Warner Bros. Discovery might be moving full-steam ahead with The Flash, however, a new report from The Hollywood Reporter suggests plenty of other DC projects have been shelved – at least temporarily.
In a new piece breaking down the status of projects in varying stages of development at Warner Bros. Discovery and DC, THR has suggested a slew of projects haven’t necessarily been canceled, but development has slowed. Per the outlet, Supergirl, Green Lantern Corps, Static Shock and a Superman film from writer Ta-Nehisi Coates have all seen their development come to a halt with no directors attached to any of the projects.
Reports that Supergirl hit a speed bump first surfaced last week, with Rolling Stone stating the Flash spinoff was no longer moving forward. This report from THR suggests the project isn’t necessarily canceled, but rather, not a priority at the moment. That could potentially change depending on how The Flash is received upon release next year. As for Static Shock and Coates’ Superman, this marks the first news regarding the projects since they were initially announced, so it’s not entirely surprising that development has stalled on both.
A Static Shock movie was first teased in August 2020 as part of DC’s FanDome event, with news coming a few months later that Michael B. Jordan would produce the project for Warner Bros. along with Reginald Hudlin on the film. The project looked to be gaining steam after hiring Randy McKinnon in March 2021 to pen the script. Unfortunately, that was the last bit of movement on the project since its initial announcement – the same goes for Coates’ Superman film with producer J.J. Abrams.
With Warner Bros. Discovery viewing Superman as a viable franchise for its DC brand, it remains to be seen whether or not the studio opts to bring back Henry Cavill or opt to introduce a brand-new Man of Steel. Either way, it seems likely Superman will fly again, it just remains to be seen which Superman it’ll be.
Well, the San Diego Comic-Con panel for DC Comics has come to an end. Surprisingly, this year was quite the mellow offering with only the focus being on Shazam: Fury of the Gods and Black Adam. It seems that Warner Bros. wanted to keep a focus on the projects that are set to release this year. We didn’t even get a tease for Aquaman or even The Flash, which have been heavily promoted during DC FanDome.
Earlier rumors hinted at Henry Cavill showing up during the Hall H panel to announce his return as Superman was heavily rumored but it turns out that wasn’t the case after all. the panel ended with a nice gift from Dwayne Johnson for the attendees, as they got a golden ticket for an early screening of Black Adam. Yet, Henry Cavill was nowhere in sight and the panel ended on a sweet but somber note.
Comic-Con International officially kicks off this Thursday, and while Marvel Studios looks to be readying some surprises for fans, it looks like Warner Bros. and DC might have an even bigger surprise in store. In its breakdown of what to expect from SDCC this weekend, Deadline seemed to tease the long-awaited return of Henry Cavill as the Man of Steel.
According to the outlet, there is currently buzz that Cavill will show up to make a surprise appearance and talk about Superman. Cavill’s future as Superman has been uncertain ever since the JusticeLeague movie. It seemed doubtful he’d get to don the cape again, especially as it was confirmed Warner Bros. – prior to the merger with Discovery – was working on multiple Superman projects, including a reboot with Ta-Nehisi Coates on board to pen the script. The status of that project is currently unknown, as Warner Bros. Discovery has been revamping its planned DC slate in recent months.
While Cavill has been busy starring in Netflix’s hit series, The Witcher, the actor has made it clear he’s ready to put the cape back on. In May 2021, a report from The Hollywood Reporter suggested Warner Bros. and DC were looking for a new actor to portray Superman in the DC Extended Universe. Perhaps it is possible those plans have since changed? After all, with David Zaslav now leading the way, Warner Bros. Discovery looks keen to overhaul DC’s film slate. For now, fans of Cavill’sSuperman should make sure to follow DC’s panel on Saturday, just in case. And if he doesn’t show, well, there should be plenty of news hitting regarding both Black Adam and Shazam: Fury of theGods.
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.
At one point, J.J. Abrams was set to direct a film titled Superman Flyby. In the early 2000s, the director offered a script that would explore the origin story of Kal-El, as well as explore the civil war on his home planet before being launched to Earth. At the time, Brett Ratner was attached to direct the film, which was going to start production in 2003. Supposedly he approached Josh Hartnett and Jude Law for the titular role. As we know now, the project never came together
While we’ll never know what could’ve been, Ryan Unicomb, shared some of the unused concept artwork from Flyby that offers a glimpse of what could’ve been. Not only do we get a look at what the film’s Superman costume was going to look like, but it feels like a mixture of Brandon Routh‘s Superman Returns look with what Henry Cavill would make iconic.
We also get a good look at Metropolis with a very comic-accurate version of the Daily Planet. What stands out is this version of Kryptonite that feels closer to what we see in Star Wars than the more modern version showcased in other media. The script included Superman fighting a group of Kypronians that fled its destruction. So, elements of Flyby may have found their way into Man of Steel which would release in 2013. Ideas tend to always carry over through multiple drafts and it’s fun to get a glimpse on what could’ve been so long ago.
There have been many discussions on what the future has in store for the DC Extended Universe, most notably Henry Cavill‘s time as Superman. As he seemingly is building up one new franchise after another, it sadly didn’t help matter son if we might see him return. The upcoming multiverse film The Flash seemingly hinted at a connection between him and Sasha Calle’s Supergirl with her new design, but it seemed safe to say they’d reboot the franchise with the event.
Sadly, the upcoming project might be the final nail in the coffin for Cavill‘s tenure as the Man of Steel. Even though his run as the character back in 2013 set up the current version of the DCEU, a recent test screening of The Flash may have given us more details. Geeks Worldwide’s KC Walsh shared that the recent screening has hhighlighted that he is done with the franchise. Yet, as he points out, there’s always the possibility it might change but given how little involved he’s been with any of the projects, it seems likely.
As if the test screening (this could change) Cavill appears to be done as Superman https://t.co/0sNa7qCGu0
The latest Superman film that is in development was going to move away from Clark Kent to focus on Val Zod. We’ve also gotten rumors making the rounds that Supergirl and Batgirl would become part of the DCEU’s new trinity as the franchise continues to expand. Ben Affleck has openly left his role as Batman behind with Michael Keaton returning in The Flash and Robert Pattinson playing him in a separate universe for The Batman. So, it sadly isn’t really that much of a surprise that Cavill is also done as he focuses on his various Netflix projects.
All the way back in 1997, Tim Burton almost ditched Gotham City to catch some sun over in Metropolis, as he’d begun development on a Superman film titled Superman Lives. The film would’ve featured Nicolas Cage in the titular role of the last son of Krypton but the project was eventually scrapped.
During a recent segment on GQ’s Actually Me, the actor took some time to answer some burning questions from his fans. One, in particular, focused on Cage‘s role as Superman and asked if they could just make it happen now. The actor’s answer was a bit surprising, as he seemed to hint at a potential return to that role after all.
“Would it matter how much time I appeared as the character? There might still be a chance.”
Nicholas Cage
If Cage was to hypothetically make a cameo as the Man of Steel in any upcoming project, The Flash would seem like the most likely outcome. The multiverse angle of the plot could see Flash traveling through many versions of Earth. One could just so happen to be the one Superman Lives would’ve taken place.
Superman Lives would’ve been quite the movie as it was set to pit Kal-El up against the likes of Lex Luthor, Brainiac, and Doomsday with a script from Wesley Strick and Dan Gilroy. The project was eventually scrapped due to WB suffering many box office bombs and the film just didn’t make the cut. Maybe one day we could see the story told in some shape or form, or even Cage suiting up just one time.
Admittedly, I’ve never been much of a Superman guy. This is not to say I don’t appreciate his value as a character, which I’ve actually really come around to in the past few years. It’s just that, in the Man of Steel’s extremely long history, I’ve come across very few stories that have managed to grip me. The age-old complaint about the Last Son of Krypton, one that anyone reading this review has probably heard on numerous occasions, is that he’s a little too powerful to be interesting. If he can survive anything, and save anyone, then the stakes can never really be high enough to engage the reader on any significant level. The solution to this, of course, is to challenge the hero mentally rather than physically, a tactic that has been tried time and time again. While a lot of these psychological threats have obviously paid dividends for plenty of fans, they just never really pulled me in the way I’d hoped. Then I read the latest from Action Comics, Warworld Rising, and realized just how intriguing Superman can be.
The genius of Rising, expertly written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, is in the type of mental anguish it chooses to push upon its protagonist. Instead of simply squaring Superman up against somebody smarter or more dangerous, the story gives Clark a moral conundrum that impacts nearly every facet of his life. Surprisingly, this is achieved through the use of a villain typically better known for his pure brutality than any form of advanced trickery. Mongul, the masochistic ruler of Warworld, sends a group of ancient, enslaved Kryptonians (or so they seem) to Earth with the aim of emotionally manipulating Superman toward his untimely demise. The plan works like a charm, with a distraught Clark knowingly heading straight into the trap. Normally, this would not be a cause for concern among fans. A fully powered Superman should have no problem jetting off to another planet, kicking it’s leaders bum, and then heading home in time for dinner. However, Johnson uses several pre-existing plot points to install reasonable concern around the situation for both the characters in the story and the readers at home.
It is established early on that Clark’s powers, for whatever reason, are starting to falter. While Kent himself is not overly concerned, Batman shows a decent amount of hesitation, which usually means there’s a genuine problem at hand. This information, coupled with Jon Kent’s chilling warnings from time spent in the future that Clark is scheduled to soon disappear from history books, aids in heightening the suspense around every decision Superman makes. The character no longer feels infallible, which suddenly makes his and Lois’ constant assertions that he “always comes back” appear foreboding. If Mongul’s plan wasn’t already good enough, he also finds a way to take any form of help from the Justice League off the board. Along with the Kryptonians, an immensely powerful Warworld artifact finds its way into the ocean, causing a political conflict between the United States and Atlantis that threatens large-scale war. With the League preoccupied with humanity’s inability to find peace, Superman is left to deal with his personal obligations alone.
The book leaves off on a massive cliffhanger, leading directly into a follow-up arc that presumably concludes the whole shebang. Having previously stated that I’m not a huge fan of Superman comics, the fact that I’d like to purchase the next volume should speak to just how good this collection of issues truly is. On top of giving its leading man some juicy drama to chew on, the commentary on human nature and the evils of war and slavery are reason enough to buy the comic on their own. I would support the creation of an entire series of stories that’s just the members of the Justice League sitting in their war room, discussing how they should approach matters of international concern. The issue in question is akin to the excellent Japanese film Shin Godzilla, in which the first Kaiju attack is shown entirely from the perspective of government officials who have more than just human safety on their minds.
Warworld Rising is Superman at his very best, willing to sacrifice everything if it means even one innocent person can go home to their family. It’s moral and political intrigue on a level few Superman stories have achieved with such palpable authenticity. We’ve seen writers claim that they’ve devised the final Man of Steel story in the past, but the thing that sets this one above and beyond its competition is that it really does feel like Superman may not make it out alive. Of course, he likely will, but any comic that makes you doubt that even for a second is one worth putting on your shelf.
Now, actor Brad Abramenko has shared a look at the Superman costume that was used for the scene and confirms that it was indeed Henry Cavill‘s Superman. There’s been a lot of debate on if the actor would eventually return to the role, but his inclusion may further give some hope that DC will see the return of the Man of Steel that started the current rendition of the DCEU. You can check out his costume here:
It was hard to make out in the darkness, but it seems they went with the more colorful version of Cavill‘s Superman suit for the shot. That was the version used in Joss Whedon‘s take of Justice League that may still be deemed canon. The Flash will rewrite our understanding of this franchise after a quick trip through the multiverse. That’s the theory on why Batman and Cyborg were absent given who knows where this series takes place. For now, we’ll have to wait but it’s great to get a confirmation.
Here’s a rather curious rumor making the rounds, as it seems that a new rumor might be pointing to Lex Luthor potentially joining the upcoming fourth season of Titans. The series is no stranger to using familiar faces from across DC history, but it had a habit of focusing primarily on its ties to Batman’s mythology. Well, it seems they are finally going to explore Superman a bit more, as The Illuminerdi has hinted that the show might be adding Lex Luthor in an unknown role.
His addition does make sense considering the show heavily features Superboy, whose DNA is a mix of Superman and the iconic DC villain. So, an eventual confrontation between the two would carry a lot of emotional weight. Their take on Scarecrow was a far departure from what people are used to. It isn’t the first time we’ve seen the character join a live-action DC show, as Jon Cryer recently brought the character to life.
It’s a bit confusing how exactly Titans approaches its various characters, as some big names have been kept in the shadows. The Joker wasn’t even truly featured on screen in the last season outside of his laugh and some hints as they adapted Death in the Family. We’ll see how they approach this big-name character in the upcoming season if he truly makes an appearance.
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. By using our site, you consent to cookies.
This website uses cookies
Websites store cookies to enhance functionality and personalise your experience. You can manage your preferences, but blocking some cookies may impact site performance and services.
Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper function of the website.
Name
Description
Duration
Cookie Preferences
This cookie is used to store the user's cookie consent preferences.
30 days
These cookies are needed for adding comments on this website.
Name
Description
Duration
comment_author_email
Used to track the user across multiple sessions.
Session
comment_author_url
Used to track the user across multiple sessions.
Session
comment_author
Used to track the user across multiple sessions.
Session
Statistics cookies collect information anonymously. This information helps us understand how visitors use our website.
Google Analytics is a powerful tool that tracks and analyzes website traffic for informed marketing decisions.
Contains information related to marketing campaigns of the user. These are shared with Google AdWords / Google Ads when the Google Ads and Google Analytics accounts are linked together.
90 days
__utma
ID used to identify users and sessions
2 years after last activity
__utmt
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests
10 minutes
__utmb
Used to distinguish new sessions and visits. This cookie is set when the GA.js javascript library is loaded and there is no existing __utmb cookie. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
30 minutes after last activity
__utmc
Used only with old Urchin versions of Google Analytics and not with GA.js. Was used to distinguish between new sessions and visits at the end of a session.
End of session (browser)
__utmz
Contains information about the traffic source or campaign that directed user to the website. The cookie is set when the GA.js javascript is loaded and updated when data is sent to the Google Anaytics server
6 months after last activity
__utmv
Contains custom information set by the web developer via the _setCustomVar method in Google Analytics. This cookie is updated every time new data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
2 years after last activity
__utmx
Used to determine whether a user is included in an A / B or Multivariate test.
18 months
_ga
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gali
Used by Google Analytics to determine which links on a page are being clicked
30 seconds
_ga_
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gid
ID used to identify users for 24 hours after last activity
24 hours
_gat
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests when using Google Tag Manager
1 minute
Marketing cookies are used to follow visitors to websites. The intention is to show ads that are relevant and engaging to the individual user.
Pinterest Tag is a web analytics service that tracks and reports website traffic.
