'Logan' Director James Mangold Being Eyed to Tackle 'Swamp Thing' for James Gunn/Peter Safran's Newly Introduced DC Studios

by Darian Scalamoni

    Yesterday was filled with fanfare and intrigue behind the first chapter titled Gods and Monsters spearheaded by James Gunn and Peter Safran for DC Studios and the newly minted DCU moniker. We got news of Gunn writing specific shows, but no directors had been attached as of yet. Now, The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline are both reporting that James Mangold (Logan, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) is in talks to possibly helm the previously announced horror film, Swamp Thing for the studio.

    Though nothing is set in stone, Mangold had expressed interest (and maybe hinting at) the fact that he has had talks with Gunn and Safran about taking on the role of writer and director of Swamp Thing on Twitter by posting an image of the titular supernatural creature from DC Comics. Gunn and Safran unveiled their slate of ten projects (5 Television projects and 5 Films) yesterday via an announcement on Twitter which we covered extensively on the site, right here. However, they also alluded within a private get together with the trades the day before their announcement, that this slate is only half of what they view as Chapter 1. 

    Though these talks are encouraging for all fans of cinema, due to Mangold's terrific resume, this is still early in development. Deadline says in their reporting that the film doesn't yet have a script and is further along down the pipeline, though Mangold does officially have an offer. Part of the reason this may be further down the road with Mangold's involvement is because of his very busy schedule.

    Mangold directed the upcoming fifth film in the Indiana Jones franchise subtitled The Dial of Destiny which releases on June 30. Additionally, Mangold is about to begin shooting his next project, A Complete Unknown, a Bob Dylan biopic that stars Timothee Chalamet as the young folk singer-songwriter with Benedict Cumberbatch rumored to play Pete Seeger in the film as well. That movie is gearing up to shoot soon and then Mangold will have to take a bit of a break to market Indy's next ride. This would not be Mangold's first rodeo in comic book movie territory, nor in the darker themes within comics, as the filmmaker also co-wrote and directed the R-rated Logan for Fox that centered around Hugh Jackman's Wolverine.

    I think this is terrific news for everyone involved whether it be Mangold heading to DC to direct a dark horror film that he's invested in, Gunn bringing in awesome filmmakers from the beginning and the fact that this character is so weird that it just might work.

    What do you guys think of the news of James Mangold potentially writing and directing Swamp Thing for the DCU? Sound off in the comments and let us know!