The Batman 2 doesn’t have the green light yet, is still “years away”

The other week, newly inducted Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav confused and angered his own employees by cancelling the Batgirl movie, on which the studio had already spent $90 million, and announcing that they’re putting together a “10-year-plan” for the DC Extended Universe, this after said universe has already gone through at least two cycles of long-term planning.

Walter Hamada, the DC Films executive credited with shepherding movies like Aquaman and The Batman to success, was particularly put off, since he’s been more or less in charge of the direction of the DCEU for the last few years. According to Variety, he was about to resign after the Batgirl announcement, but was convinced to stay on at least through October and the release of Black Adam.

Meanwhile, things seem to have stalled on projects like Wonder Woman 3 and Static Shock, while movies like Blue Beetle are moving forward in different forms. Zaslav openly wants to imitate Marvel by having all their DC films and shows set in the same universe (he’s looking for his own version of Kevin Feige, who has led the MCU to unprecedented success). But that’s hard to do when so many hits exist in their own literal universes. How do you make it so that The Batman takes place in the same universe as Joker and the HBO Max animated series Harley Quinn? Answer me that, Zaslav.

Joker: Folie à Deux has big payouts for its stars and director

Basically, the place is on fire, which honestly isn’t that different from how it has been with DC for the past several years. You’d think certain things would be set in stone. For example, The Batman — which made nearly $800 million despite coming out in the thick of the pandemic — was a huge hit with a sequel said to be on the way…but Variety reports that it hasn’t been formally greenlit and is still “years away.”

Surely Zaslav wouldn’t pass on a surefire hit like The Batman 2 just because it doesn’t fit his vision for a fully integrated DCEU? Let’s try not to think about it.

Meanwhile, the Joker sequel Joker: Folie à Deux is going forward with a $150 million budget, which actually isn’t that bad for a superhero movie, but is a lot when you consider that the first film didn’t have much in the way of the crazy special effects you usually see in these movies. Apparently a lot of that budget is going to the cast and crew, with $20 million each for director Todd Phillips and star Joaquin Phoenix, and $10 million for franchise newcomer Lady Gaga, who will play Harley Quinn.

There’s no word on whether Margot Robbie will ever return with her big screen version of Harley Quinn. And Kaley Cuoco is showing off her animated Harley in the third season of Harley Quinn on HBO Max right now.

Again, you see how confusing this could get? I say don’t fight the chaos, Zaslav.

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