The buzz around the web is huge, and DC Universe fans are totally loving it! Word on the street is that award-winning director James Mangold is in talks to helm the upcoming horror flick Swamp Thing. This news follows hot on the heels of DC Studios’ co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran unveiling their plans for their upcoming DCU slate, “Chapter One: Gods and Monsters.”
James Mangold Teases Swamp Thing Involvement
On Tuesday night, Mangold tweeted an image of Swamp Thing, drawn by co-creator Bernie Wrightson. The tweet was retweeted by Gunn, suggesting that the talks between Mangold and DC are heading in a positive direction.
— Mangold (@mang0ld) February 1, 2023
According to THR, Mangold is a huge fan of the character and approached Gunn and Safran with his ideas.
If Mangold and DC do close the deal, it would be the director’s return to the superhero genre since his highly acclaimed film Logan in 2017. That film earned the helmer an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.
However, directing Swamp Thing would be new territory for Mangold as he hasn’t helmed a film in the horror genre before. Swamp Thing is set to explore the dark origins of the titular character and will delve into the supernatural horror elements that fans love. This means we may even see the introduction of Constantine and Justice League Dark in the DCU!
Who Is Swamp Thing
It’s unknown which iteration the DCU movie will follow, but it is the better-known character Alec Holland that most fans are banking on.
Alec Holland, after working on a bio-restorative formula with his wife, becomes the Swamp Thing after a sinister ecological terrorist group attempts to steal the formula and blow up his lab. Set aflame and drenched with the formula due to the bomb, Holland runs into the swamp in an attempt to save himself. The formula and “The Green” (the elemental force of all plant life on Earth) transform him into the muck-encrusted hero.
While Swamp Thing has been a popular character in DC Comics, his live-action adaptations have received mixed responses in the past. From the 1982 feature film by Wes Craven to the two TV series on USA Network and DC Universe, the character has had its ups and downs. But with Mangold at the helm, fans can expect a thrilling and terrifying ride that will be worth the wait!
Unfortunately, fans will have to be patient as Mangold’s next project is a Bob Dylan biopic. But the possibility of James Mangold directing Swamp Thing for the DCU is an exciting one and a reason for fans to keep their eyes peeled for future updates!
