Warner Bros. Wants JOKER Director Todd Phillips to Develop More DC Universe Films
No one expected Todd Phillips’ Joker to be the epic box office success that it was, especially the executives at Warner Bros. Well, the studio is under new management with David Zaslav taking the lead after the company merged with Discovery. He’s all about the money and in a recent report from Variety, he has asked Phillps to come back to develop more DC universe film projects.
Sources say “he has asked Todd Phillips, the multihyphenate who created dark 2019 billion-dollar grosser Joker, to do more in the DC universe, potentially acting as an advisor though he will not serve in an executive capacity. A knowledgeable source says Phillips and Zaslav have discovered a rapport, though Phillips is not an expert on the broader DC universe.”
As you know, WB doesn’t have any single voice guiding the DC universe in the way that Kevin Feige does with Marvel Studios. It seems like Zaslav possibly sees Phillips in that kind of role. The reason it works so well for Marvel, though, is because Feige is a hardcore Marvel fan that knows the universe inside and out. Phillips is not that for DC.
While I think that WB does need to have its own version of Kevin Feige for DC, Phillips is not the guy. Sure, I’d like to see him direct another DC film, but he doesn’t have what it takes to guide the franchise. WB is working with several directors right now on projects including Matt Reeves, James Wan, James Gunn, Patty Jenkins, and more. They all have great talent and skill, but do any of them have what it takes to lead the charge on DC? Some are definitely better options than Phillips.
But, Phillips is the one that made a billion-dollar DC movie. WB is obviously still trying to find its way with DC. As of right now, Walter Hamada is the DC chief who oversees the film universe and its HBO Max spinoffs. It hasn’t really been smooth sailing with him, though.
Who would you like to see brought in to oversee all of DC’s film projects?
Source: THR