If you’re like me, you have been patiently waiting for a Static Shock live-action movie to hit theaters, especially after the hype from its 2020 DC Fandome announcement.
Despite a wave of DCU reboots led by James Gunn, including fresh takes on Superman, Batman, and even more niche projects like Creature Commandos, it looks like Static isn’t high on the rollout list. And according to Gunn himself, there’s a reason for that, one that goes deeper than just scheduling or creative direction.
In a recent interview with Pay or Wait, host Sharronda Williams asked Gunn for an update on the Static Shock movie that once had Michael B. Jordan attached as a producer.
“No updates on Static Shock. There’s a whole bunch of complexities behind that character right now, so I don’t have good news for you on Static Shock,” Gunn shared.
What Happened to the Hype?
For fans who grew up on the early 2000s animated Static Shock series (shout out to Saturday mornings on The WB!), the idea of seeing Virgil Hawkins suit up in a live-action movie has been a longtime dream.
The original show was a groundbreaking blend of superhero storytelling and real-world social commentary. It even linked up with Batman, Justice League, and Superman in the DC Animated Universe. So why the radio silence now?
It All Comes Down to Ownership
Unlike Superman or Wonder Woman, Static isn’t wholly owned by DC. He was created in 1993 under Milestone Media, a Black-founded comics company started by Dwayne McDuffie, Denys Cowan, Michael Davis, Derek Dingle, and Christopher Priest. While DC licenses and distributes Milestone’s characters, the Milestone team (or what’s left of it) still retains the actual rights.
So, to greenlight a Static Shock movie, it’s not just a simple “let’s make it” scenario. Warner Bros., DC Studios (run by Gunn and Peter Safran), and Milestone Media all have to agree. And right now, that’s more complicated than ever.
The Lawsuit That Changed Everything
In 2017, Charlotte Fullerton, widow of co-creator Dwayne McDuffie, filed a lawsuit after being excluded from the newly revived Milestone Media.
Since she inherited her late husband’s stake in the company, her legal challenge brought the entire structure of the company into question. That ongoing situation may be putting a freeze on all things Static, possibly affecting not just the live-action movie, but other projects too, like the long-teased Milestone animated universe.
Michael B. Jordan Was On Board… Once
Back in 2020, news that Michael B. Jordan would be producing Static Shock through his Outlier Society production company got fans buzzing. But since then? Crickets. Between studio shakeups, legal red tape, and the new DCU roadmap, the movie appears to be indefinitely on pause.
So, What’s Next?
For now, James Gunn and DC Studios are focusing on characters and properties they fully control. That means Superman, Supergirl, Booster Gold, and The Authority are moving forward, while characters like Static, who sit in legal limbo, are getting left on the bench.
It’s disappointing, sure. Static is one of the best superheroes in the DC arsenal. But until those “complexities” get sorted out, don’t expect to see him zipping across the screen anytime soon.
