SWAMP-THING Director James Mangold Describes His Upcoming DCU Movie As A "Standalone" Project

SWAMP-THING Director James Mangold Describes His Upcoming DCU Movie As A "Standalone" Project

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny director James Mangold has commented briefly on his plans for DC Studios' Swamp-Thing, describing it as a "Gothic horror movie." Find more details after the jump...

By JoshWilding - Jun 22, 2023 07:06 AM EST
Filed Under: Swamp Thing
Source: Variety

Shortly after DC Studios announced its "Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters" slate, Logan director James Mangold shared a photo of Swamp-Thing on Twitter. 

We later learned that he'll take the helm of the Swamp-Thing movie announced by James Gunn and Peter Safran at the end of January, though it's unclear when the filmmaker will actually have time to work on that. 

Next up for Mangold is his long-awaited Timothée Chalamet-fronted Bob Dylan biopic, with the current plan being for him to follow it with his "Dawn of the Jedi" Star Wars movie. Still, it's a project he's clearly excited to tackle in the not-too-distant future. 

Talking to Variety, the director shed new light on how he's approaching Swamp-Thing.

"While I’m sure DC views 'Swamp Thing' as a franchise, I would be viewing it as a very simple, clean, Gothic horror movie about this man/monster," Mangold confirmed, revealing he was "toying for years with the idea of making a kind of Frankenstein movie."

ALSO READ: New Details Emerge About James Mangold's
Scrapped Boba Fett Movie And His Upcoming Star Wars Project

Upon learning that Gunn and Safran would be taking charge of the DCU, he "put in a friendly call" to suggest he could develop Swamp-Thing while, "Just doing my own thing with this, just a standalone."

It's hard to imagine DC Studios being happy with Alec Holland being a one-and-done character, so chances are the movie will be used as a launching platform for Swamp-Thing to appear elsewhere. For Mangold, however, it's clearly a one-off rather than the opening chapter of a trilogy or anything along those lines. 

The character previously appeared in a short-lived TV series on DC Universe that was loved by fans, but scrapped due to budget constraints. That news was met with a negative response, and while we don't expect this movie to be tied to that in any way, the fact Swamp Thing is returning to a live-action setting - in theaters, no less - is fantastic news.

Stay tuned for updates.

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FireandBlood
FireandBlood - 6/22/2023, 8:03 AM
Of course he does. Who tf wants to be associated with the DCEU like that?
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 6/22/2023, 8:03 AM
Sounds more like Man-Thing.
Fares
Fares - 6/22/2023, 8:03 AM
I like that approach
TheHumanSpider2
TheHumanSpider2 - 6/22/2023, 8:10 AM
Hot take: DC should scrap the shared universe idea.
TheBigLebowski
TheBigLebowski - 6/22/2023, 8:28 AM
@TheHumanSpider2 - It really seems like a poor time jumping on that ship with people burning out on the concept and even Marvel faltering recently.
BlackStar25
BlackStar25 - 6/22/2023, 9:54 AM
@TheHumanSpider2 - Big Facts. THey should take it slow and release solo movies every 3-4 years. Build their credibility again
Cbmfilmjunkie
Cbmfilmjunkie - 6/22/2023, 12:39 PM
@BlackStar25 - They should definitely take it slow.
Hoping the hype builds slowly towards Legacy in 2025. It HAS to hit or the DC brand is cooked and the new DCU will be over in a … Flash 🫣
GhostDog
GhostDog - 6/22/2023, 8:11 AM
Let him cook.

Although, part of me wants to explore the nature of swamp thing as the green avatar. Maybe after Mangold does his one off thing, you can dive deep into the mythos
BeNice123
BeNice123 - 6/22/2023, 8:11 AM
This guy knows how to make movies. Idgaf what anybody says. He really puts in the time to make it his own, while still giving the fans sort of what they want.
Nolanite
Nolanite - 6/22/2023, 8:13 AM
Damn cross breed directors these days.
Glad to see he's jumped on the DCU ship, let's hope he stays there.
Nolanite out.
LeonNova
LeonNova - 6/22/2023, 8:23 AM
Either they’ll talk him back for a sequel or progress the character without him.
TheBigLebowski
TheBigLebowski - 6/22/2023, 8:27 AM
After recently reading the Alan Moore run on Swamp Thing for the first time, this one's quickly become my most anticipated of the bunch. Should fit Gunn's sensibilities well, too with his background in practical monster horror
CharleyBologna
CharleyBologna - 6/29/2023, 1:40 PM
@TheBigLebowski - That run, particularly the story of the darkness coming where Constantine was introduced, is Moore's best work.
Clainer
Clainer - 6/22/2023, 8:54 AM
Josh, do you have a bet with yourself on how many articles you can create in one day?
Forthas
Forthas - 6/22/2023, 8:56 AM
He and Matt Reeves have obviously benn talking. While I don't think the issues with DC is that they are in a shared universe, I understand him not wanting to be a part of the current or impending one.
antirock
antirock - 6/22/2023, 8:58 AM
Every statement that is made from anyone involved with the DCU is just making the whole project sound more and more confusing. When the Blue Beetle director said something to the effect of "Blue Beetle is the first DCU character but not the first DCU movie" I was like "what the [frick] does that even mean?!?!"
bobevanz
bobevanz - 6/22/2023, 9:05 AM
And somehow most of the schmucks on here are already writing it off lol it's sad
PartyKiller
PartyKiller - 6/22/2023, 9:15 AM
Calling it now! Swamp Thing will gross $220 million global!
BillyBatson1000
BillyBatson1000 - 6/22/2023, 10:07 AM
Warner Bros/DC need to get back to the idea of making ONE, solid, box-office friendly, stand-alone movie from a comic-book adaptation.

If it lands commercially - then build-out from that.

But when you pour all your money (and all your media/Public Relations BS) into something no-one credible has seen, and call it the best-of-the-best - you deserve the kicking that inevitably follows.

Make ONE good film. Buy-back some credibility.
Urubrodi
Urubrodi - 6/22/2023, 10:22 AM
To do what Marvel does with SOME of its movies where they're created with the intent of leading to something bigger, you need credibility, to have proven yourself first. He has the right idea.
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 6/22/2023, 11:33 AM
I was skimming through the article quickly and for a second I thought this was starring Timothee Chamalet, and now I kinda don't want anything different.

Anyway, making it stand-alone is smart. One of the DCEU's mistake was going all in on it's second and third movie without establishing the seperate worlds of it's larger world first.
THEDARKKNIGHT1939
THEDARKKNIGHT1939 - 6/22/2023, 12:02 PM
Funny, he just said that about Logan and look how that turned out.
RubyRhod
RubyRhod - 6/22/2023, 12:26 PM

Everytime i see the words "upcoming DCU movie" in an article

emeraldtaurus
emeraldtaurus - 6/22/2023, 2:39 PM
Hope Manigold has been studying Swamp Thing S1 from 2019. Want to see more of the same please !
CharleyBologna
CharleyBologna - 6/29/2023, 1:41 PM
@emeraldtaurus - the phantom stranger they introduced in that series was awful. Just terrible.
marvel72
marvel72 - 6/22/2023, 8:29 PM
Swamp Thing and The Lanterns are what I'm looking forward to the most.
WarMonkey
WarMonkey - 6/23/2023, 8:04 AM
"toying for years with the idea of making a kind of Frankenstein movie." Ok then make a Frankenstein movie. Awhile ago directors used to sell their movies by building excitement for something new and fresh that we haven't seen before. Today all these directors talk about is how they want to make a movie using an established IP by using the plots of other stories. It's so lame.
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