DC
The recent release of “Joker: Folie a Deux” has left fans disappointed, and now the path is clear for the old DC to transition to the new DC Universe. This transition is set to begin later this year with the arrival of the animated “Creature Commandos” on Max. Following this, the plans of James Gunn and Peter Safran, the co-heads of DC Studios, will commence with the launch of Gunn’s new “Superman” movie next summer. The DC Universe is heading for a reboot, with a growing list of confirmed movies and TV shows. However, there remains some confusion about what exactly this will entail.
The simplest solution would be for Warner Bros. and DC Studios to declare a complete fresh start, discounting everything from the former DCEU. But the reality is not so straightforward. Some projects that were in development will be incorporated into the future, causing some confusion for average viewers. Gunn, known for directing Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” trilogy, attempted to clarify the new DCU canon at a recent New York Comic Con panel:
“There are references to things that happened in the past, and those references then become canon in the DCU because we mention them.”
Gunn has previously attempted to explain this concept. “We’ll be using some actors from the past, we’re not using other actors from the past, but everything from that moment forward will be connected,” Gunn stated in early 2023. He also revealed that all DCU projects will share a multiverse, including movies, TV shows, and video games. Starting from “Superman,” it’s a whole new world. But how will elements from the past integrate with the new? How is all of that going to work? Unfortunately, Gunn’s latest comments don’t provide a clearer picture.
The new DC canon raises a multitude of questions
Max
In essence, it appears that everything is being completely rebooted. The shared universe that began with Zack Snyder’s “Man of Steel” in 2013 is no more. David Corenswet is the new Superman, Ben Affleck is no longer Batman, and there will be a new Wonder Woman. Everything will be part of a “multiverse,” which is why Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” universe is technically a part of the new DCU, even though Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne won’t exist in the same universe as Corenswet’s Superman. This is just the beginning of potential points of confusion for casual viewers.
Gunn’s “Suicide Squad” universe is also part of this transition. Gunn directed 2021’s “The Suicide Squad” and several episodes of its spin-off series “Peacemaker,” which were closely tied to the DCEU. So, how does “Peacemaker” season 2 fit into this? How can past references suddenly become canon? How will this work in practice? Perhaps the movies and TV shows themselves will provide answers, but for now, this approach raises more questions than it answers.
The questions don’t end there. Is Viola Davis reprising her role as Amanda Waller from 2016’s “Suicide Squad,” which explicitly includes Affleck’s Batman? Or is she playing a different Amanda Waller from elsewhere in the multiverse? Will this be confusing for new audiences? Isn’t this supposed to be a fresh start?
Will Waller be like Judy Dench’s M in the “James Bond” films, where she played the character for both Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig’s 007? For now, it all seems a bit messy. With December’s “Creature Commandos” also featuring characters from the past, such as Weasel, it’s likely to get messier before it becomes clearer. This could pose a challenge for Gunn and Safran.
The new DC Universe needs to be straightforward for the average viewer
Warner Bros.
The truth is that DC has been experiencing a rough patch. “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” “The Flash,” and “Blue Beetle” all flopped last year, with “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” also underperforming. “Joker: Folie a Deux” could potentially become one of the biggest comic book movie bombs ever. Luckily, “Joker 2” isn’t connected to DC Studios, so Gunn and Safran can technically distance themselves from that disaster. However, it’s clear that DC is not in a good place with the public at the moment.
Given this, it’s understandable that Warner Bros. is proceeding with “The Batman Part II” due to the success of “The Batman.” This project can’t be abandoned just because it would be easier for Gunn to start anew with a different Batman. While it’s unfortunate timing, WB must prioritize what’s best for their bottom line, even if it complicates things. Similarly, as the co-head of the entire DC enterprise, it’s understandable that Gunn wants to incorporate his “Suicide Squad” universe, but this complicates the clarification of this reboot.
The first chapter of this DCU reboot, “Gods and Monsters,” is promising. Gunn was successful with the “Guardians” trilogy, and his “Superman” seems like a sure hit. With a James Mangold “Swamp Thing” movie, lesser-known properties like “The Authority” getting big screen adaptations, and a “Booster Gold” TV show on the horizon, there’s a lot of potential. However, none of this will matter if audiences who have previously dismissed DC associate these projects with past failures.
If casual viewers see John Cena’s Peacemaker or Davis as Waller, will they assume it’s more of the same? While this may seem like nitpicking, it’s crucial that the reboot makes sense and is easy for audiences to understand for it to succeed. The era of comic book movies automatically attracting mass viewership seems to be over, so these projects need to stand on their own without requiring much — if any — homework. Hopefully, Gunn can figure out how to make this happen.
“Superman” is set to hit theaters on July 11, 2025.
Credit: www.slashfilm.com
