New Series About DC’s Madame Xanadu Reportedly In Works at HBO Max

Another Justice League Dark character is getting their own solo project. Madame Xanadu, the founder of Justice League Dark, is headed for her own series at HBO Max.

Madame Xanadu is a lesser-known comic character. Her previous appearances have been short and not that prominent. These include a Young Justice episode titled Denial, voiced by Cree Summer, and Swamp Thing series, where actress Jeryl Prescott portrayed her.

Filmmaker Angela Robinson is writing the one-hour unnamed DC series, and if it gets greenlit, she will also executive produce the project with J.J. Abrams and Ben Stephenson. Rachel Rusch Rich will co-executive produce.

As reported by Variety, the series is in development for HBO Max with Bad Robot and Warner Bros. Television. But, HBO Max declined to comment.

Who is Madame Xanadu?

DC Comics’ Madame Xanadu is an immortal sorceress who dates back to the time of King Arthur. According to the comics, she often helps guide The Spectre and has worked with The Phantom Stranger, the Suicide Squad, and Justice League Dark, among others.

Madame X was magically blinded when she tried to cast a spell on Merlin. Although gaining the power enough to regrow her eyes 14 times, they were blinded or torn out again and again through the Spectre’s magic.

After her deal with Death, Madame Xanadu becomes an immortal, never aging and unable to be killed in any manner. She forms Justice League Dark, a branch of the Justice League dedicated to dealing with mystical and supernatural threats.

She forms the group when she foresees a terrible future only they could prevent. Its founding members include Deadman, John Constantine, Madame Xanadu, Shade, the Changing Man, and Zatanna.

Many of the JLD crew are getting their solo projects. John Constantine is getting an HBO Max series, which is in development with Guy Bolton. Whereas Zatanna will appear in a feature film currently in development through DC Films.

Maybe, DC will follow MCU’s strategy similar to The Avengers (2012) and introduce these characters in the Extended Universe, giving them their origin stories before a grand showdown with the rumored Justice League Dark.

Bad Robot is working on several DC projects, including HBO Max’s new Constantine series and a Batman animated series with director Matt Reeves. He is also producing the next Superman movie, which is rumored to feature a Black Superman.

Robinson has a busy schedule as she signed an overall deal with Warner Bros. Television Group in March. She’s currently working on a feature film adaptation of Terry Moore’s LGBTQ graphic novel Strangers in Paradise and directing a remake of The Hunger (1983) for Warner Bros.

Source: Variety