The future of Warner Bros. remains in shambles, as many have no idea what future DC projects are in some form of development or another. The random cancelation of Batgirl has left many scratching their heads about what exactly it means for many of the projects currently in some form of development or another. Among them was the Birds of Prey spinoff that would focus on Jurnee Smollett‘s Black Canary.
The project is going to be written by Mischa Green, who has worked with Smollett on other projects in the past. As many DC projects are getting taken down or at least their future in question, there are a lot of questions about how they’ll handle their projects. They are seemingly moving away from HBO Max movie releases, which might mean Black Canary might be a theatrical release.
Of course, they may turn it into a TV series and find a new home over at HBO. Yet, it’s difficult to say with just how they are going to approach these projects moving forward. There’s also the question if it not having started thee project could give them the pivot to find the fitting home for it moving forward. Here’s hoping the wait isn’t too long for an official update on the project.
While Warner Bros. Discovery looks to revamp its DC offerings, it looks like Black Canary is still in the works. During a recent sit-down with The Hollywood Reporter to promote the Netflix film, Spiderhead, Black Canary actress Jurnee Smollett briefly teased what’s to come for the character.
Ever since the character’s live-action debut in Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), fans have been eagerly awaiting news of a Black Canary project. Then in April 2021, it was confirmed that a Black Canary movie was in the works at HBO Max with Smollett confirmed to return and Lovecraft Country creator Misha Green set to pen the script. While that project seems to have survived the DC clean-up – so far – Smollett isn’t actually able to talk too much about it. “I can’t talk about it, as you know. But I can say I really am excited about what we’re developing.”
Prior to the announcement of the Black Canary film, fans had taken to trending #BlackCanaryHBOSeries in hopes of landing a series sequel to Birds of Prey with Smollett’s Canary. For the actress, seeing the fan response was exciting. “Truly, one of the great joys of my professional career has been playing Black Canary,” she said. “To see the response from the fans online and engaging on Twitter. They are a massive reason why I am where I am, and any excitement I have about continuing on the Black Canary trajectory, it’s being made possible because of the fans.”
The actress also revealed that upon being cast in Birds of Prey, she received some great advice from a legendary actor that has made his own mark in the comic book movie world — Samuel L. Jackson. He has been playing Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since Iron Man’s post credit scene. Upon being cast, she called him in hopes of figuring out how to approach the role. “And he said, “Baby, just go and piss on your territory.” So I’ve been just so truly, truly humbled by the response from the fans.”
As of now, the Black Canary movie for HBO Max does not have a director or a planned release date.
The Warner Bros Discovery merger has led to a lot of uncertainty regarding the current plans for the DC Extended Universe. It was reported just a few weeks ago that the studio was looking to overhaul DC Entertainment and looking for a Kevin Feige-like figure to lead its film universe into something similar to that of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
With the overhaul, some casualties were bound to happen and the first of what could be many is Wonder Twins. What was initially planned to be an HBO Max exclusive is now dead in the water, just a few weeks after casting its leads with the intent to film this summer. The message this sends is that anything not already far along in development, or in front of cameras, is on the chopping block.
There are currently many live-action DC projects in the works at Warner Bros Discovery and a lot of them have made little movement since being announced. Some projects, while having had little movement, could still very well be happening due to the fact that they can fit within a universe moving forward, while others won’t be as lucky. With that in mind, we take a closer look at previously announced DC films and what we expect to see happen with them.
Hourman – Our Guess: Dead
We have heard very little about this project since it was announced last March, and that seems to be a trend amongst many of these projects. Hourman seems like something Warner Bros would ax quite quickly due to its status, but the project could just hit the shelves for now. Then again, Hourman could be seen as viable to the studio depending on the success and reception of the Justice Society of America in Black Adam. The studio could also evaporate the movie and move the character into a future JSA project as a new character.
Plastic Woman – Our Guess: Dead
Another film that has had absolutely no movement on it since it was announced is Plastic Woman. The film was expected to a genderbent Plastic Man and was set to be written by Cat Vasko. Interestingly enough, Vasko was brought on to take the project in a new direction as it was initially set to follow Patrick O’Brian. The character could find a place in a new DC extended universe, but this project is likely to be another casualty of the overhaul.
Bad Robot’s Justice League Dark Projects – Our Guess: Safe
These are probably some of the most anticipated projects with characters like Zatanna, Constantine, and Madame Xanadu set to make their DC Extended Universe debut. It has been radio silent on projects like Zatanna and Madame X, but Constantine looks to have already found its lead and is aiming to begin production later this year.
These projects are being produced through a deal between Warner Bros Discovery and Bad Robot. With that in mind, it’s hard not to think these are safe, especially as many of these projects are planned to all lead into each other with a Netflix Defenders-like setup for a Justice League Dark crossover.
Blackhawks – Our Guess: Dead
Blackhawks was originally announced back in 2018 with Steven Spielberg attached as a producer. At the time, there were suggestions he could ultimately go on to helm the project too, but just as quickly as it was announced, the project seemed to go silent. Writer David Koepp provided an update stating the script was done, but leadership changes had stalled the project. This is a project that will most likely end up on the chopping block, most likely because it doesn’t fit anywhere in the DC Extended Universe. Who knows? If a follow-up is made to Birds of Prey, it is entirely possible Lady Blackhawk could make her live-action debut there instead.
Static Shock – Our Guess: Safe
Not to kick anyone while they’re down, because this one is really gonna sting if it hits the bin, but Static Shock has seen no movement since being announced. The movie was officially announced during DC’s Fandome in August 2020, and a couple of months later, Michael B. Jordan was confirmed to be producing the project. Despite the fanfare, though, it has been quiet, but in this instance, that might not be a bad thing as the project is part of a first-look deal with Jordan.
The sheer popularity of the character is another driving factor, too, as to why I feel it is safe. Static Shock s an iconic staple of the DC Universe and has many fans, this is a viable project, so it would be a shame to see it canned.
Wonder Woman 3 – Our Guess: Safe
This is a no-brainer, this project is happening no matter what. The Wonder Woman films have been far too successful for this to be scrapped. While the second film was not as well-received as the first, it was still very successful with its HBO Max release and has some of the service’s strongest streaming numbers, raking up 3.2 million streams on the service with a dual release in theaters towards the end of 2020. While this one could still be a bit away due to Gal Gadot’s packed schedule, it will likely find a home in the future of the DC Extended Universe.
Nightwing – Our Guess: Shelved
Nightwing was announced back in 2017 with Chris McKay set to direct the film from a script by Chris Dubuque, but of course, it has since fallen into limbo with a plethora of other projects. This is a project that could still happen, though, with rumors of Dick Grayson making his DC Extended Universe debut in the upcoming Batgirl solo film with a spin-off in mind. As it stands, though, we have no clue if McKay is still involved and if Dubuque’s script can even be used.
Black Canary – Our Guess: Safe
Black Canary is a spin-off to 2020’s Birds of Prey and The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn and it was only just announced last year. The project is set to feature Jurnee Smollet-Bell reprising her role with Misha Green set to pen the script. I feel this project will be safe because the upcoming Batgirl film will reportedly lead into this project, and Easter eggs have been spotted on the set of Batgirl hinting at the character’s appearance in the film. Black Canary is set to release exclusively on HBO Max, but there is always the chance the movie makes its way to theaters instead.
Joker 2 – Our Guess: Safe
This is an interesting situation as this is a film that does not fit at all with what Warner Bros Discovery is looking to do, but it’s a film that they’re interested in making more of. Variety reported that the studio saw Joker as the prime example of how characters who usually are not the protagonist can be taken and explored deeper. While many don’t believe the story needs to – or should continue – the first film is the most profitable comic book movie of all time, grossing over a billion dollars at the box office on a $64 billion budget.
Matt Reeve’s Plans – Our Guess: Safe
The Batman was yet another resounding success for everyone involved, welcoming us to a new Gotham City with an all-new caped crusader. Many are on the edge of their seat, hoping Matt Reeves‘ plans do not get caught in the crossfire of the DC overhaul to meet an early end. These projects like The Batman sequel, the Arkham series, and The Penguin series will most likely be safe due to the success of the film both critically and financially. Let’s not forget, The Batman also became the highest viewed film on HBO Max in its first week, beating every day and date release last year. It would not be very beneficial for Warner Bros Discovery to stop these projects now, just as they’re all getting going.
Ta-Nehisi Coates Superman – Our Guess: Safe
Superman is a character directly mentioned in Variety’s exclusive on Warner Bros Discovery’s overhaul of DC entertainment, believing the character to be left in the dust and in need of a strong return. This project seems like the fresh start the studio would want for the character, it’s even rumored that the project, if possible, could use Henry Cavill as its Superman, although none of that has been confirmed. Toby Emmerich even stated at CinemaCon that progress on the next Superman film is being made, so it seems this project could indeed see the Man of Steel’s long-awaited return.
We’re still in the dark about just what moves the new leadership will make next but it’s always possible WBD pulls the plug on something we thought was safe. For the film of things many of these projects still look to be safe for now but where things could get real choppy is the TV side of things, with many projects remaining facing an early grave.
The Birds of Prey are a prominent crime-fighting force in DC comics, usually comprised of an all-female roster. They have most recently appeared in the Harley Quinn-led film, where she alongside Black Canary, Huntress, Renee Montoya, and Cassandra Cain teamed up to take down Roman Sionis, aka the Black Mask. There has been some hope that the missing key member may also join at one point, Barbara Gordon. Luckily, new set photos offer a hint that a meeting might be in the near future.
We’ve seen quite a bit from the set of Batgirl, which included an all-new look at Michael Keaton‘s bat-suit and even confirmation on the existence of Robin in the new DCEU. There was even a tease for a potential appearance of Hugo Strange. A new set photo of some more posters has found its way online and includes a direct reference to Black Canary. While most of the poster is covered, it’s likely connected to her music career.
It seems Dinah Lance may be going solo in Gotham City these days. Rumors have swirled recently on her inclusion in the film with it even connecting into her upcoming solo project. For those who aren’t familiar with the Batgirl: Year One storyline, Canary played an important role as Barbara Gordon’s inspiration in becoming a crime-fighting vigilante. So, they may take some queues from that storyline to add more inspiration to the character’s motivation outside of Batman.
Recent rumors have sent fans of the DCEU into a bit of a crisis, pun intended. At the center of recent controversy is the fate of the Justice League within the shared universe and just what the team roster will look like in future appearances. Luckily the DC Extended Universe continues to grow and offers plenty of prime candidates who’ve joined the team in the pages of the comics and could eventually become a member in live-action.
Honorable Mention: Hawkgirl
The only reason Hawkgirl did not make the actual list is due to the uncertainness surrounding the character in the DCEU. The existence of Carter Hall, aka Hawkman, would point to Shiera Sanders Hall existing somewhere within the greater DC Universe. The character is a current member of the Infinite Frontier Justice League line-up and played a prominent role in the Justice League The Animated Series in which she was quite the fan-favorite character.
5. Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz
Both cuts of Justice League confirm that Green Lanterns do indeed exist in the DCEU however the corps has been AWOL and yet to make an appearance in the present day. Both Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz will make their live-action debuts in the upcoming Green Lantern series on HBO Max, and while the status of the series canonicity in the DCEU is still up in the air, the two would make great additions to the league. The pair joined the league in the place of Hal Jordan and Jon Stewart upon the beginning of DC’s Rebirth storyline and have been present in the DC Universe ever since.
4. Shazam
Billy Batson is probably one of the most beloved characters in the DCEU with one of the best films; of course, he’s a viable candidate for the Justice League, especially with how the Shazam! ended. Rumors surrounding the future of the team state that he could very well indeed be one of the newest members. The character has been a come-and-go member of the team since the launch of the New 52 and has been a popular addition ever since.
3. Zatanna
Zatanna is in a similar situation to Hawkgirl, but we actually know for a fact that the character is coming with a solo film in the works from academy award-winning screenwriter Emerald Fennel. While the character will most likely be a member of the Justice League Dark, this doesn’t exactly keep her from the Justice League. If Constantine leads the JLD and Doctor Fate represents magic on the JSA, Zatanna should have a place on the JL as she’s quite a powerful magic user and the league lacks someone that specializes in that.
2. Martian Manhunter
A character who was there at the very beginning, Martian Manhunter is a founding member of the Justice League and should be a member of the team. He possesses a variety of different abilities and powers that make him worthy of a spot on the team. In recent years, the character has taken a bit of a backseat, with Cyborg taking his spot on the team when the New 52 came around. The character was only revealed to exist and be General Swanwick in Zack Snyder’s Justice League which isn’t technically canon to the mainline DCEU, but the character could still find a place in the DCEU and on the League in a post-Flash universe.
1. Black Canary
Jurnee Smollett’s debut as Dinah Lance in Birds of Prey was praised by fans for her portrayal of the character, and people instantly craved more of the character. Jurnee is set to return as the character in her own solo film, as well as rumored to appear in Batgirl. The character is usually seen on the team alongside Green Arrow, who has yet to make an appearance in the DCEU, but existence is sure due to a graphic image featuring Lexcorps corporate rivals listing Queen Industries. What we’ve seen from Dinah so far has proved she can hold her own and harnesses a killer canary cry. With Jurnee wracking up a few more appearances and quickly becoming a prominent character in the DCEU, a spot on the league is what she deserves.
The DC universe is vast and full of plenty of diverse and beloved characters and while things may feel familiar it’s also important to welcome a bit of change. The Justice League is a team that’s gone back decades and featured an ever-expanding and transitioning roster of characters so these additions wouldn’t feel out of the ordinary.
Writer Misha Green recently took to Twitter for an impromptu Q&A and fans immediately jumped at the chance to get a bit more details on the upcoming Black Canary film. She naturally doesn’t give away any details but did offer some small glimpses behind the scenes. What may have caught many fans’ eyes is her teasing the classic costume from the comics. So, it adds some hope that she’ll wear the iconic biker jacket and fishnets.
She is currently actively researching for the project but doesn’t give away what might become the series’ main influence, but there was a hint at Gail Simone‘s work. The writer remains tight-lipped on what the series might dive into, but she did confirm that she’s going solo on this project in one of her tweets.
We got a tease that Dinah’s mother had a similar ability in the 2020 film, which could become an important part of the upcoming HBO Max film. While it is still probably some time until it releases, it’s exciting to see such passion behind the project. Smollet has also been very vocal about her love for the character and project. So, here’s hoping we’ll get to see their creative vision soon.
UPDATE: Well, it didn’t take long for Cinelinx’s story to get confirmed, as The Hollywood Reporter and Collider both confirmed that Misha Green is, in fact, working on a Black Canary project. Producer Sur Kroll is also set to return. Jurnee Smollett will reprise the role from the Birds of Prey film.
It looks like those rumors surrounding a Jurnee Smollett spin-off from Birds of Preyand the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn might have gotten a bit more traction. Cinelinx’s Jordan Maison shared a story that Lovecraft Country‘s Misha Green may have joined the project to write the script. Their sources share that originally this project was going to be a series before moving to a direct-to-HBO Max film being the focus.
It’s not the first time a DC project is taking this strategy as Batgirl and Blue Beetle are in development as streaming-exclusive projects. If there’s something to these rumors, Jurnee Smollett would return to play the character. There’s no word if these rumors turn out to be true if it’s a direct continuation of the film or even acts as a prequel. We’ve gotten teased her mother had the same ability, which might get explored in more detail in a film.
Yet, if it turns out to be a sequel, they might explore her time with the titular Birds of Prey, which formed at the end of the first film. It’s surprising they wouldn’t give the team a sequel before splintering the group, but next to Harley Quinn, she was one of the big draws for the release. Smollett‘s work on Lovecraft Country also might be a reason why Green may have joined the project. So, we’ll see if there’s an announcement coming our way during this year’s DC FanDome.
Fans had been up in arms about how much they wanted to see Jurnee Smollet reprise the role of Black Canary, and on August 20 2021 they finally got what they wished for. It was initially seen as a mere rumor that quickly was evolved into a certainty via trade report. Lovecraft Country‘s Misha Green, a project where she worked with Smollet, will be writing the project’s script.
Cast
Jurnee Smollettas Dinah Lance / Black Canary
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