Safran says James Mangold's DC Swamp Thing film is moving forward, awaiting a script draft
DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran said James Mangold's Swamp Thing film is still in development and that the studio is waiting on a draft script. No release date has been announced.
Updated (version 2). Rewritten with the latest reporting.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 2DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran said in a Collider interview with Steven Weintraub that James Mangold's Swamp Thing film is "moving forward" and that the studio is "waiting on a draft". ColliderN “Safran confirmed to Collider’s Steven Weintraub that Swamp Thing is still moving forward with Mangold, and the studio is waiting for him to deliver a draft.” Read at Collider ↗ Screen RantN “It’s moving forward. Literally, we're waiting on a draft.” Read at Screen Rant ↗ Centre · 1Safran said Mangold had been busy making a Bob Dylan film with Timothée Chalamet, so the studio waited for Mangold to finish, and Mangold then said "I'm ready now." ColliderN “He was busy making his Bob Dylan movie with [Timothée] Chalamet, so we were waiting for Mangold to come up for air” Read at Collider ↗ Centre · 1Asked to clarify that Mangold is still working on the film and that it is in very active development, Safran answered "Yes." ColliderN “When asked to clarify that Mangold is still currently working on Swamp Thing and that the movie is in very active development, Safran answered, “Yes.”” Read at Collider ↗
Centre · 1Screen Rant reports that Safran also told Deadline at the Clayface premiere that "The script is being written as we speak" and that the studio has to wait for a filmmaker's availability. Screen RantN “Deadline spoke with DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran during the Clayface premiere”“The script is being written as we speak.” Read at Screen Rant ↗ Centre · 2Swamp Thing was among the first projects announced for the DC Universe slate in January 2023, and Mangold confirmed to Collider in April 2023 that he was writing it alongside a planned Star Wars movie. Screen RantN “one of the first Chapter 1 projects that was announced as part of the slate back in January 2023” Read at Screen Rant ↗ ColliderN “Mangold confirmed to Collider in April 2023 that he was writing Swamp Thing, alongside his planned Star Wars movie.” Read at Collider ↗ Centre · 1The update comes a year after James Gunn said in October 2025 that Mangold was "still invested" and that "Some things take a long time." Screen RantN “We’ve talked to him. He’s still invested. So we’ll see. Some things take a long time.” Read at Screen Rant ↗
Centre · 1The interviews came as Clayface, another DC horror-leaning project, prepared to open in theaters on October 23. ColliderN “Clayface arrives in theaters on October 23.” Read at Collider ↗ Centre · 2Swamp Thing has no announced release date, and it is unclear how far the screenplay has progressed. ColliderN “Swamp Thing does not yet have an announced release date” Read at Collider ↗ Screen RantN “it remains to be seen how far he has gotten with the screenplay.” Read at Screen Rant ↗ Centre · 1Screen Rant notes earlier live-action versions: Wes Craven's 1982 film, a 1989 sequel directed by Jim Wynorski, and a one-season 2019 series for the DC Universe streaming service. Screen RantN “Back in 1982 and 1989, the iconic character, who was created by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson, was adapted for cinema”“it only ran for one season” Read at Screen Rant ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets present the comments as a modest but welcome status update for DC horror fans, tied to the Clayface release.
- Emphasis
- Collider stresses the confirmation of Mangold's involvement and the script as the next step; Screen Rant stresses the 12-month gap since Gunn's comment and the 'Gods and Monsters' fit.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither gives a script delivery date, budget, cast or release timing, as none has been announced.
- Charged language
- “Officially Happening”“Major 2026 Update”“Dark Monster Movie”
- For example
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“James Mangold's DC Horror Movie 'Swamp Thing' Is Officially Happening” — Collider
“DC Studios Officially Shares Major 2026 Update On The DCU's Dark Monster Movie 12 Months Later” — Screen Rant
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Peter Safran said Swamp Thing is moving forward and the studio is waiting on a draft.
- James Mangold had been busy with his Bob Dylan film starring Timothée Chalamet.
- Swamp Thing has no release date.
- Clayface opens shortly, with Collider giving the date as October 23.
Peter Safran person
Says the film is moving forward, with the studio waiting on Mangold's draft, and that such projects take time because of filmmakers' schedules.
“It’s moving forward. Literally, we're waiting on a draft.” — Collider
“All these things take time” — Screen Rant
James Mangold person
Described by Safran as a fantastic filmmaker who said he was ready after finishing his Bob Dylan film; Mangold is not quoted in these reports.
“he's like, ‘I'm ready now.’ And that was it.” — Collider
DC Studios organisation
The studio is presented as keeping the project active while awaiting the script, with no release date set.
“Swamp Thing currently doesn't have a release date.” — Screen Rant
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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James Mangold's DC Horror Movie 'Swamp Thing' Is Officially Happening
Sympathetic Fan-oriented piece presenting Safran's comments as concrete reassurance that the project is alive, tied to the Clayface release.
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DC Studios Officially Shares Major 2026 Update On The DCU's Dark Monster Movie 12 Months Later
Neutral Reports Safran's Deadline and Collider remarks with context on Gunn's earlier comment and past adaptations, noting uncertainty over script progress.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 14 Oct 20:58 First ColliderN James Mangold's DC Horror Movie 'Swamp Thing' Is Officially Happening
- 14 Oct 21:44 +46m Screen RantN DC Studios Officially Shares Major 2026 Update On The DCU's Dark Monster Movie 12 Months Later
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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