A former Justice League movie writer reveals an influence for his early version of the script for the big DCEU film. James Gunn’s upcoming DC Universe is set to debut on screens this year, with the new franchise to officially replace the DCEU movie timeline. As the DCEU came to an end in 2023, it marked the conclusion of a complicated superhero journey for Warner Bros. Discovery, following numerous regime changes and creative differences over many projects.

Various creatives were involved with the initial Justice League script. One of them was Will Beall, who ended up working on Aquaman, while also having been attached to Justice League. In a new interview with The Wrap, Beall opened up about his experience handling the script for the team’s first ensemble movie, revealing Back to the Future Part II was a massive influence on the Justice League’s overall story and what made into Zack Snyder’s finalized version that got its release on HBO Max (now known as Max) in 2021, sharing the following:

I wouldn’t call my experience dysfunctional. I can only speak about my experience … I didn’t have a dysfunctional experience on ‘Aquaman.’ I had a great experience working on ‘Aquaman.’ I love working with James Wan. I loved working with Geoff Johns, and I had a great time working on that movie. I did a very early draft of ‘Justice League.’ Some of it found its way into the Snyder cut. I was delighted that I could help. The biggest difference with mine, I think, was that much of the second act was that little sort of coda that was on the Snyder cut, where it’s this post-apocalyptic sort of dream sequence or flash forward, and there’s good guys and bad guys, they’re forced to team up. Much of my second act was taken up with that. My version of it owed a lot to Back to the Future II. I’m proud of the script that I wrote and I’m happy that it helped. I feel like I did my job. So your first job as a writer, working with any of these things is to is to be a good steward. Right, it’s sort of to ‘do no harm’, And so you have to respect the fans and you have to respect the characters and and what makes them great, and not try to outsmart it.

Does The Justice League Have a Future In James Gunn’s DCU?

With Gunn’s DC Universe reimagining several heroes and villains for the big and small screens, the question of where the Justice League will fall into those plans is an inevitable one. For the time being, some Justice League heroes have solo projects coming up, with David Corenswet starring as the Man of Steel in 2025’s Superman and Batman appearing in The Brave and The Bold movie. While Wonder Woman has yet to get a new film to headline, a prequel series, Paradise Lost – exploring the early days of Themyscira – is being developed, taking place before Diana Prince’s birth.

The Lanterns TV show will bring Hal Jordan and John Stewart into the DC Universe, while Kara Zor.-El is finally getting her own movie with Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. However, a Justice League film doesn’t seem to be on the table for the time being, at least not in Chapter 1, “Gods and Monsters.” It is possible that DC Studios wants to take its time getting the DC Universe properly established before getting to a new team-up film, with Justice League perhaps happening in a later chapter.

However, the new Superman movie is rumored to potentially feature a hint of the Justice League, which may serve as a core underlying plotline if the Hall of Justice is actually making its way into the film. At the very least, the foundation of the Justice League concept could take some shape in Superman, leaving the audience more hopeful about seeing the team eventually getting another film together. But for now, the world will have to wait and see what Justice League plans are in store at DC Studios.

Source: The Wrap