The Lobo Film Too Wild for Hollywood: Tarantino Vibes, Bay Mayhem

Among the many comic book adaptations that never made it past the planning stage, few have left fans quite as disappointed as the abandoned Lobo project. Long before the DCEU or Snyderverse took shape, a script by Jason Fuchs was circulating, with Jason Momoa eyed for the lead. The script’s reputation? Excessive, unrelenting violence—enough to make even the most hardened studio executives balk.

Unfiltered Mayhem: A Script Too Extreme

Michael Bay was, at one point, the last director linked to the project, but the film never received the green light. Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Fuchs described his vision as a blend of Bay’s explosive style and the irreverence of Guardians of the Galaxy, but with Quentin Tarantino at the helm. The result, he claimed, was a script that pushed boundaries far beyond what audiences had seen before.

I had written a ‘Lobo’ script many, many years ago for DC, which of all the things I’ve written that didn’t get made, I think that ‘Lobo’ script is my favourite. Because…the tone of that ‘Lobo’ was ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ if Quentin Tarantino had directed it.

He didn’t hold back on the details, either.

Very violent, it made ‘Deadpool‘ look like a Disney family film, which is probably why it ultimately didn’t get made.

Fuchs had always pictured Momoa as the perfect fit for the role, given the actor’s long-standing interest in bringing the character to life. Yet, the chaos on the page proved too much for any studio to stomach.

Parody and Provocation: Taking Aim at DC’s Own

The script wasn’t just about blood and explosions. Fuchs had plans to poke fun at some of DC’s most infamous moments. One early scene, for instance, was a direct parody of the much-maligned “Martha” exchange from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. In the original, Batman spares Superman after realising their mothers share a name—a moment that’s sparked endless debate among fans.

Fuchs’ take? Lobo, upon discovering the same coincidence, would have simply dispatched his adversary in brutal fashion and carried on with his rampage. It’s a move that would have ruffled feathers among Snyder loyalists, but it certainly would have set the tone for a film unafraid to lampoon its own universe.

Could Lobo Ever Find a Home in the DCU?

Lobo, as a character, is hardly known for subtlety. He’s a force of destruction, more in line with Momoa’s Khal Drogo than any traditional superhero. A watered-down version would likely fall flat, especially in the hands of James Gunn, whose recent Superman offered a more optimistic vision.

Still, with the success of Peacemaker and audiences’ growing appetite for antiheroes, there’s a case to be made for giving Fuchs’ script another look. If Michael Bay were to return, the result would almost certainly be a spectacle of carnage and chaos—one that might finally make Deadpool seem positively wholesome by comparison.

Ultimately, the fate of Lobo rests with those steering the DCU. Should they decide to take a risk, there’s every chance this ultra-violent antihero could become a cult favourite, perhaps even sharing the screen with Supergirl in the future.

Would you have wanted to see this version of Lobo brought to life? Share your thoughts below.