Emerald Fennell Explains Why Her Demented Zatanna Movie Never Happened

Emerald Fennell has built a reputation for bold and unflinching storytelling ever since her breakout with ‘Promising Young Woman’. Fans got excited when she was announced to write a Zatanna film for DC back in March 2021. The project paired her with JJ Abrams’ Bad Robot and Warner Bros, promising something fresh in the superhero space. Recently, though, Fennell opened up about why that particular vision never made it to the screen.

Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Fennell described her take on Zatanna as demented and intensely personal. She wrote the script shortly after finishing her acclaimed debut feature, a time when she was searching for emotional truth in a superhero story. What emerged centered on a woman in the midst of a nervous breakdown, which pushed it far from typical genre expectations. Fennell admitted the darkness felt right to her then, even if it ultimately distanced the project from what studios usually want in a comic book adaptation.

She shared that the script remains difficult for her to revisit even now. Fennell expressed deep affection for JJ Abrams, who took a chance on her talent. Everyone involved treated her kindly throughout the process, yet she still carries regret about not quite delivering the version they hoped for. It’s a reminder of how personal creative risks can be, especially when stepping into a massive franchise.

Zatanna herself is one of DC’s most intriguing magical heroes. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Murphy Anderson, she debuted in a 1964 issue of ‘Hawkman’ while searching for her missing father, Zatara. The character wields powerful spells spoken backwards and has ties to the Justice League. Her history includes a childhood connection to Bruce Wayne and a complicated romance with John Constantine, adding layers of mystique and vulnerability.

Audiences previously saw Zatanna brought to life by Serinda Swan across three seasons of ‘Smallville’. That portrayal leaned into her elegance and strength as a magician. Fennell’s approach, however, sounded much rawer and more psychologically intense. A story framed around emotional unraveling could have offered a fresh angle on the character, even if it proved too unconventional for a major studio film.

The timing of the script likely played a role in its tone. Coming off the intense experience of ‘Promising Young Woman’, Fennell poured her own state of mind into the pages. She reflected that the result felt almost unfilmable in parts, with scenes no one would realistically greenlight. Years later, she wonders if she might judge her younger self more gently upon rereading it.

Superhero projects often shift directions multiple times before landing. In this case, the gap between Fennell’s deeply personal draft and broader studio goals appears to have been too wide to bridge. Many creators face similar moments when ambitious ideas collide with commercial realities. Her honesty about the experience highlights the challenges of bringing unique voices into established universes.

Fennell’s career has continued to thrive with other acclaimed work in the years since. The Zatanna script remains a fascinating what-if, a glimpse into a darker, more unhinged corner of the DC world. It’s easy to imagine how her sharp perspective could have reshaped perceptions of magical heroes. Stories like this one remind us that some of the most interesting films are the ones that stay on the page.

What draws you most to Zatanna as a character, and do you think a demented, emotionally raw take could work on the big screen? Share your thoughts in the comments.