Thread by @NebsGoodTakes

Cancelled/Unmade/Reworked DC Extended Universe Projects | Thread 🧵

Ben Affleck's The Batman

Ben's take on a Batman film was inspired by James Bond, and too action-driven for the interest of Matt Reeves.

The antagonist was Joe Manganiello's Deathstroke, who would "systematically tear down Bruce Wayne's life piece by piece" as an act of revenge.

Will Smith's Deadshot

A Deadshot film was announced to be in development in 2016, but was continuously de-prioritized over other projects due to scheduling and Smith asking for too much money. (allegedly)

He later stepped down from The Suicide Squad due to scheduling as well.

David Ayer & Margot Robbie's Gotham City Sirens

This film featuring Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Catwoman, and Joker was announced in 2016, and was put on hold indefinitely as Robbie chose to develop Birds of Prey instead.

Geneva Robertson-Dworet was to write the screenplay.

Harley Quinn vs. The Joker

The film starring Margot Robbie and Jared Leto was announced in 2017, with Glenn Ficarra and John Requa set to co-direct, co-write, and co-produce.

A script had been submitted to WB and was set to film after Birds of Prey, but was cancelled by 2019.

James Wan's The Trench

In 2019, an Aquaman spin-off titled The Trench was announced, produced by Peter Safran and James Wan, with Noah Gardner and Aidan Fitzgerald writing the script.

The film was cancelled in 2021, and then revealed to secretly have been a Black Manta film.

Adam Sztykiel's Wonder Twins

Within a period of just 3 months, a Wonder Twins film for HBO Max had been announced, a director and writer were set, KJ Apa and Isabel May were cast as leads, filming was set to begin in Atlanta, and then the movie got cancelled by David Zaslav.

Chris McKay's Nightwing

A Nightwing film directed by Chris McKay and written by Bill Dubuque was announced in 2017.

The script was approaching its final draft, but was delayed due to DC having other priorities. The movie was confirmed to be cancelled literally this morning.

Ava DuVernay's New Gods

A film revolving around Jack Kirby's New Gods was announced in 2018, to be directed by Ava DuVernay and co-written with Tom King. Darkseid was set to appear.

This was cancelled in 2021, with WB somehow finding a way to blame Zack Snyder for it.

Gavin O'Connor's Suicide Squad 2

In 2018, Gavin O'Connor was set to write and direct the sequel to Suicide Squad. He was later replaced by the studio, as they wanted the film to be a comedy.

The movie was rumored to feature the introduction of Supergirl, among other things.

Rick Famuyiwa's The Flash

Famuyiwa was set to helm The Flash in 2016, where it would've heavily featured Ray Fisher's Cyborg as Barry's best friend.

WB later rejected Famuyiwa's vision as it clashed with what they wanted, a decision with comically catastrophic consequences.

Misha Green's Black Canary

A Black Canary film was announced in 2021, with Misha Green to write and direct, and Jurnee Smolett to reprise the role of her Birds of Prey character.

Since James Gunn and Peter Safran's takeover of the DCU, this project's status remains unclear.

Gareth Evans' Deathstroke

In 2017, a Deathstroke movie was announced with Gareth Evans, known for making some of the best action films of all time (The Raid 1 & 2) to direct.

It would've been inspired by Korean noir films, but was confirmed to have been scrapped in 2021.

Guillermo del Toro's Justice League Dark

GDT began developing a JLD script in 2013 and submitted it in 2014, but was no longer attached to the project by 2015. Doug Liman was then hired to direct in 2016, and left in 2017.

J.J. Abrams was then set to produce it. He did not.

Henry Cavill's Man of Steel 2

After many years of attempts, Man of Steel 2 was confirmed to have been pitched by Steven Knight with Charles Roven hired as a producer as of late 2022.

The film was then tragically cancelled as Henry Cavill famously slipped on a large banana peel.

Michael B. Jordan's Static Shock & Val-Zod

MBJ was announced to be producing a Static Shock film in 2020, and a Val-Zod TV series in 2021, both intended for HBO Max.

Despite both projects having writers attached, their status has remained unclear within James Gunn's new DCU.

Jared Leto's Joker

In 2018, it was announced that Jared Leto would executively produce and star in his own solo Joker film.

It had been cancelled by 2019, and presumably somehow reworked into that year's Joker film starring Joaquin Phoenix.

Batgirl

In 2017, a Batgirl film announced to be written, directed, and produced by Joss Whedon. He stepped down the following year, claiming he "didn't have an idea."

It was then co-directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, but ultimately scrapped despite being fully shot.

Ray Fisher's Cyborg

A Cyborg film was announced in the DCEU's original 2014 slate.

Ray Fisher spoke out regarding the racism he faced from Joss Whedon, Geoff Johns, and Walter Hamada during Justice League's reshoots, and was then written out of The Flash. Cyborg was never made.

Green Lantern Corps

A Green Lantern project had been announced in the DCEU's 2014 slate.

It had morphed into an HBO Max streaming series with Finn Wittrock and Jeremy Irvine being cast, and then morphed again into a John Stewart solo show, and is now in the current DCU slate.

Zack Snyder's Justice League 2

Justice League was announced to be part 1 of 2 in 2014's DCEU slate.

Despite having spent $70m to release Snyder's ultimate vision of Justice League, WB then claimed to have no plans of a sequel. Zack has revealed some story details over time.

Emerald Fennell's Zatanna

In 2021, a Zatanna film was announced for HBO Max. Emerald Fennell was hired to write the screenplay later that month.

The film was to be produced by J.J. Abrams as he was paid $250 million by WB to develop Justice League Dark Projects. He did not.

Crisis on Infinite Earths

In 2022, it was reported that Walter Hamada had been developing a Crisis on Infinite Earths film, presumably to help solve the DCEU's production and continuity issues.

This would've been referenced in the original ending of The Flash, but was cut.

Batman Beyond

In 2022, it was reported that a Batman Beyond film starring Michael Keaton's Batman and Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman had been in development, to be written by Christina Hodson.

It was scrapped upon James Gunn and Peter Safran's takeover of the DCU.

Michael Bay's Lobo

A Lobo film had been in development since 2009, with Dwayne Johnson originally intended to star. The film had been revived in 2016, with Jason Fuchs attached to write.

Michael Bay was attached to direct by 2018, but it never went forward due to budget issues.

Steven Spielberg's Blackhawk

In 2018, it was announced that Steven Spielberg would direct a Blackhawk film, with David Koepp writing the script.

It was expected to be made after Spielberg completed West Side story and was still alive as of 2022, but no updates since.

Plastic Man

A Plastic Man film was announced in 2018, with Amanda Idoko to write the script. WB then wanted to change direction, so they hired Cat Vasko to rewrite the script into something female-centered.

There have been no updates on Plastic Woman since.

Angela Robinson's Madame X

A Madame Xanadu show was announced for HBO Max in 2021, with Angela Robinson to write and produce the series alongside J.J. Abrams.

In 2022 it was announced that HBO Max passed on the show, and attempted shopping it around to other networks.

John Constantine

Announced in 2021, a Constantine show was being developed for HBO Max. It would have featured a younger take on the character and had a diverse cast pool.

With J.J. Abrams as executive producer, it fell through and was ultimately shopped to other networks.

Barry Sonnenfeld's Metal Men

A Metal Men film was in development as early as 2007, with Barry Sonnenfeld being hired as director in 2012, before the DCEU even started.

A comically long time later, Sonnenfeld confirmed it was still being written as of 2021.

Hourman

An Hourman film was announced to be in development in 2021, to be produced by Chernin Entertainment and written by Gavin James and Neil Widener.

It was never mentioned ever again.

David Goyer's Krypton

A Krypton show was developed by David Goyer, with the intent to be a Man of Steel prequel.

The show did air on the SyFY network for 2 seasons before being cancelled, but the DCEU nods were scrapped, and it instead took place in its own universe.

Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman 3

After Wonder Woman 1984's release, a third film was confirmed to be in development in 2021 with Patty Jenkins back to direct, until WB scrapped it.

Gal Gadot was then allegedly promised she would still get a third film, but WB said otherwise.

Hiram Garcia's Black Adam 2

After Black Adam's release, a sequel was quickly confirmed. This would have very likely included Henry Cavill's Superman and Zachary Levi's Shazam.

After James Gunn's takeover of the DCU, Dwayne Johnson confirmed he was no longer in any plans.

Greg Berlanti's Booster Gold & Blue Beetle

In 2015 it was reported that Greg Berlanti would be directing a Booster Gold & Blue Beetle buddy comedy film, with Zak Penn allegedly being looked at to write the script.

This likely didn't go forward to make way for Blue Beetle (2023)

Sasha Calle's Supergirl

In 2021 it was reported that a Supergirl film starring Sasha Calle was in development. However, Rolling Stone reported that it was unlikely to move forward in 2022.

It's unclear if Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow will feature Sasha Calle at this time.