After successfully directing It (2017) and It Chapter Two (2019) for Warner Bros., Andy Muschietti was chosen to direct The Flash, which was a huge opportunity for him. However, it appears that Muschietti’s time on The Flash was just an audition for even bigger things.
On the same day that The Flash premiered in theaters, it was announced that Muschietti would direct The Brave and the Bold, the first Batman movie in the new DC Universe. This news, combined with The Flash getting positive reviews, has made Muschietti one of the most notable comic book movie directors of modern times.
It is no surprise that Muschietti was hired again, as James Gunn loved The Flash, and Warner Bros. was pleased that the movie was finally made after years of development issues.
Is Andy Muschietti the Next Great Comic Book Director?
James Gunn, co-CEO of DC Studios and one of the architects of the new DCU, has announced what projects fans can expect, but little is known about who will star in, write, and direct the upcoming DC films and television shows. Gunn has only confirmed that James Mangold will write a Swamp Thing movie, and he himself will write and direct Superman: Legacy.
Therefore, Gunn revealing that Muschietti will officially direct the DCU’s first Batman movie is a significant deal. It shows that he and Warner Bros. trust the filmmaker with one of their most popular and profitable characters. Muschietti was Gunn’s first choice to direct The Brave and the Bold, and he praised Muschietti’s affinity and passion for these characters and this world.
The Brave and the Bold will revolve around the relationship between Bruce Wayne and his son Damian Wayne, who serves as Robin to his Batman. The film will mark the first time a live-action Robin will fight alongside Batman since Chris O’Donnell portrayed Dick Grayson in 1995’s Batman Forever and 1997’s Batman & Robin.
Directing a Batman movie has become an opportunity to turn the person behind the camera into a superstar, as seen with Tim Burton, Christopher Nolan, and Matt Reeves. The Brave and the Bold will put Muschietti on a small list with several iconic directors. If he handles these two iconic characters correctly and utilizes the Dark Knight’s deep lineup of iconic villains, he can cement himself as a truly iconic Batman director.
Muschietti was a horror filmmaker before directing The Flash, with both 2013’s Mama and the two It films. He is still set to direct the live-action Attack on Titan for Warner Bros., though that might now be put on the back burner until after his new Batman movie. If he continues to impress Gunn and Warner Bros. Discovery, he could also be involved in various other characters in the DCU. With his horror background, Muschietti could be a valuable voice in bringing some of DC’s supernatural characters like Zatanna, Etrigan the Demon, or the Spectre to the big screen.
In conclusion, Muschietti’s success with The Flash and the announcement that he will direct The Brave and the Bold has made him one of the most notable comic book movie directors of modern times. If The Brave and the Bold is a hit, Muschietti could become a long-term player in the DCU.
After directing both It (2017) and It Chapter Two (2019), which were distributed by Warner Bros., the studio tapped Andy Muschietti to direct The Flash. While directing the ambitious superhero movie was a massive opportunity for Muschietti, it now seems like his time on The Flash may have just been an audition for even bigger things. On the same day that The Flash premiered in theaters, it was announced that Muschietti would direct The Brave and the Boldthe first Batman movie in the new DC Universe.
This news, coupled with The Flash receiving generally positive reactions, has made Muschietti one of the most notable comic book movie directors of modern times. It should be no surprise that Muscheietti got hired again. James Gunn clearly loved The Flashand also Warner Bros. is happy that the filmmaker actually got The Flash made at all, as the movie had spent years in development hell and had cycled through many directors. Muschietti delivered, and Warner Bros. Discovery wants that type of filmmaker working for them.
A Bold Move
While James Gunn, co-CEO of DC Studios and one of the architects of the new DCU, has announced what projects fans can expect, relatively little is known about who will star in, write, and direct the upcoming DC films and television shows. In terms of directors, Gunn has only confirmed that James Mangold has signed on to write a Swamp Thing movie and that he himself will write and direct Superman: Legacy.
Therefore, Gunn revealing that Muschietti will officially direct the DCU’s first Batman movie is a huge deal since it shows that he and Warner Bros. Discovery trust the filmmaker with one of their most popular and profitable characters. As part of the announcement, Gunn revealed that Muschietti was his first choice to direct The Brave and the Bold ever since he saw The Flash. He told Variety,
“It’s a magnificent film – funny, emotional, thrilling – and Andy’s affinity and passion for these characters and this world just resonates through every frame. So, when it came time to find a director for The Brave and the Boldthere was really only one choice.”
While the movie is still many years away, Gunn has revealed that The Brave and the Bold will revolve around the relationship between Bruce Wayne and his son Damian Wayne, who serves as Robin to his Batman. The film will mark the first time a live-action Robin will fight alongside Batman since Chris O’Donnell portrayed Dick Grayson in 1995’s Batman Forever and 1997’s Batman & Robin. Therefore, if Muschietti handles these two iconic characters correctly and utilizes the Dark Knight’s deep lineup of iconic villains, he can cement himself as a truly iconic Batman director alongside Tim Burton, Joel Schumacher, Christopher Nolan, and Matt Reeves.
The Batman Blessing
While it is an accomplishment to direct any superhero movie at the level Muschietti is working at, helming a Batman movie will put him on a small list with several iconic directors. Ever since Tim Burton completely revolutionized what a superhero movie could be with 1989’s Batmandirecting a Batman blockbuster has become an opportunity with the potential to turn the person behind the camera into a superstar.
Years after Burton stepped away from the Batman franchise, Warner Bros. was looking for a completely new take on the character. The studio ended up taking a chance on a young director with only three movies under his belt. His name: Christopher Nolan. 2005’s Batman Begins opened up unlimited opportunities and possibilities for Nolan’s career. The success of that movie, which was followed by The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Risesprovided Nolan with the blank check he needed to make movies such as Inception, Interstellarand the upcoming Oppenheimer.
Matt Reeves is the most recent director who was given the chance to make a Batman movie. His vision of Gotham City, as seen in 2022’s The Batmanwas so unique that he has basically been granted full creative control to do whatever he wants with the character. Even though Gunn and Warner Bros. Discovery were in the process of launching a new DCU not long after The Batman was released in theaters, they understood how special the movie was and justified having multiple Batmen so that Reeves could have his own separate Bat-Verse.
After seeing how much making a Batman movie elevated Nolan and Reeves’ careers, it is clear that the same thing could happen to Muschietti following The Brave and the Bold. Before The FlashMuschietti was a horror filmmaker with both 2013’s Mama and the two It films. Muschetti is still set to direct the live-action Attack on Titan for Warner Bros., though that might now be put on the back burner until after his new Batman movie.
A Universe of Possibilities
As mentioned by Gunn in the above quote, Muschietti’s passion for DC characters was evident when he was making The Flash. Therefore, if he continues to impress Gunn and Warner Bros. Discovery, he could also be involved in various other characters in the DCU.
While it was just announced that he would be directing The Brave and the BoldWarner Bros. Discovery will undoubtedly be keeping a close eye on his movie that just came out. The Flash did underperform at the box office on its opening weekend, grossing just $55.1 million, which is $2 million less than Green Lantern opened to when it disappointed at the box office in 2011. With a B CinemaScore, it is unlikely that The Flash will have positive word of mouth and could be one of the biggest bombs of the summer.
Yet even though The Flash could be a box office bomb, Muschettit will likely not take the blame for it. Warner Bros. Discovery is clearly happy with the work he did, and the sheer act of getting the very troubled production through development into theaters was an accomplishment. Filmmaking is an artistic venue, but it is also a job, and he did his job, so he has certainly earned plenty of goodwill.
If The Brave and the Bold is a hit, which conventional wisdom suggests by being a Batman movie it will be, Muschetti could become a long-term player in the DCU. Chapter 1 is called Gods and Monsters, and with his horror background, Muschetti could be a valuable voice in bringing some of DC’s supernatural characters like Zatanna, Etrigan the Demon, or the Spectre to the big screen. This could just be the beginning of Muschettit’s time as a superhero filmmaker.
