I'm all for updating the characters as long as it's within reason. There's a scene in one of the recent issues of JLA where Black Lightning and John Stewart are joking exactly about how BL used to sport an afro. If characters don't change with the times then how will they appeal to new readers? No one will take Luke Cage seriously if he still wore his yellow blouse and tiara.

Warner pulls plug on 'Justice League'

"Justice League" is no longer moving faster than a speeding bullet.
Warner Bros. let the options lapse on the young cast that director George Miller chose to play DC superhero staples. The studio, which had set Tuesday as its greenlight deadline for the pic, confirmed Wednesday the project is on indefinite hold.

Project now most likely won't get under way until late summer or fall at the earliest.

Cast members were informed late Tuesday their options would not be exercised, but they were also assured the studio is determined to make the film with them in it. But before that can happen, there are several problems to be resolved.

The studio's reasons included not getting the official response it needed on tax breaks from shooting in Australia. And while WB execs like the script they got from Kieran and Michele Mulroney, it would benefit from a little more work, something that isn't possible because of the writers' strike.

Some were surprised the studio didn't exercise cast options anyway. The deals gave WB the flexibility to exercise the deals immediately, or in July, and the actors will be making salaries in the low six-figure range. While Adam Brody, cast as the Flash, has a track record, most of the cast comprises such newcomers as Armie Hammer Jr., who plays Batman, and Megan Gale, who will play Wonder Woman.

The studio risks losing them to other film jobs. But it is likely most if not all the cast will make sure to be available starting late summer and fall, just in case. That's because of the starmaking potential of "Justice League."

Studio had set this week as the deadline to greenlight the superhero tentpole, which it was racing to get into production for 2009 release. That was always considered a dicey proposition, particularly when the writers went on strike, and because the film needs to be completed before the SAG deal expires in June.

With "Justice League" on indefinite hold, the studio has a superhero gap on its 2009 slate; status of the next "Superman" pic is also uncertain.


Here's my official statement:

Looking at the cover. I like Black lightning with an afro instead, well thats just me, they did the same with John Stewart shaving his head. Guess DC feels the need to update stuff (hey let's update the mona lisa, make her more hip). They are turning Black Canary into a Victoria Secrets model already, go back to the black & blue look. Is that speedy???? Get rid of the sidekick and put the man in there instead, Green Arrow.

I'm not sure if you think that the movie will have the characters that are on that cover above. The movie is supposed to have the original 7.

Yeah I knew they were going to have the original 7. Just talking about how the comics are drawn today.

oh right. i actually like the current team a lot right now. There are some characters there who I feel needed a much higher profile than have ever been given. The addition of Black Lightening, John Stewart, Firestorm, Geo-Force and the promotion of Black Canary to chairperson really makes sense. I wish Cyborg was chosen tho. The only character i'm not sure about right now is Vixen but i'm giving her character time to develop some more since the DC Universe is looking to change a lot this year and next.

they need to decide if the JLA is a showcase for second string characters or if it's the traditional supergroup comic featuring DC's flagship characters. it seems like they turn it into a halfway house for d-list superheroes, the comic gets cancelled, then they bring it back with the superman/batman/wonder woman line-up for a few issues, then it's back to the rejects again. and i don't think vixen is EVER going to become interesting.

well i dunno. i like the idea of getting away from the Big Three 3 and making the others a bit more prominent but i understand what you mean. However, i do think that this team right now makes sense. they've always been strong characters but never given their shot at being more prominent.

oh right. i actually like the current team a lot right now. There are some characters there who I feel needed a much higher profile than have ever been given. The addition of Black Lightening, John Stewart, Firestorm, Geo-Force and the promotion of Black Canary to chairperson really makes sense. I wish Cyborg was chosen tho. The only character i'm not sure about right now is Vixen but i'm giving her character time to develop some more since the DC Universe is looking to change a lot this year and next.

By the way, I've always thought that:

The Justice League= kitsch
The Justice League= embarrasing
The Justice League= nerdy material
[Edited 1/23/08 7:34am]

Thank Jeebus it didn't actually happen!!!

Now we anime fans must deal with these movies in the next 4 years
Dragon Ball Z(2008)
Astro Boy(2009)
Speed Racer(2009)
Robotech(2009 or 2010)

Dragon Ball Z will be the The Street Fighter of our generation; in other words, it will be utter crap...