A fascinating revelation has come to light about the course of the DC Universe’s animated ventures, thanks to James Gunn, one of the captains steering this vast ship. In a realm where cinema evolves constantly, DC Universe is ensuring that its fans have plenty to anticipate in the coming years.
James Gunn and Peter Safran, co-CEOs of DC Studios, have been hard at work sketching out the landscape of their “Chapter One: Gods & Monsters” slate. To the delight of fans, the list of projects promises to be expansive, with ten films and exclusive Max TV shows already in the pipeline. But that’s not all; Gunn teased more in store on the popular social media app, Threads. And the surprise? There will be a feature animated film set for a theatrical release.
This detail emerged during a conversation in which Gunn clarified that both the upcoming animated renditions of Watchmen and Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths aren’t a part of the primary DCU repertoire. These, instead, are Elseworlds tales. And when prodded about the possibility of more animated films gracing theaters, Gunn simply and effectively confirmed with a “Yes.” Considering the traction animated superhero tales like the Spider-Verse from Sony have garnered, this animation could indeed be a spectacle.
In earlier revelations this year, Gunn and Safran shed light on their ambitious plan of intertwining animation with live-action. A prime example of this strategy is the Max-exclusive series titled Creature Commandos. Expounding on this project, Gunn mentioned:
“Creature Commandos is based on the great team from DC. What we’re doing with the DCU is, we are having animation tied directly into live action. Television, movies, and games all intertwine within the same universe. We’re going to cast actors that are going to be able to play the characters in this as well as in other things, some of which we’ve already cast. I’ve written all seven episodes of the show, and it’s in production. So that’s the first thing, and I love it.”
DC’s Grand Reveal: From Superman: Legacy to HBO Max Exclusives
Elaborating on the captivating lineup from DC Studios, fans can expect movies such as Superman: Legacy, The Brave and the Bold, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, Swamp Thing, and The Authority. The television front is equally promising, with HBO Max shows including Waller, Booster Gold, Lanterns, Paradise Lost, and the aforementioned Creature Commandos. To further elevate the excitement, the Superman: Legacy film is all set for a summer 2025 release.
Notably, the cast features David Corenswet donning the iconic role of Clark Kent/Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, and a few more stellar names. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav summed up the enthusiasm surrounding these projects when he stated:
“We got James Gunn and Peter (Safran) working very hard on DC, which is going to be a very big growth driver for this company. We are very bullish on DC. The Superman script first draft is done. Gunn is on a mission from God. It is a really good moment to prove out on DC what we got and how strong it is globally for long-term sustainable growth.”
The forthcoming chapter in the DC Universe storybook promises excitement, adventure, and most importantly, a blend of live-action and animation that will captivate audiences worldwide. The future of this ambitious project remains uncertain, but presently, fans have every cause for excitement.
