James Gunn provides a hopeful update on DC’s SWAMP THING movie

When DC Studios co-directs James Gunn unveiled the first phase of its new DC universe, Gods and Monsters, one of the most exciting announcements was a Swamp thing film directed by James Mangold.

The film has been described as a dark gothic horror story inspired by Frankensteinpromising to explore the tragic and monstrous side of DC’s supernatural world. But as time has passed, updates on the project have been few and far between, leaving fans wondering if it’s still happening.

Luckily, Gunn just offered a reassuring, even if it seems, update Swamp thing it’s still far away.

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Gunn confirmed that the project remains in development despite Mangold’s new deal with Paramount Pictures.

Gunn said: “We’ve talked to him. He’s still involved. So we’ll see. Some things take a long time. We’ll see what happens.”

This commentary may be short, but it’s an important sign of life for the long-awaited film. Still, Swamp thing is not currently at the top of Mangold’s to-do list.

His next film, High sidea detective film starring Timothée Chalametis making moves at Paramount after the studio won a competitive bidding war. Beyond that, Mangold implied that Paramount fully supports his “ideas for future projects,” which means Swamp thing could easily be pushed back further as those ideas take shape.

Timing also plays an important role here. DC Studios reportedly plans to release only one or two films per year as part of its “quality over quantity” approach. The current list already extends until 2027 with Supergirl AND Clay face set for 2026, followed by The man of tomorrow AND Batman: Part II in 2027.

Building on that lineup, the first Swamp thing it could emerge from the swamp in 2028, and that too could be optimistic.

As Gunn has repeatedly pointed out, DC Studios won’t start production on anything until the script is finished and ready. He’s focused on building the DCU carefully and isn’t rushing projects to meet a release date. That patience might work Swamp thingensuring the film lives up to its disturbing, horror-infused potential.

Meanwhile, Mangold’s schedule is busier than ever as it unfolds Dawn of the JediA Star Wars film announced in 2023. While both projects are still in the works, it’s hard to say which will move first.