Just three years ago, filmmakerGuillermo del Torowas prepping a live action adaptation ofJustice League Dark, which at the time was entitledDark Universe. After two years in development, the director eventually left the project, and we didn’t hear much else about it until rumors swirled earlier this year that the studio is making an animated adaptation instead. That news was confirmed at Comic-Con, with the movie debuting this year, but today we have a new look at what may have been, if another director would have been involved.
Joseph Kahn, who has directed the feature filmsTorqueandDetention, along with the controversialPower/Rangersshort film last year, revealed on Twitter that he pitched his take on the project before it became an animated movie. He also shared his video of an eight-second animation test, which featured his version of Swamp Thing. Of course, we will never know how this project would have turned out, since this live action incarnation never saw the light of day, and we don’t know if the filmmaker also has animation tests for other characters as well.
We also don’t know whenJoseph Kahnpitched on this project either. It’s possible that he could have pitched his take beforeGuillermo del Toroseveral years ago, but it’s more likely that he pitched after the filmmaker left the project in the summer of 2015. We reported in November thatFede Alvarez(Evil Dead) and the Israeli filmmaking duo ofAharon KeshalesandNavot Papushado(Big Bad Wolves) were considered the directorial front runners at this point, but at some point after this story, the project became an animated feature.
WhenGuillermo del Torowas attached to direct, he revealed thatDC Comicscharacters such as John Constantine, Swamp Thing, Deadman, Shade, Madame Xanadu, Etrigan The Demon and Zatanna were being used.Colin FarrellandEwan McGregorwere being considered to play John Constantine. It was also believed that the actor who didn’t land that role, could be cast as Jason Blood, the human version of Etrigan the Demon.Monica Bellucciwas said to be the top choice to play Madame Xanadu, andRon Perlmanwas reportedly being eyed to play Swamp Thing.
Most of these characters are being used in theanimated movie, withMatt RyanvoicingJohn Constantine, whileJason O’Maravoices Batman,Camilla Luddingtonvoices Zatanna,Nicholas Turturrovoices Boston Brand andRay Chasevoices Etrigan. The animated movieJustice League Darkdebuts on Blu-ray and DVD sometime this fall, but an official release date has yet to be given. While we wait for more on this animated adaptation, take a look at what the live-action Swamp Thing may have looked like inDark Universe.
