James Gunn Confirms DCU Series Status Ahead of 'Superman 2' Debut

Despite the poor reaction to Supergirl, Warner Bros. is still very confident in James Gunn’s DCU plans. Lanterns and Clayface will round out 2026, while next year will see the release of the Superman follow-up, Man of Tomorrow. The sequel sees Superman join forces with fellow heroes, such as the Justice Gang, Supergirl, Green Lantern, and Blue Beetle, to fight Brainiac.

With Xolo Maridueña confirmed to reprise his role as Jaime Reyes aka Blue Beetle in Man of Tomorrow, a fan asked James Gunn on Threads about the animated series announced in 2024. Gunn replied, saying, “It’s still very much in development.” The DC Studios co-CEO did not provide any additional details on the project.

Blue Beetle made his big-screen debut in his solo 2023 film. While originally filmed with the intention of being part of the DCEU, James Gunn later confirmed that he would be the first “DCU hero.” In 2024, it was confirmed that a Blue Beetle animated series set in the new universe was in the works, with Xolo Maridueña set to reprise his titular role. Blue Beetle previously made his DCU debut in Creature Commandos, during an apocalyptic vision of the future in which he was seen alongside other dead heroes, including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Peacemaker.

The news that the Blue Beetle animated series is still in active development at DC Studios is a very positive sign, given that it was originally intended to release in 2026. Miguel Puga was hired as the series’ showrunner and director, with Cristian Martinez as the writer, and the animated series was set to target a younger audience. However, in 2025, HBO Max announced it was de-prioritizing children’s programming in favor of adult-oriented programming, leaving Blue Beetle’s status up in the air. It is now possible that Blue Beetle has been reworked, potentially to be set after the events of Man of Tomorrow.

Blue Beetle is one of many DCU series in the works. While the planned Booster Gold series recently hit a speed bump, the Jimmy Olsen mockumentary series is picking up steam, with Jimmy Tatro set to play Gorilla Grodd and Mary Holland recently joining the cast. Creature Commandos Season 2 is currently in development and is expected to debut on HBO Max in 2027. An animated Mister Miracle series based on Tom King’s award-winning 12-issue limited series is also in the works. Despite concerns about Supergirl‘s box-office performance, the DCU is still moving forward.