Details on a scrapped Justice League script show just how much worse the movie could've been before the DCEU. Warner Bros. is surveying all options for the future of the DC universe after the underwhelming debut of Justice League. The movie was supposed to serve as a launching point for the rest of their slate, but the final product was far from what was originally intended. The plans for the universe have continued to change throughout the years, and the studio was already thinking about a team up before a single film was released.

Back in 2011, Warner Bros. was working on a script for a Justice League film. Will Beall - who went on to write the screenplay for James Wan's Aquaman - wrote a draft for Justice League long before the days of Man of SteelBatman V Superman: Dawn of JusticeSuicide Squad, or Wonder Woman. Serving as potentially the beginning of a franchise or simply the ultimate blockbuster, the version we never got is far different from the one currently in theaters.

Related: Justice League Box Office Not Expected to Top Man of Steel

The Wrap got their hands on Beall's script for Justice League and shared the wild details it contained. Before getting into further detail, the overall summary of this version of Justice League features Darkseid as the main villain, includes time travel, the son of Batman and Wonder Woman, no Aquaman - but several other members of the League. The full roster stands at 28 characters: Darkseid, Steppenwolf, Batman, Superman, KGBeast, Lex Luthor, Killer Croc, Darkeid's disciple Desaad, Flash, Amanda Waller, King Faraday, Tattooed Man, Copperhead, Cheetah, Solomon Grundy, John Stewart, Hawkman, Kanjar Ro, Wonder Woman, Katma Tui, Kilowag, Guy Gardner, Salakk, Tomar-Re, Deathstroke, Huntress, Captain Boomerang, and Mercy Graves.

DC Films Logo Cast

The plot of this Justice League movie is just as stuffed. It begins when Desaad steals Kryptonite (for Darkseid) from Lex Luthor and kills Killer Croc in the process. Superman and Batman are friends who recruit Flash after the battle with Desaad. Stewart and Hawkman attempt to stop Desaad from weaponizing the Kryptonite, are unsuccessful, and Superman becomes enslaved by Darkesid. He goes on to kill the entire Green Lantern Corps (except for Stewart). Once Superman breaks Darkseid's mind control, he travels to the future to see Wonder Woman, an old Batman, their son Clark Wayne, and Lex Luthor trying to stave off Darkseid's rein, but he's killed 80 percent of the world's population. Future Flash travels back to the present day and dies in his own arms. The final battle is on Apokolips with the entire League, all the Lanterns, and all Amazons battling Darkseid and his army.

Even though the final product of Justice League left much to be desired for many, it's probably still better than this version. It reeks of universe building in the quickest way possible, and the sheer volume of (all new) characters is hard to fathom. Thanks to the roster and the film's winding plot, there's no way this version could've fit the 2-hour mandate the actual Justice League got. If anything, it sounds like a movie that needs to be two parts or even an entire trilogy.

This script would've brought many characters who have yet to see the light of day to the big screen, but it also features many that have gone on to appear in the DCEU. As the universe continues, the better the chances are for the likes of John Stewart, Hawkman, Cheetah, Darkseid, etc. to appear, but it's simply too much for one movie. Thankfully, WB figured that out and this film - like fellow scrapped project George Miller's Justice League Mortal - was never made, but don't be surprised if certain elements are used in future films.

NEXT: Justice League's Original Ending Would've Saved the Film

Source: The Wrap

Key Release Dates