The much-anticipated DC FanDome event kicked off with Hall of Heroes, a full day filled with action-packed panels and trailer debuts that could give SDCC‘s Hall H a run for its money.
Attendees from around the world logged on for the virtual event which offered first looks at upcoming productions from the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), including The Flash and Black Adam, along with trailer debuts from a host of new films set for release in the year ahead.
Wonder Woman 1984
DC Comics and Warner Bros. Pictures wasted no time in getting right to it with filmmaker Patty Jenkins (Monster) and the cast of Wonder Woman 1984 delivering the second full trailer for the upcoming sequel to 2017’s Wonder Woman. The film fast forwards the action from the World War II era of the first film to the 1980s as the Amazon hero battles Max Lord (The Mandalorian‘s Pedro Pascal) and The Cheetah (SNL alum Kristen Wiig). The film also stars Chris Pine (Star Trek) as Steve Trevor, Robin Wright (The Princess Bride) as Antiope, and Connie Nielsen (Gladiator) as Hippolyta. Pending further COVID-19 delays, Wonder Woman 1984 will hit theaters on Oct. 2.
The Suicide Squad
Fans got a triple dose of the Suicide Squad with three epic videos featuring the motley crew of anti-heroes. James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy) takes the helm for what he says is the biggest film of his career as The Suicide Squad serves as both a sequel and reboot of the similarly-titled film from 2016. Gunn and the cast served up a sneak peek featurette showing off a new look for Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) with interviews with cast and crew.
Following months of leaks, the monster-sized cast including Robbie, Idris Elba, Joel Kinnaman, John Cena, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, Michael Rooker, Flula Borg, David Dastmalchian, Daniela Melchior, Steve Agee, Mayling Ng, Peter Capaldi, Alice Braga, Pete Davidson, Nathan Fillion, Sean Gunn, Storm Reid, Taika Waititi, Joaquín Cosío, and Juan Diego Botto was formally revealed in a comic-inspired roll call. The film is due in theaters next August.
Finally, Rocksteady Games debuted a first look at Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, a follow-up to the Batman: Arkham series. The game won’t be out until 2022, which means we’ll all be playing on Playstation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC. Dig the use of Outkast’s “Bombs Over Baghdad” in the trailer!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6512XKKNkU&feature=emb_title
Zack Snyder’s Justice League
It’s still hard to believe it’s actually happening, but the #ReleaseTheSnyderCut movement worked and the fruits of those efforts will be realized next year. Zack Snyder’s Justice League will come to HBO Max as a four-hour miniseries.
The Batman
For the main event, DC FanDome closed out the day with a first look at Robert Pattinson (Tenet, Twilight) as The Batman. Filmmaker Matt Reeves (Planet of the Apes) delivered a teaser trailer even though the production only shot around 25% of the film prior to being shut down thanks to COVID-19. Production on The Batman will resume next month.
As the debut of the first teaser for 1989’s Batman quieted detractors who felt that Michael Keaton couldn’t handle the cape and cowl, the first teaser for The Batman is quickly doing the same for Pattinson, showing off a fresh take on the character with Bats busting chops and beating a criminal to a pulp with just one hand.
The Batman puts focus on the detective elements of the Dark Knight’s persona in what Reeves says is roughly the second year of his career in an era where the famed Rogues’ Gallery is just taking shape. The film also stars Zoë Kravitz (Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald) as Selina Kyle/Catwoman; Paul Dano (12 Years a Slave) as Edward Nashton/The Riddler; Jeffrey Wright (The Hunger Games) as the GCPD’s James Gordon; John Turturro (Transformers) as Carmine Falcone; Peter Sarsgaard (The Magnificent Seven) as Gotham D.A. Gil Colson; Barry Keoghan (Dunkirk) as Officer Stanley Merkel; Jayme Lawson (Farewell Amor) as mayoral candidate Bella Reál; with Andy Serkis (Black Panther) as Alfred; and Colin Farrell (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them) as Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin. The Batman is expected to hit theaters on Oct. 1, 2021.
Explore the Multiverse and the DC Kids FanDome on Sept. 12.
On Sept. 12, fans can Explore the Multiverse and more than 100 hours worth of content, including more panels, screenings, and never-before-seen content as DC FanDome continues. This virtual con will also include a kids’ section for young DC fans at DCKidsFanDome.com. Both will begin at 10 a.m. PDT.
