Michael Bay’s Scrapped LOBO Movie Was “Hard-R,” Completely Unhinged, and Poked Fun at BATMAN V SUPERMAN

For years, fans wondered what ever happened to Michael Bay’s Lobo film project that was in development at Warner Bros. at one point. Turns out, it was a lot closer to reality than most people realized, and it was absolutely wild.

Thanks to new comments from writer Jason Fuchs, we now have a clear picture of just how extreme Michael Bay’s version of the DC antihero would’ve been, and why it never stood a chance of getting made.

Before Jason Momoa officially locked in his DCU debut as Lobo in Supergirl, the character was once set to headline his own standalone film.

The project surfaced back in 2016 with Michael Bay attached to direct and Fuchs handling the script, though Brad Peyton was originally linked to the director’s chair. Over time, the movie slowly faded from people’s minds. Now, Fuchs has finally opened up about what audiences missed out on.

Appearing on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast, Fuchs reflected on seeing Lobo appear in the Supergirl trailer and admitted the character still holds a special place for him. In fact, it’s his favorite script that never made it to the screen.

"I'm really excited to see Lobo finally make his appearance in the Supergirl trailer. I'd written a Lobo script many years ago for DC. Which, of all the things I've written that didn't get made, I think that Lobo script is my favorite. 'Cause it was... the tone of that [film] was Guardians of the Galaxy if Quentin Tarantino had directed it."

Fuchs made it very clear this wasn’t a mainstream-friendly comic book movie. It was meant to be ugly, violent, and aggressively adult.

"It was a hard-R, psychotic movie. Very violent. It made Deadpool look like a Disney family film. Which is probably why it ultimately didn't get made."

While writing the script, Fuchs already had one actor in mind for the Main Man, even years before casting discussions ever happened. The irony now feels almost perfect.

"Momoa! Who can play that role but Momoa? It was always... we never got to the stage we were talking to him, but it was always in my brain, Momoa."

As insane as the tone sounded, the larger DC connections were just as ambitious. Fuchs explained that Bay’s involvement only pushed the project further into chaos, and that timing played a big role in its demise.

"[Michael] Bay was going to direct it, which would've been equally insane. And it was a weird time in the DC Universe, where it didn't quite fit into what they were doing.

“But yeah, I loved writing that script and there was a Green Lantern involved. There was all kinds of fun DC characters who popped up in the context of that."

That Green Lantern wasn’t just a cameo either. Fuchs revealed it would’ve been Jack T. Chance, a deep-cut character from DC lore who debuted in 1992.

"There was a real fun dynamic between Lobo and Jack T. Chance. Jack T. Chance was a huge part of that story."

The movie also would’ve leaned heavily into L.E.G.I.O.N., the intergalactic law enforcement group created by Todd McFarlane, Keith Giffen, and Bill Mantlo in 1988.

"I used a lot of L.E.G.I.O.N., also. It was definitely a Lobo movie, but it was also in some ways a first film in what could have been a L.E.G.I.O.N. series."

And then there’s the moment that probably would’ve set the internet on fire. Fuchs confirmed the film directly poked fun at one of the most mocked scenes in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, taking a very Lobo-style approach to the infamous “Martha” moment.

"[It was a] pretty nutty movie. I remember there was a moment early in the script, where there's a bad guy who pleads for Lobo's forgiveness by saying that he's got a mother to think about.

“And he says, 'Please, what will become of my mother? [...] What will become of Martha?' And Lobo goes, 'What did you say?' He goes, ''Martha,' 'cause it's my mom's name!' [Lobo] goes, 'No way! 'Your mom's Martha, my mom's Martha?' He goes, 'Yeah!' And the bad guy's, like, really hopeful, and then Lobo blows his brains out, and goes, 'what the f—ck was that about?'"

As unhinged as it all sounds, Fuchs still believes Lobo will eventually get his own movie, even if it won’t be this version.

"I'm sure at some point they will... I don't think they'll make my Lobo, but I'm sure at some point, you'll see a Lobo film come together, 'cause it's just one of the great characters."

It’s hard not to view this as a massive missed opportunity. A Michael Bay-directed, hard-R Lobo movie that skewered superhero tropes and went full cosmic chaos sounds like something that could’ve stood apart from everything else DC was doing at the time. That could’ve been so much fun!

For now, fans will get to see Jason Momoa unleash Lobo when Supergirl hits theaters on June 26, 2026. It might not be the psychotic space carnage Fuchs envisioned, but at least the Main Man is officially on his way.