Tom Cruise’s Career and the DC Cinematic Universe
Tom Cruise’s career has been marked by his ability to adapt and react to the popular narrative surrounding him as an actor. Similarly, Warner Bros’ post-Nolan attempt to create a cinematic universe to rival the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has been a series of reactions to the reception of their films. From the grimdark aesthetic of Man of Steel (2013) to the ensemble piece Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), the DC universe has been trying to find its footing.
DC’s Struggles and the Success of Wonder Woman
With the release of Suicide Squad (2016) and Justice League (2017), DC continued to struggle with finding the right tone and balance for their films. However, the success of Wonder Woman (2017) provided a new gold standard for the DC universe. The film was bold, colorful, character-focused, and most importantly, fun to watch. It struck the right balance between fidelity to its title character and the needs of her World War I-set story.
DC’s Upcoming Slate: Learning from Past Mistakes
With the upcoming releases of Aquaman (2018), Shazam! (2019), and Wonder Woman 1984 (2019), DC seems to be learning from their past mistakes and embracing a more colorful, character-driven approach. The new films appear to be more focused on fun and engaging storytelling, rather than trying to emulate the MCU or react to criticism.
Will DC’s New Approach Work?
It remains to be seen if DC’s new approach will work in practice, but their upcoming slate of movies is looking more promising than their previous efforts. If Warner Bros can learn from their past mistakes and start producing good movies on purpose, fans will be more than happy to support their favorite superheroes on the big screen.
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