Starting in 2013 with Man of Steel, Warner Bros. kicked off their plan to fast track (and when we say fast track, we do mean fast track these films) their own superhero franchise to compete with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it was dubbed the DC Extended Universe. It only took the second film in the franchise -- Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice -- before we had the two prime faces of DC Comics squaring off, while simultaneously setting up the franchise's first big superhero team-up movie. Just five months later, we got Suicide Squad, which for the most part was hated by critics and a large part of fans -- ironically enough, it's also the only film in the DCEU which has an Oscar to its name.
A year later, we got Wonder Woman, which to this day is by far the most critically beloved film in the franchise. Within a few months, we got Justice League, which continued the trend of DCEU movies receiving mixed reviews. Over the next two years, we are scheduled to see Aquaman, Wonder Woman 2, Cyborg, Shazam!, and Green Lantern Corps all hit theaters, but Warner Bros. is also looking to make solo DC projects separate from the DCEU. This hints that Warner Bros. may be stepping away from the movie universe, but we don't think they should give up so easily. Yes, the DCEU hasn't been perfect, but we think if it makes the following adjustments, the DCEU could yet flourish.
20 STOP TRYING TO CONNECT THE FILMS TOGETHER
A major criticism for the blossoming DCEU is just how hard and how quickly the DCEU is trying to connect each of their films together. Both Batman V Superman and Suicide Squad squeezed in an appearance by the Flash for whatever reason, and then took us away from the plot for about 10 minutes to introduce us to other future members of the Justice League.
Taking these massive detours in the plot is very distracting to the viewer.
If nothing else, these movies should have little nuggets and maybe some easter eggs to connect each film together, but they should feel like a contained and comprehensible film that works on its own merits without demanding the viewer to watch the sequel.
19 DON'T BE AFRAID TO CHANGE WHAT HASN'T WORKED
DCEU is riddled with issues, but many can be corrected easily. Some of which are as simple as making a few casting changes. Like, for example, switching out Jesse Eisenberg for another actor to play Lex Luthor, after most critics and fans alike bashed Eisenberg for giving a performance that left a lot to be desired. Of course, this is easier said than done.
Admitting failure is a tough thing to do, and for Warner Bros to admit their Luthor isn't working out and would need a replacement could make for an awkward sight. However, if we can all accept the fact that James Bond changes his face every 4-5 films, we can accept another Luthor popping out of nowhere.
18 TAKE SOME RISKS IN FRONT AND BEHIND THE CAMERA
The DCEU often gets accused of trying to copy the MCU formula, and if that is true, then they forgot the most important thing that led to the MCU's success: It took risks both in front and behind the camera. Kicking off the franchise with a movie about Iron Man -- a character who at the time few casual audiences knew about -- was risky, but it paid off.
And getting the director of Elf to helm a high octane action romp seemed even riskier, but again, it paid off.
Iron Man opened to stellar reviews and an impressive box office. Both in front and behind the camera, DCEU has kept it pretty safe, and safe has not been paying off too well for the franchise.
17 BRING IN BETTER VILLAINS
Another common criticism within the DCEU is that none of the films within the franchise showcase a memorable main villain, or a baddie who presents a big threat to our heroes. Lex Luthor was lackluster, Doomsday was wasted, Ares was forgettable, The Joker was barely there, and Steppenwolf was forgettable. As it goes with most superhero movies, the superhero film is only as good as the supervillain, and if the villains don't make an impact over the film, neither does the hero nor the film.
Maybe it can look into their archives for villains who have been impactful in the comics, but seldom used on the big screen. That's one way to start. Because whichever way it's picking their villains now, it ain't working.
16 DON'T TRY TO DUPLICATE MARVEL'S SUCCESS
DCEU has taken some flak from allegedly trying to be a grittier MCU. From a business standpoint, it makes sense on paper for DCEU to try and go with what's safe bye emulating Hollywood's most successful franchise. The only problem is that when the DCEU tries to emulate the MCU, its noticeable.
Audiences see it as DCEU copying the same old, same old.
DCEU need to wash out the old, and try out something completely new, perhaps by doing all of the things that MCU is not. People forget that before MCU was a hit, it was a risky endeavor. It had to build up a brand new game plan from scratch using any other franchise as a tent pole. DCEU must do the same.
15 PROVIDE SLOW BUILDS
Out of all of the things that the DCEU has rushed into, it has been introducing characters. The first quarter of Suicide Squad's runtime is dedicated to introducing us to the team. And by "introduce," we mean give us quick flashes of their backstory with very little time given to actually let us get to know these characters -- everything was far too rushed for that.
A lot of the DCEU feels forced and too fast -- especially characterization -- but perhaps if it embraced a slower build in storytelling instead of throwing all balls to the wall, maybe we wouldn't have these issues in future movies.
14 MORE DIVERSITY
One of the high praises of Wonder Woman is that the film was one of the more diverse superhero films we have seen in recent memory. Pulled together by a female empowerment message, Wonder Woman gave us something that not even the MCU has yet: a female-led superhero film.
On the heels fo this, the DCEU should continue to campaign for more diversity among their cast and crew for future projects.
Not just because it is the right thing to do, but because more diversity is clearly what audiences want more of nowadays. The success of films like Wonder Woman and Black Panther is living proof of that.
13 LEARN FROM THE FAILURES OF THE MCU
While the MCU is both the most successful superhero franchise and Hollywood's highest grossing franchise overall, that does not mean the MCU have not -- and do not currently -- have their own fair share of issues.
In previous years, many critics have shamed MCU for not including their television shows into the wider scope of its film universe, for being too lighthearted, seldom taking creative risks with characters, namely with killing them off, and a lack of edgy storylines and characters. DCEU can take note of these issues, and capitalize by providing everything that the MCU refuse to give its fans.
12 GIVE THE HEROES SIDEKICKS
When it comes to DC films, The Dark Knight trilogy is the tent pole to which many fans judge the DCEU, both in terms of quality and in content. Since it will be too hard to try and live to the standard of such a successful and beloved series, DCEU would be smart to separate itself from TDK as much as it can.
One way would be by including sidekicks.
Sidekicks are a concept that was too frowned upon to be included in TDK trilogy, and has rarely been fully realized in many big screen superhero flicks. It's also something fans are dying to see. They wanna see guys like Robin and Superboy provide some assistance to the Justice League, so give it to 'em, DCEU.
11 BRING THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS INTO THE CANON
Warner Bros. claimed to have plans to release a Green Lantern Corps movie in 2020, but that announcement was made back in 2014. We are halfway into 2018, and we have heard no news of actors being cast, nor of a script being finished. After the last GL film flopped, we get why they're reluctant to make more.
However, by now, Warner Bros. should have learned from their past mistakes, and can use what they learned to make a better one for 2020. The people are begging for it and now is as good a time as any to try and get a Green Lantern franchise off the ground.
10 MAKE THE STAKES HIGH AT THE RIGHT MOMENT
While every film needs to have high stakes, it has been getting a little redundant for every single film in the DCEU at this point to concern itself with a potentially world ending plot. Think in the context of a video game for a second: If every level had the player fight the big boss to save the world, the story would get redundant and boring -- like the DCEU.
With every film focusing on the end of the world, we know our heroes will win because they're the heroes.
The stakes in DC's movies are way too high to think there would be any other outcome. They need to pick their stakes wisely, and wait for something big to raise the stakes.
9 INTRODUCE HEROES WHO WE'RE LESS FAMILIAR WITH
One of the things holding DCEU back are expectations set by what came before it. Guys like Henry Cavill are going to struggle to give memorable performances compared to quintessential performances from past actors -- like Christopher Reeve -- and their movies are going to struggle to live up to classics of old.
However, if Warner Bros. gave us whole new characters which have yet to reach the big screen -- like Doctor Fate, Black Canary, Plastic Man, Starfire, Hawkgirl, and Booster Gold for example -- then the DCEU could breath new life into both familiar characters and the franchise as a whole.
8 ADAPT STORIES THAT WORKED IN THE COMICS
For the most part, the storylines featured in the DCEU seem to be struggling to connect with audiences on an emotional level. One solution may be to look at old comic books which struck an emotional core with readers.
Adapting these stories for the wider audience may connect viewers to these stories much like it did with readers of the comics.
For example, adapting a story like All Star Superman -- which focuses on Superman dealing with life after being told he has one year to live after being overexposed to solar radiation -- could be exactly what the franchise needs to help Henry Cavill become a truly fan-favorite Superman.
7 BE SMART WITH FLASHPOINT
If we look at some of the issues concerning the DCEU, many of those issues can be written out simply, if the DCEU chose the next Flash film as the perfect opportunity. It has been strongly rumored that the next Flash film due for a 2020 release will adapt "The Flashpoint Paradox" storyline, and if anyone is familiar with that story, they know that the timeline gets warped in a way that provides some severe repercussions for the DC Comics Universe.
Perhaps even after The Flash saves the day in this proposed film, maybe some of those big changes can stick after the time reset, similar to how things turned out after the time reset during the third season of The Flash.
6 LEARN FROM THE SUCCESS OF THE ARROWVERSE
While the DCEU has been struggling to find an audience, the DC Comics television franchise has had the opposite effect in every department. Much like DCEU has as of late, the Arrowverse -- which consists of Arrow, Supergirl, The Flash, and Legends of Tomorrow -- wasn't perfect and even suffered from the same issues that the DCEU has today.
However, the folks who run the Arrowverse listened to their fans, corrected their mistakes, and have been a hit ever since.
Once the DCEU recognizes how the Arrowverse got so successful, maybe it will able to duplicate that same success for the big screen.
5 UNDERSTAND WHY WONDER WOMAN WORKED
At this particular point in time, Wonder Woman remains the DCEU's most successful film to date, both as their highest grossing project, and their most critically beloved piece. It helped that it came at a time where audiences were especially hungry for a live action movie starring Wonder Woman, but there certainly has to be more to why it is the DCEU's most successful movie.
Warner Bros. need to figure out exactly what they did so well in both storytelling and marketing, and perhaps try to duplicate it in a similar manner so that their future projects can find similar success.
4 POLISH UP SUPERMAN AS A CHARACTER
A movie franchise is only as good as its leading character, and since Superman has always been the de facto leader of the Justice League in the comics, he is the de facto leader of the franchise as well.
Critics often point out the flaws in Superman as a character and how this current illustration betrays the values of past interpretations of the character.
For the franchise as a whole to work, it is evident that the DCEU interpretation of Superman must be workshopped a bit before he hits the big screen again. Mold him as a character that any franchise would be proud to show off as its leader.
3 BRING SHOWS LIKE TITANS INTO THE DCEU
A common complaint that people have against the MCU is that shows like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Daredevil rarely -- if ever -- crossover into the actual cinematic universe. It makes people wonder what even is the point of watching the shows if these shows do not even fit in the grander scheme of the MCU.
This is where the DCEU could have an edge over their biggest competition, especially with shows like Titans coming onto the horizon. Provide what the competition is not giving their audience, and cross over the DCEU movies with the universe they're building on the small screen.
2 OFFICIALLY CALL IT THE MULTIVERSE
In DC Comics, The Multiverse refers to a cosmic construct of different universes in DC Comics, with each universe including unique interpretations of familiar heroes. Rather than reboot characters, storylines, and entire films whenever something bombs, Warner Bros. can simply establish the Multiverse, and focus on alternate versions of the characters for the next film.
Think of it as taking cinematic precautions.
For instance, rather than Matt Reeves rebooting a Batman franchise by replacing Ben Affleck, focus on a Batman from a different universe. That way, audiences won't be so weirded out by the DCEU actor being replaced. It'll just focus on a new Batman from a new universe.
1 WHY SO SERIOUS?
Here's another major criticism against the DCEU -- most films in the franchise are too dark, gritty, and serious. Just to clarify, there isn't anything wrong with a superhero film being dark and gritty. Films like The Dark Knight proves that such a tone can work, but when a film is gloomy for the sake of gloominess, that's where the problem lies.
A character like Batman can live in a dark world, but someone as inspirational and uplifting as Superman shouldn't. We're not saying DCEU should be as lighthearted as the MCU all the time. Just remember to pick their moments wisely as to when they should get serious.