New Gods Movie We’ll Never See?! 😭 You Won’t Believe Why!

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It’s safe to say that many of the abandoned projects in the DC Extended Universe aren’t worth feeling sad about. For instance, was there a significant number of people eagerly anticipating a Harley Quinn and Joker film starring Jared Leto as the Joker? Or, considering Cyborg, how could he have headlined a standalone movie? And let’s not forget that proposed streaming series featuring the Wonder Twins – it doesn’t seem like such a project would have made a substantial impact on cinema. In most instances, it appears that these DCEU films that didn’t progress beyond the planning stage were more like missed opportunities than lost creative prospects.

One notable exception to this rule, however, is my perspective. Ava DuVernay was previously slated to direct and write a “New Gods” movie, which would have been an adaptation of the wildly imaginative Jack Kirby comics from the 1970s. This high-budget project had the potential to be extraordinary on multiple fronts. Despite its cancellation, Ava DuVernay’s New Gods continues to captivate me as a significant unrealized opportunity.

New Gods Would’ve Excitingly Adapted Obscure Characters

In contrast to the initial DC Extended Universe movies that primarily featured well-known characters such as Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, and Aquaman from DC Comics, lesser-known characters like the New Gods were largely unfamiliar to general audiences. However, significant appearances of notable New Gods characters such as Granny Goodness, DeSaad, and Darkseid had been made in various media outside of comics. Remarkably, these characters even made it onto Smallville, yet remained relatively obscure compared to the general public’s standards. Prior to 2017, none of their lore had ever been depicted in a live-action theatrical film.

In Zack Snyder’s movies of Superman and Batman, he was treading the paths laid by some of the most impactful films ever made. On the other hand, Ava DuVernay would have been given full creative control to shape Mister Miracle, Big Barda, Orion, Granny Goodness, and others in live-action. The allure of creating these characters without preconceived audience expectations, combined with the novelty of seeing comic book heroes in real life for the first time, is an exciting prospect right off the bat. DuVernay’s comments about her favorite New Gods character hint at a production that would have been as bold and vivid as Kirby’s original artwork.

Discussing the shift towards a more vibrant style, it’s worth noting that as the DCEU started leaning towards colorful films like Aquaman and Birds of Prey, the monochromatic aesthetic seen in previous Zack Snyder DCEU titles was intentionally left behind for a wider range of color schemes. Given this change, the brightly colored costumes and Apokolips environments depicted in typical New Gods comics could have perfectly embodied or even exemplified these new visual preferences. In essence, Ava DuVernay’s faithful adaptation of New Gods on screen might be the ideal introduction to a lively, colorful chapter in DC storytelling on the big screen.

Ava DuVernay’s Track Record Alone Would’ve Made New Gods a Must-See

From the outset, Ava DuVernay showcased a captivating artistic style through films such as “Middle of Nowhere.” Her impressive body of work in the 2010s, including “Selma,” “13th,” and “When They See Us,” underscored her remarkable talent. Even her first venture into major studio filmmaking, “A Wrinkle in Time,” showcased a unique flair and creativity that was lacking in many contemporary children’s movies. The prospect of seeing such a gifted artist tackle this diverse collection of DC characters would have been truly exciting.

The unfortunate demise of Ava DuVernay’s New Gods is indeed a loss worth lamenting, given the unfavorable conditions that ultimately led to its cancellation. The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) as we knew it came to an end when James Gunn and Peter Safran assumed control over DC Studios. However, New Gods had already stalled out much earlier. It’s rumored that the inclusion of Apokolips characters like Darkseid and DeSaad in Zack Snyder’s Justice League in 2021 may have triggered the production’s downfall. Warner Bros., who were comfortable with multiple Batman and Joker iterations, found the prospect of several versions of certain New Gods characters too much to handle, which eventually led to the demise of DuVernay’s blockbuster movie.

The ridiculous and illogical situations leading to the project’s termination leave the lack of completion for Ava DuVernay’s New Gods movie even more difficult to accept. Many planned DC Extended Universe (DCEU) blockbusters have met a similar fate due to Warner Bros.’ corporate chaos, but DuVernay’s New Gods continues to intrigue with its immense potential – something that can’t be said for other, seemingly less promising DCEU film concepts. A significant opportunity for greatness has been squandered in this case, especially considering how exciting it would have been to witness a talented filmmaker like Ava DuVernay bring such an expansive story to life.

Selma is now streaming on Paramount+.

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2025-04-26 18:10