Patty Jenkins on why she passed on directing a Justice League movie

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

In regards to critical reception, Warner Bros.' DCEU wasn't faring all that well until Patty Jenkins' WONDER WOMAN arrived on the scene. The film gave the franchise a bit of a shot in the arm, so it's no surprise that the studio wanted to get Jenkins' involved in their other DCEU projects. In an interview with the French magazine Premiere (via Comic Book), Jenkins revealed that Warner Bros. had actually approached her about directing a JUSTICE LEAGUE movie, but that she turned them down.

I love comics, but I've come to superheroes through films. There is in me this desire to emulate compared to the movies I saw as a child. A certain spirit that reigned in those times. Is that relevant when I shoot? I don't know. The point is, unlike other directors, I don't really care about shared universes, continuity, and that kind of detail. I've been contacted to make a Justice League movie in the past, and it doesn't connect to me. Too many characters.

Patty Jenkins didn't mention the exact nature of the JUSTICE LEAGUE project, which means that there are a number of possibilities, ranging from taking over the reshoots of Zack Snyder's film, a full-on sequel, or even a project like JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK. This wasn't the first time that Jenkins had turned down a major comic-book film, as she was once slated to direct THOR: THE DARK WORLD before she decided to depart. "I really like the people who work there, but they want full control over their movies. The director is under control," Jenkins said. "Yes, it can happen. Furthermore, It shows immediately if a director cannot impose his/her vision. When this is the case, I get the impression that these people are doing a different job than me. But with Wonder Woman 1984, I think I did exactly what I wanted. And then, everything a superhero movie needs comes naturally to me: I love shooting great action scenes versus great sets. I really enjoy it."

Speaking of WONDER WOMAN 1984, the sequel was originally slated to hit theaters in just a few days, but owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, Warner Bros. rescheduled the film for a August 14, 2020 release.