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Diane Lane Latest To Disparage Against DCCU

Contrary to the what the pose above suggests (Zack Snyder giving direction to Diane Lane on the set of 2013’s Man Of Steel), maybe there really is no place like home when it comes to be part of the DC Cinematic Universe these days.

Take Diane Lane herself. The talented actress has 62 credits to her name, most notably The Perfect Storm and Unfaithful, but she has appeared as Martha Kent in three of five DC’s major motion pictures in the last four years. Though her take on Martha Kent is truly the polar opposite of fellow thesps Phyllis Taxter (1978’s Superman: The Movie) and Eva Marie Saint (2006’s Superman Returns), she still brings a sense of bravado to the role. Following an appearance with Andy Cohen, one gets the sense Lane is not on board with Snyder’s bold (read: uncharismatic) vision for the DC Universe on the big screen.

Lane sat down for an interview alongside Jim Parsons on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen. During the after show special, where Cohen opens the phone lines to viewers at home, one brave woman posed a question many a fanboy feud among themselves – whether November’s Justice League will stand tall and be better than 2012’s The Avengers. Lane’s response?

“No, and no. Short, but honest. I hate to disappoint, but…”

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgnWm8FtI3I[/embedyt]

You can view the response for yourself around the 1:40 mark in the video above. That’s as far as she goes with her answer before trailing off, but that’s all that’s needed. Lane joins rank and file with other actors featured in other DC movies to date who haven’t been too kind on the cinematic universe. Call it displeasure in the lack of character development or perhaps envy over how autonomous the Marvel Cinematic Universe runs, but clearly all is not well in DC Land. Previously Laurence Fishburne, who has portrayed Daily Planet editor Perry White, offered some not-so-flattering remarks about Warners’ DC slate of films, but went even further into explanation.

“We’ve been waiting 35 years for these (characters) to show up on the screen. What were they doing over there? Marvel has been kicking their ass. This is the comic-book geek in me, who has a collection of comic books. I’ve been waiting to see these people on-screen forever.”

Even Amy Adams, the latest in a long line of actresses to shine as Lois Lane, quipping a brief “Yeah, yeah, yeah” when asked this past November if she completed filming with Justice League. Most recently Ben Affleck, arguably one of the best things about Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice (okay – maybe the best thing in hindsight), stepped down as both principal screenwriter and director of the forthcoming Batman solo film, opening the door for Matt Reeves come aboard to rewrite the script and direct. Rumors circulated that, following the critical backlash against the 2016 blockbuster (seen as a missed opportunity to most), Affleck was looking to cut loose. However, he is contracted for four total films, two of which he’s already filmed. (All that remains is Justice League 2 and The Batman.) After that, he is expected to vacate the role.

Believe it or not, you are allowed to like both Marvel *and* DC films. I myself have nothing totally against the DC films that have released – I just think they could have done much better with a more capable visionary than Zack Snyder. (See my previous musing as to what’s happened to the Zack Snyder of yesteryear.)  Obviously, the DC Cinematic Universe is still in its infancy years and can easily overcome the various growing pains fans have endured up to this point, albeit with a tonal shift in direction from new writers and directors. While it is certainly unfair to compare the MCU to the DCCU (even Kevin Feige wishes Warner Brothers well for crying out loud), fans won’t stop jawing to each other in rabid debate for years to come.

For now, can’t we all just along and hug it out? You can’t say I tried. Warner Brothers has Wonder Woman releasing in just three shorts weeks on June 2nd and Justice League November 17th. Marvel Studios currently has Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2 in theaters, with Spider-Man: Homecoming dropping on July 5th and Thor: Ragnorak hitting screens on  November 3rd.

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