Doug Liman will not be directing Justice League Dark

Last Updated on July 31, 2021

JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK just hit another bump in the road. A DC Comics superhero team-up film that will center on characters from comics with a horror bent, the project was originally being developed by Guillermo del Toro. After being attached to it for more than two years, during which time he did complete a script, del Toro left JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK behind when its proposed shooting schedule conflicted with the schedule of PACIFIC RIM 2. which he intended to direct at that time. He didn't end up directing PACIFIC RIM 2, and JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK still hasn't made it into production.

About a year ago, Doug Liman signed on to direct the film, and just earlier this month he was talking up his approach to the material: 

I think people will be surprised how character driven and how intimate Justice League Dark is — in kind of a field of bloated comic book movies. We’ve found a way to do something that’s actually really personal and small, and that’s my goal. [My new movie] The Wall is about character. The scenario allows me to dive into what I think is… I just love people! I love putting people in crazy situations. For John Constantine, we have an amazing set-up for him for Justice League Dark that’s really human."

Alas, Liman's vision for JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK will not be making it to the screen. Lionsgate gave a greenlight to a different project of his, the YA novel adaptation CHAOS WALKING, so Liman had to clear the DC movie off his schedule.

The search is already on for Liman's replacement, filmmakers are being met with, and Warner Bros. is expected to announce a third director for JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK shortly.

Michael Gilio is working on a new script for the film, and all we know about it is that it features  

a dark Justice League team that consists of John Constantine, Swamp Thing, Deadman, Zatanna, and Etrigan the Demon. The film will play a major role in the new D.C. Cinematic Universe.

Warner Bros. has been going back and forth on whether they want to call the project JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK or DARK UNIVERSE, but it looks like they might have to stick with JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK now, as Universal has called dibs on "Dark Universe".

Liman most recently directed the war film THE WALL, which received a limited theatrical release a couple weeks ago.