Summary
Justice League: Warworldproducers revealed that James Gunn and Peter Safran’s plans for the newDC Universe(DCU) shut down their plans for the heavily requested adaptation of oneJustice Leaguestory.
Initially published in 1996 as a DC Elseworld title and co-created by Mark Waid and Alex Ross, who also worked as the artist on the title,Kingdom Comeis a four-part miniseries that tells a story of a much older Justice League living in a world run amok with metahumans that have long left the golden ideals of the League in the past, leading to an intergenerational struggle to define what a hero should be with high stakes and dire consequences. The title has long been a must-read for old and new fans alike, and talk of an adaptation for the silver screen has been making the rounds since the DCEU kicked off, with some fans even turning to fanart to cast the DCEU’sSuperman Henry Cavill as hisKingdom Comecounterpart.
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Hopes that an adaptation could be on the horizon were raised whenGunn hinted at aKingdom Comefilmwhile working on his DCU plans via a suggestive tweet. However, it has recently been revealed that Gunn’s new plans shut down aKingdom Comeadaptation that was already on the drawing board at the company before the change in management. Speaking toScreenRantin an interview that included fellowJustice League: Warworldcrewmembers Jim Krieg, Jeff Wamester, Ernie Altbacker, and Jeremy Adams, producer Butch Lukic revealed, “We originally talked about ‘Kingdom Come’ after this, but changing regimes, we couldn’t go forward with anything like that.”
This is unfortunate, as Kingdom Come is a fan favorite, and becauseDC has released several iconic Elseworld movies already, some of which have been animated projects. “They might incorporate it in the future with the New World, but that was one that we talked about as an obvious possibility to continue. Not this continuity, but something more Justice League and larger,” Lukic added. “Again, it’s personal and individual stuff that I would like to do, and I like the one comic book or two comic book issue stories. I think adapting graphic novels, there’s too much in there. Whereas if you just take two of the miniseries stuff, you can make a better story.”
While the news is certainly disappointing to many, there is a lot of mileage to the idea that the adaptation will come further down the line, with Gunn’s tease and Lukic’s hunch that there’s an interest behind the scenes in bringing it out. Letting Gunn set it up in his own time and on his terms might even be for the best, as the likelihood that fans get a live-action adaptation is far higher at Gunn’s level of authority. Furthermore, Gunn has stated before thatthe bar for Elseworlds stories will be higherthan for other DCU projects, a quality assurance promise he can best ensure is kept if things are done his way.
In the meantime, fans itching for a more mature take on the Justice League can look forward to Lukic and his team’sJustice League: Warworld,which has been looking good in traditional animated DC style and features avoice cast that boasts Jensen Acklesand more returning DC favorites. How soon Gunn will make good on thatKingdom Cometeaser remains to be seen, but as the absence from his firstDCUslate indicates, it will be quite some time more.
