Do you remember the cancelled Justice League movie that was supposed to come out in 2007 by George Miller? Yeah, the guy behind the Mad Max films. I’ll give you a second to digest what kind of action movie we could’ve got. Whenever you are finished fantasizing about that I have some good news for you. If you thought you’d never see anymore from this project, think again.
Australian Director Ryan Unicomb, producers Aaron Carter and Steven Caldwell, and writer Maria Lewis are planning a documentary based on George Miller’s abandoned super hero ensemble titled, ‘Justice League Mortal’ with the hopes to start filming this year. The movie was supposed to star Armie Hammer as Batman, D.J. Cotrona as Superman, Megan Gale as Wonder Woman, Adam Brody as The Flash, Common as Green Lantern, Santiago Cabrera as Aquaman and HughKeays-Byrne as Martian Manhunter.
But unfortunately Justice League: Mortal got shelved just days before the initial start date for filming. So no screenshots or plot synopsis has ever surfaced about the film. Making this documentary all the more exciting.
Miller’s Justice League: Mortal is hoping to feature never before seen artwork, interviews from the cast that were supposed to tackle the first ever team assembly movie. It also wants to divulge what was going through George Miller’s mind when handling the most iconic superheroes and how the blockbuster that could’ve changed the game got buried to development hell. It will also address the long lasting impact it had on the Australian Film Industry.
Some may have never heard of this project when it was in the works, because the movie was being made in secrecy. Actors would hint at it in interviews to lead people on that it could be happening but never quite confirmed its existence.
This was right before Marvel hit big with the original Iron Man in 2008(It’s surprising to take in how many movies they have already put out so far in just seven years). Oddly enough, DC Comics had a few movies in the early development phases that met the same fate, including Joss Whedon’s Wonder Woman. All thanks to the Writers Guild Of America Strike back in 2007.
If it weren’t for that dreaded strike and Warner Bros. and DC Comics cancelling the project, DC Comics would’ve had the blueprint for the superhero genre. The blockbuster craze would’ve been drastically different than how it is now. That could have had a ripple effect on how Marvel approached their movies too. Can you imagine a world where Marvel wouldn’t be praised for the formula they had in place, but instead DC for being the first out of the gate?
It could’ve confused audiences also if they actually went forward with the cast at the time. Superman Returns just finished coming back from what it feels like a Kyrptonian’s lifetime expectancy since Christopher Reeve’s four films. Batman just began his journey in becoming the caped crusader, but neither of them were going to be involved in the Justice League: Mortal film apparently. This could have caused confusion with future films. Maybe Warner Bros, noticed that and canned the project? Maybe the documentary can shed some light on that.
Just imagine there is probably some alternate universe that this movie did happen. The movie landscape could’ve been so much different. Just think about the impact it could’ve made. It could’ve been bad or it could’ve been glorious. The sad part is, we’ll never know what could’ve been. But what we will soon know is, what happened to DC Comics chance to set the foot print for an cohesive cinematic universe.
If everything pans out, and doesn’t fall to same fate as the original movie did, filming on Millers Justice League: Mortal documentary will start later this year.
Are you intrigued to see why this project fell in between the cracks of Apokolips? Let me know in the comments below.
