Fennell regrets 'too dark' Zatanna script

Emerald Fennell, the Oscar-winning writer, has reflected on her experience developing a script for a Zatanna movie approximately five years ago. Fennell, who was tapped by Warner Bros. and Bad Robot in March 2021, recently shared that her vision for the DC superheroine was perhaps too removed from the expected genre conventions.

Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Fennell described her script as "demented," suggesting it was a reflection of personal difficulties she was navigating at the time. Having just completed "A Promising Young Woman," she sought to create a superhero film that resonated with her emotionally, focusing on a "woman in the middle of a nervous breakdown."

This approach led to a script that Fennell now believes was "too far away from the genre" and "really dark." She expressed a desire to have delivered what the studio wanted, acknowledging the chance JJ Abrams took by offering her the project. Fennell has not reread the script since its development, finding it personally challenging due to a feeling of not quite meeting expectations.

The character of Zatanna, a powerful magician, was created by Gardner Fox and Murphy Anderson, first appearing in Hawkman in November 1964. She possesses magical abilities, similar to her father Zatara, and has a rich comic history, including associations with the Justice League and a childhood connection with Batman. Actress Serinda Swan previously portrayed Zatanna on The CW's "Smallville."