On December 15th, new DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran announced that they had a new release plan in place.
The following days were filled with announcements of cancellations, layoffs and the axing of three projects was mentioned: Black Adam 2a new Superman movie starring Henry Cavill, andWonder woman 3.
The online backlash from fans prompted Gunn to issue a statement calling the response to their creative decisions “tumultuous and unpleasant”.
However, the DC boss said their decisions are based on what they believe is best for the story and “the DC characters that have been around for almost 85 years.”
Here are the plays that have been cut so far, either in part or in whole, by Gunn and Safran.
Black Adam 2
Black Adam 2 is the latest project to hit the chopping block in DC. On December 20, Dwayne Johnson shared a tweet confirming the news.
The Jungle cruise The star said: “James Gunn and I have connected and Black Adam will not be in their first chapter of the story.”
However, Johnson explained that DC and Seven Bucks (his production company) have agreed to continue exploring “the most valuable ways to use Black Adam in future chapters of the DC multiverse.”
Gunn responded to Johnson’s tweet, saying he’s “looking forward to working together soon.”
Black Adam it was a passion project for Johnson, who would take on the role 15 years before its premiere. Originally, the character was going to be introduced Shazam! as a villain before Johnson convinced Warner Bros. and New Line to develop a solo film.
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Dwayne Johnson in “Black Adam”
(Warner Bros Pictures)
Superhuman
Although Superhuman will remain in the DC Universe, the Man of Steel will no longer be played by Henry Cavill.
Cavill announced the news of his retirement on Thursday, December 15, despite retaliating against DC’s role just two months earlier in October.
“After being told by the studio to announce my return in October, before they were hired, this news isn’t the easiest, but such is life,” she wrote on Instagram.
He added: “The changing of the guard is something that happens. I respect that.
Gunn also responded to the news on Twitter and informed fans that he and Safran have a DC slate “ready to go” that includes Superman.
(DC)
“In the early stages, our story will focus on an earlier part of Superman’s life, so the character will not be played by Henry Cavill,” Gunn said.
“But we’ve just had a great meeting with Henry and we’re big fans and we’ve talked about a number of exciting possibilities to work together in the future.”
Fans were not happy with Cavill’s firingand many highlighted the fact that the actor left the Netflix series The Witchersupposedly because he had been asked to return as Superman.
Wonder Woman 3
Wonder woman has also been scrapped by Gunn and Safran, with reports that the franchise’s third installment has been shelved.
On December 7, The Hollywood Reporter claimed that a treatment of Wonder Woman 3 submitted by director Patty Jenkins had been rejected as it “didn’t fit the [studio’s] new plans”. Deadline also reported the news.
The news comes just a day after Gal Gadot told fans she was excited for the superhero’s “next chapter.”
Jenkins shared a statement on Twitter, saying it “never left.”
Gal Gadot in “Wonder Woman 1984”
(Warner County)
“I was open to considering anything that was asked of me,” she said. “It was understood that there was nothing I could do to move anything forward at this time. DC is obviously buried in the changes they need to make, so I understand that these decisions are difficult right now.”
Gunn also addressed the situation, responding to a fan who said “the move to cast Cavill and Gadot, especially after they announced their return, doesn’t inspire confidence.”
The director kept things vague and simply said, “I’m not sure how you get the sense that we ‘booted’ Gal.
On December 8, he shared a tweet which read: “As for history yesterday at The Hollywood Reportersome of it’s true, some of it’s half-true, some of it’s not true, and some of it we haven’t decided yet whether it’s true or not.”
The independent reps for DC, Gadot and Jenkins have been reached for comment.
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