James Gunn Reveals Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters as the First Phase of His Vision for the DCU for Movies, Television, Animation & Video Gaming

by Darian Scalamoni

    The day has finally arrived. James Gunn went to Twitter and announced the future of DC Studios and the upcoming reworked DCU. The video is linked below so scroll if you want to hear the director of Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad list off the future slate himself. However, we here at Cinema Wave have listed the upcoming projects coming below.

    This year, there are already four established films from the former DCEU that will finish out the previous regime. First, there's Shazam! Fury of the Gods that will release on March 17. Following that, Andy Muschietti (It) will direct The Flash which will release on June 16. Gunn confirms in the video presentation that the film will act as a complete reboot via a Flashpoint-comic event rebooting the DC Studios vision into the new DCU. Following that, Blue Beetle which centers around Cobra Kai star Xolo Mariduena will officially be the first project to be christened into the new universe set forth by both Gunn and co-DC head Peter Safran. Blue Beetle hits theaters on August 18. Finally, to end the year, Jason Momoa will return to Atlantis in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom on December 25.

    Following these releases, Gunn's newly announced projects will begin to hit across film, linear television and streaming, starting with an obscure animated series titled Creature Commandos. 

Creature Commandos

    Creature Commandos has been in development for quite some time with the team seen above. Gunn was also quick to note that this new vision of DC Studios will aim to have the same performers across animation, live-action and gaming. Basically, this means that whoever voices these characters in animation, will also appear across live-action film and television for DC. The Creature Commandos are a team of classic monsters who are assembled by Amanda Waller to run a black ops mission. The team of characters includes Rick Flag Sr., Nina Mazursky, Doctor Phosphorus, Eric Frankenstein, The Bride of Frankenstein, G.I. Robot and Weasel, who already appeared in live action played by Sean Gunn. Viola Davis, who plays Waller in live-action for the DCU is expected to return to voice the character in this 7-episode animated series for HBO Max.

Waller

    Previously announced by Gunn on Twitter, this series will act as a spin-off show from Gunn's previous HBO Max series, Peacemaker starring the titular character played by John Cena first introduced in The Suicide Squad. The series is expected to carry over some of the characters from Peacemaker and will be written by Christal Henry (Watchmen) and Jeremy Carver, who created Doom Patrol for HBO Max. 

Superman: Legacy 

    Next, Gunn revealed the "true rebirth" of the DCU, which is a new Superman film titled, Superman: Legacy. Gunn is currently writing the film that will release in theaters on July 11, 2025. Though an announcement has yet to be made on who will direct, many are speculating that Gunn may direct as well. No word on who will star as the son of Krypton in this reboot, however, many have pointed to Elvis star Austin Butler as someone who DC has their eye on currently. DC has assured that this will not be a new origin story for the Man of Steel.

Lanterns

    Lanterns will be a live-action HBO Max series that will star Hal Jordan and John Stewart as time cops in a series that Gunn describes as in the same vein as True Detective but more intergalactic and extra-terrestrial. He alludes to the impact of this series by stating that this series "plays a really big role in leading into the main story we are telling across film and TV." No word on who has been cast yet as Jordan or Stewart.

The Authority

    The Authority is currently being written by Gunn himself and a team of writers. This live-action feature film will surround the team established in the 1990s in DC Comics who take a rather extreme approach to saving the universe. It's expected that this will be R-rated due to the explicitness and brutality of the comic book series. This will see WildStorm characters joining the DCU to later interact with diamond characters of the brand such as Superman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, etc.

Paradise Lost

    Paradise Lost will be an HBO Max live action series that further explores Themyscira, the birthplace of Wonder Woman. The all-female island where the Amazonian warrior was born is described as DC's answer to Game of Thrones. Paradise Lost will take place years before the birth of Diana, playing within the sandbox of political intrigue and scheming within their ruthless society. 

The Batman Part II & The Brave and the Bold

    Addressing the world of Batman further in the DCU, Gunn confirmed that Matt Reeves universe that is being established across film & television will continue on as an "Elseworlds" project. This means that the upcoming film, The Batman Part II, along with The Penguin series will operate outside the continuity of the main timeline of Gunn and Safran's vision for the DCU. Robert Pattinson will return to the cape and cowl on October 5, 2025. While Gunn also confirmed that there will be yet another Batman film coming that will fit within the DCU timeline starring a different Bruce Wayne and his son, the popular comics character, Damian Wayne, which will be the first on-screen live action Robin in almost 20 years. That film is titled and based off the Grant Morrison comic, The Brave and the Bold.

Booster Gold

    Booster Gold has been widely speculated as someone that Gunn would center a project around since he had come on as co-CEO of DC Studios. The character will star in his own HBO Max series as a loser from the future who uses future technology to come back to modern day and become a superhero. It's described as "imposter syndrome for a superhero." Gunn is currently talking to a specific actor to play the role with many speculating he'll reunite with Guardians of the Galaxy star Chris Pratt to play the titular character.

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow

    Another live action film that was announced is based on the recent comic of the same name, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. The sci-fi epic film is based on Tom King's limited run that stars Kara Zor-El, a much more hardcore and battle-tested Supergirl than we've seen before. 

Swamp Thing

    The final project announced by Gunn was a horror film surrounding the elemental/plant creature of the same name. It will be a live action feature and will be darker than many of the other DCU projects in development.

    Check out the video of Gunn announcing all of these projects below! What an amazing day to be a comic book movie fan.

Here are just a few of our plans. Up, up, and away! #DCStudios #DCU @DCComics pic.twitter.com/8XNDNLUEPq

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) January 31, 2023