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https://uproxx.com/movies/warner-bros-discovery-comcast-acquisition-nbcuniversal-david-zaslav/

Following the surprise cancellation of Batgirl, a film that by all accounts was mostly finished, the newly formed Warner Bros. Discovery has been plagued with headlines about chaos behind the scenes as the new leadership struggles to cut costs while simultaneously rejuvenating brands like DC Comics. The studio has reportedly been searching for a Kevin Feige-type figure to do for DC what Feige does for Marvel, but the top candidate for the position, Dan Lin, has already bowed out.

At issue is the daunting task of righting a franchise that's been slowly rebuilding after the failure of 2017's Justice League. However, that process involved creating separate film universes for both Batman and Joker, and the whole thing is basically a huge mess. Especially when CEO David Zaslav wants a more connected DC Comics brand.

Adding even more uncertainty to the mix is talk of Warner Bros. Discovery being sold as quickly as possible. While the studio reportedly can't do anything until 2024, insiders believe that Comcast is waiting on the sidelines to swallow up the beleaguered entity. Via The Hollywood Reporter:

Given the company's daunting challenges, it has become accepted wisdom at the highest levels of the industry that another deal waits in the wings for Warner Bros. Discovery. For reasons related to the complicated structure of that merger, no negotiations can happen until April 2024. But at that point, many industry observers believe that Comcast's Brian Roberts will make a long-awaited move, looking to combine NBCUniversal and Warner Bros. Discovery.

That deal would face some interesting antitrust issues but would give his company scale and a viable streaming service. "Obviously Peacock sucks," says one exec with knowledge of both companies. "There are some good synergies. I'm sure [Roberts] is licking his chops because the [WBD] stock is so low. And I think that's Zaslav's endgame. Get the place sold."

When asked to comment on a potential sale, a WBD spokesperson simply told THR, "We are building Warner Bros. Discovery for the long term." That's not exactly a denial, so make of that what you will.

(Via The Hollywood Reporter)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5hHEIWgZyk

Looks pretty cool in this aspect ratio!

Just some shots from the Gotham Planning Special Feature. The shot of it showing behind the scenes makes me really want to see one of these films take place in the dead of winter!

Up for auction is this newspaper from Returns in regards to the Waynes Murders.


https://propstoreauction.com/lot-details/index/catalog/319/lot/89244?url=%2Fsearch%3Fkey%3DBatman%2BReturns
A Gotham Globe "Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Wayne Murdered - Only Child Survives!" newspaper from Tim Burton's superhero sequel Batman Returns. The edition of the Gotham Globe described the murder of Bruce Wayne's parents but was unseen in the film's final cut.

Anyone have any idea how this scene played out or the context of the prop in the story?

Never saw him talk about it before. This is sometime in 94
(3:29) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYv-gWlAUJw
"If its good and I want to do it...in a way I'm more excited about it than the other ones".

I wonder what kind of stuff was talked about in the early meetings

I know he's a touchy topic but I figured it'd be worth noting. I scanned these from his Batman & Me book

A very informative video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21k8SMW4vfM&t=2493s

Seen this films too many times to recall, but I have no idea why I never relaized the photo of Alecia was black and white with red lips (very 80s. very joker) and it's the same photo that sits under Joker when she see's him for the first time (and how she later gets deformed by the joker)




It's also similar to the Joker models (minus the green hair)

Was aSchumacher video where they talked about his desire to do Year one. Watching Falling Down now (first time) and Schumacher would actually be a pretty good fit at adapting Millers work. The social commentary is quite similar and the film suprisingly has a comedic edge to it (much less subtile than his Batman films).

It actually feels ALOT like phone booth.

I could actually see him doing a Dark Knight returns as well.

Got this off of Etsy (not available right now) and is a cast off of the Cowls used in the Six Flags parks.






I'm assuming it was for the stuntshows? Regarless, it's not a bad cowl and actually beats the quality of some of the bigger themeparks!

**I don't actually plan on making a workprint. This is more of a "What would you change" thread**

I was thinking how in Forever, Alfred asks Batman about brining a sandwich with Batman replying "I'll get drive thru" (His first line as Batman...) could really be replaced with Alfreds first line from Batman and Robin

"Do bring this one back in one piece sir"

It would of brought in the same (if not more) amount of comedy that that scene was trying to enact and would of linked this film more into Returns.

What other changes do you think could be made?

Found my set of infamous Batman playing cards and scanned some in (this is the only 89 card in my set, everything else is begins)

Do you have any (or had any) Batman Bootlegs?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4MlGnPtd7A&t=3s

Never thought I'd see this (or how much it reminds me of Forever)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSz-xRCUDxc

Did some stickers for those who need to replace theirs for their playsets, or need them for custom displays. (these arent print to fit as I had to use a scan from another set to use as a guide)

Listening to the Batman soundtrack and Keatons "I want you to tell all your friends about me" line seems to be from a different take? I can't 100% tell its him but it doesnt sounds like he's even doing the Batman voice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzBmOEAIOHc

There is something about these suits. It was recently revealed that Robert Patterson auditioned (like others) in a Kilmer suit
https://www.insider.com/robert-pattinson-wore-val-kilmers-batsuit-during-batman-screen-test-2021-10.
George Clooney wore a kilmer suit. Onstar used a Clooney suit as did Birds of Prey. Kimers suit and Batmobile were also featured in the Author remake.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_knjRA4df3E




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6E_rp80QMc

Have these suits popped up elsewhere?

Apart of me speculates that these suits don't hold as much value as the Burton ones because of the Schumacher films reputation but they got Reeves suit out for the Man of Steel screen tests

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8ZOmK1aHJI&t=15s

An elseworlds film (in the line of Joker and The Batman) but directed by Wong Kar Wai (for people who aren't familiar with him all the clips *sans Raging Fire* are from his films)

Hong Kong is the location of this Gotham City.

Bruce Wayne: Played by Tony Leung https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUwsTHGY4Ms

Bruce Wayne is shy and timid but also charming. He wears a fake mustache to further hide his identity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZagCNEu3Xs
When it's time to dawn the Cowl, the mustache works a metaphor (removing the mask so to speak). His Batman is cold but calm, a Hong Kong Noir detective but one who also has an excessive amount of Martial Arts training from Hong Kong's best (he's also traveled the globe studying Boxing in the U.S and styles like Savate in Europe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=600pk-ARyzs

Running into villains' like Catwoman (Ziyi Zhang) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9O3y_KnbYM and Joker (Nicholas Tse) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARaq3ZsaXYg The story will mostly focus on Batman getting a new lead on the death of his parents which takes him down a long path of past and present (a mix of Dark Knight Returns and Year One if you will)

A very stylized film. This actually interests me in making a fan comic (something I have not done before)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0STyxqVXaXI