JLA Shelved

By John Freeman on January 18, 2008

Media web site Digital Spy, Variety and others sources are reporting the highly-anticipated Justice League of America movie has been shelved indefinitely.

Warner Bros has allowed the cast’s contracts to expire because of difficulties over the screenplay and taxation issues, according to Variety. Budget was also an issue, especially if the production doesn’t ultimately qualify for tax incentives in Australia, where the film was going to be shot.

E! Online reports producers have also agreed the script by Kieran Mulroney and Michele Mulroney needed some tinkering – something that can’t be done until the Writers Guild strike is over.

Warner Bros had already begun to distance the project from other DC-related franchises, as we reported earlier this month.

Directed by George Miller, the film based on DC Comics superhero super team was rumoured to star former OC actor Adam Brody as The Flash, alongside Armie Hammer Jr (as Batman), rapper Common (Green Lantern), Megan Gale (Wonder Woman) and Scott Porter (Superman). Wolf Creek actress Theresa Palmer was also lined up to play Batman’s love interest Talia al Ghul.

Cast members were reportedly already on location on Tuesday when they were informed that the movie had been put on hold. But they were assured that the studio had every intention of making it in the future, with the existing cast as its stars.

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.