Summary
Warner Bros. has big plans for the newDC Universe, butSuperman, their flagship feature, hasn’t even hit theaters yet. After DC’s prior interconnected universe of superhero films failed, they handed over DC Studios to James Gunn and Peter Safran. Gunn would write and direct a new Superman movie to start the latestDC Universe, with several projects announced that would span TV, film, and potentially video games.
Many of their plans are already in motion.Peacemakerseason 2 is set to premiere in August. The movieSupergirl: Woman of Tomorrowhas wrapped filming, and theLanternsTV series is in production. The animated seriesCreature Commandoswas the first project to debut, serving as a soft launch on their promised world, featuring characters that will carry through, like Frank Grillo’s Rick Flag Sr. However, with so many DC shows and movies in the works,Warner Bros. is taking a big gamble on an unproven universe, all beforeSupermanhas even laid the groundwork.
The DC Universe Already Has Substantial Plans In Motion
Creature Commandoshas already aired its first season, garnering stellar reviews from critics and audiences. The show has even been renewed for a second season, allowing the team of misfits to continue.Supermanis meant to start the cinema side of the DC Universe, but far more is already in the works.Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrowrecently wrappedfilming, withHouse of the Dragonstar Milly Alcock playing the title role.Supergirlalso has an exciting director at the helm, Craig Gillespie, who has an eclectic career, directing Colin Farrell’sFright Nightremake, the Academy Award-nominatedI, Tonya, and Disney’sCruella.
Peacemakerseason 2 is set to complicate the narrativewhen it arrives in August, as the first season was part of DC’s failed previous universe. When the show airs, fans are expectingPeacemakerto explain away the connections and characters that appeared. However, with the DC Universe looking to start anew,Peacemakermay overcomplicate the already expansive plans the DCU hopes to encapsulate. Despite the first season’s positive reception, it may have been better off not returning.
Lanternsis a TV series currently in productionthat will follow Green Lanterns Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and John Stewart (Aaron Pierre). The show will alsofeature Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner, who is making his debut inSupermanbefore appearing inPeacemakerseason 2.
Complicating things further,Gunn and Safran are planning Elseworld films, which are DC comics-based content that takes place outside the main DCU continuity.These projects includeThe Batman II, Keanu Reeves' plannedConstantinesequel, and the animatedHarley Quinnseries that just aired its fifth season. Further plans include aClayfacemovie penned by Mike Flanagan, which is undergoing rewrites before its planned production starts later this year. However, the DCU hasn’t established Batman.Clayfaceis a bold choice to bring into the unproven space, even if it ends up beingpart of the Elseworld films, as Matt Reeves may use the character inThe Batman II.
There are numerous plans forTeen Titansprojects, aWallerTV series, an animatedRobinmovie,The Brave and the Boldtake on Batman, and even a film based on the lesser-knownThe Authority. With projects already being canceled, like theSgt. Rockmovie, and with so many unproven elements at play, WB has made a significant commitment.
SupermanIs Meant To Kick Off An Unproven Universe
Even with everything the DC Universe has already planned,Supermantrailers have highlightednumerous characters who will be debuting. Beyond the DCU debut ofSupermancharacters like Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, and Metallo, the movie will feature other heroes like Guy Gardner as Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, and Mr. Terrific, all of whom fans hope to see get their time to shine in a movie that seems packed to the brim with content.Supermanis also taking a big swing by introducing Krypto the Superdog into live-action for the first time, which could be a make-or-break element.
With somuch riding onSuperman’sshoulders, the movie needs to be financially successful and must land with critics and audiences.DC’s own past has seen films likeBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justicemake waves financially, but fail so hard with critics and fans that it sent all their plans into a tailspin.Supermanappears to be taking several big swings with bold choices meant to set itself apart from other adaptations of the hero. However, if it fails, DC may be repeating the same mistakes they made in their last attempt at an interconnected universe.
The DCU May Repeat The Mistakes That Doomed The DCEU
The prior DC Comics slate of interconnected projects wasknown as the DCEU, or the DC Extended Universe. It began in 2013 with Zack Snyder’sMan of Steel, which was meant to set the tone and kick off the franchise if it was successful. Financial returns saw WB announce their DCEU plans, which included a follow-up film,Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which would be followed bySuicide Squad,Wonder Woman, and aJustice Leaguemovie. Several other projects were announced, like aCyborgmovie, theGreen Lantern Corps, and the fact that theJustice Leaguewas intended as multiple movies.
AsBatman v Supermanhit theaters,Justice League,Suicide Squad, andWonder Womanwere already in production. When critics and audiences maligned the movie, DC chose to make a drastic pivot in their strategy. This led to the notorious behind-the-scenes shakeups that sawJustice Leaguereworked and many projects canceled. Among those axed were Ben Affleck’s soloBatmanfeature,Henry Cavill’sMan of Steel 2, and Joe Manganiello’sDeathstrokefilm.Suicide Squadwas also drastically altered, producing another lackluster outing they hoped to correct.
DC was hoping to garner the same success that Marvel captured via the MCU.However, the MCU was built over the course of several years, slowly laying the groundwork before Marvel introducedThe Avengersand brought all their characters together. DC looked to rush through establishing their universe in hopes that they could attain similar results over a shorter period, simultaneously throwing several projects into production. While this seemed like a financially lucrative plan, they never accounted for the possibility of failure. This doomed their DCEU in the early stages by preemptively building too much atop an unproven universe.
The DCEU slowly limped to its death with the release ofAquaman and the Lost Kingdomin 2023 after diminishing returns with films likeBlack Adam,The Flash, andShazam!: Fury of the Gods. By this time, Gunn and Safran had been tapped to reboot DC’s TV and movie slate, announcing their plans for the DCU. However, with so many projects currently in productionbeforeSupermanestablishes theDCU, Warner Bros. and DC Studios may be repeating the same mistakes that could force them into costly pivots in already produced content.
