Summary
- Superman: Legacy will define the DCU by showing the world of the universe on the big screen for the first time.
- The film has the opportunity to highlight what the DCU looked like before its major heroes were active, focusing on smaller vigilantes and superhero teams.
- Superman: Legacy will establish the differences between the DCU and the DCEU, showcasing a more light-hearted tone and a different portrayal of Superman.
The entire future of the DC Universe can be defined in many ways by the franchise's first true installment, James Gunn's DCU movie and TV slate contains a plethora of DC Comics-related stories, though none are as crucial to the filmmaker's plans as the first tale of the last son of Krypton.
This has been proven by the recent slew of updates concerning list of DC movies, Superman: Legacy is expected to define the entire DCU in a number of ways that are incredibly vital to the wider franchise.
Superman: Release Date, Trailer, Plot Details & Everything We Know
Superman is the first entry in James Gunn's much anticipated new DCU, and here is everything we know from cast to story and release date.
10 Superman: Legacy Is The DCU's First Proper Chance To Show Its World
The in-universe world of the DCU will be highlighted for the first time on the big screen.
The first, and perhaps most obvious, way in which Superman: Legacy will define the DCU is by showing the world in a feature film for the first time. While other DCU projects like Creature Commandos are expected to be released before Superman: Legacy, James Gunn and Peter Safran consider the latter as the first true entry to the franchise. Similarly, it will be the first theatrical release of the DCU. As such, Superman: Legacy will provide the first major opportunity to highlight the world of the DCU in many ways, defining it via a handful of outlets.
9 Superman: Legacy Can Show What Its Universe Looked Like Before DC's Biggest Heroes
How did the DCU cope before its most iconic trio of heroes was introduced?
One of the aforementioned outlets for Superman: Legacy to show off the DCU is by highlighting what the universe looked like before DC's biggest heroes were introduced. Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters will include the iconic trio of Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman. However, casting for Superman: Legacy and comments from Gunn via Threads have confirmed that other superheroes were active in the DCU before these behemoth DC Comics characters. As a result, Superman: Legacy has the opportunity to highlight how the DCU looked and felt before its major heroes were active when only smaller vigilantes and other superhero teams were in play.
8 Superman: Legacy Can Show How The DCU Is Different From The DCEU In Its First Moments
The DCU's differences from the DCEU can be highlighted from the off.
Given that the DCU is a reboot of the DCEU, the two franchises will always be compared to one another. That said, one of the biggest ways Superman: Legacy can help to define the DCU going forward is by establishing how it is different from the DCEU. For example, the film will already have other superheroes like Hawkgirl, Mister Terrific, Metamorpho, and Guy Gardner, something very different from the DCEU's Man of Steel. Also, Superman: Legacy can reveal the differing tones between the DCU and DCEU, that being the former's likely more light-hearted tone than the latter's darker, gritty style.
Arguably the biggest way in which Superman: Legacy can differentiate the DCU from the DCEU is by providing a different story for Superman. It is no coincidence that the first movie in each franchise centers on the Man of Steel, yet 2013's film of the same name was largely divisive due to the characterization of Clark Kent. Superman: Legacy seems to be veering more toward a classic DC iteration of the character in favor of the darker, more controversial route of the DCEU. This is just another way Gunn's franchise can set itself apart from its predecessor thanks to Superman: Legacy's story and characters.
7 Superman: Legacy Can Introduce Some Of The DCU’s Overarching Villains
Superman's antagonists may persist into the future of the DCU.
An exciting casting announcement for Superman: Legacy was that Nicholas Hoult will be playing Lex Luthor, the iconic archenemy of the Man of Steel. While not confirmed how many movies Hoult will appear in beyond Superman: Legacy, it is difficult to imagine the franchise underutilizing him. As such, the film could introduce Luthor as one of the franchise's overarching villains for the DCU, at least for its first chapter.
6 The DCU’s First Team Of Heroes Can Be Introduced In Superman: Legacy
The DCU's heroes before the Justice League can get a chance to shine.
Given that superheroes like Wonder Woman and Batman will not be introduced until a later date, Superman: Legacy can define Chapter 1 of the DCU by introducing different superhero teams. The aforementioned characters of Hawkgirl, Metamorpho, Mister Terrific, and Guy Gardner will all be present in the film, while other DCU characters like the Authority have been rumored to appear. This could lead to other DC teams besides the Justice League being formed in the film, shaping the future of the franchise for Superman's debut.
5 Superman: Legacy Can Kickstart The DCU’s Focus On Smaller Heroes
Gunn will do for the DCU what he did for Marvel via the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Perhaps the most interesting takeout from James Gunn's DCU Chapter 1 slate is the franchise's focus on somewhat smaller DC heroes. Like Gunn did with the Guardians of the Galaxy for the MCU, and the various heroes of The Suicide Squad like Ratcatcher II, Peacemaker, and Bloodsport, the DCU will introduce lesser-known DC Comics characters as important figures in the universe. From characters like the Authority and those tied to Creature Commandos to even the heroes not known by general audiences like Booster Gold and Swamp Thing, Superman: Legacy can begin laying the groundwork for the DCU's focus on smaller DC characters.
It is worth noting that only half of the DCU's Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters has been announced by Gunn, with the other, unannounced projects potentially being set-up in Superman: Legacy via more lesser-known characters.
4 Superman: Legacy Can Position David Corenswet As The DCU’s Primary Character
Superman's future DCU importance can be made crystal clear in James Gunn's first film.
As is to be expected with an overarching DC franchise, Superman will be vital going forward in the DCU. In the DCEU, Henry Cavill's Superman was somewhat shortchanged despite the actor's fantastic, almost universally loved performance as the Man of Steel. With the DCU, this issue can be avoided in a way that defines the franchise's future. By presenting David Corenswet's Superman as the first entry point to the universe, it will be made clear he is one of the franchise's primary characters, just as the rival MCU did with Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark.
3 The Cosmic Side Of The DCU Can Be Set Up In Superman: Legacy
The DCU's otherworldly aspects can be established in the 2025 film.
One of the mistakes of the DCEU was the lack of cosmic elements introduced to the franchise. This started well with the Kryptonians in Man of Steel, yet only one of the ensuing 12 movies featured extra-terrestrial aspects via Darkseid and his minions in Justice League. With the DCU though, this issue could be resolved with Superman: Legacy defining the future of the DCU's cosmic elements. The inclusion of Guy Gardner as a Green Lantern already goes a long way to fixing the DCEU's issue, with that character likely tying into Lanterns, a DCU show centered on the intergalactic peacekeeping force of the Green Lantern Corps.
2 Superman: Legacy Can Set The DCU’s Tone
The future feel of the DCU will be established by Superman: Legacy.
This description makes it clear that Superman: Legacy's tone will be reflective of this, likely balancing a mixture of light and dark which Gunn's films tend to do exceptionally well.
Arguably the most important task for any first film in a franchise is setting the tone of what is to come through the characters, story, and direction. With Superman: Legacy, the film is expected to establish the tone of the ensuing DCU. Gunn and Safran have described Corenswet's Superman as "The embodiment of truth, justice, and the American way. He is kindness in a world that thinks that kindness is old-fashioned" via The Hollywood Reporter. This description makes it clear that Superman: Legacy's tone will be reflective of this, likely balancing a mixture of light and dark which Gunn's films tend to do exceptionally well.
With the DCEU, Man of Steel adequately established the more grounded, gritty tone of Snyder's universe. This tone then permeated future installments like Batman v Superman and Zack Snyder's Justice League. In a similar vein, Gunn's Superman: Legacy is expected to do the same. Not only will future Superman movies after Legacy be shaped by the first film's tone, but the other DCU projects will given the many wider characters already confirmed for the 2025 installment. This proves above all else that Superman: Legacy will define the DCU via its tone, feeling, and atmosphere.
1 Superman: Legacy Can Set Up Another Key Part Of The DCU’s Chapter 1
Gunn's DCU slate primarily focuses on one aspect of Chapter 1's title.
Finally, the last way Superman: Legacy can shape the DCU is by introducing more of the forgotten half of the DCU's Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters. Through characters like Superman, Wonder Woman, the Green Lanterns, and even Booster Gold, the "Gods" aspect of the DCU will be established. However, besides Creature Commandos and Swamp Thing, minimal projects have been confirmed that pertain to the "Monsters" side of the DCU.
Through Superman: Legacy, this could be achieved. While Gunn has reiterated that the film will not be used solely as a setup for future installments, it is clear that the filmmaker will integrate aspects of future DCU properties into the film in a way that benefits the character of Superman. Through this, more of the monstrous aspects of the DCU's first chapter could be established in Superman: Legacy.
