James Gunn’s DCU begins in less than a year, and it deserves the chance Zack Snyder was never given.
A New Era
Being a fan of anything related to DC can be frustrating. Especially if you want cinematic cohesiveness amongst the grander pantheon of characters in the DC library. When James Gunn was named Co-CEO of DC Studios alongside longtime producing partner, Peter Safran, many were surprised. After Gunn revealed plans to reboot the franchise into the DCU, it was met with various responses. Some were hopeful the DCEU would continue with minor replacements of certain characters (Like Ben Affleck’s Batman). Others hoped for a full-blown restart and reset of the universe. It turns out that it’s a little bit of both. James Gunn has opted to keep some members from the DCEU to the DCU but will refresh most of the characters, beginning with Superman in 2025.
Creative Freedom
One thing Zack Snyder was denied after two films, was the creative freedom to execute his plan. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was unfairly criticized and compared to the MCU. When critics, angry fans, and bloggers launched an all-out assault on this film before it made it into theaters, and after the fact. Between mischaracterization narratives, constant bemoaning of not reaching a billion-dollar box office, and flat-out insensitive and rude snark, Zack Snyder was scrutinized at every turn. James Gunn is now in a similar position, met with mockery and disgust from a vocal minority of fans who just want Snyder back in charge. After all the fighting for creative freedom to get The Snyder Cut released, it isn’t very pleasant to see some fans turn into the thing they fought against. Especially when Zack Snyder expressed his support for James Gunn’s building of a new DCU.
Identity Crisis
Another problem DC has faced is a lack of brand identity that feels unique towards DC content as a whole. General audience members were often confused by who showed up on television and if they were connected to the movies. Wondering if Grant Gustin’s Flash would ever meet Henry Cavill’s Superman, or if Brenton Thwaites Dick Grayson would ever stand next to Ben Affleck’s Batman. Despite there being clear indications that these characters were in separate universes, that did not stop casual audiences from confusing them. Gunn’s plan to achieve cohesiveness between film and television will likely not have the issue the DCEU and DCCW had. Beginning with a logo that represents an iconic time in DC’s history – the logo for DC Studios is a step in the right direction.
Source Material
James Gunn has also proven to be a fan of the source material, by praising Alex Ross, J.M. DeMatteis, Grant Morrison, and many others. This has given a resurgence in people’s interest in investing in the comics. While maintaining creative liberties as a filmmaker, Gunn proved with the GOTG & TSS that he can make CBMs feel authentic. Adapting comics into films has never been a perfect transition from one medium to another. This is something both Snyder and Gunn not only understood but arguably made the blueprint for. A large reason why these characters continue to survive is in part due to the great stories, writers & artists who brought them to life. Despite some popular stories receiving some kind of adaption, the library DC Studios has is quite massive. Stories like Kingdom Come, All-Star Superman, and Batman & Son serving as some of the groundwork for the DCU are inspiring.
Distinguished Competition
Despite some recent shortcomings, Marvel Studios has proven to be a juggernaut at the global box office. James Gunn is no stranger to the MCU, as his time at Marvel Studios is what largely landed him the job. While part of the Marvel machine, James Gunn likely witnessed what will and won’t work on and off the screen. This is likely why a majority of the Gods & Monster’s first chapter of the DCU doesn’t feel connected. Outside of Superman & Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, there is no hardline connectivity between every other project on the slate. The point is to tell great stories AND build a universe. Given that the current landscape of superhero films & television all feels similar, it is important to be bold and different. Fresh ideas are what keep these characters in the pop-culture zeitgeist, and that is something I believe James Gunn recognizes.
Nobody Can Buy the DC IP because WB Won’t Sell
Warner Bros. Discovery will not sell the DC IP to any potential buyer because they’re not in a state of bankruptcy. Selling off their biggest asset to alleviate any debt would be foolish. Netflix and Comcast NBCUniversal are also not in any position to buy WBD. While a giant like Microsoft or Amazon could come on and buy them, the likelihood of this is slim. Given their total debt after merging with Discovery in Q2, 2022 was $52.5 billion and currently sits at around $41 billion, their debt is decreasing at a slow and steady rate. DC Studios was also one of the first things David Zaslav implemented upon being crowned as CEO of WBD, the potential for the brand to succeed is on Zaslav’s radar.
Super Expectations
Superman flies into theaters on July 11th, 2025. While Creature Commandos hits MAX sometime this December, Superman serves as the first entry into this new universe. The beauty between the two concepts is they cater to separate audiences who want more variety in their content. One is an animated, mature-rated Suicide Squad-esque mini-series centered around monsters in the DC Universe which feels dark, raunchy, and almost Venture Bros in tone. Superman looks to be brighter, aimed at a wide general audience, and could make or break the central character for the next decade to come. Both of these titles offer something different for audiences. People should set their expectations accordingly with each project, not the universe as a whole. Just because James Gunn is creatively in charge of the DCU, does not mean that he will write or direct every single project.
Wait and See, Give it a Chance
Nobody is forcing anyone to like or dislike anything that is to come from the DCU. At the very least, we should be giving it a chance. While I am critical of James Gunn as a filmmaker, I also believe he should be given the chance to execute his universe the way he wants to and given the creative freedom that was denied to Zack Snyder. Especially since we’ve seen what happens when a studio tries to mash together elements of a scrapped plan for future endeavors, it feels disjointed and incoherent on numerous levels. James Gunn has a plan, and it already seems more detailed than whatever Geoff Johns and Walter Hamada had in store for the DCEU, post-Justice League. Especially since Gunn has stated numerous times that they will not move forward on any project until scripts are at a point they feel confident with.