For decades, DC and Marvel Comics have maintained a good-natured rivalry with the latter often referring to the former as “The Distinguished Competition.” Although discussions among fans don’t always maintain quite the same level of decorum, the “DC vs Marvel” debate is one that’s probably not going to be settled anytime soon. That isn’t stopping Warner Bros. chairman-CEO Kevin Tsujihara, however, from throwing some gasoline on the fire.
“The worlds of DC are very different,” Tsujihara said today at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference (per Variety). “They’re steeped in realism, and they’re a little bit edgier than Marvel’s movies.”
The differences between the two studios’ approaches, however, is exactly the reason Tsujihara doesn’t think that audiences will be suffering from superhero fatigue anytime soon.
“The key thing,” he says, “Is that the movies and the television shows and the games, everything looks very different… you have to be able to take advantage of the diversity of these characters.”
Unlike Marvel’s approach, Warner Bros. has been experimenting with multiple live-action adaptations of key properties. “Gotham” can exist on FOX in a world separate from the upcoming Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice while Grant Gustin can play a small screen Flash with Ezra Miller stepping into the role within the company’s big screen universe.
“The big franchises are becoming more and more valuable,” Tsujihara continues. “You don’t have to explain to the consumer what a ‘Batman v Superman’ is.”
What do you make of Tsujihara’s thoughts on the state of comic book films? Are you primarily a DC fan, a Marvel fan, or does it not matter to you at all? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
