Justice League Beyond 2 (cancelled)

***Justice League Beyond 2*** was a film that was considered for the Post-Justice League V slate of projects.

## Overview

When greenlighting films for Post-Justice League V, there was a small plan to create a franchise to take place in the far off future where the series *Batman Beyond* originates. So, in the middle of other films being showcased, there would be the side *Beyond* franchise as well, starting with *Batman Beyond.* Soon, it was followed up with *Steel* and then *Requiem.* Due to the praise of all three films, *Justice League Beyond* was soon greenlit.

However, due to the fact that not many directors were interested in making another Justice League film so soon after *Justice League V,* it went into development hell for a small amount of time while a director could be found. In the mean time, Paul Dini wrote the script. Denis Villeneuve, Bong Joon-Ho, Matt Reeves, J.A. Bayona, and George Miller were all considered but all turned it down. Eventually, they went to Joel Edgerton, who portrayed Heatwave in *The Flash II* and went on to be Wildcat in *Injustice 2: Gods Against Us.* While he really did not want to do the film, he agreed on the condition he could do a passion project of his at Warner Brothers. They agreed. Eventually, the film was made and released with little issue despite this. However, it went on to receive mixed reviews but a decent box office. The sequel was planned but Paul Dini walked away from the project with no plans to write the sequel and Joel Edgerton definitely didn't agree to return for the sequel either. WB eventually got *John Wick* writer Derek Kolstad (who would go on to write *Huntress* instead) to write the film. He wrote a treatment where it would be a reboot of sorts with only Dylan O'Brien (Batman), John Boyega (Steel), and Karen Gillain (Requiem) returning. However, due to eventual uninterest in the project, the mixed reviews, and middling box office, the project was eventually cancelled.

## Plot

While there weren't any scripts made for the film, Kolstad's treatment involved the JLB disbanding after the previous film, finding no purpose after Amazo and Ivo were defeated. Everyone would go on to fight crime separately, with the Neo-Trinity fighting together from time to time. However, the alien being known as Despero crash lands on Earth, and wants to turn the people of Earth into his own people, who died out eons ago. This would eventually lead to a new Justice League forming as all the other JLB members were unavailable for some reason that was not explained in the treatment. The new roster (in addition to the Neo-Trinity) are Red Tornado, Doctor Light, Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes), Firestorm (Jason Rusch) and Maxima. Red Tornado would be a remade Amazo, who would've been rebuilt by Terry's younger brother Matt. In the climactic final battle, 5% of the world's population would be made into Despero's race, Steel would've been killed by Despero, and Doctor Light would have delivered the killing blow. Ra's al Ghul and the League of Assassins would've been teased for a third film with Irons getting resurrected via the Lazarus Pit.

## Cast

* Dylan O'Brien as Batman/Terry McGinnis
* John Boyega as Steel/John Henry Irons
* Karen Gillan as Requiem/Artemis Grace
* Nicolas Grimes as Red Tornado
* Unknown as Doctor Light/Kimiyo Hoshi
* Unknown as Blue Beetle/Jaime Reyes
* Unknown as Firestorm/Jason Rusch
* Unknown as Maxima
* Keith David (considered) as Despero

## Reception

Kolstad's treatment was eventually released to the internet and many fans were fond of it despite not being great. Many considered it to be better than the previous film.

## Legacy

In *The Superheroes' Epilogue,* Terry mentions them fighting Despero and Irons almost getting killed.