Sunday, October 11

• Is The Flash Movie in Trouble?

  Since Warner Bros. created new division DC Entertainment to better foster its comic book properties, the entity has seemingly stopped more projects than it has jump started, immediately pulling back on a Wonder Woman movie and putting all Superman rumors to rest by claiming that they have "no current plans" for a Superman movie. Early last week, The Dark Knight producer Charles Roven told IGN that progress on a Flash movie is also slowing down while Warners looks for "a different kind of approach."

  I was involved at one point with The Flash. And Warner Bros. came to me and said, "The work that you've been doing hasn't yet resulted in something that any of us, including the filmmaking team, feel could be greenlit as a movie. We're trying to accomplish something that takes into account the entire, rich DC character world, and we'd like to pull it back. That doesn't mean that you aren't going to be a part of it. We just want to take a different kind of approach. Do you mind if we try that? If we had something that was really working..."

  Like, for example, they had something that was more or less working for them on Green Lantern, and now you have Martin Campbell directing it.... But we didn't. The David Goyer screenplay, that didn't work. Goyer left the project. We then embarked with David Dobkin, trying to come up with another approach. We hadn't even hired a writer at that point. So for us, we completely understood. I've been making movies with Warner Bros. for 15 years, so that was fine, but I hope one day there's a way for me to get re-involved in the project.

  The current screenwriter for The Flash, Dan Mazeau, immediately responded.

  The Flash has not been hobbled. Everything is moving forward as planned. I'm still writing the script. Geoff Johns is still consulting. Flash fans have no cause for concern, and — IMO — lots to be excited about.

  Johns spoke about The Flash in July, claiming the movie would concern "a world that's obsessed with speed." How about that for a twist for the world's fastest hero? That's quite a new "approach" DC Entertainment is taking.

  
  

  Posted 10/11/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Charles Roven | Dan Mazeau | The Flash

Friday, January 30

• Mazeau May Be Scripting The Flash Movie

  You may remember an earlier report saying that Warner Brothers was putting all their DC Comics movies on hold. Well things are constantly in flux in Hollywood and now, the news source that broke the above story, IESB says that up-and-coming screenwriter Dan Mazeau is currently working on a movie script for The Flash.

  Producer Chuck Roven, rumored to be on the project, wouldn't confirm or deny this news, but did give this interesting tidbit:

  The Flash that was the policeman and Kid Flash, Wally, and his uncle. Those are the two Flashes that I grew up with, so I was excited to have the opportunity to try and see if I could actually translate those characters to the screen.

  This is welcome news for comic book movie fans who have The Flash up there on their list of beloved comics characters who NEED their own movie.

  
  

  Posted 01/30/2009 by Jim

  Related: Charles Roven | Dan Mazeau | The Flash

• Batman 3 in Script Stage?

  Despite recent statements from The Dark Knight producer Chuck Roven that work on a sequel was limited to "talking and thinking" stage, apparently a script is indeed in the works.

  Citing an "extremely reliable source," ReelzChannel's Jeff Otto, representing IESB, went to Roven for confirmation, to which Roven replied: "The creative driver of the project at this point is Chris [Nolan]. There's really nothing more for me to say about that. When he feels that he's got something to talk about, then we'll be able to talk about it."

  Furthermore, Roven told Access Hollywood: "Chris Nolan is the guy who's had the vision of 'The Dark Knight' and this incarnation of Batman and we know that he's thinking about [it] -- if he can think all the way through what another one would be like. We'll know if he's gotten to the end of that process when he tells us." Perhaps Roven doesn't realize that IESB heard about the script from an "extremely reliable source."

  IESB claims they've "double-checked" and that the script is indeed happening. As usual, we remain cautious on Batman rumors until official word is released. Check back to ReelChannel.com for more updates.

  
  

  Posted 01/30/2009 by reelz

  Related: Charles Roven | Christopher Nolan | Batman 3

Friday, March 7

• Exclusive Interview with Bank Job, Dark Knight, Flash Producer

  We have an exclusive interview today with producer Charles Roven, whose impressive credit list includes 12 Monkeys, Three Kings and Batman Begins, just to name a few.

  We caught up with Roven recently at the press day for The Bank Job. The interview took place only days after the passing of Heath Ledger, whom the producer worked with on The Dark Knight, so the mood was a somber one. He discussed the future of the Batman franchise, the upcoming Flash movie and his new heist flick, The Bank Job.

  The Flash has been rumored for years, but now it is finally going forward with director David Dobkin. Dobkin is the director behind such comedies as Fred Claus and Wedding Crashers, so some Flash fans are worried about a tongue-in-cheek adaptation similar to 2004's Starsky and Hutch. Roven says not to worry:

  "We think that we've come up with something that's going to separate it from other superhero movies..." says Roven. "We want it to be something different and we think we have that. It's going to have a different tone than The Dark Knight, but it's not going to be tongue-in-cheek. It will definitely be straight ahead."

  For more on The Flash, Dark Knight and Bank Job, check out our full interview with Charles Roven.

  
  

  Posted 03/07/2008 by reelz

  Related: Charles Roven | The Dark Knight | The Bank Job