The past few weeks have seen DC Studios make some shocking decisions as James Gunn and Peter Safran map out a new era of storytelling in the DCU. The DCEU is dead, and it's beginning to look like the "Snyderverse" actors are done playing these iconic comic book heroes and villains.
A fresh start makes sense on a number of levels, but so does keeping at least some of these actors around. The DCEU wasn't made up solely of flops and disappointments, and there are at least a few franchises we think should live on.
There are also a few we're glad to see the back of, and we're taking a look at all of those today. Explaining why we think they should be kept or scrapped, this feature also delves into how these movies could continue in the new DCU and why the others really don't have a place in DC Studios as the hierarchy of power changes.
So, to find out what we'd keep and what we'd ditch, simply click on the "Next" button below!
Keep: Aquaman
While there are some pretty reliable rumblings that Jason Momoa will play Lobo in the DCU, we can't help but think it's a mistake to so prematurely end his time as Aquaman.
Yes, it's true that the DCEU's take on Arthur Curry is quite a bit different to the comic books. However, it was hard not to take a strong liking to the aquatic superhero in his 2018 solo outing, and we're excited to see what happens now he's ruling Atlantis in next December's Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
If there's a way to make it so that Momoa can play both characters, we'd be happy. Plus, if DC Studios wants to move the character forward, giving the actor a new look - he recently cut his hair for a separate project - could go a long way.
Scrap: Suicide Squad
Sorry, James, but it's time to bid farewell to this franchise regardless of whether it's in the DCEU or DCU. While The Suicide Squad was a vast improvement over its 2016 predecessor, the premise has already worn thin and the brand is too closely associated with a certain fandom.
That's not a slight against them or their many hashtags; the sad fact is, the DCU desperately needs to move on from the Snyderverse, and this franchise still reeks of it. We also don't think it would help DC Studios' cause to keep these actors around after giving everyone from Henry Cavill to Dwayne Johnson and Gal Gadot their marching orders!
Perhaps Task Force X could be revisited much further down the line for a Justice League vs. Suicide Squad project?
Keep: Shazam!
Released in the wake Justice League's failure, Shazam! felt very standalone in nature when it dropped in theaters back in 2019. Yes, it was crammed full of references to the wider DCEU, but with no sign of those actors - we even got a headless Superman! - this movie could have pretty much been set in any world.
However, Shazam! Fury of the Gods is expected to feature a cameo appearance from Gadot's Wonder Woman, so it won't be as simple as this series continuing like it's always been part of the DCU.
If DC Studios waits a couple of years, though, we think there's probably a way to introduce Zachary Levi's Shazam and keep this franchise going. Those kids are growing up awfully fast so some changes might need to be made on that front, but it would be a pity for the actor's time as this hero to end just as he's gaining momentum.
Scrap: The Flash
We might as well just write "Ezra Miller" here, right? Regardless of whether they're getting help or not, the actor's personal troubles in 2022 have tainted this movie and made an already unpopular pick for Barry Allen downright detested among fans.
The Flash was meant to serve as a soft reboot for the DCEU, cementing Michael Keaton's Caped Crusader as the world's new Batman and swapping out Superman for Supergirl. Early word from test screenings is positive, but DC Studios really has no other choice than to move on unless they plan on being beholden to past creative decisions.
After this movie, put the Scarlet Speedster's solo series on hold, reintroduce him with a new actor as a supporting character elsewhere, and come back to him once Miller's stink has worn off.
Keep: Blue Beetle
Blue Beetle might just be the perfect place to launch the new DCU. Sure, he's no Superman or Batman, but with a good eight months before the movie arrives in theaters, there's time to remove any references to the DCEU and even shoot a few scenes that tee up what's coming next.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom coming out shortly after complicates matters, of course, so perhaps we'll see a release date switcheroo?
Either way, Jaime Reyes is a great character and this story about a diverse superhero feels a lot like the fresh start this DC franchise needs. Let's also be honest here; Warner Bros. scrapping another DC movie with a Latino lead would be utterly disgraceful after the Batgirl debacle, and Blue Beetle deserves better than that.
Scrap: Black Adam
After weeks of posturing, Dwayne Johnson recently took to social media to confirm Black Adam won't be part of DC Studios' initial plans for the DCU.
The Rock has been forced to accept that his star power isn't as strong as he once thought, with middling box office numbers and poor reviews resulting in a real lack of interest in this franchise. He teased possibly reprising the role down the line, but we can surely all agree it would be for the best that doesn't happen.
The DCU doesn't need an actor who only looks out for themselves, and we most definitely do not want this shared world to be built around the mediocre anti-hero. There's a lot to love about Black Adam, but if we don't see him on screen again for the next 8-10 years...who cares?