The Warner Bros. and DC Comics superhero franchises have seen some expansion lately. When it comes to the big screen, entertainment companies already have the release of Matt Reeves’ The Batman and will soon herald the arrival of Dwayne Johnson (delayed) Black Adam and Zachary Levis Shazam! wrath of the gods. Movies will also be coming to the streaming world with Leslie Grace bat girl is the biggest attraction at the moment. However, amid all this progress, a film that was slated to be streamed has now been cancelled, and it’s none other than The Miracle Twins.
Earlier this month, rumors suggested that HBO Max’s The Miracle Twins had been canceled although Warner Bros. Discovery had not confirmed the news. But now, The Wall Street Journal secured these reports and provided a reason for the move. Trade reports that the company’s CEO, David Zaslav, felt the $75 million budget was too high and therefore would not generate sufficient revenue. Black Adam Screenwriter Adam Sztykiel was set to write and direct the film, which would star KJ Apa and Isabel May.
It goes without saying that the lifespan of this production has been a bit of a hurricane. The project was first reported to be in the works back in February, and by April it had cast its two stars. As of this writing, there has been no further comment on the surprising development from the cast or crew.
For those unfamiliar with the Wonder Twins, you should know that the character pair of Norman Maurer, William Hanna and Joe Barbara was created for the 1977s The all-new Super Friends Hour. Hailing from the alien planet Exxor, Zan (the male sibling) and Janyna (his sister) are vigilantes fighting crime. Wearing purple and gold outfits, the two are shapeshifters who can access their powers once they bump their fists and say, “Wonder Twin Powers, activate!” From there, Zan can transform into any form of water, while Zayna has the Has the ability to become any animal of their choosing. The two good-natured heroes are also accompanied by their pet blue monkey, Gleek.
The do-gooders were eventually assimilated into the mainstream DC Comics universe and became fan favorites. Since their animated introductions, they have also appeared in other TV shows and films such as Kleinville and The Lego Batman Movie. Gleek also appeared briefly at the end of the Arrowverse Crisis on Infinite Earths crossing.
With the loss of Miracle Twins, Warner Bros. Discovery and DC are losing another production for their slate of HBO Max-exclusive features. DC’s Blue Beetle was originally supposed to hit the streamer until Warner decided to release it theatrically (which certainly made fans very happy). Another project reportedly once considered for streaming is this Static Shock film that is being written. With these postponements and the recent cancellation, one has to wonder if bat girl (who wrapped filming in April) will soon be prioritized for the big screen.
DC’s film roster has been “fluid” to say the least over the past few years, as a number of ideas have been given the green light and scrapped. We’ll see how things develop over time. I’m also curious if the Miracle Twins find their way into the live-action space at some point in the future through another film or in a television series.
Check out CinemaBlend’s upcoming movie schedule for information on movies coming your way this year, including DC movies.
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