JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK Director Doug Liman Teases “Intimate” Story and Horror Influences

Last year, Warner Bros. hired Doug Liman to direct DC Films’ Justice League Dark, which unites several magic-based characters from the DC Universe. Since then, the filmmaker teased his “unconventional” approach to the comic book movie genre. And now, Liman has shed light on the scale of the film’s story, as well as his horror movie influences.

Speaking with CinemaBlend while promoting his new movie The Wall, Liman says that Justice League Dark will have a more “intimate” and “character-driven” storyline. This is done to help it stand out from other films in the genre. “I think people will be surprised how character driven and how intimate Justice League Dark is – in kind of a field of bloated comic book movies. We’ve found a way to do something that’s actually really personal and small, and that’s my goal.” He also reaffirms that John Constantine is in this movie and teases his “human” role. “For John Constantine, we have an amazing set-up for him for Justice League Dark that’s really human.”

Traditionally, the Justice League Dark team deals with more supernatural and horror-based elements in the DCU. That will, obviously, carry over into the movie. Liman names some classic horror movies that influence him for Justice League Dark, and he rehashes his desire to create something truly unique in the superhero genre, offering Deadpool as an example. “[Justice League Dark is] going to have real horror elements, for sure. I love early horror films, be it The Exorcist, or Carrie, The Omen. … There’s stuff to be mined from the people who have come before me that I’m planning to bring to Justice League Dark. And also the arena, my good friend Simon Kinberg, with Deadpool really pushed the arena. I’m never going to do something that’s straight forward, but I’m not going to do something campy either. I have a take on it that isn’t like anything else out there.”

Justice League Dark is being written by Michael Gilio and produced by Scott Rubin. Other characters expected to appear are Zatanna, Swamp Thing, Deadman, and Etrigan the Demon. A release date and cast have yet to be announced.