James Gunn Responds To Rumor That Dua Lipa Has Joined The DCU As ZATANNA

James Gunn Responds To Rumor That Dua Lipa Has Joined The DCU As ZATANNA

Dua Lipa seems to be a fan-favorite pick to play Zatanna in the DCU, and a rumor that the singer has actually been cast as the skilled illusionist recently picked up steam online...

By MarkCassidy - Oct 26, 2024 11:10 AM EST
Filed Under: DC Studios

As you may or may not be aware, a rumor that pop singer Dua Lipa has signed on to play Zatanna Zatara in the DCU has been doing the rounds online over the past couple of days and has picked up some steam.

The Grammy Award-winner - who does also have a few acting credits to her name - seems to be a fan-favorite pick to play the DC Comics illusionist, and the rumor claimed that she had signed a 10-year contract with DC Studios.

James Gunn was asked about the rumor on Threads, and, as you might expect, there's no truth to it at all.

News broke that Emerald Fennell (Saltburn, Promising Young Woman) had been hired to pen the script for a Zattana movie back in 2021, but the filmmaker recently confirmed that the version of the movie she was involved with has indeed fallen by the wayside - although she did manage to complete her "reasonably demented" script.

“No, no, it’s not happening. I loved it [though],” Fennell told the Happy Sad Confused podcast. "This was something I was working on before [Promising Young Woman]. It was when J.J. Abrams had just arrived at Warner Bros. and was going to reboot the Dark Universe, and they were going to make this kind of dark villain universe or sort of hero/villain universe.”

“I thought he was the coolest, and his team at Robot was so cool and interesting and because I love genre of all kinds. I was definitely interested,” she continued. “I was like, ‘I don’t know a huge about the whole superhero genre; it’s not a genre I naturally gravitate towards, so I’d love to know how does one make [a superhero film] like that, for someone like me who doesn’t know so much and wouldn’t necessarily buy a ticket for that first time around. So it was that kinda thing, and Zatanna was a really, really cool character.”

Interestingly, Fennell revealed that the project was actually scrapped before Gunn and Peter Safran came on board to revamp the franchise.

"I did write it, but it was complicated; you know, the regimes changed; it’s the classic studio stuff. J.J. is incredible, his team is incredible, and I wrote in the end a script that was reasonably demented — in a good way, I think. But in the end, the whole universe got changed. And that’s fine; It was really fun to do in the end. Whether it would have been remotely makeable… that’s the thing, I was only ever slated to write it.”

Zatanna is a character with a lot of potential, so it's a shame things didn't work out. There's a decent chance the magic-wielder will still be introduced in the DCU at some point, however.

Who would you most like to see play Zatanna? Do you have a writer/director in mind if the movie ever does enter development? Woleb nwod tnemmoc a su pord.

James Gunn Discusses DC Studios' New Intro; Says SUPERMAN Will Be DCU's MGM Lion
Related:

James Gunn Discusses DC Studios' New Intro; Says SUPERMAN Will Be DCU's "MGM Lion"

DC Studios Boss James Gunn Reveals Whether The DCU Has One Big Bad: We're World-Building Not Story-Building
Recommended For You:

DC Studios Boss James Gunn Reveals Whether The DCU Has One Big Bad: "We're World-Building Not Story-Building"

DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.

This post was submitted by a user who has agreed to our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. ComicBookMovie.com will disable users who knowingly commit plagiarism, piracy, trademark or copyright infringement. Please CONTACT US for expeditious removal of copyrighted/trademarked content. CLICK HERE to learn more about our copyright and trademark policies.

Note that ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

TheLobster
TheLobster - 10/26/2024, 11:11 AM
Okay, I think Gunn is actually telling the truth here this time lol
bobevanz
bobevanz - 10/26/2024, 11:44 AM
@TheLobster - so you believe made up shit over the guy in charge? Lol
Amaru
Amaru - 10/26/2024, 11:48 AM
@TheLobster - I feel like Gunn is usually pretty honest about these types of things but I could be forgetting something.
DrSmoonk
DrSmoonk - 10/26/2024, 2:23 PM
@bobevanz - The guy in charge said ultraman isn't in the new superman movie, which was proven to be a lie with the toy leak.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 10/26/2024, 11:30 AM
Zatanna would be better served as a MAX series down the road than a film.
Not to be sexist, but the percentage of actual successful women-led superhero films is not great....at all.

Establish her on MAX then let her eventually join in on the big movie team-up at some point. Just my humble opinion.
HulkisHoly
HulkisHoly - 10/26/2024, 12:28 PM
@lazlodaytona -

THIS 1000%. I’m picturing a Zatanna film and I’m getting Madam Web vibes. I don’t know, maybe I’m just unfamiliar with the character but I’m just not sure that unless you have a STELLAR S tier writer working it, I don’t know if they could pull it off.

Let me be frank, it CAN be pulled off but the odds aren’t in its favor. There are female led action films that are great like Alien, Hunger Games, Terminator 2, The Brave One, etc. but there are also terrible ones that are just male led films where they cut out the male character and replace it with a female and it always looks cheesy.

The movies I listed above always show the female protagonist to be capable and strong but never invulnerable or Mary sue’s. Women and men both have struggles and personally, even men led films where they have no struggle is boring too.
Compare Die Hard 1 to its sequels.
Look at how much Casino Royale reinvigorated the 007 franchise, because it’s lead STRUGGLED like hell.

Just IMO
Mrtoke
Mrtoke - 10/26/2024, 3:00 PM
@lazlodaytona - Captain Marvel made a billion only because of Infinity War when Fury paged her. That movie was meh. Wonder Woman was great though. Black Widow was good. Only hated because of Taskmaster.

Throw in John Constatine into a Zatanna movie and it could do something.
Arthorious
Arthorious - 10/27/2024, 7:14 AM
@lazlodaytona - agreed, let’s get some good establishments first before jumping to the big screen. I have a feeling that’s what’s going to happen with Green Lantern; John will show up in a Justice League film after doing his Max series.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 10/27/2024, 9:30 AM
@HulkisHoly - I appreciate your kind response and for explaining your thoughts.
However, I don't care who knows it, I LOVED Die Hard 4. Timothy Olyphant is a great bad-guy.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 10/27/2024, 9:34 AM
@Mrtoke - I agree but only until the whole Universe has been around for a while.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 10/27/2024, 9:36 AM
@Arthorious - absolutely
bobevanz
bobevanz - 10/26/2024, 11:45 AM
This article doesn't say where the rumor came from, as if it just materialized out of thin air. I'll give you three guesses..
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 10/26/2024, 12:04 PM
@bobevanz - The source is in the tweet. It wasn't MTTSH... Whose Ultraman scoop was just confirmed today, incidentally.
NicolausCopernicus
NicolausCopernicus - 10/26/2024, 12:03 PM
Make it happen though







DocSpock
DocSpock - 10/26/2024, 12:58 PM

dammit.

Aubrey Plaza is Zatanna in real life.

And doody Lipa sucks.
Clintthahamster
Clintthahamster - 10/27/2024, 8:35 AM
@DocSpock - "These mop tops don't have what it takes. Give me Tommy Dorsey Orchestra any day!"
DocSpock
DocSpock - 10/27/2024, 8:51 AM
@Clintthahamster -

Excellent!
BraveNewClunge
BraveNewClunge - 10/26/2024, 2:21 PM
God no
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 10/26/2024, 2:46 PM
The sooner they cast her the better. I want a JL Dark project sooner than later.
Forthas
Forthas - 10/26/2024, 3:32 PM
While I am not sure if this is the type of film she would do the person I would cast as Zatana is...MARGARET QUALLEY

User Comment Image
MovieMonster
MovieMonster - 10/26/2024, 5:05 PM
Eiza Gonzalez or Melissa Barrera for Zatanna

User Comment Image

User Comment Image
folieaturd
folieaturd - 10/26/2024, 5:20 PM
Shasha Grey can do it
User Comment Image
Nolanite
Nolanite - 10/26/2024, 6:37 PM
To be honest, Gunn will always and forever say no to any rumors that makes their way to his desk.
You guys honestly think that he would confirm anything? If so, you guys are dumb AF.
Just wait until the movie comes out.
Nolanite out
HAUSMAN01
HAUSMAN01 - 10/26/2024, 10:13 PM
For Zatana I'd go with Rosa User Comment Image Salazar, Alexandra Daddario User Comment Image , Jameela User Comment Image Jamil1,Christian User Comment Image Serratos,Ana De User Comment Image Armas, Melissa User Comment Image Barrera,or
Camila User Comment Image Mendes


Clintthahamster
Clintthahamster - 10/27/2024, 8:39 AM
@HAUSMAN01 - All great choices, but Jameela Jamil would be inspired!
Blergh
Blergh - 10/27/2024, 8:05 AM
I get that fans of a singer want their beloved star in more projects but you really have to stop trying to force singers into movies if they’re not specifically cast for their talents.

I’m still traumatised be what JLo called “acting” in Gigli. Trey Parker playing Cartman playing JLo was unironically a better performance.
Clintthahamster
Clintthahamster - 10/27/2024, 8:39 AM
@Blergh - Spoken like someone who's never seen Out of Sight.
GodHercules20
GodHercules20 - 10/27/2024, 8:08 AM
Hell no
vtopa
vtopa - 10/28/2024, 2:32 AM
I saw her on SNL and realized she has some range. She could do it.

Please log in to post comments.

Don't have an account?
Please Register.

View Recorder