When James Gunn and Peter Safran announced the exciting lineup for DC Studios’ “Gods and Monsters,” fans were quick to ask, “What about Wonder Woman?” This question resonates with many, as Wonder Woman stands as one of the most iconic figures in the DC Comics universe, alongside Superman and Batman. Recently, Gunn disclosed that a new Wonder Woman film is currently in development, sparking a renewed wave of speculation and fan casting that includes the likes of Melissa Barrera and Adria Arjona. Moreover, I believe that Wonder Woman could serve as a vital link to a superhero ensemble that has struggled to find its footing on the big screen: the mystical heroes known as Justice League Dark.
Wonder Woman Should Delve into the Enchanted Aspects of the DC Universe, Particularly with Justice League Dark
The Justice League Dark first made its debut in Justice League Dark #1, crafted by the talented duo of Peter Milligan and Mikel Janin, as part of the groundbreaking New 52 initiative from DC Comics. True to its name, this team features some of the most formidable characters in the realm of magic within the DC Universe, including John Constantine, Zatanna, and Swamp Thing. In 2018, Wonder Woman took the lead in a new version of this team, retaining beloved original members like Zatanna while also introducing exciting new characters such as Man-Bat and Detective Chimp. Regardless of the specific lineup, the core mission of Justice League Dark remains unchanged: to confront threats that surpass the capabilities of the Justice League and other superheroes. These perilous challenges include formidable entities such as the Lords of Order, who empowered Doctor Fate, and the terrifying figure known as the Upside Down Man. A significant narrative arc involved Wonder Woman herself, who faced possession by the goddess of magic, Hecate, during the gripping “The Witching Hour” storyline.
These compelling story arcs could serve as an excellent launching pad for a new Wonder Woman film, but even more critically, they could unveil the enchanting side of DC Studios. While Superman is set to explore the sci-fi dimensions, with projects like Lanterns and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow in the pipeline, introducing a magical element would provide a refreshing contrast and expand the DC Studios universe. The recent series Creature Commandos even touched upon the existence of magic through the character of the Amazonian sorceress Circe, who has been a formidable adversary for Wonder Woman in the comics. James Gunn has likened his strategy for developing DC Studios to that of Game of Thrones, a franchise renowned for gradually unveiling its fantastical elements. Since Creature Commandos has already established the presence of magic and the Amazons, it’s time for Wonder Woman and Justice League Dark to further explore this captivating world.
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Warner Bros. Has Been Attempting for Years to Launch a ‘Justice League Dark’ Project
If Wonder Woman‘s involvement in DC Studios paves the way for the introduction of Justice League Dark, it will mark a significant achievement for Warner Bros. in their long-standing efforts to bring these supernatural heroes to the forefront of cinema. Plans for Justice League Dark had been in motion during the airing of Constantine and Swamp Thing, yet those ambitions fell short when those series were canceled. Notably, J.J. Abrams was slated to produce a series of television adaptations centered around Justice League Dark, but those plans never materialized. The most ambitious attempt to bring Justice League Dark to the big screen came from Guillermo del Toro, who crafted a script that envisioned a coalition of DC’s magical heroes. He discussed his inspirations during an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. Although Justice League Dark eventually found its way onto screens in animated form, debuting with Justice League Dark in 2017 and followed by Justice League Dark: Apokolips War in 2020, the latter served as a finale to DC’s animated movie universe that began in 2014.
However, Wonder Woman is not the only character whose inclusion could herald the arrival of Justice League Dark. Swamp Thing has been a longstanding member of this esteemed team, and a new Swamp Thing film is currently in development, with James Mangold (of Logan fame) attached to write the screenplay. While Mangold has expressed that his interpretation of Swamp Thing won’t be restricted by established lore, it still has the potential to link to the broader universe that DC Studios is crafting, thereby allowing for Swamp Thing to become part of Justice League Dark. Although details regarding the upcoming Wonder Woman film remain limited, I genuinely believe that delving into the magical aspects and granting Justice League Dark the opportunity to shine on the big screen could significantly differentiate this new iteration from Gal Gadot‘s portrayal.
Justice League Dark: Apokolips War is currently available for streaming on Max.
Justice League Dark: Apokolips War
- Release Date
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May 5, 2020
- Runtime
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90 Mins
- Director
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Matt Peters, Christina Sotta
- Writers
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Mark Millar, Mairghread Scott
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