Director Reflects on Abandoned Zatanna Film: “It Strayed Too Far from the Genre”
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There’s a diverse lineup of heroes and villains ready to carry on James Gunn’s vision for the DC Universe, but one character that would require a bit of extra magic to include is Zatanna. While she may not be as iconic as Wonder Woman or Batman, this spell-casting hero has made her mark in the comics, securing a spot in both the Justice League and the supernatural team, Justice League Dark. A few years ago, when the DCEU was struggling to find its direction, Warner Bros. approached Emerald Fennell, known for her divisive film, to create a Zatanna movie, which ultimately never materialized.
During a chat on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Fennell reflected on her brief encounter with the comic book realm. “I had just wrapped Promising Young Woman, and there was this massive opportunity in a world I had never worked in,” she shared. “It was a kind of superhero film, and I thought, ‘How do I create a version of a superhero movie that resonates with me emotionally?’ which was essentially about a woman in the midst of a nervous breakdown.”
The project was intended to be part of the DCEU’s supernatural segment, which was at that time under J.J. Abrams’ direction. Unfortunately, Fennell’s vision didn’t align with the existing plans. When asked about her interpretation of the Mistress of Magic, she described it as “a script that reflects a woman experiencing a nervous breakdown. In terms of what that means, I suppose it was probably too far removed from the genre.”
“I haven’t revisited it in a long time because it was quite challenging for me. I really admire J.J., and he took a chance on me for this project, and I wanted to create something incredible for them. I always felt like I hadn’t quite delivered what they were looking for,” Fennell admitted. “You’re making me recall scenes, and I’m thinking, ‘Oh, nobody would’ve made that. Nobody would’ve done it that way.’”
As it stands, there are no current plans for a new interpretation of Zatanna to find her way into James Gunn’s vision for the DC universe. For now, we can only speculate about what might have been and hope that someone will eventually give Zatanna the spotlight she deserves.
For updates on the rest of the DCU, check out the upcoming movies heading our way.
