Written by Edwin Francisco
Director Steven Spielberg’s lunch with Warner Bros Discovery may not be about Superman. Rather, it could be about another Golden Age DC Comics hero.
As it happens, Steven Spielberg has been looking forward to working on a film adaptation of a DC comic- book character for some time now. However, it’s not Superman. Moreover, it started back in the early ’80s. Geek culture print publications reported it at the time.
Spielberg’s comic book of choice? Blackhawk. But Spielberg did 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark instead. He moved on. Thus, Blackhawk went nowhere.
Nonetheless, DC Films revived Blackhawk in 2018. This was during Walter Hamada’s reign of DC Films. At the time, Spielberg, Kristie Macosko Krieger, and Sue Kroll were ready to co-produce the film. Fans know Krieger for producing several of Spielberg’s films like Lincoln (2012), Ready Player One (2018) and The BFG (2016). Meanwhile, Kroll did produce A Star is Born (2018).
Did Steven Spielberg Meet With Warner Bros Discovery About Superman?
Image: DC Comics
Blackhawk is not your typical DC comic. In fact, it’s not about a superhero like Superman, Wonder Woman or Batman. Simply, Blackhawk is a team of seven ace pilots set during World War II. Blackhawk first appeared in Military Comics No.1 under Quality Comics (later acquired by DC Comics) in 1941. Back then, readers know them for flying Grumman XF5F Skyrocket aircraft. In the comics, the characters themselves changed through the years, but they kept their personalities.
Recently, David Koepp, the screenwriter of Steven Spielberg’s Blackhawk has even said that the script was already done back in March 2022. As Spielberg’s writer Koepp worked on films like War of the Worlds (2005) and Jurassic Park (1993).
Koepp said in an interview with Collider:
We have a script that’s very good and we all think it’s very good. There were a lot of management changes at Warner Bros, so I think we’ve just been kind of waiting for that to settle down, and for them to decide what they want to do with their DC Universe.
Everyone was aware that Warner Bros. was in a bit of disarray at the time. WarnerMedia was in the process of being in a merger after Discovery bought them. Warner Bros. Discovery came to existence since April 2022. Consequently, David Zaslav took over as the president of WBD.
Months after that, the company made some cancellations of several projects like Batgirl, The Wonder Twins, and Strange Adventures known to the public. Definitely, the transition was not smooth involving several projects.
Did Steven Spielberg Meet With Warner Bros Discovery About Superman?
Image: DC Comics
With the recent release of Black Adam, and the appearance of Henry Cavill’s Superman, these give people a bit of hope. Also, it could possibly show that things are getting a bit more stable. Somehow, it is clear that stability is what Zaslav is working towards at. Moreover, now James Gunn and Peter Safran have the positions of co-CEOs and co-chairpersons of the newly established DC Studios (formerly DC Films). With Gunn focusing on the creative vision of the DC Universe, fans are actually excited with him in the position.
An interesting meetup just happened. People saw Zaslav having lunch together with Spielberg. This could be anything since Spielberg has made films with Warner before. The most recent is Ready Player One. But here’s the kicker. Safran joined the table. It’s important to note that Safran’s c0-CEO role encompass the business side of the studio. He is there with the producer’s eye. Thus, it’s WBD, DC and Spielberg in that one luncheon.
The only point of interest for Spielberg relating to DC is Blackhawk. So, is this a sign that Blackhawk might be moving forward? Does Spielberg think that Warner Bros. is stable enough to push through in making his own DC film?
Although, this is just speculation that Blackhawk might be pushing through. It’s not impossible that Blackhawk would be in their conversation.