Warner Bros. Taking Look at Comic Projects

This just in: it seems someone at Warner Bros. has realized well done comic book movies can make money. Writer/director David Goyer, who penned the script for The Dark Knight, told Inland Empire Strikes Back Warner has placed all DC Comics movie projects on hold.

Goyer said the company is taking time to figure out a better plan for the development of these movies. They are, after all, cash cows with huge potential. The year 2008 will be remembered as a landmark year for comic book projects. Marvel Comics became the first comic company to have its own studio and came charging out of the gate with summer blockbuster Iron Man. A Samuel L. Jackson cameo at the end of that movie set up the storyline for an Avengers film. Marvel carried it on as Tony Stark showed up in The Incredible Hulk to talk about the team they’re getting together.

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Photo by Stephen Vaughan

But in terms of overall quality and mainstream media acceptance, 2008 was the year of The Dark Knight. Thanks to Heath Ledger’s captivating, Oscar-buzz gaining performance as The Joker, Knight was a genre-busting success. In print, DC was poised to take full advantage with the controversial Batman R.I.P storyline. Spoiler alert: Batman is not really dead.

Goyer said DC Comics was responsible for 15 percent of Warner’s profits last year, so Time Warner execs: Batman is your new boss. Maybe not quite, but he’s still really important. I can’t wait to see what comes of Warner Bros. efforts. A decent Superman movie would be a great start. Even better would be some movement on the Justice League movie that has been in development hell for years. Here’s hoping.