What's Inside?
- James Gunn confirms DCU films and shows will be mostly self-contained, offering flexibility without requiring full continuity knowledge.
- Upcoming DC slate includes unique genres like horror and animation, with projects like Clayface and The Dynamic Duo.
- Superman marks the first major step in Gunn and Safran’s vision for a bold, unified, and long-term DC Universe.
David Corenswet is the face of Superman in the new DC Universe created by James Gunn and Peter Safran. As Superman hits the theaters with high box office anticipation, James Gunn and Peter Safran reportedly have the blueprint for the upcoming DC Universe, and it is quite interesting, as the co-heads of the superhero brand are not in a rush to follow the usual route to immediate success.
After ‘Superman,’ James Gunn and Peter Safran Set Stage for a Reimagined DC Universe
James Gunn and Peter Safran are shaking things up at DC Studios. After halting most of the projects already in the pipeline, including Gal Gadot’s third Wonder Woman film (we can now expect a new Gal Gadot), the duo is now focused on building a fresh, unified universe across film and television. The idea is to bring consistency and clarity to a franchise that has long felt scattered. For years, DC fans have seen different versions of the same characters, from Joker to Watchmen to the Arrowverse, but never a shared identity tying it all together.
Their new approach includes a carefully structured release plan, as per The Wall Street Journal, two live-action films and one animated film each year, paired with TV series mainly streaming on HBO Max. Gunn and Safran believe superhero stories can be more than just action-packed thrill rides. They’re exploring new tones and genres like a horror movie based on Batman villain Clayface, set to start filming soon, and a fun animated family movie called The Dynamic Duo, centered around several boys who have taken on the role of Robin.
The new DC Universe kicks off with David Corenswet’s Superman, the first movie written and directed by Gunn himself under this rebooted slate. It marks the beginning of what could be a massive shift in the way superhero stories are told, especially in DC, after the studio struggled to get a hit for years. Gunn, wearing both executive and creative hats, is now one of the most influential figures in Hollywood, who has almost insane resources to bring any interesting DC comic book character onto the screen.
Their long-term vision includes bringing back icons like Batman and Wonder Woman, all leading to a new Justice League. But it’s a long shot as fans have a wait for quite a while to see a Justice League movie on the big screen.
James Gunn Envisions a Self-Contained DC Universe as Superman Launches New Era
James Gunn seemingly has his DC vision clear. In a recent chat with Total Film, Gunn shared that he wants the upcoming DC projects to be “self-contained” rather than depending on each other. “In terms of the DCU in general, I want the movies and the TV shows to be mostly self-contained,” Gunn told the outlet.
“I don’t want everything to have to lean on each other. I don’t think of this so much as one long story where everybody has to take in every little piece. I think of this as creating a universe, and then people are able to jump in and tell little pieces of the story from all around that universe.”
Of course, like a shared universe, it would not be entirely possible to deviate from the connected narratives, and the DC boss acknowledged that right away.
“There will be some connected stories throughout the time. In fact, Peacemaker season 2 is very connected to Superman. But it doesn’t need to be that way, and I want people to be able to enjoy any specific piece of entertainment by itself.”
Fair enough, while the new DCU kickstarted with Creature Commandos on television and Superman on the big screen, the eyebrows are already raised for the future of the DC Universe under the leadership of Gunn and Safran. So far, both projects have been received well. Now, it’s fair to assume that Superman‘s box office performance will also be a turning point in the future of DC.
