While James Gunn and Peter Safran are looking to bring back the 80s Renaissance era for DC, the road to it has hit several noticeable bumps. The Co-CEOs of DC Studios and Warner Bros. Discovery are dead set on bringing prominent DC characters to audiences via both movies and TV shows. But it’s not going to be easy for them.
Gunn launched DC Studios’ highly ambitious slate for the next ten years in January 2023. A little over two years have passed since that event, and some major changes and updates have been announced by the Superman director to the slate.
Speaking of Superman, this David Corenswet-starrer is the project that will indeed define the future of the DCU. It will arrive in theatres worldwide on July 11. Moreover, the space fantasy Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, starring the likes of Milly Alcock and Jason Momoa, is halfway through production in London.
As for Lanterns, production on the upcoming series based on Hal Jordan and John Stewart commenced in LA last week. Peacemaker Season 2 has been officially announced as well, slated to arrive on Max in August this year. What about Clayface? Well, it is scheduled for a summer 2026 release.
Probably the most surprising announcement came in the form of Sgt. Rock, is a period war movie to be helmed by Queer fame Luca Guadagnino. Moreover, Dynamic Duo and Starfire, animated projects, have received the green light too
Gunn has revealed that DC Studios aims to release one animated movie and two live-action movies per year while also developing two animated series and two live-action shows for Max. In addition, the GOTG helmer confirmed that they are prioritising the quality of scripts over the talent and prominence of DC characters, which is indeed amazing.
It doesn’t matter how popular the characters are or how famous the actors playing them are; what actually matters is a good storyline. Without good scripts, a superhero project cannot survive. Just ask Marvel Studios about Captain America: Brave New World, which has been lamented by a fair share of fans and critics for its poorly constructed story.
It’s been nearly two weeks, and the latest Anthony Mackie and Harrison Ford-starrer has managed to earn only $289 million globally so far.
“We are writer-driven,” said Gunn. “We are not going to greenlight or put anything into production until we are happy with the script….It is hard enough making a good movie with a good script, it’s almost impossible to make a movie with a script that you’re writing on the run.”
Both James Gunn and Peter Safran are working on their six-year plan, which will also include a project that matches Avengers: Endgame’s scale and ambitions. Given the diversity of characters and projects that are set to become part of the DCU, the franchise must have some grand-scale, definitive theatrical releases.
However, Waller, the long-announced Suicide Squad and Peacemaker spinoff starring Viola Davis, has hit a roadblock. “Waller has been a bumpy road,” Gunn revealed.
Moreover, DC Studios and WBD have reportedly “pivoted” from the Booster Gold series. Furthermore, James Mangold’s Swamp Thing seems to have hit rock bottom as well. Keeping a lid on these projects could seriously hurt the DCU, as all these characters are highly unusual yet intriguing and entertaining to watch.
These projects represented opportunities to explore more niche and unconventional characters within the DC universe. Their uncertain status suggests potential creative disagreements or shifts in prioritisation within DC Studios. Losing these projects could result in a less diverse and potentially less interesting DCU.
Batman is another major problem for DC Studios and WBD, as they have been unable to find a worthy actor to don the Dark Knight’s cape in The Brave and the Bold. This movie was supposed to be directed by IT and The Flash filmmaker Andy Muschietti. However, recent reports indicate that the director is maintaining a safe distance from the project for reasons unclear to us.
Batman is a crucial character for DC, and any uncertainty around his portrayal could impact the overall success of the DCU. The lack of a clear direction for the character creates a significant gap in the franchise’s plans. Stay tuned for more updates.