Static Shock Deserves a Live-Action Future in the DC Universe

When James Gunn unveiled the “Gods and Monsters” slate for the new DC Universe in early 2023, it signaled more than a relaunch. It was a commitment to cinematic storytelling that could be mythic, grounded, tragic, uplifting, and courageous. Within that bold vision, however, one name was still absent.

Virgil Hawkins. 

Virgil is the young hero featured in Static Shock (2000–2004), a show created by the late Dwayne McDuffie along with Denys Cowan, Michael Davis, and Derek T. Dingle. The animated series became a touchstone for Black kids and also the broader young adult audience who finally saw a teenage hero like them at the center of a story. Whether by fate or oversight, his crucial mythos has yet to be written on the big screen, but it has all the tools to play a large role in the future of DC.

Static Shock Was Never Just a Cartoon

Static Shock never played it safe. McDuffie and company didn’t simplify Virgil for mass appeal. Instead, they gave him a willingness to feel, to reflect, to doubt, and to grow. He wasn’t born a champion, but he did become one. He was a metahuman who showcased a truth far deeper than most origin stories because he often dealt with situations addressing diverse aspects of the human condition.

Virgil did not gain his powers in a lab or on another planet. The event called “The Big Bang” changed him and dozens of other young people across the city. They were then left to decide how they would use their new gifts. This foundation was never fantasy divorced from reality. It was rooted in storytelling that focused on how people would really respond to powers. Their motivations were muddied and their paths all differed from person to person all while those stories delved into topics like environmental injustice and systemic inequality.

What made Static Shock feel even more ahead of its time was its structural and tonal balance. It was both mythic and intimate. With Gunn’s own work now emphasizing the narrative tension between legacy and hope, as seen in Superman, Virgil’s story already fits the tone of a shared universe that wants to say something deeper and in unique ways. Static Shock was among the few shows, not just cartoons, that could balance gritty realism with spectacle. Static battled metahumans, but also faced familiar issues of bullying, police profiling, and the burden of expectation placed on the gifted and the lost. He was luminous in power and purpose.

DC’s Reset Needs His Spark

In 2020, Warner Bros. announced a live-action Static Shock film with Michael B. Jordan producing alongside Reginald Hudlin. A screenplay followed in 2021, but the project has been in silence ever since. When asked about the title in mid-2025, James Gunn said bluntly: “No updates on Static Shock. There’s a whole bunch of complexities behind that character right now.”

The truth is that Static’s IP still belongs to Milestone Media. DC’s ability to move forward hinges on shared permissions and legal clarifications. For a character this essential, that red tape is unfortunate. It’s withholding a potential blockbuster that could mirror the cultural energy of Marvel’s Black Panther release.

With DC now adding Supergirl, Clayface, and (maybe) Swamp Thing to its cinematic roster, the studio is clearly constructing a universe that shakes off cynicism and embraces innovation in equal measure between obscure and well-known IPs. What it needs next is a hero grounded in real-world resonance and an authentic reflection of the viewers it hopes to inspire.

Static’s return isn’t just about bringing a forgotten character back. It’s about integrating stories that reflect lived experiences in an era of global instability, economic inequality, and renewed calls for justice. Static’s world, marked by community bonds and consequence-laden power, is what audiences have been asking for. Comic book fans crave heroes who share their histories, cultures, families, and dilemmas. Virgil Hawkins offers all of that and more.

Directors Who Could Bring Our Static To Life

Several visionary directors are uniquely positioned to elevate Static Shock into the kind of mythic, resonant cinematic experience that the new DC Universe is aiming for. Shaka King, whose work in Judas and the Black Messiah combined political urgency with stylized storytelling, could deliver a Virgil Hawkins film that feels timely and also powerful. Ryan Coogler (Black Panther) has already proven his ability to frame the narratives amongst the Black community and intertwine them with superhero mythologies, making him an ideal candidate to ground Static’s story in cultural authenticity and cinematic spectacle.

Aneesh Chaganty (Run, Searching) brings a sharp sense of tension and emotional intimacy. His lean, character-focused style could make Static’s origin feel immediate and profoundly human. Nia DaCosta (Candyman, The Marvels) blends horror aesthetics with sociopolitical commentary in ways that naturally align with Static’s darker undercurrents of community trauma, systemic injustice, and transformation

Phil Lord and Chris Miller (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) have already reshaped superhero storytelling through balancing fully fleshed out worlds with groundbreaking effects that could offer Static a fresh genre-bending appeal. Cheo Hodari Coker’s (Luke Cage, Creed II) work is rich with identity and neighborhood-based stakes, which aligns directly with what Static represents. 

And finally, Reginald Hudlin (House Party, Marshall) brings both legacy and vision as a longtime steward of Milestone Media and the original producer behind the announced Static Shock film. Hudlin is uniquely equipped to guide the character forward with both authority and care. 

A World Made for the Modern DCU

Static’s identity is relevant for the times that we are in. With the DCU forging a new path, his story can holistically become the spark that lights a future that inspires us all. A Static movie isn’t just fan service. It’s time to give Virgil Hawkins the spotlight he earned decades ago and the platform that takes him further. 

If DC needs a spark, they have it with Static. He belongs.