I have been a huge DC fan ever since I read The Killing Joke as a teenager. I loved The Dark Knight trilogy, the Arkham games are some of my favorites, and Ive amassed quite the collection of DC comics. Imagine my excitement when I found out Id be getting a film universe filled with my favorite DC characters, some of the most iconic characters in fiction. I had high hopes for Man of Steel, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Suicide Squad, but I left each film unsatisfied, and many critics would agree. Thus, I have high hopes, but low expectations, for the DCEUs upcoming Wonder Woman. Obviously, nobody wants Wonder Woman to be critically panned, but many fear it could be, like its predecessors. Why, then, is the DCEU struggling to gain momentum? Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, DCs Trinity, have been staples of pop culture for decades, each with a rich history in both comics and film, but the DCEU cant make them work creatively because the DCEU lacks a clear chain of command, which leads to tonal inconsistency, and characters suffer as a result.
Not Everyone Is Batman
Batman is a brooding character, due to his tortured past. His damaged psyche is well-represented by Michael Keaton in Tim Burtons Batman franchise, as well as Christian Bale in The Dark Knight trilogy, and Ben Affleck in BvS. Superman, however, is not such a brooding character. The bright blue, red, and yellow of Supermans suit are a stark contrast to the gray and black of the Batsuit. Hes DCs equivalent of Captain America, a symbol of hopeful optimism, evidenced best in Christopher Reeves portrayal of the character in the Superman tetralogy. In the DCEU, Henry Cavills Superman barely cracks a smile, the blue, red, and yellow of his suit are significantly muted, and he doesnt look like hes having any fun. The trailers for Wonder Woman seemingly show a resolve to this issue, showing our heroine in a brightly colored costume, having a bit more fun than dear ol Supes, but even Wonder Woman may not be able to save the DCEU from failure.
Total Tonal Confusion
Tonal inconsistency has severely plagued the DCEUs first few films. Man of Steel seemed to suffer from an identity crisis. Director Zack Snyder may have subdued Supermans bright colors and hopeful optimism in an attempt to replicate the critical and commercial success of Christopher Nolans The Dark Knight trilogy and its dark take on superheroes, but he didnt quite achieve similar success, most likely because Batman and Superman are vastly different characters, and their stories cannot be told in the same fashion. President and CCO of DC Comics, Geoff Johns, told the Wall Street Journal:
Mistakenly in the past I think the studio has said, Oh, DC films are gritty and dark and thats what makes them different. That couldnt be more wrong. Its a hopeful and optimistic view of life. Even Batman has a glimmer of that in him. If he didnt think hed make tomorrow better, hed stop.
The DCEUs second film, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, also directed by Zack Snyder, faced similar criticism citing tonal inconsistencies. There were attempts at humor (i.e. I like those shoes, Is she with you? I wouldnt pick a fight with this person), but none of them quite seemed to land. Suicide Squad had a similar issue; moments of brevity were filmed after principal photography wrapped, and subsequently shoehorned into the film, making Suicide Squads comedic moments less comedic and its dramatic moments less dramatic.
Who's In Charge?
One of the most highly cited hypotheses for Suicide Squads critical failure is studio intervention. Warner Bros. demanded reshoots of David Ayers original film, so the final cut ended up as an inconsistent conglomeration of David Ayers vision and Warner Bros. vision. Whereas the MCU has Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios, to oversee the MCU, the DCEUs closest equivalent is Geoff Johns, President of DC Comics. Marvel Studios is an independent movie studio, so Kevin Feige only has to preside over the MCU, DC Comics is more than just a movie studio, so Geoff Johns is unable to solely focus on the DCEU. As a result, DCEU films suffer, because they are the product of DC Comics, Warner Bros., and individual directors, all of whom have different visions. In addition to Geoff Johns, many hoped Ben Affleck would help better shape the DCEU, but his behind-the-scenes role has been reduced ever since the critical failure of his most recent directorial feature, Live By Night.
Faster Than The Flash?
Ben Affleck handing over directing duties of the solo Batman film to Matt Reeves may be a sign that the DCEU is rushing its production, also evidenced by the rushed production of Suicide Squad. Movies such as Black Adam, Gotham City Sirens, and a potential Deadshot spinoff starring Will Smith have all been announced far before pre-production and without any release dates. The DCEU has already suffered creatively from rushing to catch up with franchises such as the MCU and 20th Century Foxs X-Men franchise. Aside from Superman and Wonder Woman, no member of the Justice League will have appeared in a solo film, meaning that their roles in Justice League will not be as fleshed out as they could be, which is also why Supermans death at the end of BvS wasnt as emotionally jarring as it shouldve been, it didnt feel earned.
The DCEU Can Only Succeed If It Fails
Nobody wants to see DCs answer to the MCU fail, especially in its infancy. But its failure may be what leads to its success. Even if Wonder Woman and Justice League are critical and commercial juggernauts, the DCEU will still suffer from the tonal inconsistencies that plagued its first three entries. If it fails, the DCEU can be built on more solid ground. DC Comics could open its own movie studio, with its own Kevin Feige in the form of Geoff Johns. Directors can be given almost complete creative control over their films, and the members of the Justice League can be fleshed out before they come together.
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