Word just broke that Warner Bros. is shelving its long-gestating New Gods film, which would have been directed by Ava DuVernay from a script by herself and comic book scribe Tom King. DuVernay. The project had been in development since 2018, and DuVernay’s involvement behind the camera certainly got a lot of fans excited about what the critically-acclaimed director of Selma and When They See Us could do with a superhero movie. Regardless, Jack Kirby’s Fourth World saga isn’t hitting the big screen anytime soon. Now, DuVernay herself has shared her own thoughts on the film’s cancellation.
DuVernay actually hinted that an announcement about New Gods’ fate was coming earlier today. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the one that most fans were hoping to hear. Still, it doesn’t sound like DuVernay has any regrets about the time she spent working on the movie. On her official Twitter account, she thanked King for his contributions. She also shed a bit more light on which characters would have appeared in the film.
Tom, I loved writing NEW GODS with you. I’m upset that the saga of Barda, Scott, Granny, Highfather and The Furies ends this way. Diving into Kirby’s Fourth World was the adventure of a lifetime. That can’t be taken away. Thank you for your friendship. And remember… #DarkseidIs pic.twitter.com/XyyIjcB8Wv
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) April 1, 2021
RELATED: Warner Bros. Cancels DC Films’ New Gods and The Trench
Meanwhile, King also took to social media to comment on the recent news. And while his statement is shorter than DuVernay’s, he had nothing but praise for her and Darkseid actor Ray Porter.
Two class acts. https://t.co/tVY6y6qiiE
— Tom King (@TomKingTK) April 1, 2021
Despite this latest shakeup, DuVernay isn’t done playing in the DC sandbox yet. She’s currently working with Jill Blankenship on a Naomi pilot for The CW. Additionally, DuVernay is directing the first episode of HBO Max’s DMZ, based on the Vertigo comic series of the same name.
New Gods wasn’t the only DC film that got the axe today. Warner Bros. also cancelled its Aquaman spinoff, The Trench, which had James Wan onboard as an executive producer. Wan has yet to respond to that movie’s fate.
What do you make of DuVernay and King’s responses to New Gods’ cancellation? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
Recommended Reading: New Gods by Jack Kirby
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