Diane Nelson was the former DC Entertainment President and was among the many people who were disappointed with Justice League released by Warner Bros. in 2017. She was part of the DC universe from 2009 to 2018, and President and Chief Content Officer of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment from 2013 to 2018. Nelson opened up on the box office performance of the DC film, Justice League, which was not directed by Zack Snyder.
Nelson talked about the impact of Zack Snyder’s films in building the DC empire. She also shared thoughts on the misconceptions about DC Studios copying the strategies of Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Diane Nelson opens up on DC Copying their Competitor Marvel
Diane Nelson, who was the former DC Entertainment President, shared in The Wall Street Journal’s With Great Power: The Rise of Superhero Cinema podcast, about the undercurrent of frustration as DC has not yet hit the mark. She shared that they are not freestanding like MCU, which has their budget and team. Nelson said,
“They were charting their own course.”
The former DC president added that it was disappointing to know about the misconception of fans about DC copying the strategies of Marvel for the success of their films. She also emphasized the different approaches of DC and Warner Bros. approach towards filmmaking.
Nelson recalled that WB was the main head and took decisions, and it was difficult to even get a seat at the WB conference table.
“I don’t know that there was an appreciation for the extent to which the DC team really just had a seat at the table.”
“DC was not the one leading that charge. And honestly, I’m not sure there was anyone leading that charge. It just wasn’t the culture of Warner Brothers to dictate a particular strategy.”
She added that WB would talk to the head of relevant business for the DC-related topics including films, TV shows, and video games.
Diane Nelson does not see Zack Snyder as the Guiding light of DC
Zack Snyder left the DC Extended Universe midway through filming Justice League. Hence, writer and producer Geoff Johns, apparently brought Joss Whedon to finish the film. However, the exit of Snyder dismayed the fans, who thought he was the guiding light.
Nelson refuted the misconception and shared that the filmmaking process under DC was not a thoughtful, well-controlled, confidential process, which made the DC team look amateurish in comparison to Marvel. She added that Snyder was never considered as DC’s answer to Marvel’s Kevin Feige.
“Unless there were meetings…that no one told me about…I don’t know that there was ever any conversation where it was decided that Zack would be leading the DC slate for any particular period of time,”
However, she admitted,
“…from a consumer standpoint, that’s what happened.”
The spinoffs of Snyder’s films like The Flash and Suicide Squad, however, did not perform well at the box office with the exception of Wonder Woman and Aquaman. It could be said the success of DC films depended on Snyder’s presence.
However, Nelson agreed that she would prefer Zack Snyder’s version of Justice League in comparison to the previous release. She added,
“The Trinity characters of Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman should have, by any measure, blown any other superhero movie away, and they didn’t.”
Zack Snyder’s Justice League, Black Adam, and The Flash are likely the last time the audience sees any of these superheroes in costume again, due to the massive changes in the DC Studios.
Source- Bounding into comics
