Director and screenwriter James Gunn announced ten projects on Tuesday night that are meant to bring consistency to the DC Comics Cinematic Universe.
The DC Comics Cinematic Universe (DCU) is reviving once again. Three months after the arrival of James Gunn and Peter Safran at the head of DC Studios, the duo announced Tuesday evening ten film and television projects supposed to bring coherence to a body of work which until now lacked it.
James Gunn, who signed The Suicide Squad (2021) for DC, unveiled what will be the first chapter of the DCU – titled “Gods and Monsters”. This will consist of a new film on the man of steel, which will be called Superman: Legacywhich is scheduled for release in July 2025.
This film, written by James Gunn, will mark the start of the DCU. This isn’t a new Superman origin story, but a tale where the superhero tries to balance his Kryptonian heritage with his earthly upbringing. The film should be inspired by the comics All Star Superman by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely.
Other projects also include adaptations of the comics The Authority by Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch, which offers a non-idealized vision of superheroes, and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow by Tom King and Bilquis Evely, one of the best contemporary stories about this key DC character.
independent stories
A new version of Swamp Thingabout the swamp creature, is also planned, as is a new Batman, The Brave and the Bold, which will focus on the Dark Knight and his entourage, including Robin. The work of screenwriter Grant Morrison will be the main inspiration for this film.
Despite these unprecedented projects, the sequels to The Batman with Robert Pattinson and Joker with Joaquin Phoenix are not cancelled. Joker: Madness for Twoannounced for 2024, and The Batman Part IIslated for 2025, will be independent films whose plots will not intersect with those of the DCU.
Another film project featuring a black Superman, produced by JJ Abrams and written by Ta-Nehisi Coates, is still in the works. Henry Cavill, who played the Man of Steel on screen for ten years, will not be back, as previously announced.
Half a dozen series
In line with the success of PeacemakerJames Gunn plans half a dozen television programs for the HBO Max platform, including an animated series Creature Commandosinspired by a comic book from the 1980s where the creature of Frankenstein, a werewolf and a vampire combine to face the Nazis.
Series have also been announced on Amanda Waller (Viola Davis), seen in the two parts of Suicide Squad, and on Green Lantern. A prequel series to Wonder Woman, Paradise Lostand another devoted to an unsung hero, Gold Boosterare finally on DC’s schedule.
In 2014, Warner Bros. and DC Comics had previously tried, unsuccessfully, to come up with a cohesive cinematic universe to compete with Marvel’s. According to American media including varietyJames Gunn’s project, backed by an army of screenwriters working together, is “the most solid attempt” to date.
