Thescreescore – Acclaimed filmmaker Emerald Fennell, known for her sharp, distinctive voice in projects such as the Oscar-winning Promising Young Woman, has recently offered a candid glimpse into her unproduced DC Comics screenplay for the mystical heroine Zatanna. Describing the script as "demented," Fennell’s revelations come as the industry continues to evolve post-DCEU, reflecting on a project that was once slated for J.J. Abrams’ ambitious, supernatural-focused Justice League Dark cinematic universe. Her insights illuminate the challenges of infusing a deeply personal narrative into the often-formulaic superhero genre.
Speaking on the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast, Fennell elaborated on her previous characterization of the script, linking its unconventional tone directly to her personal state at the time. "I think it was demented because I was probably going through it at the time," she admitted with a laugh. Having just completed the intense production of Promising Young Woman, she found herself navigating the unfamiliar landscape of a major superhero franchise. Her ambition, she explained, was to craft a version of a superhero film that resonated with her on an emotional level, envisioning it as "sort of the woman in the middle of a nervous breakdown."
This deeply introspective approach, Fennell suggested, resulted in a narrative that was "a script reflective of the woman in the middle of a nervous breakdown." She candidly acknowledged that this highly individualized perspective might have pushed the boundaries "a little too far away from the genre" conventions typically expected of a DC tentpole. When pressed on whether the script became overly personal, Fennell conceded, "Maybe." She confessed to not having revisited the screenplay in a considerable time, finding the experience difficult.
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The director expressed immense gratitude towards J.J. Abrams, who served as an executive producer on the planned project, for entrusting her with the opportunity. "I love J.J. and he took a chance on offering me to do it and I really wanted to deliver something amazing for them," she stated. However, she harbored a lingering feeling of not having "quite maybe delivered the thing that they wanted." Fennell mused, "I haven’t read it since and I wonder if I read it now, I’d be more generous towards myself, but I felt like I wish I’d been able to deliver the thing that they wanted and I think they were really lovely about it." She humorously recalled specific scenes, thinking, "Oh nobody would have made that! Nobody would have made it," underscoring the script’s distinct and perhaps commercially challenging nature. The Zatanna film was initially announced in 2021.
The Zatanna project was a cornerstone of Abrams’ vision for a Justice League Dark universe, which aimed to explore the more mystical and supernatural facets of DC lore. Alongside Zatanna, plans included a Constantine reboot for HBO Max, with aspirations for a crossover series integrating these supernatural heroes. However, with the comprehensive restructuring of DC Films into DC Studios under James Gunn and Peter Safran, many prior developments, including Fennell’s Zatanna, have been shelved as the new DC Universe (DCU) takes shape.
Despite the current project’s halt, the door remains open for Zatanna to make her debut within Gunn’s evolving DCU. DC Studios is actively developing a robust slate of films and television series for "Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters," which is set to continue its rollout this summer with the highly anticipated Supergirl film, scheduled for June 26. Fans of the powerful sorceress can hold out hope that Fennell’s unique, albeit unproduced, vision might one day inspire a new iteration of the character on the big screen.
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