If you've been hoping to schedule your Comic-Con International plans around when the Marvel Studios panel is happening, we have some bad news for you. However, if you've also been holding out hope that Superman and Batman will be able to work through their differences sooner rather than later, then this week's Cape Watch is not all things you won't want to hear. There are also new reasons to go see Jurassic World and feel grateful towards Jerry Seinfeld, and there's an unexpected update on the Sandman movie. Here are the highlights of this week's superhero movie news.
The official plot synopsis for Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice has been revealed, and for everyone hoping that the two heroes would only fight for a little bit before teaming up against someone else, it's good news. Coming via Warner Bros., the synopsis goes a little something like this: "Fearing the actions of a god-like superhero left unchecked, Gotham City's own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis's most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman and Superman at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it's ever known before."
Why this is super: While this is absolutely no guarantee that anyone will appreciate the answer, we definitely like that the movie is going to address the "What kind of hero does the world actually need?" question that the neck-snapping climax of Man of Steel oh-so-briefly hinted at. Of course, because we know that Wonder Woman will be in the movie, and Aquaman is rumored to also be making an appearance, what are the odds that the "new threat" that quickly arises is going to be a third (or even fourth) hero?
After an earlier batch of rumors, Deadline reported this week that it's a done deal that Marvel Studios will be skipping Comic-Con International in San Diego this year, in part because it has nothing new to announce after last year's standalone special event. Bad news for Marvel fans hoping to see something exclusive at the show, but good news for Warner Bros., who might have footage from Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad to share (rumors persist that there might even be something from Justice League, but that seems a little too forward, seeing as that movie won't be released until 2017).
Why this is confusing: It's uncertain whether or not this is a good thing or not. Sure, the lack of big Marvel Studios star presence is a bad thing for those who wanted that at Comic-Con, but Warners is unlikely to let that particular vacuum go unfilled with its DC properties. Meantime, Marvel can prepare to find some news to announce either at another standalone event later this year, or at August's Disney-only D23 event. Everyone could win? Maybe?
It turns out, we have none other than Jerry Seinfeld to thank for Hugh Jackman stepping down as Fox's Wolverine after the 2017 follow-up to The Wolverine. Appearing on the Live with Kelly and Michael chat show, Jackman said that he decided to quit after talking to the comedian about why he'd quit his NBC sitcom, working off the theory that the audience should be left wanting more.
Why this is super: We've said it before: As great as Hugh Jackman has been playing Marvel's most famous mutant—and he has been great—we've had lots and lots of chances to see it, and with everyone else in the franchise having been replaced by this point, it really is time for Jackman to politely step aside and let someone new take over the role. Or, better yet, let Wolverine quietly retire himself for a few movies.
With the release of Marvel's next superhero movie just a month away, the studio is still trying to convince people that they really, really want to see Paul Rudd be a superhero. The latest stunt? A specially assembled six-minute trailer with exclusive footage that will only be available accompanying Jurassic World IMAX screenings. Hell, there was even an exclusive trailer for it…
Why this is super: Are fans excited enough about Ant-Man to pay to see another movie just for six minutes of footage? (Sure, they bought tickets for a Star Wars trailer last year, but that was Star Wars.) Or is it the hope that fans who go to see Jurassic World because it stars Star-Lord and find themselves hooked in by these special six minutes and become convinced about Ant-Man? Either way, it's possible that everyone will be happy if Jurassic World turns out not to suck and the exclusive Ant-Man trailer is awesome. But, really? It's a movie about being small; this should've been a trailer exclusively for the Apple Watch.
Sure, technically Sandman isn't a superhero movie, in that it features no superheroes whatsoever. Nonetheless, it seemed like a good idea to pass on the surprising news from producer Joseph Gordon-Levitt that it is, surprisingly, an action movie. Yes, Sandman; the movie based on the comic by Neil Gaiman that featured almost nothing that could've been described as an action scene per se, will be "a grand, spectacular action film, but that relies on none of those same old ordinary cliches," according to comments made to MTV by Gordon-Levitt, who's producing the movie version. If that makes fans of the comic book series a little nervous, rest assured that JGL did say that he was asked by Gaiman himself that Morpheus didn't punch anyone in the movie, something that Gordon-Levitt agreed to because, as he put it, "if you read the comics, Morpheus doesn't punch anybody. That's not what he does."
Why this is super: Let's choose to be optimistic here: It's very possible for a "grand, spectacular" movie to be made of the original comics, even if the prospect of it being an action movie seems entirely at odds with the material. And if nothing else, at least we know that there'll be no punching, so that's something, right?
