DC Superhero Movie Cancellation Confirmed Ahead Of DC Universe Launch

The End of an Era

As James Gunn's DC Universe is getting ready to start, another DC Comics movie from the previous regime has been canceled as Zatanna isn't moving forward. The DCEU timeline ends with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, in light of James Gunn's upcoming DC Universe. However, the road to the DCEU's conclusion has been less than easy, as it has also meant several in-development movies getting scrapped. With 2023 reaching its end, another DC movie from the old DC Films division has now been confirmed to be canceled too ahead of the new DC Universe. During a recent appearance on the Happy Sad Confused Podcast, Emerald Fennell was asked what happened to her Zatanna movie and whether or not it is still moving forward. Fennell confirmed that it has been scrapped, as she shared what was going to happen with Zatanna:

Zatanna performing magic in the DC Comics

The Abrams Effect

What Happened To J.J. Abrams' Justice League Dark Franchise? While Justice League Dark was initially going to be a DCEU film, when J.J. Abrams signed his overall deal with Warner Bros., the studio decided to revamp the project into a shared universe that would span across DC TV and movies by Abrams. As Max (formerly known as HBO Max) was looking to become a primary destination for new DC TV shows, Abrams' Justice League Dark universe would have series tied into the films, as Zatanna was initially the only confirmed movie from that franchise. The idea was reportedly going to be similar to Netflix's The Defenders franchise from Marvel, where the franchise would have solo movies and TV shows for their various characters before Justice League Dark. But despite his overall deal with Warner Bros., nothing on the DC front ever emerged from Abrams. While the DC Universe has a Swamp Thing movie coming up, Abrams' entire Justice League Dark franchise is not moving forward. Constantine, Zatanna, and Madame X were initially being shopped around to other platforms after being passed on by Max. Hopefully, Justice League Dark will be a concept that gets adapted for the new DC Universe, as the supernatural side of DC never really got to shine in the DCEU. With so many rich characters that they can use, it would be a shame if James Gunn and Peter Safran didn't jump at the chance to set up the team in his franchise. But for now, time will tell how Justice League Dark may or may not fit into the DC Universe down the line.

Constantine Hellblazer DC

The Future of DC Universe

The cancellation of the Zatanna movie and the fate of J.J. Abrams' Justice League Dark franchise have raised questions about the future of the DC Universe. With James Gunn's DC Universe on the horizon, fans are eager to see how the supernatural side of DC will be portrayed in this new era. The potential for Justice League Dark to be adapted for the new DC Universe is an exciting prospect, given the rich characters and stories that could be explored. As the launch of James Gunn's DC Universe approaches, it remains to be seen how the legacy of the DCEU will influence the new direction of DC Comics movies and TV shows.

Swamp Thing in James Gunn's new DC Universe