5 Reasons George Miller Should Direct A DC Movie, But Won’t

Here are 5 reasons why George Miller is a prime candidate to direct a DC Superhero Movie, but still won’t do it.

You may have heard a rumor floating about the all-knowing inter-web that “Mad Max: Fury Road” director, George Miller, would be taking the reigns as director of the next ‘Super’ flick “Man of Steel 2.” Well just as quickly as they accrued, the sandbar of rumors has washed away and back into the ocean of information (both true and untrue) as follow-up reports indicate the fan-adulating claims were without substance.

Here at FilmFad, the conjecture got us thinking – Why WOULDN’T George Miller be the obvious choice to operate his very own superhero franchise within the Warner Bros. held DC Universe? Well, here are 5 points to the contrary – 5 Reasons Why George Miller Should Direct A DC Comics Movie, but still WON’T.

1. Former Justice League Director

Back in the Mid-2000s George Miller was diligently working behind the scenes on a pioneering superhero project, but by 2008 a striking Writer’s Guild of America and crumbling domestic economy, the project was left by the wayside. That project was “Justice League: Mortal” and what Miller intended to be the first live-action attempt at a Justice League feature film. The project was no flash in the pan either.

Deep into development, the film was even cast with relatively up-and-coming names of the time including: D.J. Cotrona as Superman, Armie Hammer as Batman, Megan Gale as Wonder Woman, Teresa Palmer as Talia al Ghul, Common as Green Lantern, Adam Brody as The Flash and Jay Baruchel as Maxwell Lord.

If it wasn’t for striking writers (phrasing) and a crumbling financial and real estate market, we could have already had our very first cinematic glimpse of a live-action Justice League almost 10 years ago.

2. Past Work With VERTIGO comics

Leading up to the debut of “Mad Max: Fury Road,” George Miller, Nico Lathouris, and Mark Sexton came together to pen a four-issue mini-series by the same name. Published by VERTIGO, the series ran from May 2015 through August 2015 and received mixed-reviews. What gets interesting is that VERTIGO is a subsidiary of DC Comics. So given Miller’s prior work with Warner Bros. on the unhatched “Justice League: Mortal” and his experience playing nice with DC’s kin company, were it to come down to compatibility, he is an obvious contender.

3. Snyder Needs Bros.

In a recent interview with News.com.au, Snyder opens up about Miller’s apocalyptic blockbuster monarch “Mad Max: Fury Road” and his own highly anticipated DC lovechild “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.” Snyder was overjoyed at the prospect of making Miller one of his “Bros.” over at Warner, and perhaps even the guiding force behind his very own superhero franchise. Snyder had nothing but kind words and kudos for the Australian creator’s tireless vision and standard of quality. According to Snyder,

George doing one of the DC movies? Oh my God, absolutely. George can do anything he wants, in my opinion. 

With Snyder currently occupied by “Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice” then rolling right into “Justice League: Gods Among Us,” the franchise fabricating director cannot carry the torch for DC cinema by his lonesome. With that said, Warner Bros. will start giving some serious attention to pulling in fresh minds to maintain the creative flow and growth of the budding DC superhero universe, all the more reason to bring in a visionary action directing veteran such as Miller.

4. Proper Distribution

In the final hour experience and compatibility are all good and well, but what studios really want is to know what’s the bottom line. Well, Warner Bros. was the Distributor for “Mad Max: Fury Road” so they are personally acquainted with film’s success and in-turn George Miller’s box-office potential.

5. It’s the ‘Practical’ choice.

Miller is maestro when it comes to conducting the elephantine stunt operations seen in “Mad Max: Fury Road.” Various reports have drawn attention towards a call for the Academy of Motion Pictures of Arts and Sciences to recognize Stunt Work with it’s own Oscar; a call re-ignited by the film. With practicality in mind, Miller may set a precedent that will help shape the future of superhero cinema whether Marvel, DC, or otherwise. It would be my hope that Miller would maintain his insistence upon practical effects over CGI and bring practical fight systems back to the forefront of Superhero Cinema.

We have seen this work well in recent television programs. From the ultra gritty Netflix “Daredevil” series, which is already headed into a second season, to the  less realistic, but equally practical,  “Arrow” from CW. This would provide a balance of superhero cinema having films that are realistic and more practical in effects as well as those that are highly extravagant with the use of CGI (i.e. Joss Whedon’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron”).

Why Miller Won’t Do It.

With every great potential however comes roadblocks. In Millers case, there are two predominant barriers to him commanding any superhero projects anytime in the near future.

1. “Mad Max: The Wasteland” production schedule may conflict with his schedule.

Shortly after the debut of “Mad Max: Fury Road,” Miller revealed that he has a script for a sequel and he’d like it to be titled, “Mad Max: The Wasteland.”  Although no confirmation has been made, if the studio green-lights the sequel then Miller will have his work cut out for him. Given the effort required to bring “Fury Road” to the screen, Miller would likely be tied up with production for the next three to five years leaving him unable to take-on a DC project anytime soon.

2. Although unlikely, given he recently worked with them on “Mad Max: Fury Road,” Miller may still have some bad blood with Warner Bros. stemming from his failed attempt at trying to launch “Justice League: Mortal.”

I really doubt there is, if there even ever was, any bad blood. Given his recent work with Warner Bros., I would image the “Justice League: Mortal” experience was just a standard part of the business of Hollywood and nothing more.

What do YOU think? Should George Miller join Warner Bros. in building the DC Cinematic Universe, or should he stick to his “Mad Max” legacy? Tell us in the comment section below.