Latest news with #PeterSafran
Geek Tyrant
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
New Rumor Claims These Four Actors Are Reading for the Title Role in James Watkins' CLAYFACE Movie at DC — GeekTyrant
A new rumor has surfaced which claims four actors are said to be in the running to play the title role in director James Watkins' ( Speak No Evil ) solo Clayface movie for DC Studios. According to MTTSH (via CBM), George MacKay ( 1917 , The Beast ), Tom Blythe ( The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes ), Jack O'Connell ( Sinners , Starred Up ) and Leo Woodall ( One Day , The White Lotus ) are all testing for the part, with "one of them expected to land it." This is just a rumor for now, so we will just have to wait and see how it works out. Do you have a preference in who gets cast in the role? The report went on to talk about the film, saying: "Sources say the film is budgeted at $40 million and is a Hollywood horror tale centering on a B-movie actor who injects himself with a substance to keep himself relevant, only to find out that he can reshape his face and form, becoming a walking piece of clay." Gunn will produce alongside Co-CEO of DC Studios Peter Safran, and The Batman director Matt Reeves, with Lynn Harris and Chantal Nong serving as executive producers. Mike Flanagan penned the script, but was reportedly unavailable to direct due to his commitments to a Carrie TV series and the new Exorcist movie. The project has been given an official release date of September 11, 2026.
Geek Vibes Nation
3 days ago
- Business
- Geek Vibes Nation
'Superman': DC's $225M Gamble To Save The DCU
Come July 11, 2025, James Gunn's Superman will soar into theaters, carrying the weight of DC Studios' rebooted DC Universe (DCU) on its caped shoulders. A recent report from The Wrap lays bare the stakes: with a hefty $225 million budget, this film isn't just a movie—it's a proving ground for Warner Bros. Discovery's future. Can Gunn and co-CEO Peter Safran make the Man of Steel fly again, or will the DCU crash before it even takes off? The Numbers Game: $500M to Survive, $700M to Thrive According to industry insiders cited by The Wrap, Superman needs to hit $500 million globally to break even, factoring in marketing and distribution costs. That's the bare minimum to turn a modest profit. But for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) CEO David Zaslav, modest isn't enough. The studio is banking on DC—alongside Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings—to pull it out of a financial slump, with $37 billion in debt from the 2022 Discovery-WarnerMedia merger still looming. To be a true win, Superman needs to rake in closer to $700 million worldwide, signaling that audiences are buying into Gunn's vision. A talent agent told The Wrap, 'The simple brand recognition of Superman will probably take them to or close to $500 million worldwide, but anything above that will be because the audience identifies with the title character.' The real challenge? Making an 'Eisenhower-era' hero like Superman resonate with Gen Z in 2025. It's not about competing with summer heavyweights like Jurassic World: Rebirth (July 2) or Marvel's The Fantastic Four: First Steps (July 25)—it's about whether Clark Kent, played by David Corenswet, feels fresh and relatable. Why Superman Matters Superman isn't just another superhero flick; it's the cornerstone of the DCU's 'Gods and Monsters' chapter, setting the tone for projects like Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow , Lanterns , and Peacemaker Season 2. The film follows Clark Kent as he balances his Kryptonian roots with his human upbringing, with Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. Gunn's track record with Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy gives him cred, and the first trailer racked up over 250 million views in 24 hours, a record for Warner Bros. But after the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) fizzled out with flops like Joker: Folie à Deux and The Flash , the pressure is on. Zaslav's all-in on DC, hyping Superman with a marketing blitz akin to Barbie , which grossed $1.44 billion. Insiders say he's 'rallied the entire company' behind the film, with tie-ins across Food Network and HGTV. Box office projections are optimistic—Box Office Theory predicts a $154–175 million opening weekend, potentially topping Batman v Superman 's $166 million DC record. But if it falls short, the fallout could be brutal. What Happens if Superman Stumbles? A flop could spell trouble for WBD's leadership. Zaslav's already facing heat after high-budget misfires like Joker: Folie à Deux , which lost nine figures, and Mickey17 . Rumors swirl that studio heads Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy are on thin ice, with some speculating Safran could replace them if Superman succeeds. But pulling Safran from DC Studios might disrupt Gunn's plans, creating a Catch-22. DC's strategy is already shifting. Projects like Sgt. Rock have been scrapped for now. An insider noted, 'Supergirl is a much safer bet than, say, Sgt. Rock, which despite a good package, is a property with zero awareness.' DC seems to be playing it safe, greenlighting Supergirl to extend the Superman mythos ( filming has already wrapped ) while holding off on riskier bets like Booster Gold or Swamp Thing until Superman 's performance is clear. Batman Can't Do It Alone Batman remains DC's golden goose, with The Batman: Part II in development and The Brave and the Bold inching along. Whispers of a World's Finest team-up movie pairing Superman and Batman could be a slam dunk, echoing the DCEU's Batman v Superman pivot. But as one studio insider put it, 'Outside of anything Batman-related, DC will most likely wait to react to how Superman performs before deciding on which superhero from their library to tackle next.' Batman can't carry the DCU solo—Superman needs to prove there's room for other heroes. The Road Ahead Gunn and Safran are unlikely to face the axe after one misstep, but the next few years will be a tightrope walk. They're balancing bold swings with lesser-known characters against the need for crowd-pleasers. Early buzz is promising—SuperHeroHype cites strong tracking polls—but superhero fatigue is real, with 2023's DCEU films and Marvel's The Marvels underperforming. Gunn's focus on standalone stories, where viewers don't need to watch Creature Commandos to enjoy Superman , could help. July 11 will tell us if audiences are ready to believe a man can fly again. If Superman hits that $700 million mark, it'll cement the DCU's foundation. If it stalls at $500 million or below, WBD might face leadership shake-ups, project cancellations, or even talk of being acquired, as some fear it could 'go the way of Fox.' Whatever happens, this is DC's moment to shine—or rebuild in real-time.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Lanterns' First Look Photo: Kyle Chandler & Aaron Pierre Star In DC Studios Series For HBO
James Gunn has shared the first look photo of Lanterns, the DC Studios series starring Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre. The HBO series comes from Ozark's Chris Mundy, Watchmen's Damon Lindelof, and comic book writer Tom King. More from Deadline Josh Brolin Says 'Green Lantern Didn't Work Out' & Comments On Kyle Chandler Being In Talks For DC's HBO Series 'Lanterns' DC's James Gunn & Peter Safran On Keeping Shoots Like 'Lanterns' Local In L.A. & Whether It's Possible With 'Clayface' Warner Bros Discovery Sees Max Hit 116.9 Million Subscribers As Streaming Posts Profit, Cable Network Ad Revenue Falls 17% Gunn took to social media to express his excitement over Lanterns officially going into production, calling the series 'something really special.' In the image, Pierre and Chandler are seen walking down a curvy road and looking ready for action. View this post on Instagram A post shared by James Gunn (@jamesgunn) HBO is producing the eight-episode Lanterns in association with Warner Bros Television and DC Studios. Mundy will serve as showrunner, and Lindelof and King are co-writing and executive producing. James Hawes will direct the first two episodes and also executive produce. 'From the start, our driving force has been to deliver a layered drama – rooted in nuanced storytelling and rich world building – that balances tension and mystery with honest, authentic emotion,' Mundy said. 'The goal is to create something that feels timeless and grounded without sacrificing the magic of the source material.' Chandler will take on the role of Hal Jordan, a former test pilot and experienced Green Lantern. Other cast members for the series include Ulrich Thomsen as supervillain Sinestro, Poorna Jagannathan as Zoe, Kelly Macdonald as Hal's love interest Sheriff Kerry, and Garry Dillahunt as modern cowboy William Macon. DC Studios co-heads Gunn and Peter Safran recently revealed that the Lanterns would be shot in Los Angeles and the Warner Bros. lot. The Lanterns pilot is co-written by Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof and Tom King. The first two episodes are directed by James Hawes, with Stephen Williams, Geeta Vasant Patel and Alik Sakharov also tapped to direct. The series is executive produced by Mundy, Lindelof, James Gunn, Peter Safran, King, Ron Schmidt, and Hawes. Based on the DC comic 'Green Lantern.' Late last year, Pierre said in an interview he had already been doing 'extensive' work to prepare for his role of John Stewart. 'What I can tell you is that the team are just super, super excited to have this opportunity to bring this story to the people,' Pierre told ComicBook. 'And, so far as I'm concerned, I'm gonna do my very best to serve and honor and elevate in any way I can, John Stewart and the [Green Lantern] Corps. Hopefully, I serve that and it resonates with me.' Lanterns will premiere sometime in 2026 on HBO and Max. Best of Deadline 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery How To Watch The 2025 Oscars Online And On TV How Jon Gries' Return To 'The White Lotus' Could Shape Season 3
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
James Gunn Gives Status Updates on DCU Projects: Batman, ‘Clayface' and 3-Movies-a-Year Plan
'Superman' filmmaker and DC Studios co-chief James Gunn sat down with reporters last week to offer status updates on all things DC alongside his co-chief Peter Safran, and one golden rule emerged: They're not rushing into anything. Gunn said he's bringing key lessons in franchise building from his time at Marvel to DC Studios, with a strong focus on script quality over release dates and building a connected universe that still allows for standalone stories. Gunn directly referenced his experience making the 'Guardians of the Galaxy' franchise noting how initial skepticism on the first film turned to success: ''Guardians' came in. Suddenly, everybody's like this movie is going to be Marvel's first bomb. This can't work, nobody cares. What is a raccoon? How is a raccoon ever going to talk to Thor?' Gunn said. 'And then that went the way it did,' he added, addressing chatter over DC's revamp. 'So I have learned to just see this noise, and it gets louder and more extreme, but it's just a bunch of noise.' This experience appears to have shaped DC's current approach under his and Peter Safran's leadership. 'As it's been my experience working in Hollywood, the worst thing about the quality of Hollywood movies is that so many scripts get greenlit based on a date or based on this is an IP that we want to make, but not doing it properly,' Gunn said. Gunn's 'Superman' will hard-launch the new DCU this summer, but several other films and shows are in the works and in various stages of production and development. Gunn noted that the company's focus is on making each project work independently while building out a larger universe. 'We remain steadfast in making sure that each of these projects works as a standalone project, so that you can go see 'Superman' and you can watch 'Lanterns' without having to see both of them,' Gunn said, while also adding that 'there's going to be special things in there for people who have seen both.' Safran emphasized the company's flexible approach to universe-building: 'We've laid out internally a plan for ourselves, but we're very happy to pivot as things emerge, as we discover things, in the making of 'Superman,' or in the making of 'Supergirl,' or scripts being written, where there's a flexibility built into it, even though we know where the larger story is headed.' In terms of output, DC Studios is aiming to produce 'two live-action films and one animated film per year,' according to Safran, who also added they're targeting two live-action and two animated series for the Max streaming service per year. Their strategy also extends to how they select projects, with some unexpected additions coming from strong creative pitches. On the upcoming 'Clayface' movie, Gunn said: ''Clayface' is the crazy one, because we had no plans on making a 'Clayface' movie. Mike (Flanagan) came in and he pitched the 'Clayface' movie, and it was great…so he turned in the script, and it's one of the best scripts that we read from the whole time.' 'It fits nicely within the DCU, and it takes us into the world of Gotham,' Safran added. 'So the opportunity to make a horror movie for DC was kind of like a gift.' Gunn is also taking a different approach to fan engagement. Gunn recalled his positive fan experience as a kid meeting The Clash lead singer Joe Strummer at Colony Records in New York and hanging out with the musician. 'That kindness to me meant so much that, if I can give some semblance to that to a kid who comes up and talks to me out in public or online, which is the way it mostly happens today, then I want to do that,' Gunn said. 'I would say that James has always, for 20 years, really brought an authenticity to his interaction online,' Safran added. 'That's something that's actually helpful.' On the marketing front, Gunn and Safran are maintaining close creative control working alongside the Creative Advertising and Worldwide Marketing teams at Warner Bros. Discovery. 'We work incredibly closely with Christian (Davin) and Dana (Nussbaum) and John Stanford,' Safran said. 'John is the one who basically cut the trailer,' Gunn added. 'But it was with me being incredibly involved in the trailer and that's just the way it's going to continue to be with me being involved with the creative and Peter being involved with the overall structure of everything.' The overall DC Studios strategy appears to have studio support from the very top. As Safran noted: 'We have the full support of DZ (David Zaslav) on all fronts. He loves what we're doing, loves the movie, and has really rallied the entire company behind 'Superman' for this summer.' 'It's incredibly gratifying, frankly, that everything that DZ had promised us two years ago when we took the job, it's all been a reality since we've been in the job,' Safran said. 'Superman': Currently in editing, with Gunn calling the cast 'maybe the best cast I've ever worked with,' including David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Edi Gathegi and Nathan Fillion. 'Supergirl': 'We're now halfway through production on 'Supergirl,'' Gunn said of the Craig Gillespie-directed film based on the 'Woman of Tomorrow' comics with a script from Ana Nogueira that the studio 'loved immediately.' 'Peacemaker' Season 2: Recently wrapped filming. According to Safran, it will debut in 'late August.' 'Clayface': Cameras set to roll this summer with James Watkins currently in negotiations to direct. Safran described it as 'an amazing body horror film that reveals a compelling origin of a classic Batman villain.' He added: 'Clayface is not as widely known as Penguin or Joker, but we think his story is equally resonant and thrilling and frankly, even more terrifying.' 'The Brave and the Bold': In 'active development' with the script currently being written. While Gunn didn't name the writer, he said 'I'm working very closely with the writer on 'Brave and the Bold'… the script is really good so far.' 'The Batman: Part Two': Matt Reeves hasn't turned in a full script yet but what they've read is 'incredibly encouraging,' according to Safran. He also added it is 'very unlikely' that Robert Pattinson's Batman becomes the DCU Batman, shooting down the rumor once and for all. The DCU Batman: The plan is still to introduce him in 'The Brave and the Bold' but he could make an appearance in another DC Studios project. 'I wouldn't rule anything out,' Gunn said. 'He could show up in something else.' 'Swamp Thing': 'Obviously, James Mangold went off to make a wonderful other film, and so the ball is really in his court now,' according to Safran. 'Dynamic Duo': In pre-production, described by Safran as 'a coming of age crowd pleaser' being produced with Warner Bros. Animation, written by Matt Aldridge ('Coco'). 'The Authority': Development on the project has slowed as other projects took priority. Gunn said: 'Out of all the projects that we had, everything is still 100% fully on track. The one that kind of got messed with through all of the other good things that are happening is 'Authority' and the script has also had a harder time coming along, so that's been a part of it as well.' The post James Gunn Gives Status Updates on DCU Projects: Batman, 'Clayface' and 3-Movies-a-Year Plan appeared first on TheWrap.
