James Gunn Gives Hopeful Update on DC’s SWAMP THING Movie
When DC Studios co-head James Gunn unveiled the first phase of his new DC Universe, Gods and Monsters, one of the most exciting announcements was a Swamp Thing movie directed by James Mangold.
The film was described as a dark, Gothic horror story inspired by Frankenstein, promising to explore the tragic, monstrous side of DC’s supernatural world. But as time has passed, updates on the project have been few and far between, leaving fans to wonder if it’s still happening.
Fortunately, Gunn just offered a reassuring update, though it sounds like Swamp Thing is still a ways off.
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Gunn confirmed that the project remains in development despite Mangold’s new deal with Paramount Pictures.
Gunn said, “We’ve talked to him. He’s still invested. So we’ll see. Some things take a long time. We’ll see what happens.”
That comment may be brief, but it’s an important sign of life for the long-awaited film. Still, Swamp Thing isn’t currently at the top of Mangold’s to-do list.
His next movie, High Side, a crime drama starring Timothée Chalamet, is moving forward at Paramount after the studio won a competitive bidding war. On top of that, Mangold hinted that Paramount is fully behind his “ideas for future projects,” which means Swamp Thing could easily get pushed back further as those ideas take shape.
Timing also plays a major role here. DC Studios reportedly plans to release only one or two movies a year as part of its “quality over quantity” approach. The current slate already stretches through 2027 with Supergirl and Clayface set for 2026, followed by Man of Tomorrow and The Batman: Part II in 2027.
Based on that lineup, the earliest Swamp Thing might emerge from the swamp is sometime in 2028, and even that could be optimistic.
As Gunn has repeatedly emphasized, DC Studios won’t start production on anything until a script is finished and ready. He’s focused on building the DCU carefully and isn’t rushing projects to meet a release date. That patience could work in Swamp Thing’s favor, ensuring the film lives up to its eerie, horror-infused potential.
Meanwhile, Mangold’s schedule is busier than ever as he’s developing Dawn of the Jedi, a Star Wars film that was announced back in 2023. While both projects are still in the works, it’s hard to say which one will move first.