A new report from Deadline paints an optimistic picture for the future of female-led superhero cinema, but amidst discussing the various comic book heroines with projects lined up in the DCEU, the piece also hints that things aren’t looking so promising for their male counterparts Superman and The Flash.
After referencing talks currently unfolding around planned Supergirl, Zatanna, and Batgirl movies, the Deadline article makes the claim that “male-hero movies like the long-promised Flash solo film or a new Superman installment have lost momentum.” And while this statement remains open to interpretation, it hardly comes as a surprise to hear that each of these properties are in trouble.
The Man of Steel, in particular, has been getting mostly bad news this year, with reports indicating that Henry Cavill has departed from the role of Clark Kent, and after the underwhelming box office performance of Justice League, it’s clear that old Supes just can’t pull in the crowds like he used to. As for The Flash, though Ezra Miller still seems game for a solo movie, the project’s journey has been a rocky one consisting of multiple delays and multiple directors.
Meanwhile, with Matt Reeves’ The Batman experiencing some setbacks of its own and the previously planned Cyborg movie going nowhere fast, Deadline certainly has a point when they suggest a female-heavy future for the DCEU. Granted, Aquaman is soon to hit theaters and Shazam! is scheduled to follow a few months from now, but come 2020, the dates are set for Birds of Prey and Wonder Woman 1984. Beyond that, you probably shouldn’t expect to see Superman make his return anytime soon, but surely we can hold out hope that The Flash will some day complete his ironically slow journey back to the big screen.
