DC’s New HBO Max Lineup Brings Superheroes to the Small Screen
DC is moving into streaming with three larger than life characters.
This article does contain a few light spoilers for Birds of Prey (Black Canary) and The Suicide Squad (Peacemaker).
The general vibes of Birds of Prey and The Suicide Squad showed us that the DCEU isn’t afraid to have fun and get a little weird. On the heels of Squad‘s success, rumors and announcements about upcoming projects have been pleasantly, surprisingly bold and unique.
The Black Canary Movie
Dinah Lance takes the stage in ‘Birds of Prey’, courtesy of Warner Bros.
We’ve just gotten confirmation that Jurnee Smollett will be reprising her role as Dinah Lance, the butt-kicking crooner known as Black Canary. The film will be directed by Lovecraft Country‘s Misha Green, and produced by the same company that made Birds.
As of now, we don’t have any information about the film’s plot. Dinah, Huntress, and Renee were getting along very nicely at the end of Birds, so it’s possible the film could be a sequel of sorts. The movie also laid groundwork for more possible information about Canary’s mother, Dinah Drake, and her time as an informant for the GCPD. Either or neither way, it’s encouraging to see DC expand on a lesser-known hero, and a character that we’ve already met and loved.
Michael B. Jordan’s Val Zod Superman
Val Zod, courtesy of DC Comics
Last month, Michael B. Jordan confirmed that he’ll be at the helm of an HBO Max series about the Superman of Earth 2, Kryptonian hero Val Zod. It’s unclear whether or not Jordan will play the lead character, but if he does, it will be an abrupt turn from his previous comic book role, the MCU’s Killmonger.
Much like the original Superman mythos, Val Zod was put into an escape pod as Krypton was destroyed. He was a bit older than Kal, and while in his ship, he listened to lessons from his parents, who placed a high value on non-violence. Due to his time inside the pod and then being held underground away from the rays of yellow sunlight, the comics see Val coping with some intense fear and anxiety about his new world.
In addition to the profound vulnerability bringing this character to the screen could show, Val Zod’s story could give us other stories from Earth 2. In this iteration of Earth, Thomas Wayne becomes Batman after the death of his son, Bruce. Lois Lane’s consciousness is also transferred into an android, so she’s the Red Tornado. Kara Zor-el as Power Girl, a Darkseid-worshiping Clark Kent clone– this series is gonna crack the DC multiverse wide open, and I am here for it.
The Peacemaker Series
John Cena fills us in on the colloquial meaning of “starfish”, thanks to Warner Bros.
Anyone who’s seen The Suicide Squad knows that this guy will do anything for peace– even not-so-peaceful things like beating someone to death with his bare hands. Nonetheless, John Cena’s Peacemaker is a pure delight to watch, and he’ll be continuing his missions for Amanda Waller in his own upcoming series.
This skilled fighter and weapons expert’s story will feature many of the same characters we met in the Task Force X control room, as well as some new characters– one of which will be Auggie Smith, the Peacemaker’s father.
Finally, a Batgirl Movie!
Batgirl by Babs Tarr, courtesy of DC Comics
DC and HBO Max have also confirmed several other projects in scripting and initial casting phases. After years of bouncing the idea around, it appears that gears are finally grinding on a Batgirl movie. Leslie Grace (In the Heights) will play Barbara Gordon, the first Batgirl and daughter of Commissioner James Gordon, who will be played by J.K. Simmons.
This project will also be scripted by Birds‘ Christina Hodson, and will exist in the DCEU timeline (does that mean Batfleck will make a guest appearance?) Rumors that Babs will face off with Firefly or Killer Moth haven’t been confirmed.
…and so much more!
DC also recently cast Xolo Maridueña (Cobra Kai) to play Jaime Reyes, a kid from El Paso, TX, who finds a blue scarab that bonds itself to his spine and covers him in a suit of alien armor. Charm City Kings director Angel Manuel Soto has been connected to the project as well, no word yet on whether or not his perfect bromance with Booster Gold will be included.
Other projects on DC’s block are looking to expand the universe even wider, physically and even metaphysically. Rumors swirl about progress on the Green Lantern Corps series, the origin story of Earth’s Green Lanterns and the next possible step for the Arrowverse. A Zatanna movie is confirmed to be in scripting phases, and Justice League Dark and Johnny Constantine are rumored to be upcoming HBO Max releases as well.
Aquaman promo image, courtesy of Warner Bros.
And sometime this year, we’re supposed to get the animated 3-part series Aquaman: King of Atlantis, which follows Arthur as he starts his new job as the king of Atlantis! The family-friendly cartoon will feature stories with eco-friendly messaging with and an Adventuretime-esque style.
Which upcoming DC project are you most excited for?
