Emerald Fennell Explains Her “Demented” DC Movie Script Ahead Of Wuthering Heights Release

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The DC universe of movies and TV shows has gone through a lot of changes recently. With the end of the old DCEU storyline, some planned projects were cancelled before James Gunn could launch his new DC Universe.

Emerald Fennell discussed the Zatanna movie she was writing before DC Studios was formed, during an appearance on the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast. She previously described the script as “demented” and explained, with a laugh, that this was likely because she was personally struggling at the time.

The director of Wuthering Heights explained that after finishing Promising Young Woman, she found herself in a new and unfamiliar world. She described it as a ‘superhero movie’ and realized she wanted to create a version that felt emotionally resonant – specifically, a story centered around a woman on the verge of a breakdown.

You know, when I was working on Zatanna, the script really felt like it came from a place of intense personal struggle – almost like someone having a breakdown. Looking back, I think I pushed it too far from what people expect from that kind of movie. People asked if I made it too personal, and honestly, maybe I did. It’s tough to revisit because I really wanted to knock it out of the park for J.J. Abrams, who gave me the opportunity, and I always felt like I didn’t quite give them what they were hoping for.

The British actor, who also writes and directs, said he hasn’t looked at the project since its completion and now wonders if he’d be kinder to his past self. He wished he could have given the creators exactly what they envisioned, but acknowledged they were very supportive. Reflecting on it now, he realizes some scenes were simply unworkable – something he believes no one could have pulled off. The project was first announced in 2021.

J.J. Abrams once planned a Justice League Dark universe within the DC world, and Zatanna was intended to be a key part of it, highlighting the supernatural elements. He also envisioned a new Constantine series for HBO Max, with the possibility of those characters eventually teaming up in a show together.

Although the Zatanna movie directed by Fennell has been put on hold, the character could still appear in future DC Universe projects led by James Gunn. DC Studios is developing several films and TV series for its first phase, “Gods and Monsters,” and production will kick off this summer with the Supergirl movie, scheduled for release on June 26th.

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2026-02-12 17:57