James Gunn

and Peter Safran’s joint vision for the DCU took another step forward this week, with the pair laying out revised plans for the franchise’s immediate and long-term future. Among the many updates, Swamp Thing

fans were given some bittersweet news about the horror-orientated movie’s production, which seems to be frustratingly stalled…but seemingly for a good reason.
When Gunn originally announced the DCU’s first wave of projects, it included some surprising entries and the promise of more to come. Now, two years on, the DCU is ready to kick off its live-action account with this summer’s Superman, but there have been some changes to other projects, as the ever-evolving world of comic book movies has forced Gunn and Safran to rework their initial slate.

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The latest annual reveal has seen several projects pushed back while “the right script” is found. However, it appears that when it comes to Swamp Thing, the movie’s writer/director is the problem. James Mangold

, who previously helmed Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and A Complete Unknown, was announced as the director of choice for the movie, but according to Safran, his work on the Bob Dylan biography became the director’s film of choice over Swamp Thing. However, it seems that Mangold is the man wanted for the job, and they will wait as long as it takes to get him on the movie. As Safran explained:

“[Swamp Thing’s] writer/director went off to make another little movie, A Complete Unknown. We hope that he’ll come back to Swamp Thing when he’s ready. Because, again, that was one of those ones, we love him as a filmmaker, so we’re happy to wait for him. Swamp Thing is not integral to the larger story that we’re telling.”

‘Swamp Thing’ Looks Set To Stand Alone in the DCU

DC Studios

When James Gunn announced the DCU slate of movies, which, alongside Superman, included Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, The Authority, and Wonder Woman prequel series Paradise Lost, it seemed that all the projects named would be forming part of the DCU continuity in the same way the MCU handles its movies. However, it has become clear over time that things will not be quite as linear and intricately linked in Gunn and Safran’s comic book world.
Although they announced the Elseworlds banner for projects that stand completely apart from the rest, such as Matt Reeves’ The Batman universe, it seems that projects such as Swamp Thing will also not necessarily have a big connection to the other movies and shows such as Superman – which, to be honest, has enough superhero presence to not require any more characters being linked to it.
The recent announcement of another horror-centric project, the unexpected Clayface movie, suggests that there will be many factors to the world of DC movies going forward, and fans will simply have to wait and watch to find out which stories are part of the larger universe, and which are there for casual viewing. With so many complaints about Marvel Studios’ output centering on the completely connected nature of the universe Kevin Feige has built over the last 17 years, perhaps Gunn’s time working in the MCU has given him a valuable insight into how to avoid some of the same pitfalls that have faced the other big comic book franchise.
Source: ComicBook