This isn’t shaping up to be a very good day for Warner Bros. superhero movies — or at least the writers/directors of said movies. First Joss Whedon announces his departure from Wonder Woman, and now David S. Goyer reveals that he and the studio have parted ways on The Flash.
Goyer made the announcement today on his MySpace blog:
Well, I’ve been waiting a few months to relate this news — but I am sad to say that my version of The Flash is dead at WB. The God’s honest truth is that WB and myself simply couldn’t agree on what would make for a cool Flash film. I’m quite proud of the screenplay I turned it. I threw my heart into it and I genuinely think it would’ve been the basis of a ground-breaking film. But as of now, the studio is heading off in a completely different direction. I expect you’ll hear of some new developments on that front shortly.
But in happier news, I’ll soon be able to report on what I’ve been doing INSTEAD of The Flash. Stay tuned.
Goyer’s involvement with the project was first announced in December 2004.
(Thanks to Ed Brubaker for the tip)
Update: In a follow-up entry, Goyer reveals that his script involved both Barry Allen and Wally West as The Flash: “I wanted to showcase the legacy aspect of the hero — as that was something that hadn’t been explored yet in film. Like Batman Begins, the script drew on some seminal comicbook runs (Mike Baron, Mark Waid, Geoff Johns).”
He also promises to post more about his other projects, and hints, “One of them takes place in the DC Universe.”
February 2nd, 2007 at 9:50 pm
Man, that stinks. I hope Warner Bros hasn’t forgotten the lessons it learned from the Schumacher Batman movies and Catwoman.
February 3rd, 2007 at 12:05 am
Aw, poop.
February 3rd, 2007 at 1:29 am
“The God’s honest truth is that WB and myself simply couldn’t agree on what would make for a cool Flash film.”
What the hell is there to “agree” on? It’s a guy running mindblowingly fast. Hence the “cool” part of the equation.
God Almighty, these guys overthink this stuff.
Yeah, yeah….emotional resonance, character development, blah, blah, blah. Yet…at its core it’s about a guy running insanely fast.
(sigh)
February 3rd, 2007 at 8:39 am
“This isn’t shaping up to be a very good day for Warner Bros. superhero movies — or at least the writers/directors of said movies”
You can say that again. Sigh…
February 3rd, 2007 at 11:18 am
Maybe we can see more catwoman like movies from DC/WB. YAY!!!!!!
February 3rd, 2007 at 11:21 am
Bryan Singer’s cell phone is probably turned off right now …
February 3rd, 2007 at 12:09 pm
I tend to enjoy Goyer’s movies/screenplays but there is always, and I mean always a big scene in them that make my brain baby kick. He shoulda had a co-writer!
February 3rd, 2007 at 12:21 pm
I love how people seem to think that only comicbook writers can write Superhero movies. They couldn’t come to an agreement. he’s not the first writer this has happened to nor will he be the last.
February 3rd, 2007 at 12:35 pm
How about Whedon and Goyer on some films for Marvel?
February 3rd, 2007 at 1:40 pm
I, for one, am relieved. As a writer he’s pretty good, but as a director I’m more inclined to see him not connected with any comic book related movies. Blade 3 should support my argument.
February 3rd, 2007 at 2:27 pm
Yeah, yeah….emotional resonance, character development, blah, blah, blah. Yet…at its core it’s about a guy running insanely fast.
Ah, a studio head wannabe.
That’s how they think, you know—-”WHo cares about character development or emotional resonance? It’s about a guy who runs fast!”
*sigh*
February 3rd, 2007 at 5:55 pm
Wow, that’s a huge bummer. I remember hearing what his take would be on the Flash and it would have been cool.
February 3rd, 2007 at 8:26 pm
Goyer: “Wouldn’t it be cool if THE FLASH had a story?”
WB: “Hmmmm. No.”
Aaaaaand scene.
February 3rd, 2007 at 10:58 pm
You’re all under the assumption that Goyer’s script is amazing and the WB people don’t know what they’re doing. That’s why there’s 2 sides to every argument, people.
February 4th, 2007 at 11:22 am
I can’t comment on the quality of the script, but regarding this:
“Yeah, yeah….emotional resonance, character development, blah, blah, blah. Yet…at its core it’s about a guy running insanely fast.”
I can’t agree with this comment at all. Yes, the powers can be the potential hook, the overall successful is how people feel about the characters.
Take Quicksilver, for example. He too is a superhero who runs insanely fast. But if you plopped Quicksilver into a script intended for any of the Flashes or vice versa, you probably would not have a good movie about the characters.
Quicksilver is far more arrogant than the other Flashes combined, often straddling the fence between good and evil; that’s what makes him such a great character, not his speed.
For Barry, a decent Flash story involves him applying oddball science to deal with bizarre scientific villains. Yes, his solutions involve his speed, but it’s how he applies the speed. Wally is about trying to get out of the shadow of a great hero; the journey’s what’s important in a Wally story. And for Jay the story should allow him to be playful yet down to Earth, someone who, again unlike Quicksilver, gets along with folks.
So four characters with the same powers, yet if I were to write a screenplay for any one of them, it would be a different take than for the other three.
–Andy EN
February 4th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
Anybody see Blade 3? Goyer sucks. I’m pretty certain that the only reason Batman was any good was that Nolan tweaked the script and story.
February 4th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
This would have been interesting.
From an older newsarama post about the cancelled project:
07-01-2005, 10:41 AM – GOYER TALKS ABOUT THE FLASH MOVIE
“In speaking to the New York Daily News (June 12th edition), Batman Begins screenwriter David Goyer talked about his next superhero challenge: a film based on DC’s Flash.
In an extensive interview, Goyer told the News of DC’s speedster:
“I’m writing and directing ‘The Flash’ next,” says Goyer, referring to the DC Comics character who appeared in 1940 and is therefore almost as old as Superman (1938) and Batman (1939). Writer Gardner Fox and artist Harry Lampert teamed on The Flash’s debut.
“Fans know there’s been more than one Flash over the years,” Goyer adds. “There’s been a lot of speculation and rumor, but both Barry Allen and Wally West will be in this movie.”
Goyer is referring to the The Flash’s “normal” identity. He started as Jay Garrick in 1940. Allen took over in 1956 and Wallace (introduced as Kid Flash in 1959) in 1986.
“We’re going to go into the ‘Speed Force’ and a lot of the cosmic aspects of the character from the more recent past,” Goyer says. “Trust me, we’re going to do a lot more than have the Flash run on water and create vortexes.
“I have a guy from M.I.T. helping me with all of this. We’re going to be playing with relativity, Doppler effects and all kinds of things like that. Audiences will be amazed.”"
February 4th, 2007 at 11:23 pm
First Whedon is off Wonder Woman. Then Goyer is off Flash. I don’t know about everyone else, but I’ve got a nervous feeling all of a sudden.