10 Ways The DC Cinematic Universe Could Eclipse Marvel's

8. Bring The Vertigo Imprint To The Big Screen

Comic book movies are a huge business right now and so understandably, studios are keen to appeal to the widest demographic possible. Aside from the occasional exception, this is why the majority of superhero films are rated suitable for children - but this only begins to scratch the surface of what comic books have to offer. The Vertigo imprint of DC Comics is responsible for some of the most innovative and groundbreaking story telling that the medium has to offer. Ever since it was first founded in 1993, Vertigo has explored a range of adult themes such as profanity, sexuality and violence in an intelligent and engrossing way. The sheer volume of critically-acclaimed properties DC have access to through Vertigo is mind-blowing and the potential of these stories is huge. Imagine how incredible a Preacher or Fables movie could be if handled right... While Marvel continue to produce family-friendly fare, DC could release a number of successful movies aimed solely at adults while simultaneously competing with the House of Ideas in the superhero blockbuster stakes, cornering both ends of the market. After years of languishing in development hell, an adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Sandman saga is the first Vertigo property to finally be officially confirmed for release under the new business model, and with David S. Goyer, Joseph Gordon Levitt and Gaiman himself on producing duties, this version could be one the film fans have been dying to see for over two decades. Whether it will link explicitly with the rest of the DC cinematic universe remains to be seen and whether it even should is up for debate, but what would be exciting is to watch DC create a Vertigo universe that runs parallel and perhaps even intersects occasionally with mainstream DC properties.