Everybody in the movie business wants to be like Marvel — especially rival company DC Comics.

The success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a blueprint that franchises from "Transformers" to "Ghostbusters" have looked to emulate. Hell, even the granddaddy of them all, "Star Wars," has taken a page from their Disney corporate sibling in spinning out a new trilogy and a standalone anthology.

DC Comics, in partnership with Warner Bros., is also creating its own cinematic universe, starting with next year's "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice," which will be followed a few months later by "Suicide Squad." Down the line, there's "Wonder Woman," "Justice League," "The Flash," and "Aquaman."

"We have a great strategy for the DC films, which is to take these beloved characters and put them in the hands of master filmmakers and make sure they all coordinate with each other," Warner Bros. film executive Greg Silverman told The Hollywood Reporter. "You'll see the difference when you see 'Batman v. Superman,' 'Suicide Squad,' 'Justice League' and all the things that we are working on."

Those master filmmakers include David Ayers for "Suicide Squad" and Patty Jenkins for "Wonder Woman." Rumors say that Warner Bros. is hoping Chris and Phil Lord ("The Lego Movie") and "Furious 7" director James Wan hop on board for future movies.

Part of what seems to differentiate DC movies from Marvel's is a darker tone, a grittier edge, as Silverman acknowledged. "There is intensity and a seriousness of purpose to some of these characters. The filmmakers who are tackling these properties are making great movies about superheroes; they aren't making superhero movies."

Time will tell as to whether or not this strategy is a winning one.

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