5 Years Later, “Demented” Cancelled DC Movie Details Revealed After WB Pulled the Plug

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The massive success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe completely reshaped Hollywood, pushing other studios to try and create similar interconnected movie universes. Warner Bros. Discovery tried to do this with the DC Extended Universe, but rushed development and focused more on quickly releasing movies than on having a clear, unified creative plan. This approach led to a chaotic period with many failures, leaving the DC franchise unstable. Frequent changes in leadership and shifting priorities meant several promising projects were cancelled or stalled indefinitely, including a solo Batman film starring Ben Affleck, the Batgirl movie, and Ava DuVernay’s New Gods. The Zatanna movie was also cancelled before it could even begin production.

Emerald Fennell recently shared details about her canceled Zatanna movie during an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. She described how, after finishing Promising Young Woman, she found herself working in a new world – the DC universe, where J.J. Abrams had envisioned a supernatural section. Fennell’s take on the magical character Zatanna was meant to be unconventional. She wanted to portray a superhero whose great power came from a very personal and difficult emotional state. As she explained, she was aiming to create a superhero movie that felt emotionally relatable – specifically, one centered around a woman experiencing a crisis.

Emerald Fennell described the movie’s script as stemming from a place of intense emotional turmoil, feeling it pushed the boundaries of the superhero genre. She admitted to experiencing self-doubt, worrying she hadn’t met the studio’s expectations with such a dark and unusual screenplay, and found it difficult to even reread it. While she deeply appreciated the opportunity J.J. Abrams gave her, she always felt she hadn’t fully delivered what the studio wanted. Despite these creative challenges, Fennell emphasized that the studio was supportive, even with scenes she now believes were impossible to realistically film for a blockbuster movie.

Zatanna Can Get a Second Chance in the DCU

Although the planned Zatanna series was cancelled, DC Studios seems to be setting the stage for the character’s comeback. James Gunn’s Superman movie featured a mural showcasing the history of metahumans in the Hall of Justice. This mural included Zatara, Zatanna’s father and a well-known member of the Justice Society of America. By presenting Zatara as part of DC Universe history, the film has established that Zatanna’s magical family background is now officially part of the story.

New photos from the set of Clayface show Vesuvius, a nightclub where Zatanna performs in the comics. Including this specific location in Gotham City hints that the filmmakers might be using Clayface to build out the larger supernatural side of the DC Universe. This fits with the overall plan for the DCU, which seems eager to include more unusual and less well-known characters. The upcoming animated Mister Miracle series, written by Tom King, and the horror movie Clayface, directed by James Watkins, show that the franchise is now willing to explore different genres and tell more diverse stories.

Though her initial ideas were considered too bold for the time, Emerald Fennell’s approach of exploring Zatanna’s inner life is a strong foundation for the character now. Superhero stories work best when they focus on the hero’s personal journey, and the DC Universe’s new emphasis on letting directors lead creative projects could be exactly what’s needed to bring a fresh take on Zatanna to life – maybe even using Fennell’s original script.

Clayface is scheduled to be released in theaters on October 21st.

As a huge cinema and comics fan, I’ve been thinking about Zatanna lately. Do I see her fitting better as a really twisted, psychological character study – something that gets under your skin – or as a classic, straightforward superhero? I’m genuinely curious what others think, so let’s chat about it over on the ComicBook Forum – come join the discussion!

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2026-02-13 16:40