JUSTICE LEAGUE’ MOVIE J.K. SIMMONS TO PLAY GORDON

There is hardly any news about the “Justice League” movie, especially the plot. Basic information is known about the man cast — the superheroes who will also appear in “Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice.” However, there has been a new update about the movie — a new cast member has been added to the “Justice League” movie and it is not a superhero.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, J.K. Simmons will take over the role that Gary Oldman played in the “Dark Knight” trilogy — Commissioner Gordon. Simmons does have a previous connection with the superhero world. In Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man” trilogy, which starred Toby Maguire as the web caster, Simmons played Jonah Jameson, Daily Bugle’s editor-in-chief.

Now, Simmons has jumped from the Marvel universe to DC. Unlike his role in the “Spider-Man” movies, where he hated Spider-Man and did everything he could to discredit him, in “Justice League” it will be the opposite. Here as Commissioner Gordon, he is Batman’s ally and also serves to work as his moral compass at times. He is ready to aid Batman and works closely with him to rid Gotham of crime and corruption.

Simmons joins a talented list of actors who have played this role before — Lyle Talbot in “Batman and Robin” (1949), Neil Hamilton in the 1960s’ “Batman” TV series and Pat Hingle from 1989 to 1997 in the four “Batman” movies of Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher. The most recent portrayal, as mentioned above, was by Gary Oldman in Christopher Nolan’s “Dark Knight” trilogy. Currently, Ben McKenzie plays the young James Gordon in the “Gotham” TV series.

According to Variety, Warner Bros. has made no comment regarding this news. “Justice League” is being directed by “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” director Zack Snyder and features a slew of superheroes — Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg. Green Lantern will make an appearance in the second part of “Justice League.”

“Justice League” will be released on Nov. 17, 2017.

‘Aquaman’ & ‘Flash’ Movies Will Continue ‘Justice League’ Story

As we hurry through 2016, the end of this decade doesn't seem that far away. So when you hear that we're getting at least 8, maybe 9, possibly even 10 DC Comics superhero movies before 2020, it sounds like an almost impossible task. But apparently, these movies will arrive all interconnected to each other, bouncing off the previous installment. And that will certainly be true with the Aquaman and The Flash movies, which will be a continuation of the events set up in Justice League Part 1.

Justice League Part 1 will arrive just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday next year. The next two movies immediately following in 2018 will be The Flash, which arrives in March of that year, and then Aquaman, which is getting a July release. Both of these solo characters are confirmed to have a presence in this month's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, however fleeting it may be. And while these are just mere cameos, writer Chris Terrio, who penned both Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League Part 1, feels it's incredibly important to introduce these characters right now. He explains.

"If you bring in a character in a kinetic way, then you accept the reality more easily."

Following this year's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman will be the first DCEU movie released in 2017, and is shooting now. Justice League Part 1 then begins shooting this April, giving star Gal Gadot no time to breath between franchise sequels. All of these movies plan to introduce their characters in the same way, appearing in someone else's movie first before setting off on their own adventure. As the Justice League Part 1 story will continue on in Aquaman and The Flash, Diana Prince's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice story will also continue on in her own solo movie, which makes perfect sense.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is being called a 'naturally starting point' for Justice League Part 1. Writing the epic superhero ensemble actually had Chris Terrio studying a number of topics he never would have explored otherwise. He says this.

"Red- and blue shifts in electromagnetic physics to think about the Flash, investigated deep sea biology in the Mariana trench to create the world of Aquaman and read the Greek historian Diodorus of Sicily's account of the war between Amazon and Atlantis to better understand Wonder Woman. If you told me the most rigorous dramaturgical and intellectual product of my life would be superhero movies, I would have said you were crazy."

It sounds like Justice League Part 1 is the focal point of one giant interconnected story that shoots off in various directions as each individual superhero continues his mission from this vantage point. The DCEU is said to be more closely interlocking than the previous Marvel standalone movies. We're not sure how this will all play out in the long run, as no plot details for any of the upcoming movies have even been hinted at. What do you think about DC's movie to have their movies play in more of an episodic arc as opposed to true standalone adventures?

Aquaman comes to theaters July 27th, 2018. 

The Flash comes to theaters March 16th, 2018. 

Justice League Part 1 comes to theaters November 17th, 2017. 

One Key Way Justice League Will Be Different From Batman V Superman

The DC Extended Universe has only just gotten started, but a course has already been plotted for where the franchise will take its biggest heroes. After the events of Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice not only explores the aftermath of Superman’s debut and Batman’s distrust towards the Kryptonian, but also introduces the main members of the Justice League (minus Green Lantern). These movies subsequently form an unofficial “trilogy” with 2017’s Justice League: Part One, but the first official team-up adventure with these heroes will adopt a different tone from its predecessor.

Having described Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice as being similar Empire Strikes Back or The Two Towers, writer Chris Terrio told The Wall Street Journal that he doesn’t expect Justice League: Part One to quite as dark the previous entry in this “trilogy.” He stated:

I expect Justice League will be tonally not quite as dark as Batman v Superman. From that point of view, I felt compelled to go back and try to lift us and myself into a different tonal place because I think when you write a darker film, sometimes you want to redeem it all a bit.

Ever since Man of Steel delivered a Superman story that was darker than its cinematic predecessors, some fans have been worried that the DCEU might be going too dark with their storytelling. While the Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justicepreviews certainly show that the movie will be intense and emotional, it’s becoming clearer that this won’t be the case for this entire cinematic universe. For instance, The Flash and Shazam will reportedly be more lighthearted, and Terrio’s comments point to Justice League: Part One being brighter than the earlier films. If Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is Empire Strikes Back, then Justice League: Part Oneis Return of the Jedi. Sure, there will be some dark moments, but they won’t take hold of the entire story.

Chris Terrio also mentioned that despite Justice League: Part Two following in 2019, he’s not sure yet if he’ll pen the sequel, noting that writing the first movie has been “the most rigorous intellectual exercise” he’s had with writing. His research for characters like The Flash, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman has included reading about physics, mythology, and even what kind of sealife may exist at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the ocean.

Aside from new characters being added, like Mera and Commissioner Gordon, details are scarce about what to expect from Justice League: Part One, aside from Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash, and Cyborg officially joining forces for the first time. Still, it will no doubt be a comfort to many fans that the movie will lighten up a bit in the midst of all the action. So, no matter which villain they’re battling (whether it’s Darkseid, Brainiac, or someone else), these heroes won’t be in a somber-feeling environment,

Justice League: Part One hits theaters on November 17, 2017, and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice opens in a few weeks, on March 25.