Steel) as Zod, Ron Livingston (The Conjuring) as Henry Allen, Maribel Verdú (Elite) as Nora Allen, Kiersey Clemons (Zack Snyder's Justice League) as Iris West, Antje Traue (Man of Steel) as Faora and Michael Keaton (Batman) as Batman.
Andy Muschietti (It, It: Chapter Two) is attached to direct from a script by Christina Hodson (Birds Of Prey) from a screen story by John Francis Daley & Jonathan Goldstein (Spider-Man: Homecoming) and Joby Harold (Transformers: Rise of the Beasts) which reportedly features a storyline that draws from the Flashpoint comics.
The film is produced by Barbara Muschietti and Michael Disco. Executive producers are Toby Emmerich, Walter Hamada, Galen Vaisman and Marianne Jenkins.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is the 2023 Warner Bros. 2023 live-action feature film set in the DC Extended Universe and based on the DC Comics character the same name. It is a direct sequel to the 2018 film Aquaman and the second film in the Aquaman film series.
Warner Bros. provides this synopsis: Having failed to defeat Aquaman the first time, Black Manta, still driven by the need to avenge his father's death, will stop at nothing to take Aquaman down once and for all. This time Black Manta is more formidable than ever before, wielding the power of the mythic Black Trident, which unleashes an ancient and malevolent force. To defeat him, Aquaman will turn to his imprisoned brother Orm, the former King of Atlantis, to forge an unlikely alliance. Together, they must set aside their differences in order to protect their kingdom and save Aquaman's family, and the world, from irreversible destruction.
Star Jason Momoa, director James Wan and screenwriter David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick are reunite for the sequel.
Returning cast members include Patrick Wilson as Orm/Ocean Master, Amber Heard as Mera, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Manta, Nicole Kidman as Atlanna, Temuera Morrison and Dolph Lundgren. New cast members include Randall Park as Dr. Stephen Shin and Pilou Asbaek.
Wan is also producing along with Peter Safran and Rob Cowan.Executive producers are Galen Vaisman and Walter Hamada.
Joining Wan behind-the-camera is director of photography Don Burgess (The Conjuring 2), production designer Bill Brzeski (Jumanji: The Next Level), editor Kirk Morri (Furious 7), composer Rupert Gregson-Williams (Wonder Woman) and music supervisor is Michelle Silverman (Malignant). Visual effects supervisor Nick Davis (The Dark Knight) and costume designer Richard Sale (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness) also join.
