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Tanker Anything that is on TV, netflix etc that is DC isnt connected to anything in the DC Extended Universe.
Having the films internally interconnected was always the next logical step up from trilogies, it just happens that Marvel hit the ground running - not easily either, but it took some ballsy moves on their part to get that universe started.
If anything, DC don't have as hard a time of it in some ways - the normal movie going audience is totally onboard and used to the connected movie idea.
I don't think of it as catching up to be honest. It's just another comic property, with some amazing characters, getting their time on screen.
If they were truly gunning for pure catch up, they would have gone with Superman founding the Justice League - they could have, if they wanted, have gone straight in for the kill. Two years of marketing similar to Batman vs Superman - look at the hype. Justice League would have generated the same hype. I don't think it would have done Justice League...justice (haha) and therefore Batman v Superman introduces Batman and Wonder Woman. To a lesser extent it will show us Aquaman, Flash and Cyborg. That is perfect to me.
This film simply allows a little breathing room before JL kicks off. And it should be a cracking film in its own right.
Not every character needs their own movie, in my opinion. You can't carbon copy a formula and expect it to be successful - see the argument made for R rated movies post Deadpool.
Avengers vs Justice League "Build Up"
OK - just because I was slightly curious, I thought I'd have a quick look at the MCU stuff just as a comparison.
So before Avengers aired, there were five films.
Incredible Hulk
Iron Man
Iron Man 2
Captain America
Thor
Now - absolutely aware that I'll get a lot of disagreement on this, and please know that I am a massive fan of the MCU! I love getting our favourite characters in all mediums - I'm just being objective for a bit.
Hulk wasnt particularly well received - and if we are honest, adds nothing to the MCU in broad terms. People don't see Ed Norton as the MCU's Hulk, and that film is barely referenced at large. So discount Hulk.
So effectively four films.
Iron Man 2 - does it achieve a lot? It helps us connect a little more with Shield. A throwaway comment about New Mexico. The biggest thing it does is introduce Black Widow. Now fair play, thats pretty big. But overall - did that prepare us much for Avengers? We only learned her connection to Hawkeye in avengers, which is a major point of that story. I don't think there would be much missing in Avengers if we hadnt seen her in IM2.
At a push admittedly...down to three.
Absolutely essential - Iron Man. Iron Man introduces the world and sets the tone for the Avengers film - good action, smart comedy. And I can't really argue with Captain America too much - but for all I can gather (and which I always found perplexing) is that a lot of people disliked Cap movie. I loved it! However all it really does for Avengers...is introduce our Captain and OK, the tessuract too - and only right at the end does he get connected to the current timeline. Avengers wouldn't have suffered MASSIVELY (it would have suffered some yes) if Cap film didnt exist. I also think the same could be said for Thor.
Pretty bold statements I know - it's not fact, its just a fairly relaxed interpretation of these events.
In reality at a real push - two films prior to Avengers? We had to have Iron Man I think, and at a stretch, Captain America.
So I'll of course admit that DC are pushing the boundaries probably for story with only MoS and BvS to kickstart JL. But let's also not forget Suicide Squad. So there's three DC universe films. And there could be some bigger implications from Suicide Squad than we are seeing at the moment I reckon.
But let's also remind ourselves that the Justice League wont even necessarily follow the same story beats as Avengers (on paper I assume it will look identical). We of course want our guys to save the day and unite against the big bad presumably alien threat, but there is a reason there are different comics. They arent the same characters, and they won't have the same story.
Anyway. I'm bored at work and thought I'd chuck down some thoughts!