(Image Source: Pinterest, Warner Bros. Pictures)
The new DC Universe's "Superman" film is dominating screens worldwide this week, and in conjunction, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) published a new column reviewing the recent history of DC live-action films and television. The piece revealed insider details on several DC projects that never came to fruition.
Fans may recall that after "The Dark Knight" trilogy concluded, rumors circulated about a spinoff film for Joseph Gordon-Levitt's Robin, with fan-made posters (like the one pictured left) even going viral. The WSJ now adds that Warner Bros. Pictures indeed planned a "Robin" spinoff series set in "The Dark Knight" universe, but Christopher Nolan ultimately vetoed the project.
(Image Source: Warner Bros. Pictures)
Furthermore, some may have heard that before James Gunn took over DC Studios and became the director of the new "Superman," Warner Bros. was developing two "Black Superman" projects concurrently: one a feature film produced by J.J. Abrams, and the other a limited series executive produced by Michael B. Jordan. However, the WSJ reports that Abrams' film has been canceled because Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, upon taking office three years ago, deemed the script "too woke" and feared it would provoke a backlash against political correctness, leading him to halt the project.
(Image Source: Warner Bros. Pictures)
Another project axed under Zaslav's tenure was "Black Adam." It's well-known that star and producer Dwayne Johnson aimed to revitalize the DC Universe with "Black Adam," intending to expand the DC narrative around the character. However, the high-budget "Black Adam" underperformed at the box office. This led Zaslav, who had initially discussed future DC strategies with Johnson, to quickly abandon plans to bet on "Black Adam."
Beyond these shelved plans, The Wall Street Journal also reported that Gunn is currently considering dedicated series for the prominent "Mr. Terrific" and "Jimmy Olsen" characters from the new "Superman" film.