Some Tidbits About George Miller's JUSTICE LEAGUE (Cancelled)

Some Tidbits About George Miller's JUSTICE LEAGUE (Cancelled)

During a recent podcast comic book artist Steve Skroce reflected on a time in his past when he was working as a concept artist on George Miller's cancelled Justice League film.

By KevMerica - May 21, 2014 05:05 PM EST
Filed Under: Justice League
Source: Word Balloon Podcast
I imagine most comic fans remember Warner Bros now abandoned Justice League movie that was written by Kieran and Michele Mulroney (Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows) and was to be directed by George Miller (Mad Max). Around this same time this film was getting going, director Christopher Nolan was developing (ALSO at Warner Bros) the sequel to the franchise rehabilitating Batman Begins with Christian Bale returning as Batman and featuring The Joker (Ledger was not cast yet) as the film's main villain. Which means we would have has 2 different actors playing Bruce Wayne/Batman as the same time. One of the many reasons that Nolan would go on to assist getting this movie cancelled. Though, the biggest reasons this film didn't get made was that the budget soared when Australia changed their film rebates, and because of the impending writer's strke, which would've eliminated the ability for script changes.
 
Justice League: Mortal was going to feature the following cast: Armie Hammer as Batman, DJ Cotrona as Superman, Adam Brody as The Flash, Megan Gale as Wonder Woman, Common as Green Lantern, Santiago Cabrera as Aquaman, Teresa Palmer as Talia Al Ghul, Zoe Kasan as Iris Allen, Hugh Keays-Byrne as Martian Manhunter and Jay Baruchel as the villain of the flick, Maxwell Lord
 
This Justice League film was deep into pre-production. Sets were being built and they had even gone as far as costume fittings for the principle actors.  Comic book artist Steve Skroce was part of the art department. Steve has quite the resume, as he has been the “go to” storyboard artist for The Wachowski siblings for many years. Having worked with them on the Matrix 1 and 2, V for Vendetta, Speed Racer, Ninja Assassin, Cloud Atlas and the upcoming Jupiter’s Ascending.
 
He was recently a guest on The Word Ballon Podcast with John Siuntres (Justice League comments start at the 98-minute mark). Steve went on to talk about this cancelled Justice League flick and his role as the storyboard artist. He said he was with George Miller in Australia for about 6 months as they were planning to film in SydneyThis was quite the experience and he said he was “geeking out” all the time as he is such a big fan of 1980’s movies, especially ones done by George MillerSteve said, “He was invited to the costume tests because he was a comic book guy”.  He stated that the “costumes for Batman and Superman and were very much what we saw with The New 52” and that Wonder Woman was pretty standard with more detail instead of flat gold and had the Alex Ross skirt”.  He also talked about the villain Maxwell Lord and how Jay Baruchel was playing it nerdy, had an empire of Kingdom Come restaurants that were featured as a plot to infect the world with some sort of virus and that he was obsessed with the superhero’s” He went on to add that “ it was very faithful to the comics at the time, very DCU.  Ultimately I think its good that it didn’t come out as there were some parts that were cool that they got right and there were some things that people were going to hate. Some of it was very aimed at kids“. These are some fascinating details from someone who was actively involved in the production.
 

From the bottom left- director George Miller, Jay Baruchel(Maxwell Lord), Hugh Keays-Byrne(Martian Manhunter). Next row from left- Santiago Cabrera(Aquaman), Adam Brody(The Flash), Teresa Palmer(Talia al Ghul), stuntman Greg Van Borssum(facebook page, producer Barrie Osborne(Lord of the Rings). Armie Hammer(Batman) is at the very back with D.J. Cotrona(Superman) directly in front of him.


KevMerica


**Special thanks to @nailbitter111 **
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SuperCat
SuperCat - 5/21/2014, 5:13 PM
Glad this movie didn't happen.
BANEofExistence
BANEofExistence - 5/21/2014, 5:14 PM
Thank you Chris Nolan for helping end this atrocity! Lets hope 2017's nyders JL film is good!
ScorpioRisin
ScorpioRisin - 5/21/2014, 5:16 PM
We dodged one.
CherryBomb
CherryBomb - 5/21/2014, 5:17 PM
Megan Gale is a real life Goddess.



It would've been interesting to see her in the role, she looks exactly like Diana. Not sure on her acting but she's started acting again so we'll see. I hope she'll get a role in a future WW solo movie.
SuperCat
SuperCat - 5/21/2014, 5:17 PM
...and how we're they gonna explain a 7-foot-tall Batman and a 4-foot-tall Superman?
ThedamnBatman
ThedamnBatman - 5/21/2014, 5:21 PM
hmmmmmmm
NightBoyWonder
NightBoyWonder - 5/21/2014, 5:27 PM
the italics/bold hurts my head
MikeHawk
MikeHawk - 5/21/2014, 5:30 PM
Megan Gale looks exactly like how I picture Wonder Woman. Anyone have a time machine to 10 years ago?
TucksFrom2015
TucksFrom2015 - 5/21/2014, 5:32 PM
and the kid from Charlie Bartlett was gonna be Kid Flash.. wow.
CherryBomb
CherryBomb - 5/21/2014, 5:42 PM
THEDARKKNIGHT1939
THEDARKKNIGHT1939 - 5/21/2014, 5:44 PM
This movie looked so bad that it takes away my complaints for the upcoming film
GetsugaTensho22
GetsugaTensho22 - 5/21/2014, 5:44 PM
I used to say that Megan Gale is a horrid actress and that casting her based on her looks was a bad idea.

But they cast Gal Gadot, who's equally inexperienced in acting as Megan was. At this point, i'd take Megan Gale over her based on the fact that she's been in front of a camera much longer.
Cayo
Cayo - 5/21/2014, 5:47 PM
Maybe one day, we'll get to see Armie Hammer's Batman suit. Or not.
CherryBomb
CherryBomb - 5/21/2014, 5:53 PM
@Getsuga

I can't say I've seen ANY of Megan's acting work, have you?
KevMerica
KevMerica - 5/21/2014, 5:56 PM
@npamusic Thanks for the feedback. I will take under advisement.
Darth258
Darth258 - 5/21/2014, 6:04 PM
Wish we could see some pic of the test suits...
batmanvsuperman
batmanvsuperman - 5/21/2014, 6:06 PM
This movie might have kicked ass y'all don't know so stop talking shit
KevMerica
KevMerica - 5/21/2014, 6:09 PM
I'm sure we will one day. We saw concept art of Burton and Nic Cage's Superman
batmanvsuperman
batmanvsuperman - 5/21/2014, 6:12 PM
Or nah..then again this movie could have suck ass big time
DCNY
DCNY - 5/21/2014, 6:24 PM
At least Bruce and Clark were relatively the same age in this script.

Having Affleck portray an aged Bruce Wayne in his 40s (if not 50s!, like in Frank Miller's DKR novel) leaves him poorly prepared to contribute much to the future Justice League franchise.
They should have cast someone closer to Cavill's age so they can spearhead any DCCU movie for years to come..
SuperPickle
SuperPickle - 5/21/2014, 6:29 PM
Thank everything that's holy this didn't happen. I wouldn't be opposed to Hammer as Batman now or somewhere down the line, but back then, this was a teen poster project nightmare if I've ever seen one.
GeekyCheekyChic
GeekyCheekyChic - 5/21/2014, 6:44 PM
Megan Gale should have been re-hired.
imnotwearinghockeypants
imnotwearinghockeypants - 5/21/2014, 6:45 PM
Baruchel as the villain is hilarious. Was he going to complain and whine everyone to death? WTF.
GenerationX
GenerationX - 5/21/2014, 7:12 PM
Please stop posting articles about a movie that will NEVER HAPPEN!!!! Nobody gives a shit anymore....
TheOverlord
TheOverlord - 5/21/2014, 7:17 PM

Megan Gale has only been in 2 movies. This is the first one, where she played a bit part. In the 2nd, she played a model.
nikgrid
nikgrid - 5/21/2014, 7:20 PM
@SuperCat -
...and how we're they gonna explain a 7-foot-tall Batman and a 4-foot-tall Superman?


The same way they explain it in every Tom Cruise movie...camera effects.
YeezusWept
YeezusWept - 5/21/2014, 7:21 PM
You had one chance, Snyder. That chance was Bridget Regan.

SuperPickle
SuperPickle - 5/21/2014, 7:22 PM
Yeah, this MIGHT have been news like a decade ago. It's still more interesting than %50 of what's on the main page though. LOL
nikgrid
nikgrid - 5/21/2014, 7:24 PM
A mate of mine works at Weta, he knows I'm into comics and he told me he's seen some of the costumes, but they are locked away and not to be seen by the public. So even if I went for a visit I couldn't see the suits.
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