The Wonder Twins movie's announcement was likely quite the shock for even longtime DC fans, as many wouldn't have expected the somewhat comical duo to ever star in a DC Extended Universe flick of their own. Many questioned why such a film would receive consideration when sequels like Man of Steel 2 have yet to go into production. However, that confusion didn't last long since the Wonder Twins project was reportedly canned.

The quick cancellation of Wonder Twins shows just how volatile the DCEU is, but it's also a reflection of Warner Bros. in general. Of course, a change in leadership could see the DCEU course-correcting to a radical extreme, but it might also kill off several planned productions. Here's how the form of cancellation that Wonder Twins received is a sign of things to come for other DC projects.

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The Wonder Twins Movie Never Had a Chance

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The Wonder Twins movie was officially announced earlier in February, with Adam Sztykiel, the writer for the upcoming Black Adam, attached to the picture. The film set a release on HBO Max, bolstering the growing streaming platform's already impressive lineup of content. Despite how odd the idea seemed, things seemed to be moving along well, with KJ Apa and Isabel May cast as the titular Zan and Jayna, respectively. Said casting happened in April, but now, not even a month later, Wonder Twins may be finished.

Warner Bros. has yet to confirm the cancelation, but it's probably for the best. As mentioned, the Wonder Twins are the last characters that should be getting a DC live-action movie right now. Beyond the fact that other, much more deserving characters need films first, the Wonder Twins are silly characters. While this could lighten up the relatively dark and serious DCEU, it may also be a bridge too far. It also reeks of when DC/WB was prone to announcing projects for DC characters that never saw the light of day. But while the cancelation of Wonder Twins was probably the right move, it's likely not the only DCEU film, or DC project in general, that will soon be on the chopping block.

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DCEU Projects Besides Wonder Twins May Soon Be Canceled

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Following their merger with Discovery, Warner Bros. is in a behind-the-scenes overhaul of its film department, namely those involving DC characters. Wanting a "Kevin Feige" figure to guide the DCEU as Feige has done for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, WB seems to now more than ever want to make a cohesive and successful DC movie universe. CEO David Zaslav has particularly pointed to making Superman a much bigger priority. With these objectives on the table, it's no wonder that adapting the Wonder Twins is low on the company's to-do list.

Those involved with HBO Max may also be looking at a new way to handle content. Seeing all the issues surrounding Netflix, they likely want content that will guarantee subscribers and make them competitive while maximizing theatrical profits for their films in the wake of successes such as The Batman. But while it's obvious that the recently announced sequel to Matt Reeves' film will be theatrically released first, other DC movies don't have as clear a path.

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Movies such as The Flash, Shazam: Fury of the Gods, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom and Black Adam are likely safe from anything major, but their performance theatrically will likely determine the future of each intellectual property. Meanwhile, movies still in production, like the third Wonder Woman film, may not be as set in stone. Zaslav and company seem to want sure things for the time being, and the jury's still out on whether the DCEU counts as such.

And while Zaslav wants to prioritize Superman, he could prioritize a more traditional take. That means that whatever subversive variant that Ta-Nehisi Coates was working on could be dumped, along with anything else that might be too controversial for any section of the DC fanbase. Likewise, there's been very little heard about the HBO Max Green Lantern show lately, meaning it could also have been a casualty. And that's not even mentioning the death of the Arrowverse, a visceral example of WB wanting a cleaned brand image. No matter what direction DC/WB takes as it seeks more success, there will likely be many more casualties, with Wonder Twins being just one of the first.