The DCEU and the Justice League have had a rough go of things but after the success of the Snyder Cut, it's looking a lot better. The DCEU is looking more attractive than ever to fans and with the Justice League's iron so hot, it's time to strike. The great thing about the Justice League is that there are a plethora of stories to choose from to base new movies on.
A great story for that would be writer Grant Morrison and artist Howard Porter's "New World Order." It served as a new beginning for the League and is an integral story for any fan of the League. The story could be the perfect next place to take the team but adapting it has its pros and cons.
10 Should Adapt "New World Order": Just About Everything Is In Place To Make It Happen
The Snyder Cut left the Justice League in a great place when it comes to sequels and this works very well for an adaptation of "New World Order". For example, the Snyder Cut introduced Martian Manhunter, a character whose lore is quite integral to the story. While no Green Lantern for the League has been introduced, the concept finally got some screen time during the Snyder Cut.
It wouldn't take much extra work to make "New World Order" work on the big screen, as so much is already in place that the story needs for an adaptation.
9 Shouldn't Adapt "New World Order": Dropping The Mars Lore On Fans May Be A Bit Too Much
While the Snyder Cut introduced Martian Manhunter, that doesn't mean the character is completely ready for his close-up. For many fans, especially the more casual ones, Martian Manhunter, his powers, and lore just aren't as well known and that's a problem when adapting "New World Order".
The DCU version of Mars and knowledge of its people and history are pretty important to "New World Order". It needs to be set up prior because throwing it into the "New World Order" movie would be a bit much and Martian Manhunter is a bit too new for what the story would demand of him.
8 Should Adapt "New World Order": It Has The Big Superhero Action That DCEU Fans Have Gotten Used To
Zack Snyder's style has its drawbacks but one place where he shines is his action direction. Justice League, and other DCEU movies, have done a great job of giving fans superhero action and that's one pro for adapting "New World Order". Morrison and Porter basically created the widescreen superhero action comic with this story and it would fit great on the big screen.
Morrison's JLA was all about highlighting the DC Universe's most powerful superteam, capturing the team and its exploits in all of its glory. "New World Order" is full of amazing action and thrills that would translate well to the big screen.
7 Shouldn't Adapt "New World Order": There's No Real Villain
One of the problems with superhero movies is that the MCU has groomed the audience to look at villains a certain way. MCU movies may have multiple villains working together but one is obviously the important one, with the others being little more than background punch fodder. "New World Order" has no central villain and that works against it in today's superhero movie environment.
While the White Martians are a great Justice League villain, they don't exactly work as typical superhero movie villains because there's not really a central figure to hate. They're more of a faceless threat, as even their identities as the Hyperclan aren't exactly memorable or important.
6 Should Adapt "New World Order": It Could Change The Way Villains In Superhero Movies Work
While the White Martians aren't the typical superhero movie villains, they are a great threat, and using them correctly could easily change the way villains are used in superhero cinema. The MCU way of using villains has massive drawbacks, as most MCU villains aren't great and the whole approach needs tweaking; villains in superhero stories can and should run the gamut of evil.
Having an almost faceless force of powerful villains like the White Martians could change the way audiences perceive villains in superhero movies, opening up stories that work in different ways than the traditional "everyone jump on the big villain" method that is so much a part of today's superhero movies.
5 Shouldn't Adapt "New World Order": It Sets Up A New Status Quo
"New World Order" did a lot for the Justice League- it was a back-to-basics approach that would bring the team back to prominence. A part of this was to give the team an entirely new headquarters and status quo, putting the team's Watchtower on the moon and making them into the premiere defense force from the outer universe and its threats.
While this worked very well in the comics because of how developed the DCU is, the DCEU isn't as well developed and pigeonholing the team into this sort of role like this one might not be what they want to do. It worked for the comics but that doesn't mean it will for the movies.
4 Should Adapt "New World Order": It Gives Every Hero Something Great To Do
Morrison and Porter knew exactly what they were doing with "New World Order" and it shows on page after page. They set up a compelling Justice League story that kept readers wanting more. One of the many places where Morrison shines is in building up heroes and they used all of their considerable powers in "New World Order".
Every member of the team gets something to do in the story, as Morrison used the story to sell the grandeur of the League. This is important in a superhero movie and "New World Order" supplies moments for each hero that will drop the audience's jaws.
3 Shouldn't Adapt "New World Order": The Future Of The Franchise Is Up In The Air
The Snyder Cut did a lot for the general public's perception of the DCEU and Justice League but that doesn't mean that everything is saved. The Justice League still failed at the theaters and while fans and critics alike enjoyed the Snyder Cut of the movie, that's a lot of stigma that studio execs may not be willing to overlook.
While "New World Order" could be a home run, the Justice League at this point may still be a hard sell and the fans may not exactly want this story because of what the Snyder Cut set up and execs might not want to finance it.
2 Should Adapt "New World Order": It's A Perfect Story For A New Beginning
By 1996, the Justice League was pretty much dead in the water, behind the times. Grant Morrison, having grown up with DC's greatest superteam, wasn't ready to let the team and revitalized it by going back to basics with "New World Order". Right now, in a lot of ways, the Justice League at the movies is in the same place and needs a new start.
"New World Order" is a great enough story that it can do it again. It does an amazing job of presenting everything the Justice League is all about and is an action-packed, compelling story that is perfect for the big screen.
1 Shouldn't Adapt "New World Order": There Are Lots Of Other Great Stories To Adapt
As great as a jumping-off point as "New World Order" is, the Snyder Cut already kinds of does everything this story does. This sort of makes any new beginning it can bring a bit superfluous. When it comes right down to it, there are plenty of other stories, ones that seem like they could never get made into movies, that could be showcased.
"New World Order" is an amazing story but there are so many amazing stories in the Justice League's oeuvre that could fit better on the big screen.