Since James Gunn and Peter Safran took over as the heads of DC Studios, official news had been scant until recently with the announcements about he shared the cover of Kingdom Come, an Elseworlds publication.
Kingdom Come is indeed being adapted in some way soon, other Elseworlds tales deserve such an opportunity as well.
Batman: Two Faces
Naturally, there’s no shortage of Elseworlds tales for Batman. Many have interpreted his life, setting him in different time periods, with Batman: Two Faces placing him in the Victorian Era. Inspired by Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, it follows Batman as he attempts to thwart the Joker’s murdering spree, only to discover that he is the Joker.
It’s a great examination of the duality that Batman and the Joker epitomize - that one cannot continue to exist without the other - and features other iconic characters including, aptly, Two-Face, Catwoman, and Commissioner Gordon. It would be a perfect fit for an animated film, and could even be followed by the related, The Superman Monster.
Kingdom Come
Kingdom Come would be an apt choice for adaptation that could both work on its own in an animated film or, alternatively, as part of the DCU’s revitalization. It explores a world in which the distinction between hero and villain has become blurred, so Superman reforms the Justice League to bring back order to the world. It’s an exploration of the true nature of heroism and Superman’s role in the world.
Given his impressive track record of team-up films, especially ones centered on characters with dubious morality, Justice League film, though it would take time to set up effectively as it united characters from all over DC Comic’s history.
Superman: Kal
An Elseworlds publication that presents Superman in a different era and, in turn, could do well as a film is Superman: Kal. This reality takes place during the Middle Ages and follows him as a blacksmith rather than a caped superhero. Naturally, he falls in love with a version of Lois Lane, named Lady Loisse, and fights against Baron Luthor.
This is a one-shot with no connection to any other comic arc, so it could be adapted into a strong solo film that isn’t held back by the need for connective tissue. It would be an unexpected option for a Superman film, something fans are exponentially more desperate for nowadays, especially seeing as Man of Steel 2, a subject of many theories, might not be on the horizon.
Wonder Woman: Amazonia
Compared to the likes of Superman and Batman, Wonder Woman is more than deserving of more solo films, whether animated or live-action, so the news about Wonder Woman 3 is unfortunate. On the Elseworlds front, she has Wonder Woman: Amazonia to offer. Set around the turn of the 20th century, it adapts her origin story with steampunk aesthetic, which could make for a fun animated film.
What sets Wonder Woman: Amazonia apart from her standard origins is that Steve Trevor, usually her noble lover, is actually a dastardly villain in this reality. Though different from the source material and given the disillusionment of their typical relationship, this could be an intriguing option to finally embrace her bisexuality as it also explores women’s rights and the patriarchy.
JLA: The Nail
Like Marvel’s What If, JLA: The Nail explores how a single action could drastically affect the subsequent reality. In this case, Kal-El was never found by Jonathan and Martha Kent because a nail popped their truck’s tire. Thus, Superman never came to be on this Earth, and his absence leaves an incredible impression on the world. In the wake, Luthor comes to rule the United States and declares war on metahumans.
JLA: The Nail would be a cool animated film as it features characters from all circles of DC Comics, including Ra’s al Ghul, Hawkman, and Perry White. It could even be followed up by its sequel series, JLA: Another Nail, too.
Justice Riders
The Elseworlds tales are interesting ways to examine the iconic heroes of DC Comics through the guise of different storytelling tropes or genres. Justice Riders takes the Justice League and puts them in the Wild West. Wonder Woman is a Marshal who unites a ragtag team of Wally West as a gunslinger, Booster Gold as a mercenary, and Blue Beetle as an inventor, all trying to take down Maxwell Lord, a villainous railroad baron.
From its unique story, tone, aesthetic, and lack of both Batman and Superman, a Justice Riders animated adaptation would stand out from the crowd, and it could even come to rival others as one of the best Justice League movies.
Elseworld's Finest: Supergirl & Batgirl
The relationship between Batman and Superman has been explored time and time again, so Elseworlds gives an alternative option with Elseworld’s Finest: Supergirl & Batman. In this reality, Bruce Wayne’s parents were never killed, but it was Barbara Gordon who was orphaned by Joe Chill. Additionally, Kal-El never survived to adulthood, so when Kara arrived on Earth, it was none other than Lex Luthor who became her friend and mentor.
An adaptation of this story would be a welcome sight in the wake of the Supergirl movie. While it does explore the world and these characters would be different from Batman and Superman, it also shows how some things will always stay the same as, naturally, the Joker and Lex Luthor are villains they typically are in the main comics' continuity.
Batman: In Darkest Knight
Several Elseworlds tales explore what it would be like if certain characters swapped lives or roles, like how in Batman: In Darkest Knight, Bruce Wayne becomes a Green Lantern instead of Hal Jordan. Interestingly, this arc follows him as he deals with the domino effect and hunts down Sinestro, though it does not end with a true resolution on the latter, which could then set up a sequel film if it's adapted.
Batman isn’t alone in becoming a Green Lantern for Earth as Superman, the Flash, and Queen Hippolyta all receive Power Rings as well - although the latter would likely be adapted to Wonder Woman instead. Such a thing would be unlike any of the best Batman movies or TV shows, so it would be a welcome adaptation.
Green Lantern: Evil's Might
Another Elseworlds tale related to the Green Lantern Corps is Green Lantern: Evil’s Might. It primarily follows Kyle Rayner as he discovers a Green Lantern Power Ring, though both Alan Scott and Hal Jordan feature. It is a departure from the classically cosmic Green Lantern story, emulating Scott’s backstory before the establishment of the Corps.
Like Wonder Woman, the Green Lanterns deserve more movies and/or TV shows - even with Green Lantern: Beware My Power from this summer - and the fact this features both Kyle Rayner and Alan Scott makes this an intriguing option. In particular, despite being one of the coolest and most prolific Green Lanterns, Rayner has never been in a film or a TV show since the days of the DCAU.
Superman & Batman: Generations
As most Elseworlds publications are completely insular and without continuation, they’d logically be best fitted to movie adaptations. However, Superman & Batman: Generations could make the case for a TV show. It focuses on the dynamic duo across the ages with each issue taking place in a different year, a perfect fit for an episodic format.
As it spans decades and encomes various related characters, a Superman & Batman: Generations show could even draw from other Elseworlds tales for more stories, and thus, it could be a strong foundation to establish something similar to What If… for DC Studios.
