With the announcement yesterday of Chapter 1 of the new DCU, the co-directors of DC Studios have answered the questions of the fans
Surely after the announcements yesterday of the new DCU roadmap, by the co-CEOs of DC Studios, James Gunn and Peter Safran, they wanted to address the doubts of DC fans.
The DC Extended Universe is no more, and over the next few years, we’ll see the SnyderVerse, the Arrowverse, and everything before Gunn and Safran disappear.
Part reboot, part sequel, the DCU seems poised to offer fans a shared universe with an actual plan in motion that will hopefully do justice to DC’s characters. With James Gunn and Peter Safran in charge of DC Studios, he has answered the many questions that during a question and answer session took place last Tuesday.
From continuity questions to plans for the Multiverse, what will happen to Michael Keaton’s Batman and much more.
Should we bother watching the DC movies of 2023?
DC Studios
Several long-awaited DC movies, Shazam! The Fury of the Gods that will be the first to arrive, The Flash, Blue Beetle and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom that will close the year. Each of them promises to be very exciting, but with a reboot coming up, why should fans bother watching these movies?
This is how James Gunn responded to this question: “I honestly think we’ve been lucky with the next four movies, because we have Shazam, which leads to Flash, which resets everything, which then goes into Blue Beetle, which is completely unplugged,” says Gunn. “He can totally be part of the DCU, (and that) goes into Aquaman, which leads to Superman, our first big project.”
Will there be R-rated movies?
Despite being part of the DCEU, the suicide squad it was rated R, with Peacemaker following suit. Director James Gunn seems open to telling more stories like those, but it seems commercially friendly blockbusters are now the top priority for DC Studios.
“It depends on the story. I mean, we’re going to give each story its due. Some things we know. Superman: Legacy is definitely something we’d like to be PG-13. I’ll make sure of that. Other things, like Waller’s TV series, are a bit more mature,” he continues. “And we have other things that are a little bit more aimed at young women or children, who are still within this world that feeds back everything to the Supermans and the Braves and the Bolds that everyone gets.”
Is this all from chapter 1?
A total of ten projects were revealed yesterday, with “Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters” which is equivalent in Marvel Studios to the so-called phases, this chapter will apparently be made up of five movies and five television series. However, it seems that these are barely scratching the surface of what DC Studios has planned.
“We haven’t announced all of Chapter One,” confirms Safran. “There are some things that go beyond this. So let’s say it’s too soon to talk about that, but it’s very clear what the story is.” Gunn adds: “This is half.” So more announcements are expected to complete it.
Is there a Multiverse in the DCU?
The Multiverse has become a popular narrative device, both the MCU and the DCEU have used it recently. The Flash was meant to rewrite reality and lay the groundwork for Crisis on Infinite Earths, but what about all this in DC Studios’ new plans?
“The DCU is a Multiverse, but we’re going to focus on a universe in that Multiverse,” Safran explains. “And if something isn’t DCU, we’ll make that very clear. As strictly for adults as Todd Phillips’ Joker, or animation for children as Teen Titans Go! , he continued, “we’re going to make it very clear that those are DC Elseworlds in the same way that you can in the comics.”
Does Flash set up the new DCU?
There’s almost certainly a totally different version of The Flash out there that we’ll never get to see now. Henry Cavill’s cameo from the end of the film has been cut, and there are rumors that Michael Keaton and Sasha Calle are no longer sticking around as Batman and Supergirl.
“We had information on that for sure, but there was nothing we had to do to set it up,” Safran said when asked if they were using The Flash to reboot this franchise. “Can I also say that The Flash is amazing?” Gunn said. “Like it’s one of the best superhero movies I’ve ever seen. Andy Muschietti did an amazing job and I’m so excited for everyone to see it.” So we will have to wait for the film to be released, but in Gunn’s words it is the film that resets everything and that leads to Blue Beetle.
What about Michael Keaton’s Batman?
Continuing with the theme of The Flash, many wondered what the future holds for Michael Keaton’s Batman. There were plans for him to reprise the role in Batgirl (cancelled), Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, and Batman Beyond (also cancelled), and while Gunn isn’t closing the door on his return, it seems unlikely that he will.
“We are still a Multiverse. But the main thing we’re focusing on right now is creating the universe that people can set foot in,” and I continue, “And after that, if we want to have multiverse stories, (we can). In fact, I know that one of the things we’re working on is a multiverse story.”
How much have you planned for the new DCU?
DC Studios
When DC Studios was formed, we heard a lot about Warner Bros. Discovery’s 10-year plan for the DC Universe. The projects revealed yesterday will take us to 2027, but what comes next?
“We’re not making it up as we go along,” Peter Safran made clear. “The 8-10 year plan is in two chapters and there is an end to our basic story that we tell there, but it’s not the end of the universe.”
“So now, will Peter and I be here beyond that time? (laughs) I’m already tired. It’s been two months,” Gunn added. “But those first two chapters are done, and then you can go from there.”
Will there be big events?
The Justice League.
There was no mention of Justice League or any team-up movies during yesterday’s presentation, though perhaps that shouldn’t come as a surprise given how tainted the brand is.
Gunn stopped short of promising an eventual Avengers: Endgame-style event, but did suggest that crossovers are on the table.
“Everything intersects over time. These characters interact throughout the different stories. It doesn’t mean always, you know; Brave and the Bold may just be Batman and Robin and the characters involved in that. But I know a lot about other times the characters intersect. I know that in Creature Commandos one of the main characters appears in Waller.”
Worried that the reboot will confuse people?
Warner Bros. Discovery
What about the causal moviegoers? Henry Cavill’s Man of Steel just appeared in Black Adam, but a new actor will play him in Superman: Legacy. That could cause confusion among this type of audience who may not understand why there is a new Superman.
“We have a lot to prove,” Gunn acknowledged. “It will be up to us to show the audience what our universe is, how it is connected, (and) make it clear what is DCU and what is Elseworlds, and move that forward. So it’s going to take a while.”
Safran added: “It’s going to require some sort of explanation. But we are very confident that by the time Superman: Legacy comes out, people will understand what the DCU is.”
Why fans should trust this DCU list
HBO Max
With so many canceled announcements, backtracking, reboots over the last 10 years, and a lack of commitment in the past, it’s only natural for fans to ask this question.
“The biggest difference is that I’ve done it,” Gunn said of how this slate differs from the last. “So I started Guardians One with a story of what that trilogy was, where it started and where it ended. And that story is just the smaller version of doing this. I’ve been in a company that did very well, (but) it’s very different from us.”
“Marvel didn’t have everything completely figured out ahead of time. But they did a lot of things really well, one of which is not giving up,” he added. “And I really love that about Kevin (Feige) and Lou (D’Esposito) and the whole gang. I’ve seen them turn bad movies into good movies, good movies into good movies, and good movies into great movies because they didn’t stop.”
“They give it whatever it takes to make it as good as it can be until the 11th hour. And they’ll be editing the day before the premiere. Its alot. Too”.
And so far all the questions that every fan of DC movies has been asked with this reboot. What do you think?
