Last week DC Studios co-chairs James Gunn and Peter Safran sat down for a warts-and-all updated with members of the press. Last night we brought you news on new animated projects and confirmation on a Teen Titans movie. But the studio heads also touched on more general plans for their projects moving forwards.
Something which fans (and the press) has been critical of in recent years is the over saturation of the marketplace. Whilst “Superhero Fatigue” is very much a narrative in the press it isn’t something every fan is feeling. But with Marvel Studios releasing three films this year and Star Wars both accused of producing too much content, how will DC Studios differ?
During their presentation Safran noted that DC Studios is ultimately aiming to release two live-action films and one animated film per year. This doesn’t specifically mean all of these projects will be set within the DCU. The overarching franchise which began with Creature Commandos and continues this summer with Superman. Remember projects like Matt Reeves’ The Batman Part II are still planned to be badged as Elseworlds stories.
Safran also confirmed the studio plans to release two live-action and two animated TV series per year. Again these will be a mix of series set in the DCU – like Creature Commandos – and Elseworlds stories like Harley Quinn, Kite-Man and the soon to expand My Adventures With… franchise.
Both executives also reiterated the overall philosophy guiding their creative choices — namely, that no project will get a greenlight until Gunn and Safran are satisfied with a completed screenplay. “It is hard enough making a good movie with a good script,” Gunn said. “It’s almost impossible making a movie with a script that you’re writing on the run.”
We’re certainly excited to see what the studio has planned when they’re fully up and running. What do you think of their plans for seven projects per year? Let us know in the comments.
