Emerald Fennell, known for Saltburn and Wuthering Heights, was originally attached to direct a Zatanna movie in 2021 as part of J.J. Abrams‘ Justice League Dark series under the DC Universe banner. However, the project was ultimately canceled when DC Studios restructured and several DCEU films, including Zatanna, were shelved. This marked a significant change for the direction of the DC Universe’s supernatural projects.
The Fallout After Justice League Dark Was Canceled
Following the cancellation of Abrams’ slate, fans only received a glimpse of the intended tone with the development of a Constantine TV series, which reached casting stages including Sope Dirisu, known for Gangs of London, as the lead. Despite this, no further development on Zatanna or the Justice League Dark team has emerged from DC Studios.
Fennell’s Perspective on Her Zatanna Script
In a conversation with Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Emerald Fennell explained the nature of her script and why it might have been unlikely to move forward. She described the screenplay as “demented” due to her personal state when writing it.
I think it was demented because I was probably going through it at the time,
Fennell admitted.
I just finished Promising Young Woman, and there was this huge thing in this world that I’d never operated in. I was like, ‘Okay, how do I make the version of a superhero movie that I would connect to emotionally?’ [I was a] woman in the middle of a nervous breakdown.
She further reflected on how the film’s tone was shaped during her emotional turmoil.
So it’s a script reflective of a woman in the middle of a nervous breakdown, I would say. I suppose it just meant that it was probably too far away from the genre. It was really dark,
she explained, adding,
I haven’t read it for a really long time because I found it really difficult.
Fennell’s Relationship with J.J. Abrams and Future Possibilities
Despite the project’s demise, Fennell expressed gratitude toward Abrams for entrusting her with the opportunity.
I love JJ so much, and he took a chance on offering me to do it, and I really wanted to deliver something amazing for them, and I always felt like I hadn’t quite delivered the thing that they wanted,
she confessed. Fennell indicated she remains open to directing other major DC projects, mentioning Wonder Woman as a potential possibility if approached by DC Studios.
She acknowledged she has not revisited the Zatanna script since writing it but wonders if, with some time passed, her perception of it might evolve more positively.
The Character of Zatanna and the Uncertain Future of Justice League Dark
Zatanna Zatara is a powerful half-Homo Magi sorcerer known for casting spells by speaking incantations backward. As a hero, she has combated evil forces and followed in the footsteps of her father, the Golden Age magician Zatara. Zatanna has also been a member of notable teams such as the Justice League and the Sentinels of Magic, highlighting her importance within the DC mythos.
Before Abrams’ attempt with Justice League Dark, filmmaker Guillermo del Toro had been connected to a film featuring the team, specifically Frankenstein. However, del Toro recently indicated that this era of Justice League Dark projects has effectively closed, leaving the future of Zatanna and the supernatural side of the DC Universe uncertain.
