James Gunn clarifies how the the DC Universe Chapter 1: "Gods and Monsters" slate will, for the most part, act as a fresh launch of a new franchise, a few elements from the DCEU will be carrying over into the reboot. A key example is Peacemaker season 2, which features John Cena and multiple cast from the Max TV show back, but as part of the DC Universe this time around.
At this year's New York Comic Con, with Screen Rant in attendance, Gunn and the Creature Commandos cast were present to promote the beginning of the new DC Universe. During the , Gunn addressed how the DC Universe franchise will deal with canonical DCEU events in the fresh continuity, sharing the following:
We learn that other things that have happened in the past in other media have still happened. There are references to things that happened in the past. And those references then become canon in the DCU because we mention them.
What James Gunn's DCU Canon Comments Mean For Future DC Releases
Given that the DCEU was a very polarizing continuity, it doesn't feel like a lot from the now-concluded-universe will play major factors in the DC Universe. That said, someone like Viola Davis' Amanda Waller in her Waller spinoff series will likely maintain most - if not all - of her DCEU history, as she was one of the characters who worked the best in that world. Gunn's DC Universe is considered something of a clean slate, suggesting connections to prior DCEU events won't be made extensive, and will likely be made clear earlier on so the new continuity can then build a fresh path forward.
It also appears these events largely revolve around less famous DC figures like Weasel or Rick Flag Jr., meaning that the larger overarching story of the DC Universe will likely be more or less entirely revamped.
For example, it has already been clarified that none of the Justice League actors from the DCEU movie timeline will be back for the DC Universe. However, outside of David Corenswet's Superman film and the direction for The Brave and The Bold story, whether or not their DC Universe counterparts have histories similar to those of the previous universe remains to be seen.
Our Take On The DCU's New Continuity
Time will tell how the new DC Universe continuity will work for DC Studios, but it feels safe to assume that only a handful of DCEU ideas will exist in this franchise. From everything Gunn has revealed to this point, this will be a very different DC world from the one that ran between 2013 and 2023, as many heroes will already be established and operating in this universe. Hopefully, as Creature Commandos premieres in December, more of Gunn's recent comments about the DC Universe will become even clearer.
- Created by
- Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson
- First Film
- Man of Steel
- First TV Show
- Peacemaker
- Cast
- Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Ray Fisher, Jason Momoa, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, Jay Hernandez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Cara Delevingne, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Zachary Levi, Dwayne Johnson, Amber Heard, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Djimon Hounsou, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett, Rosie Perez, Ella Jay Basco, Ali Wong, Ewan McGregor, Idris Elba, John Cena, Michael Keaton, George Clooney, Xolo Mariduena
- Movie(s)
- Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman, Justice League, Aquaman, Shazam!, Birds of Prey, Wonder Woman 1984, Zack Snyder's Justice League, The Suicide Squad, Black Adam, Shazam! The Fury of the Gods, The Flash, Blue Beetle, Superman, The Brave and the Bold
- Character(s)
- Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash, Cyborg, Harley Quinn, The Joker, Shazam, Darkseid, Amanda Waller, Lex Luthor, Doomsday, Deadshot, Deathstroke, Black Canary, Black Adam
The DC Universe is one of the biggest comic book franchises and often competes with Marvel. DC Comics started as National Allied Publications, founded by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson in 1935. Since then, the franchise has exploded with thousands of comic books, movies, TV shows, and video games. 2013 marked the beginning of the most recent iteration of the superheroes, with Zack Snyder introducing Henry Cavill as Superman. After several movies with mixed reviews, DC underwent a soft reboot under the helm of James Gunn and Peter Safran.
DC Movie Releases
Source: James Gunn (via New York Comic Con)
