Movies / Features
It's A Shame This Great Sci-fi Movie Never Took Off
This obscure DC duo was set for their own film but faced unexpected changes.
It frequently happens that film studios announce large-scale productions that never come to fruition. A prime example is the DC film Wonder Twins. This project was announced in 2022 but was never realized.
KJ Apa (Riverdale) and Isabel May (1923) were cast as Zan and Jayna, the titular Wonder Twins. Production was set to begin, but new leadership at Warner Bros. put a stop to it.
Zan and Jayna, better known as the Wonder Twins, are an extraterrestrial superhero duo in the DC universe. They made their first appearance in the Hanna-Barbera animated series The All-New Super Friends Hour in 1977.
Their powers are quite remarkable: Jayna can transform into any animal, while Zan can change into any form of water. They can only activate their powers when they touch each other's hands.
In February 2022, a Wonder Twins movie within the DCEU was announced. KJ Apa and Isabel May were cast as Zan and Jayna, with Adam Sztykiel handling both the script and direction. The film was developed with an intended streaming release, exclusively via HBO Max.
However, the project was scrapped two months before filming was set to begin due to a shift in leadership at Warner Brothers. The studio merged with Discovery, leading to new management.
David Zaslav, CEO of the newly formed conglomerate, felt that the estimated budget of over $75 million was too high for a film that would be released exclusively on streaming. His vision is that DC Films should primarily focus on theatrical releases. Additionally, the project was considered "too niche".
James Gunn has successfully rebooted his DC Universe with a new Superman film. Although obscure characters are getting more attention in his DCU, it seems highly unlikely that the Wonder Twins will be introduced anytime soon.
KJ Apa (Riverdale) and Isabel May (1923) were cast as Zan and Jayna, the titular Wonder Twins. Production was set to begin, but new leadership at Warner Bros. put a stop to it.
Wonder Twins
Zan and Jayna, better known as the Wonder Twins, are an extraterrestrial superhero duo in the DC universe. They made their first appearance in the Hanna-Barbera animated series The All-New Super Friends Hour in 1977.
Their powers are quite remarkable: Jayna can transform into any animal, while Zan can change into any form of water. They can only activate their powers when they touch each other's hands.
The Cancellation
In February 2022, a Wonder Twins movie within the DCEU was announced. KJ Apa and Isabel May were cast as Zan and Jayna, with Adam Sztykiel handling both the script and direction. The film was developed with an intended streaming release, exclusively via HBO Max.
However, the project was scrapped two months before filming was set to begin due to a shift in leadership at Warner Brothers. The studio merged with Discovery, leading to new management.
New Leadership
David Zaslav, CEO of the newly formed conglomerate, felt that the estimated budget of over $75 million was too high for a film that would be released exclusively on streaming. His vision is that DC Films should primarily focus on theatrical releases. Additionally, the project was considered "too niche".
James Gunn has successfully rebooted his DC Universe with a new Superman film. Although obscure characters are getting more attention in his DCU, it seems highly unlikely that the Wonder Twins will be introduced anytime soon.
