Variety is reporting that now that the writers' strike is over, Warner Bros. has put its Justice League project on the fast track in order to add another 'tentpole' film to the studio's slim 2009 schedule. Justice League helmer George Miller is currently doing preparation work in Australia and the film's cast, which includes Adam Brody (Flash), the Rapper Common (Green Lantern), Megan Gale (Wonder Woman), and Arnie Hammer, Jr. (Batman) has been told to keep up their training for the physically-demanding roles. Screenwriters Kirean and Michelle Mulroney are polishing the script, which is due back at the studio shortly. No date for the start of principal photography has been set yet.
The Justice League project was on the fast track until the studio scuttled the project in mid-January (see 'Warners Puts the Brakes on JLA Movie') citing script problems and uncertainty about being able to fix them caused by the writers' strike. But with just Zack Snyder's Watchmen (March 6th), McG's Terminator Salvation (May 22nd, see 'Terminator IV Set for Memorial Day Bow'), and Spike Jonze's Where the Wild Things Are (October 16th) scheduled for 2009, there is obviously a major gap in mid-summer that Warner Bros. would love to fill with Justice League, so don't bet that the studio won't be able to overcome the considerable difficulty of mounting a major special effects-laden superhero film in time for a summer 2009 release.