‘Swamp Thing’ Movie Update: DC Studios Confirms Script Is in Progress

Tena Milakovic
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DC Studios has openly expressed its interest in horror, and few characters embody that vibe quite like the muck-covered guardian of the Green. However, the ‘Swamp Thing‘ movie has been so quiet that many fans began to question its status.

Initially announced in January 2023 as part of the DCU’s first chapter, ‘Gods and Monsters’, the film is set to explore the dark origins of the character. James Mangold confirmed he would both write and direct, describing his vision as a straightforward, clean gothic horror film about a man and a monster, likening it to a Frankenstein narrative. He emphasized that it would be a standalone project rather than the start of a franchise.

Now, after more than a year of silence, we have the first significant update. In an interview with Deadline at the ‘Clayface’ premiere, DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran confirmed that the film is still progressing. “We’re working on it, absolutely,” he stated, noting that the script is currently being written. “All these things take time, particularly when you have a filmmaker already involved; you got to wait for their window as well.”

The delay is attributed to Mangold’s packed schedule. In September 2025, the ‘Logan’ director signed a significant overall deal with Paramount, where his first project is ‘High Side’, a MotoGP film that reunites him with Timothée Chalamet. He also has a Star Wars project on his agenda, keeping him quite busy.

This isn’t the first time scheduling has posed a challenge. While Mangold was working on ‘A Complete Unknown’, the ‘Swamp Thing’ project seemed to be on hold, with James Gunn mentioning that discussions about it were infrequent. Gunn later revealed that Mangold had not yet submitted a script due to his full filming schedule.

While plot details remain under wraps, the film’s tone is clear. Gunn has indicated that it will feature the darkest tone of any project in the DCU’s first chapter, while still allowing Swamp Thing to interact with other heroes in future narratives. This blend of gothic horror with a shared universe is what makes the project particularly intriguing.

The character has a rich history on screen. Wes Craven directed the original 1982 film featuring Dick Durock, followed by a 1989 sequel, ‘The Return of Swamp Thing’. More recently, Derek Mears portrayed the creature in a short-lived 2019 series on the DC Universe streaming service, which received positive reviews despite its brief run.

The project is also situated within a shifting corporate landscape. Deadline’s overview of the Warner Bros. film slate that Skydance’s new motion picture executives will inherit places ‘Swamp Thing’ in early development, alongside other projects like the DC Bane and Deathstroke movie, ‘The Brave and the Bold’, a live-action ‘Teen Titans’ film, and a ‘Wonder Woman’ reboot. Early development means no cast or release date, and in this case, a script is still being written.

Gunn and Safran continue as co-chairmen of DC Studios, with contracts reportedly extending through April 2027, and they now report to David Ellison. This adds another layer of uncertainty to long-developing projects like this one.

The timing of Safran’s comments is deliberate. ‘Clayface’ is set to hit theaters on October 23 as the first body horror entry in the DCU, and early reactions have praised its gruesome approach. If audiences respond positively to that darker tone, ‘Swamp Thing’ could be the next DC film to benefit from the studio’s increasing appetite for horror.

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