The DC Universe has just gotten a little bit smaller.
According to a recent report, HBO has quietly killed off two DC projects that fans had been looking forward to.
Two More DC Shows Axed
A report in The Ankler confirms that HBO has pulled the plug on both “Waller” and “Paradise Lost,” although the report can’t determine any clear reason behind the decision.
Per Parade, the report indicated that DC chiefs James Gunn and Peter Safran “don’t try to force any development into HBO,” and preferred to have the entire HBO team behind any projects they’re shepherding toward development.
The two scrapped shows join a third canceled series, “Boooster Gold,” which has also been permanently shelved.
“Waller,” “Paradise Lost” and “Booster Gold” were all first announced in 2023 as part of DC’s upcoming production slate.
None of these projects, however, had yet to be ordered to series, and were still in the early development stage.
‘Paradise Lost’
“Paradise Lost” was set to be a prequel to the “Wonder Woman” films, taking place on the island of Themyscira before the birth of Diana (played in the films by Gal Gadot).
Speaking with Variety back in 2023, when the full slate was first announced, Safran teased “Paradise Lost” as a “‘Game of Thrones’-ish story” set in the past.
“It’s really about the political intrigue behind a society of all women,” Safran explained.
“How did that come about?” added Gunn. “What’s the origin of an island of all women? What are the beautiful truths and the ugly truths behind all of that? And what’s the scheming like between the different power players in that society?”
‘Waller’
In Waller, Safron and Gunn envisioned a follow-up to “Peacemaker,” focusing on Amanda Waller.
The series was to have starred Viola Davis as the titular Waller, reprising the character she played in both “Suicide Squad” movies.
Speaking with Variety, Gunn said that “Waller” would be a “continuation” of “Peacemaker.”
The script was in the hands of Christal Henry — a member of the DCU writers’ room — while Jeremy Carver (creator of quirky and beloved DC series “Doom Patrol” for HBO Max) was attached as executive producer.
“They are crushing it,” Safran said in 2023 of the work that Henry and Carver’s had been doing on “Waller.”
Added Gunn of the now-canceled series, “It’s just the greatest show ever.”
‘Booster Gold’
Previously canceled was “Booster Gold,” another anticipated series that DC fans had been looking forward to.
Per Variety, the series would have been DC’s first attempt at “outright comedy” focusing on fan-favorite comic book character Mike Carter.
According to Safron, the character is “a loser from the future who uses basic future technology to come back to today and pretend to be a superhero.”
Living in the 25th century, Mike Carter is described as “a disgraced former football star who uses a time machine on display in the Metropolis Space Museum” to travel back to the past and become a faux superhero.
“Basically, ‘Booster Gold’ is imposter syndrome as a superhero,” Gunn explained.
