The Ultimate Solution: Suicide Squad Director Reveals Game-Changing Fix for DC Movies

Summary

Embrace the "dark and intense" brand that DC is built on and don't operate from fear or chase the market. Let filmmakers have their vision.

Achieving balance is crucial - incorporate both light and dark elements in DC movies. Use a combination of a happy mask and a sad mask to symbolize drama, rather than employing two dark masks or two light masks.

Instead of solely focusing on the characters, DC movies frequently capitalize on the appeal of their directors. Embrace this trend and promote films based on exceptional directors who will bring forth a unique vision.

David Ayer, director of Warner Bros' financially successful yet polarizing film Suicide Squad, has insight on how to revive DC movies. Following a string of lackluster box office performances, exacerbated by the global pandemic and the shift towards HBO Max releases, there is speculation about what went wrong with WB's DCEU shared universe. As James Gunn and Peter Safran's DCU reboot is set to debut after James Wan's Aquaman: The Lost Kingdom hits theaters in December, the future is even more intriguing.

In response to an article questioning the whereabouts of DC fans, especially after Blue Beetle became the third DC movie in 2023 to disappoint at the box office following Shazam! Fury of the Gods and The Flash, Ayer outlined a roadmap for success. He emphasized the importance of embracing the dark and intense essence that defines DC and having confidence in execution.

Ayer's remarks inevitably sparked a discussion on X.com, with concerns raised about his portrayal of DC as fundamentally dark (as it is a simplification, to some extent), leading to further statements from the director of Fury:

While it is understandable for fans of DC Comics to oppose the idea that darkness and intensity are not necessarily crucial aspects of the brand, financial success speaks for itself. It is difficult to ignore the fact that Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy, The Batman, Joker, and even Suicide Squad rank as the highest-grossing DC films. Of course, Wonder Woman and Aquaman also achieved great success, but disregarding the appeal of the "grimdark" approach is oversimplifying matters. Furthermore, Ayer's comments touch upon the primary challenge the DCU reboot faces.

DC Has Become More About Directors Than About Characters

In contrast to the MCU, DC movies often rely heavily on the reputation and creative vision of their directors. Ayer acknowledges that DC has a strong lineup of characters, but they lack the same level of popularity as Batman and Superman (along with their associated villains). Despite its quality, Blue Beetle underperformed due to limited audience awareness, which was compounded by a lack of marketing caused by the Hollywood actor and writer strikes. The dominance of Michael Keaton's Batman in Flash merchandise sales further illustrates this point.

In DC movies, the focus is often on the directors and their unique visions, rather than a unified vision or crossover events like in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The recent appointment of James Gunn as DC's new leader follows the same pattern, with discussions on social media centering around how he and Peter Safran will save DC, rather than the excitement for a movie featuring The Authority. This emphasis on the directors is not new, as Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy greatly benefited from his rising profile, and Matt Reeves' upcoming film The Batman is generating buzz due to his distinct directorial vision.

Ayer's point about WB and DC Studios needing to embrace this trend is indeed correct. The discussion of whether the perceived lack of confidence in certain characters is genuine or simply a popular topic on social media can be debated separately. Nonetheless, promoting the upcoming DCU movies by highlighting the talented directors who will bring their visionary ideas to life is an effortless strategy that can potentially change the situation. Ayer's personal experience with Suicide Squad undeniably influences his perspective, but he is definitely correct about the most effective path moving forward.