Swamp Thing is still in the works at DC, but don’t expect it anytime soon. With James Mangold having recently signed a first-look deal with Paramount Pictures, many were worried about what this meant for his in-development Star Wars film and Swamp Thing movie. Paramount Pictures’ new deal with Mangold seemingly didn’t interfere with or nullify any of his prior contracts, so at the moment, he is still part of both Star Wars and the DCU.
Following the finale of Peacemaker Season 2, James Gunn sat down with Rolling Stone, where they asked if Mangold’s new Paramount deal interferes with Swamp Thing. “No, no, it doesn’t,” said Gunn. When asked if the project was dead, Gunn responded, “No.” The co-president of DC Studios revealed that he was hopeful about the long-gestating DCU project:
“I mean, yeah, totally. Absolutely. Yeah. We’ve talked to him [Mangold]. He’s still invested. So we’ll see. Some things take a long time. We’ll see what happens.”
The Future of James Mangold’s ‘Swamp Thing’s in the DCU
James Mangold was one of the first directors attached to the DCU. Shortly after James Gunn announced his plans for the DCU’s Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters, Mangold was in talks to write and direct Swamp Thing back in 2023. Even though Swamp Thing would be part of the larger DCU, the director has said he wanted to make a one-off horror film. However, his schedule got busy with A Complete Unknown and now with High Side, the first film under his deal with Paramount Pictures. Mangold’s Star Wars film, which is centered on the first Jedi, is also in a state of uncertainty.
The DCU’s plans have certainly changed and evolved since January 2023. Swamp Thing‘s place on the calendar as the franchise’s first R-rated horror film will now be taken by Clayface, set to open in theaters on September 11, 2026. Many projects, like The Authority film and the Waller show, have hit a snag, with Gunn even confirming that one previously announced project had been canceled. At first, many suspected it was Swamp Thing, but Gunn clarified that it was not.
If Mangold departs Swamp Thing, there are questions about what that would mean for the film’s DCU status. Luca Guadagnino was set to direct Sgt. Rock, but that project was put on indefinite hold. With Gunn having announced Swamp Thing as part of his DCU slate before Mangold was attached, he clearly wants to bring the iconic cult hero into the fold. So, even if Mangold were to depart, they would likely talk to other directors. That said, given Mangold’s impressive track record with films like Logan and Ford v. Ferrari, many still want to see how he would approach a character like Swamp Thing.