Ava DuVernay Set To Direct DC Film’s “The New Gods”

By Creative Media Times

Cover of The New Gods vol. 1, Art by Jack Kirby, pencils, and Mike Royer

Fresh off the release of this past weekend’s “A Wrinkle in Time,” the film’s director Ava DuVernay is already lining up another big-budget film. Variety is reporting today that DuVernay is set to direct the screen adaptation of “The New Gods” for Warner Bros.

New Gods was created and designed by Jack Kirby in 1971 and published by DC comics and will be part of DC Extended Universe, presumably joining the ranks of Aquaman, set for release later this year, and the sequel of Patty Jenkin’s Wonder Woman.

In the comics, New Gods are a fictional race from the twin planets of New Genesis and Apokolips. New Genesis is an utopian planet filled with unspoiled forests, mountains, and rivers and is ruled by the Highfather. On the other side is Apokolips, a ruined dystopia ruled by the tyrant and DC Comics supervillain Darkseid.

How the characters of New Gods will fit in to DCEU’s storylines remain to be seen, though one of Darkseid’s most powerful band of warriors Steppenwolf appeared in last November’s Justice League.

DuVernay made history after being the first black woman to direct a $100 million budgeted film, that is of course “A Wrinkle In Time.” Released this weekend, the science fantasy adventure film features an all-star cast including Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, and Chris Pine. The film grossed $42.2 million this past weekend. DuVernay previously directed Selma, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture in 2015.

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