When James Gunn and Peter Safran got the keys to Warner Bros’ DC Comics toybox, there was typically a big sigh of reduction from affordable human beings that the studio was lastly transferring on from the disaster of the Snyderverse (aka the DC Prolonged Universe). Gunn’s three “Guardians of the Galaxy” films amply demonstrated that he not solely understood the superhero style but additionally had a form coronary heart. Fortunately, he fulfilled this promise with this yr’s “Superman,” a much-needed corrective to twenty years of DC dourness that began with Christopher Nolan’s “Batman Begins.”
The one fear amongst sane followers was that the existence of the DCU may muddy the way forward for Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” collection. With a $772 million worldwide gross, there was no probability WB would cross on a sequel, however there was concern that Robert Pattinson’s Darkish Knight would get shoehorned right into a tonally completely different realm the place Reeves’ somber aesthetic can be muted.
These fears had been vanquished when the perfectionist Reeves revealed that, three years after the discharge of “The Batman,” he’d completed his screenplay for “The Batman: Half II.” The one draw back at this level is that the film will not hit theaters till October 1, 2027. In any other case, it is all good. All of the principal performers are returning, and genius-level cinematographer Greig Fraser will likely be again behind the digicam. And now, through The Hollywood Reporter’s Borys Package, we have acquired information that manufacturing designer Luke Hull, who gained Primetime Emmys for his work on “Andor” and “Chernobyl,” will likely be becoming a member of the artistic crew. It is a large get as a result of there wasn’t a better-looking present on tv final yr than “Andor.”
Luke Hull goes from Andor to Gotham Metropolis
“Andor” towers above each different Disney+ “Star Wars” collection partly as a result of Tony Gilroy did not need it to appear to be tossed-off CG slop. It is a tactile present directed with care as a substitute of day-making hackishness. This dedication to realism in a galaxy far, far-off not solely returned the franchise to its Unique Trilogy roots, however it additionally imbued a saga I have been following for the whole lot of my life with very important notes of sacrifice and tragedy. I will by no means have the ability to watch the OT once more with out pondering of “Andor,” and, as we face down creeping tyranny in America, that is a necessary factor.
Gilroy would not have been in a position to land his intestine punches with out Hull’s wonderful manufacturing design. The sheer scale is outstanding for a tv collection (and Disney paid handsomely for it); at each second, you have got an uneasy understanding of how a lot these principled characters stand to lose. Sensible units, constructed by human fingers, matter.
I can not wait to see what Hull brings to Reeves’ universe. It is potential that he’ll simply mix in with the present aesthetic created by “The Batman” manufacturing designer James Chinlund, however I’ve a sense Reeves is the sort of man who is aware of you do not hire a Ferrari to haul lumber.
