SDCC ’23: The filmmakers of JUSTICE LEAGUE: WARWORLD map the future of the Tomorrowverse

With the release of Superman: Man of Tomorrow back in 2020, Warner Bros. Animation debuted the “Tomorrowverse,” the name used to refer to the shared animation continuity of characters from DC Comics. After introducing Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman in different films, DC’s Trinity will finally come together in Justice League: Warworld, the latest DC animated Tomorrowverse film. During SDCC this past weekend, we had a chance to talk with the Justice League: Warworld filmmakers to discuss the production as well as what’s to come for this Tomorrowverse shared continuity.

Despite the title and the inclusion of the villain Mongul, the film is completely separate from the “Warworld Saga” Superman storyline in the pages of DC Comics a few years ago. In fact, it was originally called World’s Finest according to producer Butch Lukic and intended as a Superman and Batman team-up adventure. However, the producers came to the realization that Warworld, the mobile planetoid controlled by alien tyrant Mongul, could serve as a grander storytelling device.

Veering away from the traditional gladiatorial aspect of Warworld, producer Jim Krieg opted for something surreal that places DC’s Trinity into three separate alternate realities and story genres that include the Western, sword and sorcery, and a ’50 sci-fi thriller. With three distinct genres it was only fitting the producers enlisted three different writers to pen the script. In this case, Josie Campbell, Ernie Altbacker, and Jeremy Adams each tackled a specific segment of the film.

Adams was naturally drawn to handling the barbarian Batman storyline with neither Altbacker or Campbell standing in his way. Campbell, meanwhile, who felt like she was already associated enough with Wonder Woman and probably female superheroes in general, wanted to try her hand with the ’50s Superman segment leaving Altbacker more than happy to take on Wonder Woman in the Wild West. Interestingly, the Western segment was initially slated to showcase Batman but Altbacker felt that was a little too obvious and familiar. Comic fans will likely recall the Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne miniseries that saw the Caped Crusader transported to different eras of time including the Old West.  

Warworld will also likely have fans remembering various episodes of the the Justice League series, which Lukic worked on, including but not limited to “The Once and Future Thing, Part I: Weird Western Tales” or “Chaos at the Earth’s Core.” Although there’s no direct influence on this film, Lukic relished the opportunity to return to those worlds but on a more robust scale. He cited the Western segment of Warworld as a particular favorite since he had been looking for opportunities to incorporate it in previous projects.   

As animators can attest, working in only one genre can sometimes be stifling. That’s why director Jeff Wamester, who has helmed the majority of these Tomorrowverse films, appreciated the chance to do something different. The challenge for him was the pacing and transitions of these different stories from one to another. It’s a tricky balance that can be jarring for the audience, but Wamester was pleased with the final product.

In contrast the previous DC animated shared universe overseen by James Tucker, Krieg and Lukic divulged that the Tomorrowverse has a limited number of films in which to tell a much larger narrative. At the time of the press junket, the filmmakers were coy and played details close to the vest. Since then, a Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths animated movie has been announced, so it’s safe to assume this has been the plan for the Tomorrowverse.

Unsurprisingly, everyone is curious about the future of not only the Tomorrowverse but other DC animation projects in regards to the recently revealed plans of DC Studios president James Gunn. According to Krieg and Lukic, the Tomorrowverse is not currently intended to reflect or be incorporated into the new DC shared universe overseen by Gunn which includes a Creature Commandos animated series. Gunnn has proclaimed his love of DC animation in the past, such as the Harley Quinn animated series, so naturally Krieg hopes that Gunn is aware of these DC animated original movies and is enjoying what they’ve done thus far. Whatever the future entails, you know they’ll be pulling out all the stops and try to go out with a bang with a Crisis animated adaptation.  

Miss any of our earlier SDCC ’23 coverage? Find it all here!