Warner Bros. is bringing Justice League Dark to life as a new shared universe on both HBO Max and the big-screen. Since 2012, the Arrowverse has been Warner Bros.'s leading interconnected TV franchise that includes multiple spinoff shows. While The CW has come a long way with the Arrowverse, the studio is taking its DC properties in a new direction. Traditionally, they have kept TV shows and movies separate, but ever since HBO Max launched in 2020, they are changing things up. After starring in The Suicide Squad, John Cena will reprise his DC character in Peacemaker on HBO Max. The platform is also developing a spinoff show based on the GCPD from The Batman.
While all of that is happening, Warner Bros. is also teaming up with filmmaker J.J. Abrams on a number of DC projects. Abrams is producing a Superman reboot, which will follow a black Man of Steel. Reported to focus on Clark Kent, Ta-Nehisi Coates is writing the Superman script, which will be taking place outside the DCEU. However, Abrams is also in the progress of bringing the Justice League Dark characters from panel to screen. For years, Warner Bros. was developing a Justice League Dark movie that got stuck in development hell after director Doug Liman departed.
It was initially being worked on by Guillermo del Toro, who penned a screenplay based on DC's supernatural players. While the project seemed to be dead, Abrams was officially announced to be working on Justice League Dark in 2020. However, rather than just doing a Justice League Dark film, Abrams is taking the DC property and starting a new chapter for Warner Bros. What is currently known about Abrams's Justice League Dark and what characters are officially getting their own TV shows and films?
What J.J. Abrams Is Doing With DC’s Justice League Dark
While Warner Bros. originally envisioned Justice League Dark as a feature film, Abrams and his production company, Bad Robot, are developing a new shared universe based on those characters. Whether or not they are using any of the unproduced ideas is unclear, but they are likely starting from scratch.
Despite the fact it has not been clarified if it will be set in the DCEU, it does seem like Abrams is creating his own continuity for the characters. Although, that doesn't mean they could not crossover from the Multiverse into the DCEU through magic. Even though there will be Justice League Dark-related TV shows on HBO Max, the films could go either way. Either they get traditional theatrical releases, or they become HBO Max originals.
Justice League Dark Show On HBO Max
The first project that was ever announced was the proper Justice League Dark ensemble series for HBO Max. The team-up show will feature various supernatural and magical characters from the DC Universe. This will be the first time there has ever been a live-action Justice League-related series. While Abrams is executive producing the show, no writer is officially attached like some of the other related projects from Bad Robot Productions.
The biggest mystery about the Justice League Dark universe is what will come first? Since there have been other projects announced after Justice League Dark, they may be taking a page from Netflix's book. As they did The Defenders franchise, Marvel had the characters get their own shows first before coming together for the team series. However, HBO Max may do the opposite and launch Justice League Dark first and then have the characters go off into their own films and TV shows.
Constantine Show On HBO Max
While Matt Ryan has been playing John Constantine in the Arrowverse for several years, his character will not be the Hellblazer that Abrams uses for Justice League Dark. Instead, Abrams is producing a new Constantine series for HBO Max, with Guy Bolton as the lead writer. This will be the second time that the well-connected warlock Constantine has had his own TV show following Ryan's short-lived series on NBC in 2014-2015. The Constantine reboot is reported to feature a person of color as John, making this the first time a diverse actor has played the character.
This version will also be considerably younger than Ryan's character on Legends of Tomorrow. HBO Max's Constantine is also said to focus less on the religious elements of the comics and spotlight the horror aspect. Since this will be a younger Constantine, it is possible that the reboot will be an origin story. No further details have come out since its initial announcement on February 17, 2021. With Constantine being one of the iconic Justice League Dark members, he is not the only one Abrams is bringing to life.
Emerald Fennell’s Zatanna Movie
Another beloved Justice League Dark character joining Abrams's universe is Zatanna Zatara, one of DC's most powerful magic users. While Constantine will have his series on HBO Max, Zatanna is getting her own movie, which has been rumored for several years. Like Justice League Dark and Constantine, Bad Robot is producing Zatanna for Warner Bros. This will be Zatanna's second live-action treatment after Serinda Swan played the DC magician on Smallville.
Promising Young Woman director/writer Emerald Fennell has been tapped to write the script for Zatanna. While the Academy Award-winning writer is penning the screenplay, it is unclear whether Fennell will also direct it. In an interview back in April 2021, Fennell said that conversations about directing have not happened since Zatanna was in the early stages. Fennell has teased that Zatanna will be dark and scary, as witchcraft and magic are some of her favorite genres.
Madame Xanadu Show On HBO Max
Nimue Inwudu, a.k.a. Madame Xanadu is the latest Justice League Dark-related project that Abrams is working on for HBO Max. Titled Madame X, Abrams is executive producing the series with Angela Robinson as the showrunner/writer. The project comes only a few years after Madame Xanadu appeared on the short-lived Swamp Thing series on DC Universe, where Jeryl Prescott portrayed her. When Justice League Dark was formed in The New 52 comics, Madame Xanadu was the one to bring the team together. Perhaps Madame Xanadu will play a similar role in the team-up series.
It is unclear why the HBO Max show is being called Madame X rather than Madame Xanadu. Warner Bros. has been keeping details close to the vest about its new supernatural-based universe. So far, Constantine, Zatanna, and Madame Xanadu are the three official Justice League Dark members who are getting their own projects. DC FanDome may be where they start to unveil more about Abrams's Justice League Dark franchise, including how the slate will be executed. Another canon member who may join the team is Boston Brand, as there is a rumored Deadman film in development, but that has yet to be confirmed.
Justice League Dark has always been a team that has so much potential to succeed in live-action, given the magic element and the various character dynamics. In a way, it is good the original Justice League Dark film never happened because thanks to Abrams and Bad Robot, they are getting a whole shared universe. With characters like Constantine, Zatanna, Madame Xanadu, Deadman, Etrigan, Swamp Thing, and many more, Warner Bros. has the chance to do something fascinating with DC's magical and supernatural corner. Hopefully, there will be more clarity on what is going on with the Justice League Dark TV shows and movies sooner rather than later.