James Gunn reignited interest in a new Swamp Thing movie with a recent Instagram story showcasing artwork of the character. This development has fueled conversations about the film’s progress, especially as Vincent D’Onofrio, star of Daredevil: Born Again, voiced enthusiasm about joining the DC Universe through the role. The movie is included in the initial lineup of projects announced as part of Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe Chapter 1 – Gods and Monsters initiative.
James Gunn Highlights Swamp Thing Artwork on Social Media
The image that sparked renewed attention was first posted by the Instagram account @heavymetal, featuring a striking illustration of Swamp Thing created by artist Michael Zulli. Gunn noticed the tribute and shared it in his Instagram stories, signaling his awareness and engagement with the project’s artistic representation. Despite this visibility, the Swamp Thing film has seen minimal forward movement since it was first announced, with no lead actor officially cast yet.
James Mangold, the director and writer attached to the Swamp Thing project, is known for his work on Logan and A Complete Unknown. In a past interview on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast, Gunn mentioned that Mangold had not yet submitted a script, citing the director’s busy shooting schedule as the reason. Yet, discussions with Mangold about the film continue to take place.
Concerns arose that the project might be on hold after reports claimed Mangold had signed a deal with Paramount for multiple feature films. However, these claims were refuted by Mangold’s representatives, who assured io9 that the director
[remained] attached and available to develop [Swamp Thing] and his other projects
. This clarification underscored that the project was still active, despite the quiet pace.
Gunn elaborated on the situation in a Rolling Stone interview, confirming Mangold’s ongoing commitment to the movie. He stated,
Some things take a long time. We’ll see what happens.
Mangold himself described his vision for Swamp Thing in a Variety interview, emphasizing a focused and distinct tone. He sees it as
a very simple, clean, Gothic horror movie about this man/monster.
Vincent D’Onofrio Expresses Interest in Portraying Swamp Thing
Vincent D’Onofrio, known for his Marvel roles and particularly for Daredevil: Born Again, responded directly to a fan who shared the Swamp Thing image on X, declaring it was his chance to enter the DC Universe. The actor has repeatedly shown eagerness to take on the role of Swamp Thing, and he urged,
Tell Gunn. He knows I’m a huge fan.
This message highlights the actor’s readiness and passion for bringing the character to life within Gunn’s DC project framework.
Project Status and Future Expectations
Although Swamp Thing’s storyline remains under wraps, the project’s slow progress, combined with confirmed talent involvement and public interest from figures like D’Onofrio, suggests the film remains alive but in a prolonged development phase. James Mangold’s approach aims to deliver a standalone gothic horror story, which could diversify the tone of the DC Universe under Gunn and Safran’s guidance.
The film’s eventual release will likely influence the direction of future DC titles, especially those exploring more atmospheric or horror-inspired narratives. Fans and industry watchers continue to anticipate updates as Gunn, Mangold, and Safran coordinate the best path forward for Swamp Thing within the evolving DC cinematic landscape.
Swamp Thing 👀 pic.twitter.com/xGZY3gTuGQ
— DC Film News (@DCFilmNews) February 9, 2026
Tell Gunn. He knows I'm a huge fan.
— Vincent D'Onofrio (@vincentdonofrio) February 9, 2026
