One of the most notable scrapped projects at DC Studios is an adaptation of Jack Kirby's Fourth World setting by Ava DuVernay. This project would have allowed the New Gods to star in a potential blockbuster film that could have introduced the characters to a whole new audience. However, recent shake-ups at DC Studios have provided another chance for the Fourth World to hit the big screen once more.
With the promotion of James Gunn and Peter Safran to management at DC Studios, fresh blood could be the opening the project would need to finally get made. Beyond the advantage of a new project to appeal to comic book fans, a New Gods film would have several factors going for it to make it a good investment. The addition of the New Gods would provide a wealth of characters and stories that would grant the DC Universe a grand sense of cosmic scale that it sorely needs. But most of all, existing appearances in other media have already set the stage for a film adaptation to be the next step forward.
The Fourth World Has A Rich Catalog of Characters and Stories
A New Gods film adaptation would have huge potential thanks to the generous amount of characters and stories from the source material. Jack Kirby's Fourth World setting involves two worlds locked in a perpetual war of immortal gods with incredible technology. Among these gods are characters such as the escape artist Mister Miracle and the evil god Darkseid's complicated inner circle of minions. Many of these characters travel between planets, such as the idyllic New Genesis and the grim landscape of Apokolips, in addition to Earth. With such a vibrant setting, the story begs for a translation to the big screen.
The New Gods and their universe are filled with larger-than-life stories that provide the blueprints for a major film. At the core of the story is a conflict between father and son, as Darkseid feuds with his adopted and biological sons, who ally with his enemies. Even Darkseid's minions have their own stories, such as his faithful assassin Kanto, who is the latest in a long line of assassins who frequently travel to Earth. Jack Kirby's original tales are filled with family drama that spans centuries of conflict across worlds. These stories have the potential to be character-driven space operas that would bring a much-needed cosmic scale to the DC Universe, which has mostly been Earth-bound. Best of all, audiences have been served teases of these beings across media and DC's own films.
Audiences Have Already Gotten a Taste of the New Gods
The strongest argument in favor of a New Gods adaptation is that audiences have already gotten glimpses of Jack Kirby's characters in media adaptations. Darkseid and his minions have played major roles in various works of animation such as the DC Animated Universe. But most importantly, Zack Snyder's Justice League featured the forces of Apokolips in a major capacity with an unresolved cliffhanger teasing future film appearances. With the groundwork already laid, it would not be a huge step to fully flesh out the New Gods in a film dedicated to them. Rather, it would serve as the culmination of years of supporting roles leading to a focus on these mysterious beings who viewers have only gotten samples of.
With DC Studios undergoing a change in leadership, the time is right for the New Gods to receive a film. Beyond the rich history of the source material, it would grant the DCU a much-needed cosmic side and sense of grandeur. And with the Fourth World setting having already been introduced, it would be only logical to follow it up with a deep dive into one of Jack Kirby's greatest creations. The New Gods film may remain canceled, but with new blood in charge, the time is right to revive the project into something special.