The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) has been a profitable venture for Warner Bros., but it has faced its fair share of criticism. With movies like Man of Steel, Batman vs Superman, and Suicide Squad receiving mixed to negative reviews, it’s clear that the DCEU needs a fresh approach. The upcoming Wonder Woman movie looks promising, but can the DCEU truly turn things around? One potential answer lies in the rumored involvement of director Matthew Vaughn.
Matthew Vaughn: A New Hope for the DCEU?
Matthew Vaughn has made a name for himself by directing well-received genre films like Kickass, X-Men: First Class, and Kingsman: The Secret Service. He’s proven to be a dependable director, able to handle large casts, show-stopping action, intimate character moments, and continuity-heavy world-building. With Vaughn reportedly being eyed for Man of Steel 2, could he be the change the DCEU desperately needs?
If the rumors are true, DC should be commended for not insisting on sticking with Zack Snyder and other grimdark directors for all their future movies. Wonder Woman already looks like a complete 180-degree turn from Dawn of Justice, and Vaughn could continue the trend of lightening up their overly serious lineup.
However, the question remains: would Warner Bros. actually allow Vaughn the room he’d need to be successful? Studio interference has plagued the DCEU, with stories of rushed scripts and reshoots causing concern. Creative differences have led to directors like Michele MacLaren and Ben Affleck stepping down from their respective projects.
Studio Interference: The Real Problem?
It’s not uncommon for studios and directors to clash over competing visions for a movie. Edgar Wright left Ant-Man over creative differences with Marvel Studios, and Kenneth Branagh was so unhappy with his experience directing Thor that he swore off the company forever. The difference is that Marvel has consistently delivered good movies, while Warner Bros. has struggled with the DCEU.
Matthew Vaughn is more than capable of working within the big-budget, blockbuster-driven studio system, but it’s unclear if Warner Bros. would give him the trust and distance needed to make a good movie. With so much money riding on these films and a track record of failures, it’s hard to imagine the studio leaving a movie’s success up to chance.
Can the DCEU Be Saved?
As a fan of DC, I want them to make good movies. Until recently, their ability to churn out quality blockbusters was a given. However, the Warner Bros. of today is not the same as it was in the past. Drunk on the success of the Dark Knight trilogy and eager to catch up with Marvel’s shared universe, they rushed into the game without a solid plan, resulting in a series of missteps.
With each passing movie rushed to market, their chances of solving “The DC problem” grow fainter. Not only does Wonder Woman need to be a success, but Justice League needs to not be a failure. The problem is bigger than just one movie or one director. It stems from the very top of the company: short-sighted CEOs desperately trying to play catch-up with Marvel with a shared universe they haven’t bothered to develop, let alone think all the way through.
I love Matthew Vaughn, and I would love to see him take on the challenge of another blockbuster superhero movie, but I’m not sure that the same DC that gave us Man of Steel and Batman vs Superman is going to do anything different with him. It doesn’t matter what caliber of director they have leading the way if they refuse to let him do his job. All they seem to want is a warm body to point the camera and follow orders, and that doesn’t need to be Matthew Vaughn.
