Emerald Fennell revealed that DC Studios decided not to move forward with her “demented” Zatanna movie, a decision she believes was a mistake. The filmmaker, known for her emotionally intense work such as Promising Young Woman, had envisioned a version of Zatanna that was both dark and deeply personal, but did not align with typical superhero genre expectations. Her comments about the project came recently during an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, where she elaborated on why the studio rejected the film.
Fennell Describes the Unique Tone of Her Zatanna Script
Fennell explained that her take on Zatanna was
“probably too far away from the genre.”
She described the film as “demented” because it reflected her own emotional state at the time. Speaking candidly, she said,
“I think it was demented because I was probably going through it at the time,”
Emerald Fennell, Director.
She further shared the challenge of creating a superhero story that connected to her emotionally.
“And the thing is, I think what I can’t help but—and then, I’d just finished A Promising Young Woman, and there was this huge thing in this world I’d never operated in. And again, it was a kind of superhero movie, and I was like, ‘How do I make the version of a superhero movie that I would connect to emotionally?’ Which is sort of the woman in the middle of a nervous breakdown, so it’s a script reflective of a woman in the middle of a nervous breakdown. And in terms of what that means, I suppose it just meant that it was probably too far away from the genre.”
Emerald Fennell, Director.
She admitted that the project was very dark and that reading the script now remains difficult for her. She also praised JJ Abrams for giving her the opportunity to direct the film, saying,
“It was really dark. I haven’t read it for a really long time, because I found it really difficult. Because, also the thing is, I love JJ [Abrams] so much, and he took a chance offering me to do it, and I really wanted to deliver something amazing for them. And I always felt like I hadn’t quite maybe delivered the thing that they wanted. So, I haven’t read it since, and I wonder if I read it now, I’d be more generous toward myself. But I felt like, I wished I’d been able to deliver the thing they wanted. They were really lovely about it, it’s even just remembering. You’re making me remember scenes, I’m like, ‘Nobody would have made that.’”
Emerald Fennell, Director.
Potential for Fennell’s Vision Within the DC Universe
Fans of the character Zatanna Zatarra and followers of Emerald Fennell’s work believe there is space within the DC Universe under James Gunn and Peter Safran’s leadership for such a distinct movie. While the concept might seem unconventional compared to traditional superhero cinema, this was a calculated risk similar to Todd Phillips’ approach with Joker, which succeeded despite initially seeming like an unlikely fit. Many supporters argue that DC’s request for Fennell’s version indicated they expected her unique creative voice, making their rejection counterintuitive.
Significance of Fennell’s Shelved Project for the Future
The shelving of Emerald Fennell’s Zatanna movie suggests DC Studios may be hesitant to embrace projects that diverge too far from standard superhero storytelling, despite potential for audience engagement. Fennell’s experience highlights the challenges filmmakers face when attempting to infuse genre films with personal and unconventional perspectives. The prospect of releasing such films under DC’s Elseworlds label remains a possibility, as it would permit creative freedom while maintaining the broader DC brand. Whether Fennell’s screenplay will ever be revisited or released remains uncertain, but its existence continues to generate interest among fans and industry observers.
