Earlier this year, DC fans learned Warner Bros. had pulled the plug on director Ava DuVernay's developing New Gods film. Now, the acclaimed filmmaker has offered some insight into why the project was canceled.
First announced in 2018, DC's New Gods film was to be helmed by DuVernay from a script she co-wrote with acclaimed Eisner Award-winning comic book writer Tom King. Details on the New Gods plot were scarce, but the film was said to feature the Female Furies and All-Widow, with Darkseid serving as the main antagonist.
Because she has an overall deal with Warner Bros. and DC, DuVernay told SiriusXM's Andy Cohen Live that she was excited to explore which of both companies' properties she could tackle. "I loved, New Gods, which is the project that got axed," she said before explaining Warner Bros.' reasoning for canceling the project. "The studio decided that they did not want to pursue a certain part of that comic world based on some things that were going on with another film in that world. So before I even was able to kind of complete my script with Tom King, they axed it." Of course, as DuVernay reminded fans, she still has DC's Naomi series for The CW coming next year, as well as HBO Max's DMZ adaptation based on the comic of the same name published under DC's Vertigo imprint.
At the time New Gods was canceled, Warner Bros. had also scrapped plans for James Wan's Aquaman spin-off that was said to be centered on The Trench. Recently, however, Wan revealed that the Trench project was actually going to be a Black Manta spin-off. Despite the Aquaman spinoff being canceled, Black Manta's story will continue when Yahya Abdul-Mateen II reprises the role in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
DuVernay's mention of another film taking place in the cosmic corner of the DC Universe will likely stir speculation among fans, especially since a project involving New Gods and the related characters does not appear to be in the works at this time. While Zack Snyder's Justice League sequels were going to involve Darkseid, Warner Bros. and DC have indicated that they have no intention of moving forward with those plans.
As the award-winning director of Selma and 13th, DuVernay would have undoubtedly brought a unique style and vision to the DC Extended Universe. Although that vision won't be seen in a New Gods film, there's no reason to think that DuVernay's talent won't shine in Naomi and DMZ.
Source: SiriusXM's Radio Andy/YouTube