The Arrowverse marked a before and after in DC Comics television franchises. The CW, Marc Guggenheim, and Greg Berlanti established a strong universe featuring characters from the company, connecting stories and creating incredible crossovers.
However, as the years went by and the superhero genre exploded in theaters, enthusiasm for the Arrowverse faded, especially as the quality of the shows did as well. Beyond that, they managed to do what few had done on the big screen, adapting some of the most popular story arcs on pages like Flashpoint and Crisis on Infinite Earths.
With the end of Arrow in 2020, the universe began to fall apart little by little, primarily due to the network crisis and Warner Discovery. After that, Supergirl, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Batwoman, and Black Lightning also fell into oblivion until only The Flash and Superman & Lois were left standing. However, the latter is no longer considered part of the Arrowverse.
The arrival of Peter Safran and James Gunn at DC Studios, a division that will organize all projects related to the brand, whether in film, television, video games, or animation, poses a new future for the franchise. And not everyone seems to be happy with that.
Marc Guggenheim Feels Like He Wasted His Time
Through its newsletter(via Deadline), Arrowverse co-creator Marc Guggenheim wrote upset about Gunn and Safran’s lack of interest in the work being done in the Arrowverse:
“Not a job, mind you. A meeting. A conversation. A small recognition of what I’d tried to contribute to the grand tapestry that is the DC Universe. I’d only spent nine years toiling in that vineyard, after all. Although working for DC had been creatively fulfilling, it involved a lot of adversity, challenges, and personal sacrifices — none of which seem to have accrued to any professional benefit. Simply put, the Arrowverse hasn’t led to any other gigs, so it feels — at least on a career level — that I really wasted my time.”
Since his arrival as Co-CEO of DC Studios, Gunn has contacted some of the workers of the old administration and talked with different actors who have gone through DC, like Henry Cavill or Dwayne Johnson. He has even reportedly offered projects to people like Ben Affleck, although as a director and not as an actor. So it’s a real surprise that he hasn’t reached out to the minds behind the Arrowverse to at least have a chat.
The new DCU is only just getting started, though, and there’s still plenty of time for old acquaintances and new talent to arrive to help shape it, both in front of and behind the cameras.
