The Authority film is shelved: James Gunn explains the reasons

Development on The Authority film has been halted, James Gunn, head of the DC Universe, has confirmed. Instead, the series Booster Gold and Paradise Lost are still in development, with the latter said to be at an advanced stage. Gunn is currently busy producing the Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow, and is not writing either series.

Reasons for shelving The Authority

According to Gunn, the script for The Authority was not at the right level and there were practical issues that blocked progress. "It didn’t work in terms of the larger DC Universe, both story-wise and for practical reasons. Maybe it happens someday, but not soon," he said. These comments come after The Authority was originally announced as part of Gunn and Peter Safran’s Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters reboot of the DC Universe.

Development of other projects

Unlike The Authority, Gunn has confirmed that Booster Gold is in development, while Paradise Lost is a high priority. Gunn has said he is not writing these projects, underscoring the focus on quality. He says no film gets a green light until the script is fully finished, and that has led to unplanned delays for some projects.

What is The Authority?

The Authority follows a ruthless superhero team from the WildStorm Universe. Gunn previously noted that this project is one of the toughest within the DC Universe’s new direction. The recent popularity of The Boys has also added to the complexity of the project. According to Gunn, there are many beloved characters in the DC world who have already been filmed and whose stories still need to be told.

For now, there is no clarity on when Booster Gold or Paradise Lost will arrive. Confirmed releases so far include HBO’s Lanterns, the films Supergirl and Clayface, and Man of Tomorrow, all expected over the coming years. The Batman sequel, titled The Brave and the Bold, has also been announced, but no release dates are known yet.