Entertainment Movies and Television

Posted by admin on 2024-01-29 |

---

Synopsis: The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) faced downfall due to mediocre films and inconsistent storytelling. Discovery Inc.'s acquisition led to a soft reboot, DC Universe (DCU), led by James Gunn, promising revitalization with a diverse lineup of ten projects, beginning with the first chapter, Gods and Monsters.

In the heyday of franchise cinema, the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) has made an exception by hitting the doldrums after its latest contrivance, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, performed more than underwhelmingly at the box office. Cinematic pundits would agree that this outcome was long overdue, given the series of debacles in the DCEU’s oeuvre. As the dust settles, we’re left to ponder over what could have been.

What Went Wrong?

One would agree that all the stars were aligned for superhero films, especially after witnessing the gigantic success of DCEU’s archrival, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). However, what has prevented the DCEU from reaching that height has been its ardent devotion to consistently churning out mediocre, and sometimes downright abysmal, films.

Zack Snyder, the visionary behind the DCEU, may be a maestro of visual splendor, but his inability to craft deep characters and compelling storylines became the franchise's Achilles heel. 

·       Even the successful films in the franchise, such as Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, divided its fans. With each new installment, Snyder's inclination towards style over substance became increasingly apparent, leaving audiences desiring more than just flashy CGI and slow-motion fight scenes.

·       Suicide Squad followed a similar paradigm and resulted in an even more horrendous film. In this supposedly edgy superhero film, the only saving grace was Margot Robbie's eccentric performance as Harley Quinn.

Wonder Woman: The only Commendable Effort

Wonder Woman stood out as the only commendable effort, briefly breathing life back into the franchise. Gal Gadot's portrayal of the Amazonian warrior princess was a shining beacon in the darkness, but even that franchise was derailed with the sequel. Similar disappointments occurred with Shazam, which was good, and its sequel, which fell short.

Then came the much-anticipated Justice League — Snyder's magnum opus, or so he thought. The film's disjointed narrative and underdeveloped characters left fans yearning for the camaraderie and chemistry effortlessly exuded by Marvel's Avengers. The less said about the CGI disaster that was the villain Steppenwolf, the better.

 

Hitting the last straw

The much-demanded Justice League director’s cut also drew the same criticism. Even the four-hour runtime was not utilized properly. The lack of proper pacing, poor structure, and unnecessary scenes again became the bane of the film.

Aquaman and its sequel, The Lost Kingdom, merely navigate in the sea of mediocrity. Jason Momoa's charisma can only propel the film to a certain extent, and the absence of a coherent narrative and well-rounded characters continues to afflict the DCEU.

The Flash represented a fleeting glimmer of promise in the desolate landscape of the DCEU. Despite the movie featuring Ezra Miller, who faced legal issues in various countries, there were high expectations. However, even the Scarlet Speedster couldn't escape the collective disappointment that had descended upon the DCEU like a dark cloud.

·       The failure of these latest creations cannot be solely attributed to the DCEU. The avalanche of superhero films has finally fatigued its audience so much that even its counterpart, the MCU, has been unable to bring its loyal fans to the theaters.

What’s Next?

In 2022, Discovery Inc. acquired DC and the parent company of Warner Bros., WarnerMedia, forming a new entity named Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). James Gunn and Peter Safran were appointed as co-chairmen and CEOs of DC Studios, and they decided to end the DCEU after the release of just four more films following Black Adam, none of which turned out to be profitable ventures.

Formerly known as the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), the franchise is set to boldly step into the future with an array of new films and TV shows. While some DCEU characters have been left behind, others are retained for this soft reboot.