TheJustice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is afictionalsuperhero team that appears incomic books published byDC Comics. Since their first appearance inThe Brave and the Bold #28 (February/March 1960), various incarnations of the team have appeared in film, television, and video game adaptations.
In February 2007, it was announced that Warner Bros hired husband and wife duo Michele andKieran Mulroney to write a script for aJustice League film.[1] The news came around the same time thatJoss Whedon's long-developedWonder Woman film had been canceled,[2] as well asThe Flash, written and directed byDavid S. Goyer.[3] TitledJustice League: Mortal,[4] Michele and Kiernan Mulroney submitted their script to Warner Bros. in June 2007, receiving positive feedback,[5] which prompted the studio to immediately fast track production in the hopes of filming to begin before the2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike.[6] Warner Bros. was less willing to proceed on development with a sequel toSuperman Returns, having been disappointed with the box office return.Brandon Routh was not approached to reprise the role of Superman inJustice League Mortal,[7] nor wasChristian Bale fromBatman Begins.[8] Warner Bros. intended forJustice League: Mortal to be the start of a new film franchise, and to branch out into separate sequels and spin-offs.[9] Shortly after filming finished withThe Dark Knight,[10] Bale stated in an interview that "It’d be better if it doesn't tread on the toes of what ourBatman series is doing," though he personally felt it would make more sense for Warner Bros. to release the film after his planned "Batman 3" (later calledThe Dark Knight Rises).[8]Jason Reitman was the original choice to directJustice League, but he turned it down, as he considers himself an independent filmmaker and prefers to stay out of big budget superhero films.[11]George Miller signed on to direct in September 2007,[6] withBarrie Osbourne producing[12] on a projected $220 million budget.[13]
However, the Writers Strike began that same month and placed the film on hold. Warner Bros. had to let theoptions lapse for the cast,[25] but development was fast tracked once more in February 2008 when the strike ended. Warner Bros. and Miller wanted to start filming immediately,[26] but production was pushed back three months.[9] Originally, the majority ofJustice League: Mortal would be shot atFox Studios Australia in Sydney,[13] with other locations scouted nearby at local colleges,[12] andSydney Heads doubling forHappy Harbor.[4] TheAustralian Film Commission also had a say with casting choices, giving way for George Miller to cast Gale, Palmer and Keays-Bryne, all Australian natives. The production crew was composed entirely of Australians, but the Australian government denied Warner Bros. a 40 percent tax rebate as they felt they had not hired enough Australian actors.[13][27] Miller was frustrated, stating that "A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Australian film industry is being frittered away because of very lazy thinking. They're throwing away hundreds of millions of dollars of investment that the rest of the world is competing for and, much more significantly, highly skilled creative jobs."[28] Production offices were then moved toVancouver Film Studios in Canada. Filming was pushed back to July 2008, while Warner Bros was still confident they could release the film in summer 2009.[29][30]
With production delays continuing, and the success ofThe Dark Knight in 2008,[31] Warner Bros. decided to focus on development of individual films featuring the main heroes, allowing directorChristopher Nolan to separately complete hisBatman trilogy withThe Dark Knight Rises in 2012. Gregory Noveck, senior vice president of creative affairs for DC Entertainment stated "we’re going to make a Justice League movie, whether it’s now or 10 years from now. But we’re not going to do it and Warners is not going to do it until we know it’s right."[32] Actor Adam Brody joked "They [Warner Brothers] just didn’t want to cross their streams with a whole bunch of Batmans in the universe."[33] Warner Bros. relaunched development for the soloGreen Lantern film, released in 2011 as a critical and financial disappointment. Meanwhile, film adaptations forThe Flash andWonder Woman continued to languish in development while filming for a Superman reboot was commencing in 2011 withMan of Steel, produced by Nolan and written byDavid S. Goyer, which would go on to launch theDC Extended Universe.
The Justice League are a common narrative plot thread in theDC Extended Universe starting withBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice with Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman teaming up against Doomsday and inSuicide Squad where Bruce gets the files on Barry Allen and Arthur Curry from Amanda Waller.
Snyder andWarner Bros released a 4 hourdirector's cut ofJustice League viaHBO Max on March 18, 2021.[62] This version presents Snyder's original vision for a Justice League film with a more grounded and darker tone as well as an overall aesethetic more in line with Snyder's previous DCEU filmsMan of Steel andBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice rather than the lighter, more family friendly tone of the 2017 theatrical cut and features a radically overhauled ending.[63] Additional footage seen in this cut is mainly footage that was shot for the theatrical cut but was discarded when Snyder left the project although a handful of new scenes were filmed once the director's cut release was greenlit.[64] Characters who did not appear in the theatrical cut in 2017 such asMartian Manhunter (played byHarry Lennix),Iris West (played byKiersey Clemons),Ryan Choi (Zheng Kai),Darkseid (Ray Porter) andDeSaad (Peter Guinness) are also included in this version of the film.[63] The Snyder Cut also features a new score byTom Holkenborg.[65] Holkenborg was intended to score the original version ofJustice League, but was replaced byDanny Elfman during reshoots.[66]
The team made a cameo appearance in thePeacemaker season 1 finale episode "It's Cow or Never" with only Momoa and Miller reprising their roles as Aquaman and Flash while Superman and Wonder Woman were played by stand-ins.
An alternate version of the Justice League was featured inThe Flash (2023) and consisted of two versions of Barry (one from the main timeline and one from the past, both played by Miller), an alternate version ofBruce Wayne / Batman (played byMichael Keaton) andKara Zor-El / Supergirl (played bySasha Calle). Additionally, Affleck, Gadot, and Momoa cameod as their versions of Batman, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman. ACGI version of Cavill as Superman also appeared in the film. Cyborg was also briefly pictured, albeit not portrayed by Ray Fischer.
The Justice League appears inJustice League: Doom, consisting of Superman, Batman, Cyborg, the Flash (Barry Allen), Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), Wonder Woman, and Martian Manhunter.[69]
The Justice League appears in theDC Animated Movie Universe, consisting of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Cyborg, Flash (Barry Allen), Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), Aquaman,Shazam, Green Lantern (John Stewart), Flash (Barry Allen),Hawkman, and Martian Manhunter.[70]
The Justice League appears inJLA Adventures: Trapped in Time, consisting of Superman, Batman, Cyborg, Flash (Barry Allen), Wonder Woman, and Aquaman.[71]
The Justice League appears inDC Super Heroes vs.Eagle Talon, consisting of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash (Barry Allen), Aquaman, and Cyborg.[72]
An animated series,Justice League: Gods and Monsters Chronicles, serves as a companion to the film. While the first season was released in 2015,[76][77] a second season was planned to be released in the following year and would have featured ten episodes,[78] but as of 2020, it has been shelved.[79] Additionally, a series ofone-shot comics written byJ. M. DeMatteis andBruce Timm was released and focused on each hero's origin story, including a three-issue prequel comic book series.[80]
The Justice League appears in theTomorrowverse, consisting of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash (Barry Allen), Martian Manhunter,Vixen, Green Arrow, and Green Lantern (John Stewart).
An untitledJustice League direct to DVD film was in the works in 2008, with a design by James Tucker.[81]
In 2009, Bruce Timm has expressed interest in an animated film based on theJLA/Avengers crossover limited series. As of 2023, no updates have appeared since.[82]
The Justice League appears inThe Lego Movie franchise, consisting of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), Flash (Barry Allen), and Aquaman.[84]
The Justice League appears inTeen Titans Go! To the Movies, consisting of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern (John Stewart), Aquaman, Atom (Ray Palmer), Flash (Barry Allen), Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), and Shazam.[85]
The Justice League makes a cameo appearance inSpace Jam: A New Legacy, consisting of Superman, Flash, Green Lantern (John Stewart), Aquaman, andBatgirl.[86]
The Justice League appears inDC League of Super-Pets, consisting of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern (Jessica Cruz), Flash (Barry Allen), Aquaman, and Cyborg.[87]
The longest-running version of the Justice League was the loosely adapted series calledSuper Friends, which ran in various incarnations from 1973 to 1986.
The Justice League appears inThe Batman, consisting ofBatman,Superman,Martian Manhunter,Green Lantern,Green Arrow,Hawkman, and theFlash. Introduced in the fourth season finale, "The Joining", the League's members make recurring appearances throughout the fifth season as allies to Batman. Additionally, the show's version of their headquarters combines elements of theHall of Justice fromSuper Friends and the Watchtower from the comics.
The Justice League appears inBatman: The Brave and the Bold, consisting of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), Flash (Barry Allen), Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Black Canary, Green Arrow, Red Tornado, and Fire. TheJustice League International is introduced in "Darkseid Descending!", and consists of Batman, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Fire, Ice, Green Lantern (Guy Gardner), Booster Gold, andBlue Beetle (Jaime Reyes).
The Justice League appears in theMad segment "That's What Super Friends Are For".
Funny animal variants of the Justice League appear in theDC Nation Shorts segmentFarm League, consisting of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Captain Marvel, Robin, and Cyborg.
A Justice League animated series titledJustice League Action debuted onCartoon Network in fall 2016.[92] The series features a revolving cast anchored by Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman.
The Justice League appears inHarley Quinn, consisting of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Zatanna, Aquaman, Green Lantern (John Stewart), and Flash (Barry Allen).[93]
In 1990, Magnum Pictures developed a script for a Justice League TV show starring Booster Gold, Blue Beetle,Fire andIce plus other members from the comic'sJustice League International run.[citation needed]
The Justice League appears in the mobile gameJustice League: Earth's Final Defense, consisting of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, the Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg.
The Justice League appears inSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, consisting of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash (Barry Allen), and Green Lantern (John Stewart).
The Justice League is featured inLego DC Super-Villains. As part of the story, they are replaced by a different team of superheroes called the "Justice Syndicate".
