Listen to episode 148 of Reel Chronicles for more DC FanDome reactions this Wednesday, 8/26.
DC Comics broke the internet Saturday with their first-ever online 24-hour fan event – DC FanDome.
DC FanDome was created as a way for Warner Bros. and DC to connect with fans and break news about upcoming projects after the cancellation of San Diego Comic-Con this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Starting at 1 p.m. EST, the day was filled with a slew of exciting panels filled with stars, news, and sneak peeks for upcoming releases in DC’s Extended Universe: Wonder Woman 1984, The Flash, Shazam!, Aquaman, The Suicide Squad, Black Adam, the Snyder cut of Justice League and The Batman. Fans also got panels for the Arrowverse television franchise and upcoming comic book and video game releases.
I had a fun time watching and loved how much they incorporated fan questions, cosplay, art, and much more into the day. It was a pretty flawless stream for me with little to no interruptions and it felt even more organized as they stayed on schedule. Because it was only 24-hours, I would expect that viewership was high as opposed to Comic-Con@Home last month, which seems to have fallen a bit flat. If they do this again, you can count me in.
Highlights from each panel are below:
Wonder Woman 1984
- DC FanDome kicked off first with Wonder Woman 1984.
- Director Patty Jenkins and stars Gal Gadot, Kristen Wiig, Chris Pine, and Pedro Pascal spoke about the film and answered pre-submitted fan questions.
- Lynda Carter, our OG Wonder Woman, joined the panel as a special guest. Praise and admiration between Carter and Gadot for each other was a highlight.
- Patty Jenkins confirmed that there are still plans to stick to the film’s theatrical release on October 2, 2021.
- The panel closed with Jenkins introducing an exciting new trailer for fans and the first look at Kristen Wiig’s Cheetah.
The Flash
- This was one of my most anticipated panels fo the day because I’m a big Andy Muschietti fan.
- It was a bit shorter than I expected but did provide a few tidbits like it will be written by Christina Hodson (Birds of Prey) and will have a flashpoint storyline.
- Concept art was shared that gave fans a sneak preview at Barry Allen’s new suit and a look at Michael Keaton’s Batman.
The Suicide Squad
- This was definitely one of my favorite panels of the event. Director James Gunn brings it for fans. Not only did he reveal the full cast (with everyone on to boot), but he gave us a little behind the scenes video.
- Cast includes returning members: Margot Robbie, Academy Award winner Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, and Joel Kinnaman joined by David Dastmalchian (Polka-Dot Man), Daniela Melchior (Ratcatcher), Steve Agee (King Shark), Idris Elbra (Bloodsport), John Cena (Peacemaker), Peter Capaldi (The Thinker) Storm Reid (Tyla), Flula Borg (Javelin), Marisol Correa (Soldado), Nathan Fillion (T.D.K.), Pete Davidson (Blackguard), Alice Braga (Solsoria), Sean Gunn (Weasel), Michael Rooker (Savant), Juan Diego Botto, Mayling Ng (Mongal), and Joaquin Cosio.
- JC Sanchez tells us more about this panel here.
Shazam!
- The Shazam! panel had some big surprises: the best by far being that Sinbad will be in the next movie.
- The sequel will be titled Shazam!: Fury of the Gods. The complete cast of kids and adults will return.
Justice League
- Zack Snyder’s Justice League panel arrived late afternoon. While the trailer leaked earlier in the day, there was still a lot of anticipation amongst fans to see what Snyder had to say about what’s coming for his cut of the film.
- The panel started with footage of Snyder’s principal photography before he had to leave the film.
- He was then joined by the Justice League stars: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, and Ray Fisher, who each took time to ask Zack questions submitted by fans.
- Wonder Woman 1984 director Patty Jenkins also joined the panel to ask if there’s anything new we have yet to see in his cut. Snyder confirmed that The Flash will have some powers we’ve yet to see.
- Snyder went on to thanks the fans that started the #SnyderCut movement.
- Snyder concluded the panel by revealing the leaked trailer and confirmed that the film will be split into 4 1-hour parts when it hits HBO Max in 2021.
The Batman
By far, my favorite panel of the day was The Batman. Following an introduction by Robert Pattinson, director Matt Reeves joined host Aisha Taylor to discuss the upcoming film. The film had to shut down production due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is set to resume again in early September. Reeves went on to speak enthusiastically about the film, the character, Robert as Batman, and what fans can look forward to.
- He confirmed that the film will not tackle Bruce’s origin, but rather Year Two: him learning how to be Batman.
- Reeves adds that Paul Dano will be playing a version of The Riddler that no one has ever seen before.
- All Rogues Gallery villains will be in their origins, i.e. Selina Kyle will not yet be Catwoman. These villains will not be like what we’ve seen before onscreen.
- Reeves cited that Gotham Square will be filmed in Liverpool in an effort to give the city a new look and more true Gothic architecture.
- Reeves spoke about his love for Batman starting from his childhood.
- When asked about what makes this version of Batman different? Reeves stated that fans would be taken into Batman’s world already in progress where we see him in the midst of his crime experiment. We see him make mistakes as Batman in a way that feels very human. Reeves wants the audience to feel his struggles becoming the Batman we all know. Most importantly, Reeves will show the Dark Knight detective version of the character.
- Along with the film, Reeves spoke about the universe he’s creating with HBO Max on the new series, Gotham City PD. It will be set a year before The Batman and will occur in the same universe. The series will be written by Terrence Winter.
- While only 25% of the film was completed before the shutdown, Reeves gave fans the perfect ending to the event: a new teaser trailer to the film, juxtaposed with Nirvana’s “Something In The Way”.
Kudos to DC for producing a fun-filled day of entertainment and breaking news of all our favorite characters. This should be something DC should look into making a yearly event.
