Why James Gunn’s DCU will be a Success for Warner Bros.
With ‘The Flash’ not meeting expectations, a fan-loved ‘Blue Beetle’ film that couldn’t be advertised and ‘Aquaman 2’ currently expected to fail in the box office as well, the overall ending of the DCEU will be disappointing, both critically and financially.
Director, writer and newly appointed DC co-CEO James Gunn has his work on Superman: Legacy cut out for him. While turning things around for the upcoming cinematic universe is easier said than done, failing with the first project under the Gods and Monsters slate is no option for Warner Bros’ DC.
DC Now Knows Where They Failed Before
Back when Marvel scored big with the first Avengers film, there was hope all across the industry that a cinematic universe is a gateway to unbridled success, both financially and critically. Which is why DC jumped the gun and hired Zack Snyder to kick off their own cinematic universe using Man of Steel. What followed, of course, is Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice, and a Justice League film helmed by Joss Whedon after Snyder stepped down.
The result, as everyone knows, has been pretty underwhelming. When compared to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, DC's effort to launch these heroes and their respective projects failed miserably. This led to a strange period where DC films were released, and fans didn't know how they were connected to each other, like the first Shazam movie, Joker, Aquaman, Robert Pattinson's The Batman, Black Adam, The Flash, Blue Beetle. and the upcoming Aquaman 2.
DC has some of the most iconic superheroes in the world, but the DCEU failed to make the most of them. In many cases, the characters were misused or poorly developed, leaving fans feeling shortchanged. The portrayal of Superman, in particular, has been a sticking point for many fans, with the character feeling more like a brooding, angsty anti-hero than the beacon of hope he is meant to be.
Believe it or not, but them hiring James Gunn should tell fans that Warner Bros and DC have some sort of hopeful investment in creating cinematic universe to develop these chararcters fully.
This All Works Because of the Vision from DC’s New CEO
At the center of the new DC universe, at this point in time, is no other than James Gunn. What started out in Marvel by elevating the Guardians of the Galaxy to the main event, followed by his fall from grace due to old tweets, and the eventual comeback to the limelight has led him to where he is now – the primary creative force behind the planned resurgence of DC at the box office.
James Gunn is known for his work on Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy films, which are some of the most successful movies in that cinematic universe. He has a knack for creating funny, action-packed, and visually stunning films that appeal to both critics and audiences.
The new co-CEO is a lifelong fan of DC Comics, and he has said that he is excited to be working on the DCEU. He understands the characters and the source material, and he is passionate about bringing them to life on the big screen.
James Gunn is willing to take risks and the studios will follow behind him.
Having worked with Marvel Studios for years on Guardians of the Galaxy and even offering nots on other projects throughout the Infinity Saga, Gunn knows where the MCU needs improvement, the tone. The director is not afraid to take risks with his films. This could be a breath of fresh air for the DCEU, which has been criticized for being too formulaic in recent years.
If there's one prevailing issue with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it's that at the movies are far too comedic. This removes stakes from the movies' events and turns the entire affair into a giant joke. Thus, it's hard to maintain interest in a franchise that doesn't take itself seriously. Conversely, because so many of the movies follow this formula, it has the effect of making them feel far too similar. That's even the case with characters who are rarely (if ever) lighthearted, with Thor: Love & Thunder turning the epic Norse god into a something of a buffoon and The Marvels just being… well The Marvels.
The co-CEO has already stated that each project will shift in tone to showcase unique styles from each filmmaker selected. With James Gunn's upcoming DC Universe plans, having more diversity in tone makes sense. This will prevent the same criticisms that the MCU is currently facing, all the while staving off another major issue plaguing the genre.
Gunn knows the problem isn’t superhero fatique. It’s the writing and message.
The head of the DCU said something I found quite revealing about this so-called “superhero fatigue” – it doesn’t really exist. To Rolling Stone, Gunn said,
“I think it doesn’t have anything to do with superheroes. It has to do with the kind of stories that get to be told, and if you lose your eye on the ball, which is character.”
He’s exactly right, and it gets to the heart of what I and others find unappealing about superhero movies and action movies more largely. These films can be all spectacle, lacking any compelling storytelling or any soul at all.
There is now a firm understanding that writing is where DC’s focus shoulc be.
Joining the Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum podcast, Gunn called out both the quantity and the quality of the string of superhero movies saying that “there’s too many” superhero projects.
Gunn also bluntly noted that creators "have gotten really lazy with their superhero stories," commenting on how so many focus on the chances of making a sequel rather than making the first movie something special that stands out:
"But I think that what’s happened is, people have gotten really lazy with their superhero stories. And they have gotten to the place where, 'Oh, it’s a superhero, let’s make a movie about it.' And they make, ‘Oh, let’s make a sequel, because the first one did pretty well,’ and they aren’t thinking about, 'Why is this story special? What makes this story stand apart from other stories? What is the story at the heart of it all? Why is this character important? What makes this story different that it fills a need for people in theaters to go see? Or on television?'"
Everything is now going to be connected.
DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn recently announced the upcoming slate of fresh DC TV shows and films, which mark the ‘first chapter’ of the modern DC Universe, titled ‘Gods and Monsters’. In his presentation, Gunn spoke of a desire to keep every piece of storytelling connected, with animated shows feeding into live action, and every actor maintaining their roles across these mediums. According to Gunn, video games are also being included in these plans.
This is the best move they could have possibly made while announcing DC’s firs 10-year slate along with the inclusion of separating outside projects such as Matt Reeves’ ‘The Batman’ universe and labeling it as “DC Elseworlds.”
Superman Legacy and the projects that follow will succeed. Casting, Gunn’s openness and previous projects are the proof.
James Gunn’s DCU will soon be in full flow, with the director already proving his version of the franchise is better than its predecessor.
The co-CEO has a strong online presence and was quite open with fans on Twitter/X before moving to Instagram’s Threads. Gunn often takes to Threads to shoot down or confirm rumors about his upcoming DC projects. This might seem groundbreaking for DC fans, purely given the complete lack of clarity Warner Bros. had employed with DC properties since Snyder's exit from Justice League in 2017. With Gunn, though, the filmmaker is open, honest, and clear about his and Safran's process for the upcoming universe.
His process for deciding on the casting choices for the leads in ‘Superman: Legacy’ were completely open, allowing him to gauge fans’ reactions. The director even asked us if we wanted the Man of Steel’s trunks to make a return.
James Gunn’s previous work on Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy is almost a guarantee Superman: Legacy will be a success due to his ability to juggle multiple charaters, but fans are still skeptical on why he has included so many heroes.
Superman: Legacy might seem overstuffed with the announcement of other superheroes joining the cast, but James Gunn has a good reason to include them. The purpose of including other superheroes in Superman: Legacy is to showcase Supes’ double life. Interacting with characters like Lois and Jimmy Olsen and Perry White will help to round out the Clark side of the character’s duality, while interacting with characters like Green Lantern and the Authority will help to round out the Superman side.
The cast currently includes:
David Corensweet: Superman
Rachel Brosnahan: Lois Lane
Nicholas Hoult: Lex Luthor
Skyler Gisondo: Jimmy Olsen
Isabela Merced: Hawkgirl
Edi Gathegi: Mister Terrific
Nathan Fillion: Guy Gardner
Anthony Carrigan: Metamorpho
María Gabriela de Faría: The Engineer
Sara Sampaio: Eve Teschmacher
Superman: Legacy is due to start shooting in January 2024, for release on July 11, 2025.
Superman: Legacy Can Do What Marvel Avoided.
The focus on Superman’s double life is a sign of how the DC Universe can set itself apart from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. At the end of the MCU’s first ever movie, Tony Stark announced to the world that he was Iron Man. From that point on, the franchise did away with secret identities.
The world knew that Steve Rogers was Captain America and Thor didn’t bother disguising himself as Donald Blake. Peter Parker hid his identity from the world, but it was promptly revealed by Mysterio and J. Jonah Jameson in his second solo movie. The DCU can separate itself from the MCU by exploring the key aspect of superhero fiction that Marvel has largely ignored: secret identities.
Last, but not least… no studio interference.
Finally, one of the biggest problems with the DCEU has been studio interference. Reports have surfaced of executives meddling with the creative process, forcing changes to scripts and storylines. This has led to a lack of consistency in the films and has undermined the vision of the filmmakers.
Seeing how Gunn is being allowing to constantly speak with fans about upcoming projects and casting is telling us that Warner Bros is accepting the change the director brings.
Also, this could be a sign of DC desperately needing someone to keep them above water.
With the announcements from this new Superman project, everyone is hoping that this development is the turning point for DC moving forward. If it is, expect a golden age for the embattled cinematic universe in the coming years.