DC Studios Boss James Gunn Explains How The New DCU Will Differ From Marvel Cinematic Universe

DC Studios Boss James Gunn Explains How The New DCU Will Differ From Marvel Cinematic Universe

James Gunn has outlined some of the ways he plans to differentiate the DCU from the MCU, suggesting secret identities and fantastical locations will be key in making this comic book world stand out...

By JoshWilding - Jun 16, 2023 08:06 AM EST
Filed Under: DC Studios
Source: Inside Of You With Michael Rosenbaum

James Gunn has been tasked with rebooting the DCEU as the DCU and, as one of DC Studios' co-CEOs alongside Peter Safran, expectations are high that he can put this shared world on the right track. 

Due to the "DC Studios" and "DCU" branding, it's admittedly tricky not to think about Marvel Studios and the MCU. Whether that's intentional or not, Gunn will be expected to meet the same level of quality as that company, even after what's proven to be a hit-and-miss Multiverse Saga.

Taking to Smallville alum Michael Rosenbaum on his Inside of You podcast, Gunn laid out some of the ways he plans to differentiate the DCU from the MCU.

"If you look at the MCU, there are very few traditional superheroes," the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 director explains. "There was never a guy with a secret identity until Spider-Man. Their [Captain America] was turned into a soldier even though he wears a mask. Iron Man outed himself at the end of the first Iron Man because they don't want to deal with the whole secret identity stuff."

"There is a bit more of a fantasy element to DCU because there are these larger-than-life superheroes," Gunn added. "For me, there's Superman and Clark Kent. They're two different characters, and you have to find a way to deal with them that's as grounded as possible within this world of DC."

Don't fret too much about the filmmaker using the word "grounded" there because he'd go on to explain that the fantastical, alternate history of the DC Universe is one of the biggest draws for him. 

"It is Gotham City and Metropolis and Star City and Bludhaven, and all these different places in this other reality, and it makes it a little bit like Westeros in some ways. I love it in that way. I love that we get to create true world-building in DC. It isn't just 'we're throwing some superheroes on Earth.' I think right now, that's one of the key differences."

While Gunn is in the process of casting Superman: Legacy, he also has an entire slate of projects to oversee meaning he could find himself spread pretty thin over the next few years.

Building a shared world is no easy process, so fingers cross Warner Bros. doesn't rush DC Studios into attempting to replicate the MCU as we saw how that went with Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League

Are you excited to visit the new DCU?

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Thing94
Thing94 - 6/16/2023, 8:31 AM
I don't get it.
DudeGuy
DudeGuy - 6/16/2023, 8:48 AM
@Thing94 - I do
Usernametaken
Usernametaken - 6/16/2023, 8:57 AM
@DudeGuy - i do to. And I like what I’m reading
Fogs
Fogs - 6/16/2023, 10:02 AM
@Usernametaken - Yes. And I got to say I believe even being a freak Tim Burton got it right with his Gotham, that'swhat he used to say about the city too. It's out of this world and anything can help there.

Well we never saw what he was coming up with his Superman and Metropolis, and perhaps that's for the best 😂
Comicmoviejunki
Comicmoviejunki - 6/16/2023, 8:33 AM
Its gonna suck. Hard!
thunderpun573
thunderpun573 - 6/16/2023, 9:36 AM
@Comicmoviejunki - can’t be worse than the snyderverse
Fogs
Fogs - 6/16/2023, 10:04 AM
@thunderpun573 - agreed
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 6/16/2023, 11:55 AM
@thunderpun573 - Don't jinx it!
Comicmoviejunki
Comicmoviejunki - 6/16/2023, 5:50 PM
@thunderpun573 - true
RolandD
RolandD - 6/16/2023, 8:34 AM
Before everyone starts commenting, he did not say that this was right vs Marvel being wrong. It’s mostly the fans who make this a competitive, my favorite studio is Bertrand the other one sucks kind of thing.
Feralwookiee
Feralwookiee - 6/16/2023, 8:36 AM
He didn't really suggest Superman and Clark Kent need to be "grounded", did he?
Wasn't that what Snyder supposedly was attempting to do with his mopey version of the character?
"Man, it sucks being a god like being who's the strongest man on earth, can fly, have bullets bounce right off of him, and gets to bang Amy Adams. What a bummer." 🙁

I like Gunn's Guardians overall, with some reservations on his sense of humor at times, but I have a sinking feeling he's totally the wrong guy for the job at DC/WB.
vegetaray
vegetaray - 6/16/2023, 9:08 AM
@Feralwookiee - “…within this world of DC.”

He follows that up with this.

"It is Gotham City and Metropolis and Star City and Bludhaven, and all these different places in this other reality, and it makes it a little bit like Westeros in some ways. I love it in that way. I love that we get to create true world-building in DC. It isn't just 'we're throwing some superheroes on Earth.' I think right now, that's one of the key differences."

He clearly means grounded within the DC universe, which he looks forward to doing the world building on.
Fogs
Fogs - 6/16/2023, 10:05 AM
@Feralwookiee - no, he meant they need to make sense according to that world.
Feralwookiee
Feralwookiee - 6/16/2023, 10:12 AM
@vegetaray - Hopefully he does a better job than Snyder, which isn't saying much imo, but I feel he's not a good fit for th gig.
We'll see.
Feralwookiee
Feralwookiee - 6/16/2023, 10:17 AM
@Fogs - I guess so. I just don't really see him being the guy to pull it off.
He seems to give into cheap "jokes" to undercut his stories often minimizing their effect and "ungrounding" them imo.

I guess we'll have to wait and see.
Fogs
Fogs - 6/16/2023, 10:28 AM
@Feralwookiee - That's it. Perhaps he can have different tones in his work. Never watched anything from him besides GoTG, I guess.
Feralwookiee
Feralwookiee - 6/16/2023, 10:42 AM
@Fogs - No. I've only seen his Suicide Squad and parts of Super, which obviously are a little more violent than GOTG, but they seem to fall into the same pattern of hit and miss humor undercutting things a bit for me.

It's possible he'll be a good fit and this will all work out, but I certainly have my reservations right now.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 6/16/2023, 11:57 AM
@Fogs - "They need to make sense according to that world".

I just hope the rules of this world are clearly defined.
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