Ava DuVernay to Direct DCEU’s New Gods Movie

Director Ava DuVernay is set to helm a New Gods film within the DC Extended Universe. Variety reports the DuVernay (A Wrinkle in Time, Selma) will direct the film, which is based on Jack Kirby’s iconic cosmic DC comic book series. The site notes that the film is “aimed at creating a new universe of properties for the studio,” presumably meaning it will launch its own series of spinoffs within the DCEU.

The New Gods first appeared in 1971 and are are natives of the twin planets of New Genesis and Apokolips. New Genesis is an idyllic planet ruled by the Highfather, while Apokolips is a dystopia filled with machinery and fire pits ruled by the tyrant Darkseid. New Genesis and Apokolips call themselves gods, living outside of normal time and space in a realm known as the Fourth World.

Darkseid was originally set to be the villain of the two-part Justice League film, but when it was cut down to a single film he was held back and his general Steppenwolf was kept as the primary villain.

DuVernay has previously expressed her interest in the New Gogs, noting that New Genesis-born character Big Barda is her favorite superhero of all-time.

Gosh, that's hard. Big Barda. Many reasons. #askava https://t.co/3qxGDq7mHe

— Ava DuVernay (@ava) December 27, 2017