She's just handled the fantasy epic A Wrinkle In Time and now Ava DuVernay is on for another big challenge. She's making a deal to direct New Gods, which will form a key part of Warner Bros.' DCEU.
Created and designed by Jack Kirby in 1971, the New Gods are natives of the twin planets of New Genesis and Apokolips. New Genesis is an idyllic planet ruled by the Highfather, while Apokolips is a dystopia filled with machinery and fire pits ruled by the tyrant Darkseid (we met his less-than-impressive herald Steppenwolf in Justice League). New Genesis and Apokolips call themselves gods, living outside of normal time and space in a realm known as the Fourth World. Kirby's creations have gone on to spread across a variety of other DC titles and the most recent was part of The New 52 in 2011.
DuVernay dropped a hint as to a potential future plan in a tweet back in December, when she responded to a tweet question about her favourite superhero and named Big Barda, a character from the New Gods comics. And the move is a fascinating one; while Wrinkle hasn't proved to be the biggest hit (it has so far earned $48 million worldwide), it shows a healthy confidence in her as a blockbuster director and a firm move by Warners to prove its commitment to hiring different, interesting filmmakers for the DC movies.
The next film from the DC universe will be Aquaman, headed our way on 21 December.
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