James Gunn's DCU was supposed to be a fresh start for DC, leaving the DCEU's many mistakes in the past (where they belong). However, as the new DCU takes shape, some increasingly familiar warning signs feel like cause for concern.
That's because several of Gunn's decisions bear an uncomfortable resemblance to Sony's failed Spider-Man Universe. From an increasingly fluid slate and a fascination with lesser-known characters to frequent questions over how all these wildly different projects fit together, the parallels are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
That doesn't mean the DCU is destined to suffer the same fate. Gunn has something Sony never had: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and decades of beloved DC mythology at his disposal, even if the A-listers aren't currently a priority. Still, Sony's spectacular failure offers some valuable lessons about what can happen when a studio gets too ambitious, too quickly.
Below, you'll find five surprising things the DCU already has in common with Sony's ill-fated Marvel universe...
5. 12% Of A Plan
It's increasingly difficult to believe DC Studios has anything resembling the firm roadmap it promised us back in 2023. Gunn is clearly building toward something, but the path there appears to be constantly changing, with projects delayed, reworked, cancelled and added to the slate.
That's not necessarily unusual—Marvel's Phase One was often in flux—but we always knew The Avengers was where it would conclude. Gunn's DCU feels more like it's being figured out as it goes along.
That's worryingly similar to Sony's failed Spider-Man Universe, where the Sinister Six was repeatedly teased as the endgame without Sony ever establishing a convincing route to get there. Well, beyond the worst post-credits scene ever in Morbius.
4. Betting On Lesser-Known Characters
Gunn deserves credit for giving obscure DC characters their moment in the spotlight. The likes of Task Force M, Mister Terrific and Clayface are hardly obvious choices for a new cinematic universe, while the Jimmy Olsen-led The People v. Gorilla Grodd is about as deep into the DC vault as you can get.
The problem is that hardcore fans knowing and loving these characters doesn't mean general audiences will. That's evident from Creature Commandos and Peacemaker Season 2's lack of impact.
Sony made the same gamble with Morbius, Madame Web and Kraven the Hunter, only to discover that Marvel branding alone wasn't enough to turn obscure supporting characters and villains into mainstream movie stars. The DCU has Superman as its foundation, but Gunn is taking a risk by assuming that audiences will follow him into every corner of the DC Universe.
3. Too Many Cooks
Sony's Spider-Man Universe eventually became synonymous with throwing everything at the wall to see what stuck. The DCU isn't there yet, but Gunn's determination to embrace radically different characters, genres and tones could create a similar problem.
Creature Commandos, Peacemaker, Superman, Supergirl, Lanterns, and Clayface could hardly be more different. Gunn's argument that DC Comics has always worked this way is fair, but audiences don't necessarily experience comics and cinematic universes in the same way.
When one shared universe can jump from R-rated comedy to murder mystery to horror to four-quadrant superhero adventure, it risks feeling less like a coherent franchise and more like a collection of unrelated projects. What does that remind you of?
2. Relying Too Heavily On Spider-Man Superman
Superman was a box-office success, but its international performance confirmed that the Man of Steel isn't necessarily the global powerhouse DC Studios would like him to be. Supergirl's subsequent box-office struggles only serve to reiterate that. Still, Gunn has committed to building the DCU around Superman and his corner of the DCU.
That creates an uncomfortable parallel with Sony's Spider-Man Universe, which was built around Spider-Man while barely using the wall-crawler himself. Sony discovered that being connected to a famous character doesn't automatically make a movie successful.
Gunn actually has Superman, which is a major advantage. But if audiences aren't interested in every corner of his world, the DCU could discover that Superman alone can't carry an entire franchise. There's no need to panic yet, but we desperately need to see this slate expand beyond the "Superman Saga."
1. The Wrong Person Steering The Ship
Avi Arad's influence over Sony's Spider-Man Universe ultimately became a huge part of the problem, and it's obviously far too early to suggest James Gunn is taking the DCU down the same path. With that in mind, there's a legitimate question over whether Gunn is better suited to making movies than running a studio.
He's an enormously talented filmmaker, but as DC Studios' co-CEO, he's also responsible for overseeing an increasingly complicated slate while becoming the public face of almost every controversy surrounding it. The Lanterns backlash (made worse by the writers and podcast hosts he's hired), his social media persona, and the repeated changes to the DCU's plans haven't exactly inspired confidence.
Kevin Feige built Marvel Studios by putting filmmakers in the spotlight while steering the larger ship. Gunn is doing both, with cameos in Creature Commandos and Peacemaker Season 2 suggesting he's enjoying the spotlight. Either he deserves this chance to shine or it will one day come back to bite him...that's TBD.