Although DC's most iconic superhero team will assemble on the silver screen for the very first time when Justice League debuts in November, something darker is on the way, as well. The long-dormant Justice League Dark film continues to develop at Warner Bros., and the search for a new director has heated up following the departure for American Made filmmaker Doug Liman earlier this year. With a new story in the works, it looks like script polisher Gerard Johnstone is potentially throwing his hat into the ring to tackle the gothic hero ensemble.
It is no secret that Warner Bros. has toyed with the idea of a Justice League Dark film for some time. Guillermo del Toro found himself attached to the project on and off for years, and Doug Liman's version of the story almost came to fruition -- until he had to drop out to focus on other projects. Now the studio wants to go all in on a new version of the tale, which is being built from the ground up. With a new direction on the table, writer/director Gerard Johnstone (primarily known for his work on the 2014 film Housebound) made a big impression with his pitch for the story and earned his shot at the screenplay. Now we will just have to wait and see if his work impresses enough to get him behind the camera, too.
According to Deadline, before Gerard Johnstone emerged as one of the potential new directors for Justice League Dark, IT director Andres Muschietti stood as a notable frontrunner. However, with enthusiasm for the upcoming horror film running high among audiences, it looks like the powers that be feel content to keep Muschietti in the world of Stephen King to get the next IT film up and running.
From what we have managed to glean from early rumors about the Justice League Dark story, it sounds like the project wants to aim for the fan-favorite elements of the lore. The story reportedly centers on John Constantine, Swamp Thing, Deadman, Zatanna, and Etrigan the Demon as the team faces off against the mystical and supernatural threats that heroes like Batman and Wonder Woman would not be able to handle. The Justice League Dark animated film that debuted earlier this year offered a glimpse at what this team can do in a cohesive superhero universe, so we have our fingers crossed that a live-action take on the mythos can duplicate that successful vision.
CinemaBlend will keep you up to date with any information related to Justice League Dark (not to mention Gerard Johnstone's potential status as director) as new details emerge. The primary DC hero team will hit the silver screen when Justice League debuts in theaters on November 17.
