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DC Studios Needs to Let Its Heroes Fly Solo to Succeed Against Marvel
DC Studios has a lot of work to do to compete with Marvel Cinematic Universe. DC needs a new strategy, as its recently established reboot plan seems to be failing. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has directed DC Studios to create their own shared universe involving iconic characters like Batman and Superman.
Solo Franchises Work Best for DC
The solution for DC Studios is to focus on character-specific franchises that adhere to one filmmaker's vision, not a TV-style writers room. DC has a history of successful superhero movies with Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, 2017's "Wonder Woman," 2018's "Aquaman," Todd Phillips' "Joker" and Matt Reeves' "The Batman." Neither "Joker" nor "The Batman" is connected to an extended universe, yet both films were successful in their own right.
Simplify the Storyline
The Marvel Universe requires extensive knowledge of dozens of movies and TV shows to follow the storyline. DC should avoid this complex model and instead create standalone, comprehensible movies that are easy to follow. The complexity of DC movies, like "The Flash," creates high barriers to entry for viewers.
Focus on Quality over Quantity
DC needs to focus on the quality of its movies, not the number of movies released to match the quantity of Marvel movies. Disney CEO Bob Iger acknowledged that the studio made a mistake by being too reliant on certain characters, which affected box office sales for some of Marvel's movies. DC should take this as a warning sign. The solution is not to make more movies, but to ensure that each movie is a quality product.
Let James Gunn Lead the Way
DC and Warner Bros. should entrust experienced directors like James Gunn to create superb movies within his or her vision. Gunn, who directed Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy" and DC's "The Suicide Squad," has proven his talent in directing superhero movies. He has been entrusted to write and direct "Superman: Legacy," which is going to pave the way for the new DC shared universe. Therefore, Warner Bros. should give him the autonomy to create high-quality movies that embrace each character’s unique identity and make them shine on screen.
DC Studios needs to focus on letting its heroes fly solo to succeed against Marvel Cinematic Universe. For a new business entering the entertainment industry, the key takeaway is to focus on creating a unique vision for each product and not to follow a cookie-cutter approach that matches rival businesses. As demonstrated in DC's case, it is essential to focus on the quality of products and not the quantity. Instead of creating convoluted storylines, a new business should stick to creating comprehensible standalone movies that are easy to follow. Moreover, they should focus on collaborating with experienced directors who can bring their own unique vision to the table and bring a fresh perspective. Finally, a new business must take heed of customer feedback and adapt its strategy accordingly. While there is stiff competition in the entertainment industry, businesses can still succeed if they focus on creating high-quality products that resonate with the audience's desires. Therefore, to compete in this highly competitive market, a new business must focus on creating quality products rather than quantity and should focus on its unique approach to stand out in the industry.
