So what does this mean for the future of the Batman and Superman franchises, as well as for the long-in-development
Wonder Woman and
Flash movies (both of which recently lost their writer-director attachments)?
"To a large degree, casting will depend upon the story arc for the JLA feature and at what point in the superheroes' lives the plot takes place," said
Variety. "Warner also must deal with myriad producers working on the Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman franchises."
Warner Bros. had been developing a
film prior to opting to produce Batman Begins and Superman Returns instead. But the studio now sees big bucks in developing their own superhero team franchise, a la Fox's X-Men series.
Smallville recently aired the episode , which featured a JLA of sorts including Superman, Aquaman, Green Arrow, Cyborg and the Flash. And lest we forget, there was an unaired live-action JLA TV pilot produced in 1997 that starred David Ogden Stiers as the Martian Manhunter.