Warner Bros. Consumer Products To Promote DC Films & More At Licensing Expo 2015

Ahead of the Licensing Expo 2015, Warner Bros. Consumer Products has announced their full line-up of what they will be showing at the event, ranging from their DC Comics-based films to their planned “Harry Potter” spin-off. You can read the full press release below and check back here next week for exclusive photos from the event!

With a powerhouse portfolio of entertainment properties—anchored by a theatrical slate of tentpole films, a fan-driven TV portfolio, global initiatives with immersive worlds, all-new animated content developed for younger fans, and a diverse lineup of pop-classic favorites—Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) soars into Licensing Expo 2015 with an unrivaled lineup of content support and partners that will drive its licensing, merchandising and retail business in 2016 and beyond.

“WBCP arrives at Licensing Expo with an unmatched portfolio of content and product offerings, led by the most anticipated feature film events of 2016—DC Comics’ Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, the first time fans will see Batman and Superman together in a theatrical event; DC Comics’ Suicide Squad, the first-ever theatrical team up of some of the most iconic Super-Villains; and from J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” said Brad Globe, President of Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “Content is the cornerstone of our robust programs, and we have an unparalleled lineup of collaborations and partnerships, which is a testament to the trusted relationships we have built with all of our licensing and retail partners.”

Batman and Superman – First Time Ever Together in a Theatrical Event!
For the first time ever, fans will see Batman and Superman together in the theatrical event of the year in Warner Bros. Pictures’ Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and WBCP stands tall at Licensing Expo with a powerhouse roster of global partners to support as Batman and Superman fly into theaters on March 25, 2016. WBCP promises to deliver on fan anticipation and licensing opportunities as this heroic theatrical event continues to build momentum through its licensing and merchandising programs around the world. At the same time, the tentpole film will help drive the Batman and Superman franchises to new heights, offering licensees and retailers new opportunities to reach fans of all ages.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice will be supported by an impressive list of licensees, including global toy partner, Mattel, with a wide range toy line, including action figures, role-play, playsets and collectible figures, highlighted by the fan-favorite Movie Masters line. Also supporting Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice will be The LEGO Group, global construction partner; Rubie’s Costume Co. with a wide range of costume products based on the entire DC Comics portfolio, including Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice; and Thinkway Toys for role play items. Additionally, apparel and accessories collections from Junkfood and Bioworld, and footwear from Converse, with a graphically unique inspired line for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice; among many others will support the film.

DC Comics’ Super-Villains Team Up for First Time in Theatrical Film:
As the power of Warner Bros. Pictures’ and DC Entertainment’s film portfolio shows its strength, WBCP will also offer a targeted licensing and merchandising program focusing on collectors and adult fans in support of Suicide Squad, the first film to feature many of DC Comics’ iconic Super-Villains as a team, including Deadshot, Harley Quinn, Killer Croc, Boomerang, Katana and The Joker, as the second theatrical release from the Studio’s DC Comics film slate rolls out.

From J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World:
The wizarding world continues to delight audiences with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, J.K. Rowling’s screenwriting debut, which marks an expanded creative partnership between Warner Bros. Entertainment and J.K. Rowling, and which will be fully supported by WBCP to offer fans an exciting licensing and merchandising program. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the first in a new film series from J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, is inspired by Hogwarts textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and the adventures of the book’s fictitious author, Newt Scamander.

“We are incredibly excited to further explore and dig deeper into our already strong portfolio with an eye towards content creation, allowing us to offer initiatives for girls, boys and preschoolers on a global scale,” said Karen McTier, Executive Vice President, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “With programs like DC Super Hero Girls, Batman Unlimited, DC Super Friends and more, WBCP is creating new content and building impactful activations with partners around the world.”

DC Super Hero Girls Empowers Girls to True Potential:
In a revolutionary partnership, WBCP, DC Entertainment (DCE), Warner Bros. Animation (WBA) and Mattel have joined forces to launch the DC Super Hero Girls franchise, an exciting new universe of Super Heroic storytelling that will help build character and confidence, and empower girls to discover their true potential. Developed for girls aged 6-12, DC Super Hero Girls stars the female Super Heroes and Super-Villains of DC Comics during their formative years.

DC Super Hero Girls will take the girls space by storm when it launches this fall as it plays out across multiple entertainment content platforms and product categories to create an immersive world. Featuring a completely new artistic style and aesthetic, this unprecedented initiative will include digital content and TV specials, while made-for-videos, publishing, toys, apparel and other products will begin to roll out in 2016, providing opportunities for girls to interact with characters, learn about the storylines, and engage in customizable play.

The LEGO Group will also be key to building the DC Super Hero Girls franchise, leveraging their experience and success engaging girls in creative construction play to bolster this universe through an array of LEGO building sets designed to inspire girls’ imaginations.

The Random House Books for Young Readers imprint of Random House Children’s Books has been appointed the master publishing partner for the franchise and offers a portfolio of books that will bring the DC Super Hero Girls world to life. Global partner Rubie’s Costumes will also offer a wide range of costumes based on the various characters. Additionally, consumer products partners around the world will be engaged in creating a merchandise line dedicated to DC Super Hero Girls across all key categories.

All-New Adventures with Batman Unlimited and DC Super Friends:
As the DC Comics universe expands, WBCP, DCE and WBA offer boys and preschoolers all-new content inspired by two of the company’s most successful toy lines developed in partnership with Mattel and Fisher-Price: Batman Unlimited and DC Super Friends, respectively. Bringing dimension to the action figures and playsets available in toy aisles globally, each program will engage millions of young fans around the world like never before.

Batman Unlimited debuted content in May as a made-for-video animated movie entitled Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, with the sequel Batman Unlimited: Monstery Mayhem set to release in the second half of 2015. Adding to the new Batman Unlimited content, Warner Bros. has started to roll out the 22 stand-alone, two-minute shorts featuring additional story elements along with companion apps designed for young fans to extend and customize their experience in a new interactive way. Rubie’s Costumes will support the new original content with a line of inspired-by dress-up and costumes, and toymaker Thinkway will introduce new Batman Unlimited-themed role-play accessories. Batman Unlimited will have products in other key categories, such as apparel and publishing, to be announced at a later time.

DC Super Friends content, inspired by the Fisher-Price Imaginext toy line, also introduces a series of shorts. Exciting new playset environments from the successful product line are featured in the shorts, such as The Joker Laff Factory as well as a new design of the fan-favorite Batcave, all featuring the interactive Imaginext Power Pad that enables kids to activate key features in the toy. Publishing partner Random House Children’s Books will also continue to extend storytelling by publishing new titles. Additional licensees in other key categories and will be announced in the coming months

DC TV Portfolio Takes New Heights:
Additionally, WBCP will highlight its rich primetime TV licensing portfolio based on DC Entertainment’s pantheon of characters across DC Comics and Vertigo. From Warner Bros. Television (WBTV) and DCE, new DC Comics–based series “Supergirl” and “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow,” and returning hits “Arrow,” “The Flash” and “Gotham,” along with Vertigo-based new series “Lucifer” and returning series “iZOMBIE,” will continue to inspire an array of new products from licensing partners in every category as WBCP brings fans closer to their favorite WBTV hits.

Zoinks! Scooby-Doo is Building Excitement:
Everyone’s favorite canine, Scooby-Doo, is building more excitement at retail with licensing support from The LEGO Group, bringing Scooby-Doo, Shaggy and the Gang to life in LEGO form for the first time ever, in five all-new building sets and in never-before-seen animated content, featuring the zaniness of the classic characters in true LEGO form. Later this year, fans can look forward to a 22-minute LEGO special, featuring Scooby-Doo, and produced in partnership with WBA. In addition, WBA will also be producing made-for-video movie titles, which will be released by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment in the coming years.

Scooby-Doo and the Gang are rollin’ up in the Mystery Machine for the upcoming new animated comedy Be Cool Scooby-Doo! as WBCP will continue to offer licensing opportunities for the Scooby-Doo brand and groovy opportunities to new and returning partners, including global master toy licensee Character Group, Kellogg, General Mills, Rubie’s Costumes, Scholastic and Hallmark, among others.

Classic Animated Favorites Just Keep Getting Better:
Beloved classic animation properties such as Looney Tunes will continue to drive new trends with hot new partnerships, such as the return of the fan-favorite collaboration, Hare Jordan, to high-end fashion collections including haute couture apparel and accessories with globally renowned label Moschino, by designer Jeremy Scott; and Tom and Jerry with PUMA. Also as part of WBCP’s classic animation offerings comes Wabbit – A Looney Tunes Production and The Tom and Jerry Show, from WBA, with all being supported by top-tier licensees.

TV Properties Continue to Win Over Audiences:
Network television’s most-watched comedy among Adults 18–49 and #1 entertainment series among Total Viewers, WBTV’s “The Big Bang Theory” continues to draw support from licensing partners with new product leading into this year’s Licensing Expo, including fan-favorites Ripple Junction, Funko, Bioworld, USAopoly, Hallmark and Bif Bang Pow!, among many others. WBCP is also excited to work with The LEGO Group to indulge The Big Bang Theory fans’ inner genius and bring them the LEGO version of Leonard and Sheldon’s living room as seen in the hit series. Created by two LEGO fan designers and selected by LEGO Ideas members, this limited edition set features minifigures of all seven main characters from the show—Leonard, Sheldon, Penny, Howard, Raj, Amy and Bernadette—with assorted accessory elements and authentic detail.

WBCP will also continue to highlight its current and classic hit television properties such as Warner Bros. Television’s “Supernatural” and “The Vampire Diaries,” as well as Warner Horizon Television’s “Pretty Little Liars” and “The Voice,” in addition to perennial hits such as Friends, Seinfeld, and many more with continued cross-category support at retail as part of its television licensing entertainment portfolio. Adding to the diverse licensing show lineup, WBCP will also introduce the summer event game show 500 Questions and the new 2015-2016 season series, including “Rush Hour,” “Blindspot,” “Containment” and “Heads Up!”

WBCP Offers Immersive Experiences For Young Fans:
WBCP and DCE have teamed up to launch all-new online entertainment destinations for kids, ScoobyDoo.com, LooneyTunes.com and DCKids.com, engaging young fans with their favorite Warner Bros. characters and DC Comics Super Heroes in immersive experiences, featuring original content. In addition, these websites feature components such as videos, downloadable activities, games, quizzes and contests, offering kids the opportunity to stay connected to these dynamic and immersive worlds 24/7. An international market roll-out in Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Portugal, Russia, Spain and the UK is planned for the coming months.

Video Games Bring Worlds to Life:
WBCP is excited to offer enthusiasts many of their favorite collectibles, apparel and more, in niche licensing programs that allow them to show-off their fandom and support for some of the most popular video games in the industry. This year, WBCP offers licensing opportunities for the upcoming LEGO Dimensions game as WBCP, on behalf of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (WBIE), partners with The LEGO Group for a game-inspired product line to bring fans of all ages many of their favorite characters and worlds, including DC Comics Super Heroes, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and The Hobbit Trilogy, The Wizard of Oz and Scooby-Doo, among many others. Additional video game offerings include the much-anticipated Batman: Arkham Knight game, from WBIE and Rocksteady Studios, releasing on June 23; and Mortal Kombat X, from WBIE and NetherRealm Studios, already a hit among fans.

Worldwide Reach of Global Themed Entertainment:
Warner Bros.’ global themed entertainment offerings continue to expand worldwide bringing the Warner Bros. experience to theme parks, international cultural venues, live stages and more. In July of 2014, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter expanded globally, opening at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, and domestically with the opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, the highly anticipated expansion at Universal Orlando Resort, creating the world’s first centrally themed, multi-park experience and expanding The Wizarding World of Harry Potter across both Universal Orlando theme parks. Additionally, the countdown has begun for the Spring 2016 opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Harry Potter: The Exhibition, currently in Paris and with more stops planned for 2015 and beyond, continues to bring the Harry Potter experience to fans with a state-of-the-art interactive, travelling exhibition featuring thousands of props, costumes and magical creatures from the Warner Bros. films based on J.K. Rowling’s beloved book series.

WBCP also currently manages a successful theme park portfolio with partners around the world, including Warner Bros.-inspired theme parks in Australia and Spain, Six Flags theme parks throughout North America, and Hopi Hari in Brazil, all immersing fans in the world of DC Comics Super Heroes, Looney Tunes characters and more.

Located at Booth #N139, WBCP is one of the largest exhibitors at this year’s show.

DC DELIGHTS #5: ARROW, THE FLASH Writers At The Ready, SPOILERS, Suicide Squad Stuff, And More

Surprisingly, in comparison with last week’s DC Delights this week’s is a little less intense. As this week’s DC Delights is smaller and more bite sized. Anyway, this week we’re talking Arrow & The Flash writers ready themselves for their next seasons, Gotham season 2 gets season regular, and a bunch of other TV news. On the movie side, we have more Suicide Squad stuff, mainly BTS photos, Momoa gives director a thumbs up, updates on the cancelled George Miller’s Justice League, and much much more! Then some potential spoilers at the end, hint hint that is your first warning!

SO let us dive right in!

TV NEWS

The writers of both Arrow and The Flash have begun to map out the fourth and second seasons respectively. For The Flash writers they will be tackling how to introduce more speedsters and more villains, on the other hand Arrow writers will be meddling with the fourth season villain, Damian Darhk, and many other story arcs and more!

First day back in the writers room. Lots of fun stuff. Bring it on, Season 2! #TheFlash

— FlashWritersRoom (@FLASHtvwriters) June 1, 2015

And hellooooooooo Season 4! #ArrowSeason4 #FirstDayBack #DidntWeJustFillThisThing? https://t.co/SQtVjb9iOs

— ArrowWritersRoom (@ARROWwriters) June 1, 2015

Nicholas D’Agosto made his debut fairly early on in Gotham’s first season last year – popping up in episodes 9 and 10 as a key element in the mid-season finale. Sadly the actor, who plays the duplicitous ‘Harvey Dent’ on the show, only returned for a single episode in the second half of the season. Fans of the character will therefore no doubt be happy to learn that D’Agosto has been bumped up to regular status for next season, per the actor’s Twitter account:

Thank you to all of you @Gotham and #HarveyDent fans for your enthusiasm. I can’t wait to join more of the fun as a regular in Season 2!

— Nicholas D’Agosto (@nicholasdagosto) May 27, 2015

Punisher: War Zone and Green Street Hooligans director Lexi Alexander was talking to fans on Twitter in a quick Q&A, and she made a surprising reveal when one of them asked if Marvel have been in touch to ask her to direct one of their shows on online streaming service Netflix. “They have not. But I’m excited to direct Arrow in August. ;-)” 

They have not. But I’m excited to direct Arrow in August. 😉 https://t.co/hoMNh6N8B2

— Lexi Alexander (@Lexialex) June 4, 2015

Victor Garber, who plays the Dr. Martin Stein half of Firestorm, revealed that his other half, Robbie Amell, will appear in the season two premiere of The CW’s “The Flash,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.

“Robbie and I will be joined on the first episode of the (next) season of ‘The Flash,’ and then we’ll see what happens,” Garber told THR.

Garber is also slated to appear as a series regular in the “Flash”/”Arrow” spinoff, “Legends of Tomorrow,” alongside Caity Lotz, Wentworth Miller, Dominic Purcell and Brandon Routh. Yet there have been no reports that say Amell will join him in the show, leaving Firstorm’s status — at least the Ronnie Raymond half — in question. THR says Amell is “expected to make an appearance,” but not as a series regular.

Garber also teased that The CW had larger plans for the spinoff beyond its initial 15-episode season, saying, “They [CW] aren’t going to introduce a limited series. This isn’t HBO. They want the Full Monty.”

“The Flash” & Arrow returns to The CW and Gotham airs on Fox this fall, with “Legends of Tomorrow” slated to debut in early 2016.

Movie News

Jason Momoa is super stoked to be working with James Wan on Aquaman. Sure grossing $1.4 billion USD and counting on Fast & Furious 7 certainly helped Wan raise his profile and officially land the directing gig after being rumored for months. Wan will also work with Kurt Johnstad (300, Act of Valor) on developing the script.  Reports state that though Wan signed on to helm both Robotech and Aquaman at the same time, Wan will tackle Aquaman first after completing work on The Conjuring 2: The Endfield Experiment .  Wan should complete his work on The Conjuring 2 by Spring 2016, giving him plenty of time to tackle Aquaman for its July 27, 2018 release date.

View this post on Instagram

Game on. Super stoked Aloha AC

A post shared by Jason Momoa (@prideofgypsies) on Jun 4, 2015 at 2:54pm PDT

Click here for more!

With cameras surrounding the action packed scene Batman actor Ben Affleck’s stunt double leapt atop the moving vehicle and endeavoured to tear a hole in the roof.
Meanwhile, The Joker – a stunt double stand-in for Jared Leto – laughed maniacally while driving at speed through the empty city street.
Onlookers were also treated to another glimpse of the Batmobile, with the car cruising close by shortly after the action packed scene concluded.

See More HERE!

While Suicide Squad director David Ayer has declared that exterior principal photography has been completed, new photos have surfaced with the cast and crew in between takes in Toronto. In addition to a first look at actress Cara Delevingne, who’s playing June Moone/the Enchantress, we also have yet another look at Margot Robbie (Harley Quinn), Jai Courtney (Captain Boomerang), Joel Kinnaman (Rick Flag), Jay Hernandez (EL Diablo), and Karen Fukuhara (Katana) all sporting some bruises in full costume after shooting a subway station scene.

More HERE!

Lastly here are some random BTS photos I have found online.

Directed by David Ayer from his script, Suicide Squad stars Will Smith (Deadshot), Joel Kinnaman (Rick Flag), Jared Leto (the Joker), Margot Robbie (Harley Quinn), Jai Courtney (Boomerang),
Viola Davis (Amanda Waller), Cara Delevingne (Enchantress), Jessie Eisenberg (Lex Luthor), and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Killer Croc), with Raymond Olubawale (King Shark), Jay Hernandez, Ike Barinholtz, Jim Parrack, Adam Beach, and Scott Eastwood. The film releases on August 5, 2016!

There have already been a couple of live-action Swamp Thing movies, but although they’re campy fun, they are most definitely not a good representation of the the layered, interesting DC character. There’s been talk of Swamp Thing appearing in Guillermo del Toro’s Dark Universe movie (don’t hold your breath for that one), but short of that or another current DCCU outing it seems the best chance we had for decent take on the Earth Elemental came and went with the aborted 2010 project, which would have been produced by Joel Silver and written by Vincenzo Natali.

The latter has now posted the first four pages of his screenplay, and the direction the movie was going should be obvious to fans of Alan Moore’s acclaimed run.

The first four pages of my aborted #SwampThing script. pic.twitter.com/umWSpUJRZs

— Vincenzo Natali (@Vincenzo_Natali) June 1, 2015

It’s pretty much unheard of (unless you count Dame Judi Dench’s M returning for the Daniel Craig era Bond flicks) for an actor to reprise a role once the movie they originally appeared in has been rebooted, but that doesn’t stop fans wishing it would happen from time to time. Sure it’d mean continuity/canon issues – but who wouldn’t like to see J.K. Simmons back as J.J. Jameson in Marvel’s new Spider-Man movie for example? The same could be said for Mark Strong’s Sinestro, who was praised as one of the only positive aspects of Warner Bros.’ first Green Lantern attempt.

In an interview with MTV, Strong says he was proud of what he achieved with the performance, but doesn’t think there’s be a place for him in the DCCU as that character.

Despite being a huge comic book fan, Kevin Smith has never helmed a superhero flick, and while speaking to KPCC host John Horn at the Produced By conference in LA he admits that he’s not likely to ever get the opportunity to. But, he says if he did he’d like to make a movie based on The Question.

Smith’s idea would put a “noir-ish thriller” spin on the DC comics vigilante who uses a special substance to erase his features and a binary gas to recolour his cloths and hair. “I always thought if you were in an alley and f—ing Batman showed up you’d be like, ‘Oh f—, Batman.’ But if a dude shows up with no features and starts punching you, you would probably kill yourself in fear,” he explained to THR.

POTENTIAL SPOILERS FROM THIS POINT ON

After the first official trailer for Zack Snyder’s Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice was released, fans were very curious about the shots that appeared to depict the Dark Knight brandishing a rifle of some sort. Obviously Batman and guns don’t exactly have a very good relationship (though it’s worth noting that he has actually used them in the comics when the situation called for it) so it seemed like an unusual choice of weapon for the character. Well, turns out it wasn’t a sniper rifle, but some sort of Kryptonite-laced spear!

This information comes from Heroic Hollywood, who choose not to go into any more detail in regards to how Batman comes by the Kryptonite, or how he uses it against Superman (we assume he… spears him?) but that one tidbit alone makes for some interesting speculation. We know Bats will eventually suit-up in that very formidable looking Dark Knight Returns-inspired armor, so perhaps the spear is just a precursor to that and one of his first attempts to bring down the Man of Steel?

Heroic Hollywood again claims to have some more details on the Dark Knight’s role in the Suicide Squad movie, and it definitely sounds like we’ll be getting classic Batman based on this scene description:

In short, he goes and pays Amanda Waller a visit. Batman BREAKS into her massive security prison. In fact…he’s already inside Amanda Waller’s office waiting for her in the shadows when she appears. The guards are clueless. Batman has a bone to pick with Waller. You see Batman is totally against the concept behind the Suicide Squad, in fact he warns Waller that he will hold her personally responsible for any innocents The Joker & the rest of the Suicide Squad kill. A warning so stern that he has to visit Waller personally to deliver the message.

There you have it folks another DC Delights completed, and now I hope you are fully up to date on all things DC! Goodbye and enjoy your weekend!

Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice will be in theaters on March 25th, 2016; Suicide Squad on August 5th, 2016; Wonder Woman – June 23rd, 2017; Justice League – November 17th, 2017; The Flash – March 23rd, 2018; Aquaman – July 27th, 2018; Shazam – April 5th, 2019; Justice League 2 – June 14th, 2019; Cyborg – April 3rd, 2020; Green Lantern – June 19th, 2020.

PEACE!!

DC DELIGHTS #3: ARROW, THE FLASH, LEGENDS OF TOMORROW, CONSTANTINE, GOTHAM, And SUICIDE SQUAD!!

Ah Friday what a lovely day to talk DC tv and some movie news. This week we talk about the future of DC’s TV line-up from the likes of Arrow, Flash, Gotham, Constantine, and newcomers Legends of Tomorrow and Supergirl! BUT as usual some movie news well movie pictures from Suicide Squad’s set and BVS’ Wonder Woman!

The Flash’s Danielle Panabaker had a Reddit AMA talking mostly about The Flash’s future. Here’s a summary of some of the more important information:
– Tom Cavanagh (Harrison Wells) will be back in future seasons.
– Killer Frost is coming. Danielle hints that she may show up in the season final. The costume has already been created.
– At the end of the season final, Caitlin is terrified
– The possibility of Caitlin crossing over to Legends Of Tomorrow has been discussed but is not official yet.
– When asked to tease the season final she responded “The finale has lots of tears and lots of emotions. And it might be the end of the world for Team Flash…”
– One word description of the final: Heart-Wrenching
– Deleted scenes involve more Caitlin/Wells interaction and Caitlin/Iris/Cisco interaction. One of these scenes involves Wells suggesting that Caitlin take a job elsewhere, she declines.
– Season 2 starts filming July 7
– There’s a wedding in the season final.

Now that the dust has settled on Arrow’s eventful Season 3 finale, fans have been left wondering about the crime-fighting future of one ‘John Diggle’ in particular. While the idea was briefly teased during a conversation between Diggle and his (former?) best pal Oliver Queen, David Ramsey has now confirmed that his character will indeed be operating under a mask next season.

Speaking to Comicbook.com at The CW’s annual upfronts presentation on Thursday, Ramsey stressed the importance of preserving Diggle’s secret identity while he’s out catching the bad guys. “I do think you need some kind of concealment,” he claimed, “And to that end, they are working on something. You will see something for Diggle next year, season 4. You will.”

But what mask will he wear? Earlier this year, there was a lot of speculation about Dig potentially taking up the mantle of a certain Green Lantern. Given the character’s close partnership with Green Arrow in the comics (albeit as the ‘Hal Jordan’ incarnation), the rumors did appear to carry some weight. However, Ramsey maintained that this was never the plan:

“Everyone wants to talk about John Stewart. Is it “John Stewart Diggle” or “John Diggle Stewart” or whatever, and will he be Green Lantern? Marc Guggenheim has said publicly that it’s not the way to go right now. But people are still talking about it… I think they’ve taken great strides to making John Diggle part of the lexicon, and that’s an important thing. I don’t think you want to abandon that… I think there’s something very normal about him that’s part of the appeal. I think if you put a mask on him as part of the Green Lantern Corps, and that’s wonderful by the way – John Stewart is a wonderful character – but you lose some of that. You lose part of the “everyguy” character.”

While he may have ruled out Green Lantern, Ramsey did go on to name-drop a few other (lesser known) DC Comics heroes as potential secret identity candidates – including the likes of ‘Vigilante’ and ‘The Guardian’.

DC Comics fans are still mourning the recent cancellation of NBC’s “Constantine,“ which starred Matt Ryan as the titular occult detective — but could the character live on through another DC television series, like The CW’s “Arrow”?

The supernatural drama is produced by Warner Bros. Television — the studio behind The CW’s “Arrow,” “The Flash,” “iZombie” and newly picked up “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow,” (not to mention CBS’ “Supergirl,” and Fox’s “Gotham” and “Lucifer“) which could pave the way for a potential crossover. However, WBTV is currently trying to find a new network home for “Constantine,” which would stymie any cameo plans.

“Arrow” showrunner Marc Guggenheim admitted that “there’s a lot of desire on everyone’s part” to bring the character into the shared DC TV universe he created with Andrew Kreisberg and Greg Berlanti, telling Variety, “It would be wonderful and we certainly have a million ideas — it’s hard for me to say mainly because A: it’s not my decision to make and B: with ‘Constantine’ being shopped around to other networks… it’s really hard to make plans when a show’s kind of in limbo.”

Even The Arrow himself, Stephen Amell, was seemingly eager for a crossover between the two properties before NBC swung the ax. During a recent panel at Wizard World Philadelphia Comic-Con, Amell spoke about the interconnected nature of the DC TV universe.

“‘Constantine’ was an NBC show. I’m on The CW. I had had discussions with DC — so not NBC, not CW — but with DC Entertainment about guest starring on ‘Constantine’ when it was still on the air. And that was and is still on the table,” Amell said, according to ComicBook.com. “The reason that I was going to guest star on ‘Constantine,’ at least the idea that we were throwing around, was he’s an expert when it comes to the Lazarus Pit, which is now something that is a part of and will continue to be a part of ‘Arrow.’”

While John Constantine would arguably be a natural addition to the “Arrow” universe given the comic book character’s familiarity with supernatural phenomena, Guggenheim cautioned, “a lot of the pieces are in place, except for that one final piece, which is: what’s the fate of ‘Constantine’? That’s the tricky thing. But it comes up in the writers’ room constantly — we have a number of ideas; one idea that’s particularly exciting to me. We’re in a little bit of a wait-and-see mode, like you guys are.”

Speaking of crossovers!

Crossover episodes between its hit superhero shows — “The Flash” and “Arrow” — have fueled the CW’s success, and network president Mark Pedowitz promises there will be more to come. “We’ll be doing them as special events in the fourth quarter,” he told ad buyers at the CW’s upfront presentation.

With yet more characters from the DC Comics universe entering the CW schedule with the pickup of “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow,” the plan is for even more creative storytelling, especially since the shows will all be in the hands of executive producer Greg Berlanti and his team, including EPs Marc Guggenheim and Andrew Kreisberg.

“We do have crossovers planned,” says DC chief content officer Geoff Johns. “The point of building these three shows out on the CW network is we can make a comic book world. That’s really the secret formula starting to emerge on television for the first time.”

Johns says the plan is for the characters to weave in and out of storylines, in order to help and challenge one another. “The shows are acting like monthly comic books by doing so,” he notes.

Indeed, Stephen Amell’s “Arrow” and Grant Gustin’s “The Flash” appear prominently in the trailer for “Legends of Tomorrow.”

But there’s another DC character being introduced to the small screen this fall who might have to sit out all the crossover fun — at least for now.

Of CBS’ hotly anticipated “Supergirl,” “The network has said publicly at this point they’re going to keep her to themselves,” says Berlanti. “I always approach the shows as a fan first, so I would love to see (a crossover). I think in success, all things are possible. But there’s a lot that would have to happen before everybody might say yes to that.”

On the heels of CBS ordering Supergirl to series, Digital Spy spoke to cast member David Harewood (Homeland), who plays DEO (Department of Extra-Normal Operations) agent Hank Henshaw.

In the comics (pre-New 52), Hank has a much different background. He’s an astronaut that believes catastrophic events that plague him and his crew are Superman’s fault. Before his injuries take his life he transfers his consciousness into Superman’s birthing matrix, becoming Cyborg Superman.

Harewood well aware of Henshaw’s comic backstory. “Hank Henshaw, yes, who ends up becoming Cyborg Superman in the comics, battling Superman,” Harewood told Digital Spy when they brought up that who he is playing in the show. “So I’m looking forward to that.”

“He’s a bit of a supervillain,” Harewood teased. “He seems pretty indestructible. Which I kind of like because I keep getting blown up in these things. I’m kind of looking forward to being indestructible.”

http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1

Ciara Renee is new to the DC Universe on screen, but the actress revealed she’s a longtime fan of the comics and the characters who will grow into Legends on the show during a red carpet interview with ComicBook.com on Thursday. Despite the trailer that shows a CGI Hawkgirl soaring above the city, Renee hasn’t gotten to actually put on the wings of Hawkgirl just yet. It’s clear from her appearance on the red carpet Thursday, though, that she can’t wait for Kendra Saunders to take flight.

Ciara, Hawkgirl is a very different kind of superhero than what we’ve seen in this CW/DC Universe so far. What’s the inital appeal to you about playing a character like this?

Ciara Renee: I think the fact that she’s a girl is amazing! We don’t see many superheroines, so it’s going to be great to see a couple more bolstering the team. And, you know, she can fly! Which is not half bad! (laughs)

In the comics and even on the Justice League animated series, Hawkgirl has usually been a sort of balls-to-the-wall take nothing from anybody kind of character. Is that something you’re looking to bring to her on Legends?

CR: Oh yeah, absolutely. It’s interesting, because I think we’re finding her before she really understands her powers and her purpose. So she’s not necessarily a balls-to-the-wall human just yet, but when she gets angry… well you’ll see! (laughs)

Rumor has it we’ll see you Tuesday night on the season finale of The Flash. What was it like getting to tease the character a little bit before some of the other cast?

CR: Right! It was super cool. It was kind of a last minute thing. I signed on for the show, and they said, “Let’s try this!” and I just said, “Absolutely!” I’m excited to see it and how that turned out.

Did you get to put on the wings?

CR: No, we don’t have that costume yet, sadly. We’re still waiting for that, so not yet.

Are you hoping for the full beaked mask and all?

CR: I love her costume! I think it’s hot, man! I’ll take any part of it, wings and beak and everything.

What’s the general appeal to you of coming into the DC Universe and this new family of comic book shows?

CR: It’s so cool. It’s such a great community, and the fans are so passionate and excited about this. I was such a nerd as a kid; I watched Justice League all the time, and Justice League Unlimited, and Batman and Superman; I loved those, I love all those cartoons. So it’s really cool to be playing the real life version of one of the coolest characters on those shows.

When Morena Baccarin (Deadpool) first debuted as Dr. Leslie Thompkins, many didn’t expect her to stick around for too long, but with Erin Richards’ Barbara Kean falling out of favor with fans, Baccarin received an expanded role as her relationship with Ben McKenzie’s Jim Gordon evolved over the course of the latter half of the show’s freshman season. And with Barbara’s status, after her attack on Lee in the season finale, a little uncertain, it looks like Gordon will have the nice doctor to keep him company for a good while longer.

Earlier this week, Fox officially announced that their Batman prequel drama Gotham has decided to exercise Baccarin’s option to promote her from recurring status to a series regular.

At the CW Upfronts in New York Thursday, ComicBook.com chatted with actor Carlos Valdes about his fan-favorite character, some of those twists and turns, and how he likes feeling the vibes as Cisco.

Carlos, did you know just how far Cisco would come in season one? I feel like on a personal level, he had a lot of character development and growth.

Carlos Valdes: Yeah, absolutely. You know, with this show, we don’t know specifically what events are going to shape these characters into their ultimate trajectories, their end games so-to-speak, but we do know the sign posts. Do you know what I mean? We do know the big markers for the plot.

Like, we knew that Harrison Wells was really Eobard Thawne, the Reverse-Flash…

Wait, you knew that from the very beginning?

CV: Mm-hmm!

So who does Cisco want to interact more with in season two?

CV: Umm, you know, honestly, I love the scenes where Cisco and Joe West get to play around. I love playing off of Jesse L. Martin; he’s the best. I don’t often get scenes with him; I do every now and then, and when we do, we get along like gangbusters. I think there’s a really nice dynamic there between Joe West and Cisco. I’d love to work with Jesse a bit more.

It’s so much fun for fans every time that you get to reveal the name of a villain; comic book fans are just waiting for those ridiculous, iconic names to be said on screen. What’s that like for you, getting to reveal the icons and have that as part of your character?

CV: Well, you know, I have to give the credit first to the comic book writers who gave them those names 50 years ago, 75 years ago.

But it’s an honor. It really is! I mean, first of all, the writers came up with a really neat convention, you know? To justify these names, they have Cisco coming up with them with his unusual style, and I think that works really well. I think they did something smart and I’m trying to do it justice as best as I can. It’s an honor.

There have been some cool moments and nods to Cisco’s comic book alter ego, is that something you’re vibing on, getting to do that in the future?

CV: That wasn’t very subtle, Lucas. (laughs)

(laughs) To be super obvious and puntacular…

CV: I think, yeah, that’d be really nice. I can tease that fans can expect some big questions about the Vibe mythology to be answered in the next episode, the season finale here.

Yeah, we’ve been waiting since that mid-season trailer, where we saw that visor…

CV: Yeah! It looks good, right? You’d think, right? They’re kind of giving you the lollipop, but they’re not really giving it to you, they’re just holding it in front of your face.

What is the most surprising thing for you about coming into this DC Comics TV Universe?

CV: The most surprising thing. Huh. The most surprising thing is how supportive the network and the team are of the entire effort. We are living in an age where superhero media is huge. It’s easy for that to become stale, or become a fad, but I think we’ve kept it going strong in terms of fans’ interest because we’ve given it care, and we’ve given it dimension. We’ve given it something unique and different. I think that’s what has made the show such a success, and I’m really happy to be a part of it!

Now that you’ve had a full season to really build this character and get comfortable with him, what are some things you’re personally hoping for, for Cisco, as the show continues into season 2 and beyond?

CV: I hope he continues having romantic quandaries! You know what I mean?

That was fun this week, for sure.

CV: Those are really fun to play, because they’re an added dimension in his trajectory of growth. If he learns more about his romantic side, I think that’d be really fun to see.

Filming is still going strong this weekend for Suicide Squad in Toronto, Canada, and Just Jared has just bagged the most recent photos from the not-so-secret set. Offering yet another look at Will Smith and Margot Robbie in costume as Deadshot and Harley Quinn, respectively, these photos show the pair getting pretty close during filming as well as in-between takes. In addition, we also have another grainy look at Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang and Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flag.

More photos have also surfaced online from the Suicide Squad shoot and they feature more of Will Smith being quite the gentlemen as Deadshot, as well as Margot Robbie seemingly putting on quite a show in the rain as Harley Quinn. There’s also a good look at Jay Hernandez as El Diablo.

Suicide Squad director/screenwriter David Ayer (Fury) caught many people by surprise when he announce that Batman foe Killer Croc (aka Waylon Jones) was joining his film. That news came with the announcement that Lost and Oz actor Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje would portray him. Then the cast the photo was released at was even more shocking to see that Killer Croc was being done with practical makeup effects, not CGI as many had assumed.

Welp, now we can see even more of that fantastic makeup design with this full-body shot of the reptilian villain-turned-hero.

Stoked to see the full costume of #KillerCroc.You won’t be ready for this.Can’t wait for you all to see #SuicideSquad pic.twitter.com/JehMJAYT7d
— Thalia Worldwide (@thalia_ww) May 15, 2015

The latest piece of promotional artwork from Umberto Gonzalez (formerly El Mayimbe) gives us another awesome look at Wonder Woman, presumably close to how she’ll appear when played by the lovely Gal Gadot in Zack Snyder’s Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice. She’s sans cape this time, but as you can see she appears to be in the process of blocking a hail of gunfire with her gauntlets.

https://instagram.com/p/2lP3uGjpns

So there you have it folks a lot of tv news, Wonder Woman promo art and some Suicide Squad set photos as usual! Check back next week for more DC news!

PEACE!!

War Breaks Out In GOTHAM Season 1 Finale: "All Happy Families Are Alike"

Fox has released the synopsis for the May 4 season finale of Gotham, and it’s shaping up to be an eventful one. Fish returns to the city to reclaim her power, but she’s going to have to contend with Penguin and Maroni first. As we already know, not everyone will survive this.

**SEASON FINALE**–“GOTHAM”—(8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) CC-AD-HDTV 720p-Dolby Digital 5.1 THE BATTLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL RAGES ON THE SEASON FINALE OF “GOTHAM” MONDAY, MAY 4, ON FOX

As Gotham City’s gang war reaches its boiling point, Fish Mooney goes head-to-head with Maroni and Penguin in an attempt to re-stake her claim on the city. Meanwhile, Barbara and Leslie Thompkins are brought together after recent events, and Bruce searches Wayne Manor for any hints that his father might have left behind in the all-new “All Happy Families Are Alike” Season Finale episode of GOTHAM airing Monday, May 4 (8:00-9:00 ET/PT) on FOX. (GTH-122) (TV-14 D, L, V)

Cast: Ben McKenzie as Detective James Gordon, Donal Logue as Harvey Bullock, Jada Pinkett Smith as Fish Mooney, Sean Pertwee as Alfred, Robin Lord Taylor as Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin, Erin Richards as Barbara Kean, David Mazouz as Bruce Wayne, Camren Bicondova as Selina Kyle/the future Catwoman, Zabryna Guevara as Captain Sarah Essen, Cory Michael Smith as Edward Nygma/the future Riddler, Victoria Cartagena as Renee Montoya, Andrew Stewart Jones as Crispus Allen, John Doman as Carmine Falcone

Guest Cast: Morena Baccarin as Dr. Leslie Thompkins, Drew Powell as Butch Gilzean, David Zayas as Don Maroni, Peter Scolari as Commissioner Loeb, Chelsea Spack as Kristin Kringle, Dashiell Eaves as Kelly, James Andrew O’Connor as Tommy Bones

GOTHAM’S Robin Lord Taylor Wants To Be On THE FLASH

During a recent interview with TV Guide, the cast of Gotham were asked to name their dream TV roles.

Robin Lord Taylor, who has been delivering the show’s standout performance as Oswald “The Penguin” Cobblepot, says he’d keep it in the DC family.

“If [I] could be on a show other than my own, I would choose to be on The Flash because I think they’re absolutely killing it,” he said in a video embedded below. “Or Watch What Happens: Live, that’s the other one!”

If he were to appear on The Flash, he wouldn’t be the first Gotham actor to do so; Anthony Carrigan, who plays Victor Zsasz on the series, appeared as The Mist in one of The Flash’s first episodes. Morena Baccarin, who plays Dr. Leslie Thompkins, also has a minor recurring role on The Flash as Gideon, the Reverse-Flash’s computer.

For his part, a guest appearance on The Flash would mark the third comic book TV show for the young actor; before Gotham, Taylor appeared on The Walking Dead, his character dying in the Season Five premiere.

Gotham airs Monday nights at 8 p.m. and returns with new episodes on April 13.

Source: TVGuide

Chris Chalk Cast As Lucius Fox For GOTHAM

Source: Collider

Another key character from the DC Batman universe is heading to Gotham. Chris Chalk (12 Years A Slave) has been cast as Lucius Fox in the Fox drama series. He will appear in the penultimate Episode 21 of the current first season with an option to return in Season 2.

Lucius Fox is Wayne Enterprises’ resident tech genius. In a corporation shadowed by nefarious dealings, Fox emerges as a moral beacon for young Bruce Wayne. His desire to help Bruce uphold Thomas Wayne’s legacy eventually will earn him a spot as one of the boy’s most important confidants. Indeed, in the comics, Fox goes on to become Wayne Enterprises President/CEO when Bruce Wayne becomes Batman. The role was played by Morgan Freeman in the Dark Knight trilogy.

Chalk, who started off in theater in New York, is coming off a recurring role on HBO’s The Newsroom.

Source: Deadline

Jada Pinkett Smith Not Returning For GOTHAM Season 2

Whether or not Fish Mooney survives her encounter with the Dollmaker, Gotham star Jada Pinkett Smith will not be returning for the show’s second season, the actress confirmed today on ABC’s LIVE with Kelly and Michael.

It’s not the first time the actress has hinted that she might not make it — during a recent conference call she suggested that the rest of the season was no easy road for her character.

“Well, it’s not quite over yet but we’ll see if Fish survives the season,” the actress told reporters. “It’s a little tense from here on out, that’s for sure. It’s a little rough on Fish from here on out.”

Still, she had previously stopped short of saying that her character wouldn’t return — and even today she kept the language somewhat open.

“I don’t think so,” she admitted when asked by the hosts whether she is coming back. “I signed for a year and the year’s up. BUT! There are some great things coming ahead on Gotham, believe you me.”

Of course, just the fact that she doesn’t return for Season Two doesn’t mean her character is dead — and if she’s alive, you can bet she’ll be a threat in later seasons.

Gotham is on a scheduled hiatus and will return with new episode in April.

Donal Logue Talks GOTHAM, Getting Renewed for Season 2 and More

On Episode 15 (called “The Scarecrow”) of the Fox series Gotham, Jim Gordon (Ben McKenzie) and Harvey Bullock (Donal Logue) set out to stop Gerald Crane (Julian Sands), a biology teacher who has been harvesting the glands of his murder victims. He’s a man on a mission to eradicate the emotion of fear, which he sees as a hindrance in the development of the human species.

During this exclusive interview with Collider, actor Donal Logue talked about the biggest surprises that have come with being a part of Gotham, why he wishes he could hang out in the writers’ room, how nice it is to have the job security of already knowing they’ll have a Season 2, wanting to go darker, that he’d love to see some of Harvey Bullock’s home life, and why working with Jim Gordon is a case by case adjustment for Harvey.

What do you enjoy most about playing Harvey Bullock, and what would you still like to see with him?

LOGUE:  I want to see it go darker, and I’d like to go home with him. I have that stuff all explored in my own mind, whether we show it or not. Every once in awhile, when he’s braggadocio about his love life, it would be fun to see what his internal life is.

How is Harvey adjusting to working with Jim Gordon?

LOGUE:  It’s on a case by case basis. It changes a lot. Sometimes he’s the asshole who doesn’t like Jim Gordon. Sometimes he loves him to death. It changes. We’re on top of it because sometimes it doesn’t always track. Harvey was dying to get Jim back from Arkham, but then he says something casual. We help smooth the storytelling out completely and track the logic of everything. I don’t know what the hell is going to happen at the end of the season. I guess it’s going to be some big dramatic arc. I honestly don’t know what happens a couple days beyond the next bit of filming.

At least, if there is a big cliffhanger, you know there will be some resolution in Season 2.

LOGUE:  Gotham is such a big world. I was a guest on Vikings, Law & Order and Copper, and even for those short periods, there’s something about you, as an antagonist, where the plot points are so intense that you’ve gotta die because you can’t stay. I’m just adjusting to this new role.

Gotham airs on Monday nights on Fox.

Source; Collider

GOTHAM Season 1, Episode 16 Stills; "The Blind Fortune Teller"

Jim Gordon and Dr. Leslie Thompkins pay a visit to Haly’s Circus (a location which should be instantly familiar to comic book fans) in these first look images from the sixteenth episode of Gotham. Bruce Wayne meanwhile makes his presence felt at Wayne Enterprises.

//imgur.com/a/Kt4HA/embed?background=f2f2f2&text=1a1a1a&link=4e76c9
Gordon takes Dr. Leslie Thompkins (guest star Morena Baccarin) to the circus, but the day turns quickly when the circus comes under attack. Then, Falcone enlists Butch Gilzean to help Penguin with the night club, while Fish Mooney is otherwise occupied. Also, Bruce Wayne schedules a meeting with the Wayne Enterprises board in the all-new “The Blind Fortune Teller” episode of GOTHAM airing Monday, Feb. 16 (8:00-9:00 ET/PT) on FOX. (GTH-116) (TV-14 D, L, V).

Cast: Ben McKenzie as Detective James Gordon; Donal Logue as Harvey Bullock; Jada Pinkett Smith as Fish Mooney; Sean Pertwee as Alfred; Robin Lord Taylor as Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin; Erin Richards as Barbara Kean; David Mazouz as Bruce Wayne; Camren Bicondova as Selina Kyle/the future Catwoman; Zabryna Guevara as Captain Sarah Essen; Cory Michael Smith as Edward Nygma/the future Riddler; Victoria Cartagena as Renee Montoya; Andrew Stewart Jones as Crispus Allen; and John Doman as Carmine Falcone.

Guest Cast: Drew Powell as Butch Gilzean; Morena Baccarin as Dr. Leslie Thompkins; Carol Kane as Gertrude Kapelput; Anthony Carrigan as Victor Zsasz; Dashiell Eaves as Kelly; James Monroe Iglehart as Ringmaster; Robert Gorrie as John Grayson; Abbi Snee as Mary Lloyd; Cameron Monaghan as Jerome.

‘Gotham’ Enlists Milo Ventimiglia for Recurring Arc

It might not have Batman just yet, but Gotham is about to find itself home to a former hero — or, at least, a former member of the Heroes cast.

Milo Ventimiglia has booked a recurring role on the Fox freshman drama, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Ventimiglia will recur and play a character new to the Batman cannon known as “the Ogre.”

Ventimiglia’s character — whose real name is Jason Lennon — is described as “handsome, wealthy and seductive,” but that merely hides a dark side: He’s also a serial killer who’s been murdering young women in Gotham for almost a decade in his search for a perfect mate. Unsurprisingly, this pits against Ben McKenzie’s upright Detective Jim Gordon.

Although there’s an Ogre in the DC Comics mythology, Gotham’s character is unrelated, and an entirely new creation for the show. He’ll debut in the 19th episode of the season, and is set for a major role.

The Gotham gig brings the actor back to the world of television superheroics after his four-season run on NBC’s Heroes, but he’s kept a foot in the genre ever since, voicing characters for Marvel Anime and Ultimate Spider-Man in the last few years alongside starring roles in TNT’s Mob City and the upcoming midseason drama The Whispers on ABC.

Gotham airs Mondays on Fox.

Source: THR