In the summer of 2013, an announcement was made that both shocked and wowed the world: Superman and Batman would be together on the big screen for the first time. This news further excited fans when it was revealed that the two would undergo "The greatest gladiator match in the history of the world" as Jesse Eisenberg's ("The Social Network") Lex Luthor so dramatically states in several of film's trailers.
However, the excitement began to turn to worry for many fans, and that's why "Dawn of Justice" has a tremendous amount of pressure on it to jump-start the DCU (DC Comics Universe).
The first obstacle this new film needs to overcome is director Zac Snyder's ("300") "Man of Steel." A lot of pressure was on this 2013 release as well, and the mixed reviews caused plenty of rethinking regarding the budding film DC comics movie universe. Also, casting choices for superhero films these days always seem to cause an uproar. This trend was not broken when Ben Affleck ("Argo") was announced as the newest actor to dawn the cape and cowl as Batman, and Jesse Eisenberg was announced to play Superman's long time nemesis Lex Luthor.
However, people haven't only been upset about the casting choices. Zac Snyder has received tremendous criticism for his directing style. Most of these critiques revolve around his films being too serious and literally dark. The trailers for the film seem to be following this trend, as most of the shots seem to take place at night, or just in an overall shade of darkness. Not to say that this will automatically make his newest film a bad one, but some are worried they may not see a smile or sunlight in the entire film.
If this film isn't able to find success from critics or audiences, Warner Bros. will be in a very difficult position going forward. They already have several future films in the works, including "Wonder Woman," "The Flash," and "Aquaman," as well as both "Justice League Part One" and "Justice League Part 2." If "Batman vs. Superman" isn't able to deliver, these films may need to be rethought and rebranded in order to better appeal to audiences. Snyder himself may be in hot water as well, as he is set to direct both "Justice League" movies. If he isn't able to succeed here, his future with the DCU could be in reconsideration.
Overall, the reception of this film has a lot riding on it. As a fan of comic book films and DC Comics alike, I'm really hoping it won't be another disappointment like "Man of Steel." Only a few days left until the future of the DCU is decided.
"Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice" will be released in theaters on Friday, March 25th.
