Before Warner Bros. announced its ambitiousJustice League-bound film slate stemming fromMan of Steel, the DC’s movie house had set events into motion forGeorge Millerto helmhis own superhero team-up. As has been widely reported, a cast was assembled,a script was written, andconcept art was designed, but it all fell apart. So what happened?
During a recent interview withTHR, Miller shed some light on the film’s fate. Here’s what happened, in a nutshell:
Justice Leaguewas the main one. That was, oh, seven years ago, I think. And there was a really great script. And Warners said, “Let’s do it. Let’s do a Justice League.” I really was attracted to it. But there was a writers strike looming. We had to cast it very quickly, which we did with Warner’s casting people. And we cast it really quickly and we mounted it very quickly. And it depended on a start date and it depended on some basic rebate legislation that had just got through a new Australian government. But it was just too big a decision for them to make in the time. And that fell through and the whole film fell through. We almost got there. And it wasn’t to be. But that happens a lot, where films line up and the stars look like they’re aligning and they didn’t.
This was back in 2007 afterChristopher Nolan’sBatman Begins. Miller’sJustice League, however, would have existed separately from theChristian Bale-led film and would have featuredArmie Hammeras the Dark Knight,DJ Cotronaas Superman,Megan Galeas Wonder Woman,Adam Brodyas The Flash,Commonas Green Lantern,Santiago Cabreraas Aquaman,Hugh Keays-Byrneas Martian Manhunter, andJay Baruchelas the villain Maxwell Lord, among other characters. But even though thisJustice Leagueis dead, it lives on in concept art images showing Diana Prince and the King of Atlantis, as well asthe impending documentarychronicling the superhero film we’ll never see.
Since then, the WB’s plans for the franchise have changed dramatically. In a post-Dark Knighttrilogy era, the DC Holy Trinity will battle Lex Luthor and Doomsday (and each other) inBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justicebefore a string of solo movies will lead intoJustice League: Part OneandPart Two. Still, to think what would have been …
