DC Entertainment CCO Geoff Johns and Jon Berg, co-heads of the recently formed DC Films, are working to make Justice League, currently shooting in London, more inspiring, they told the Wall Street Journal in their first interview since taking on their new roles in May (see “Executive Shake-Up on DC Films”).  Johns, who said the studio’s previous view that DC films were inherently gritty and dark “couldn’t be more wrong,” argued that the DC universe has a “hopeful and optimistic view of life.”  This is a sharp departure from Zack Snyder’s last two films for the studio, Man of Steel and Batman v Superman. 

Although plans for Justice League were already moving in a less depressing direction, Berg and Johns worked on the story based on the reaction to Batman v Superman.  “We accelerated the story to get to the hope and optimism a little faster,” Johns told the Journal.     

Batman’s controversial actions in Batman v Superman, which included torturing criminals and nearly killing Superman, will also be addressed in Justice League, according to the report. 

Another change in plans:  the two Justice League films, currently scheduled for 2017 and 2019, will no longer be parts one and two.  Instead they will be two stand-alone films, similar to the change recently made by Marvel to its next two Avengers movies (see “’Avengers:  Infinity War’ Cut to One Movie”).