This is welcome news for fans of the DC Comics Extended Universe of movies.
Chatting about an episode of The Flash he’d written, screenwriter Zack Stentz (Thor, X-Men: First Class) dropped the news on Kevin Smith’s Fatman on Batman YouTube channel that he was working with Greg Berlanti on a secret project. It turns out that project is a Booster Gold movie at DC.
Berlanti, who produces The Flash, Arrow, Supergirl and Legends of Tomorrow — making him akin to Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige, when it comes to DC television — casually dropped the news of a Booster Gold feature in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. While he would be an executive producer on the film, Berlanti said he’d also like to direct it.
“I’m attached to a few films [at Warner Bros.] now, and one, Booster Gold, is a DC property. Zack Stentz, who wrote an episode of Flash last year, just got the job, so he’s writing the script now. I’d probably direct that, or I would want to. But I don’t see my cup as limited. I actually think some of the stuff we get to do on the TV side is richer, deeper and more like the true comic books in the sense that you’re always able to explore a new thing the next week and the stories grow wider and wider.”
For those unfamiliar with Booster Gold, he’s essentially a fame-seeking superhero who uses his knowledge of the future to help the Justice League in present day. He’s arrogant and loves the celebrity that comes with being a hero.
Berlanti has definitely earned the opportunity to direct a Booster Gold feature, but I’m a bit hesitant of the domino effect it would create in his DC universe. The four DC TV shows have all taken a noticeable dip in quality this season, which might be due to Berlanti stretching himself too thin. Adding a movie wouldn’t help the issue.
With that said, Berlanti deserves a shot at directing a DCU film. Man of Steel and Batman v Superman were both bland, dire films. Berlanti’s DC TV shows are anything but that. They’re comic books come to life, emphasizing what makes those characters special. Booster Gold is a fun character and would bring a much-needed breath of fresh air to the DC cinematic slate.
Hopefully, a Booster Gold movie comes to fruition. It would be a welcome, unexpected addition to the DCU and would indicate that Warner Brothers isn’t letting Zack Snyder’s darker, brooding sensibilities completely dominate its superhero movies.
