Ever since its premiere on January 26, 2024, fans of Masters of the Air have been fervently following the 100th Bomb Group’s harrowing journey. With production heavyweights like Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, and Gary Goetzman, the nine-episode limited series was probably bound for success from the start.
In the Apple TV+ series, Austin Butler and Callum Turner portray Gale Cleven and John Egan, respectively, as best friends. Engrossing the reader in its gripping tale, The Bloody Hundredth, the 100th Bomb Group’s story illustrates the harsh realities of World War Two.
Arguably, Masters of the Air suggests that Spielberg should reconsider his previous attachment to helming a DC movie. Hold on, earlier attempts… DC flick? Yes, it has been revealed that he had attempted to adapt the DC property Blackhawks (the comics superhero team) several years ago.
Blackhawks, like Masters of the Air, is centered on a group of renegade fighter pilots who fight in the DC universe during World War II. It is possible that Blackhawks will eventually be released if Spielberg continues to express interest in wartime projects. With the exception of the superhero connections, Masters of the Air has everything a fan could ask for in the Blackhawks project.
A Look Back at the Unmade ‘Blackhawks’ DC Flick by Steven Spielberg
It was a long time ago, in the 1980s, when Steven Spielberg, 77, was attached to do a Blackhawk adaptation (see THR). The director may have been eager to tackle a lighter take on the property, but still, in the 1980s, he turned his attention to other interests. With The Color Purple and Empire of the Sun, Spielberg ventured into the realm of grounded adult dramas following the success of Raiders of the Lost Ark and E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial.
Spielberg had the opportunity to work on Blackhawks once again in April 2018. Warner Bros. Pictures declared that the director will produce and probably direct the studio’s adaptation of Blackhawks (we learned from Collider). Warner Bros. announced Blackhawks and confirmed David Koepp would be penning the script for the film.
This was another indication of how closely Blackhawks aligned with Spielberg’s artistic vision, considering that he and Koepp had collaborated on multiple previous films, such as Jurassic Park.
After the initial declaration, the COVID-19 pandemic halted operations in the entertainment sector two years later. It would be difficult to pull off a massive blockbuster like Blackhawks, which was already risky prior to 2020. A few details about the feature’s status started to surface, though Koepp did clarify in an interview with Collider that Warner Bros. was happy with the script’s progress in March 2022.
He continued by saying that the biggest barrier to getting the movie made at this time was Warner Bros.’ continuous decision about the direction of the DC Extended Universe. A significant portion of the uncertainty stemmed from the Warner-Discovery merger, which was scheduled to occur at the time and produced a newly formed conglomerate with very distinct ideas about what a contemporary DC blockbuster ought to look like.
Ultimately, these concepts entailed James Gunn and Peter Safran taking control of Warner Bros.’ DC division and establishing an entirely new shared universe based on DC characters.
Why Should James Gunn Resurrect Steven Spielberg’s Lost DC Film?
The story of the 100th Bombardment Group has concluded with Steven Spielberg’s critically acclaimed series Masters of the Air. The show successfully establishes its historical authenticity by maintaining its commitment to the horrific death toll.
Giving the show a five-star rating and calling it “truly fantastic television”, Rebecca Nicholson, a writer for The Guardian, described the pilots’ experience as “as thrilling as it is terrible”.
Although Masters of the Air demonstrates the potential of a comprehensive series on friendship and aviation, it lacks the superhero element that Blackhawks would bring to the genre. There is no need for more heroes in Masters of the Air. It tells a very moving, amazing, and realistic story.
Alternatively, Blackhawks could be used to weave a deeper narrative for the growing DCU without even focusing on these heroes. The fact that Spielberg is a part of the series only makes viewers more curious. It allows the director to try again, bringing the visuals from Masters of the Air to Blackhawks in an effort to bring the squadron to life on the big screen.
Given his fondness for obscure comic book characters, DC co-head James Gunn might eventually integrate the Blackhawks characters into the DC Universe. Still, Spielberg’s Blackhawks movie (at least in its initial version) is currently shelved because his plans for the DC Universe do not, at this time, involve bringing canceled DCEU movies into this shared continuity.
In the meantime, be sure to check out Masters of Air and prepare yourself to be wowed by Spielberg’s storytelling prowess.
Stream Masters of the Air on Apple TV+.
