When DC Studios' plans for the DCU were first announced at the start of 2023, fans—rightly or wrongly—were left with the impression that, outside of Elseworlds projects like The Penguin, James Gunn and Peter Safran would deliver an MCU-style franchise where each movie and TV show ties into whatever came next.
After nearly four years, the "Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters" slate has given us Superman and Supergirl in theaters and Creature Commandos and Lanterns on streaming. There have also been new additions like Peacemaker Season 2, Clayface, and the upcoming Man of Tomorrow, but no sign of The Brave and the Bold, Swamp Thing, Waller, Paradise Lost, and Booster Gold.
Recent comments from Gunn have led to confusion among some fans about whether the DCU is comprised of standalone stories, an interconnected throughline, or a combination of both. The sticking point seems to be that what the filmmaker is saying now doesn't line up with promises made at the start of 2023.
Now, Gunn has attempted to clarify his remarks (again), reminding these fans that he is doing what he originally promised. "You can look at my quotes from January '23 when we started, and I said we were going to do exactly what we're doing," the DC Studios co-CEO wrote in response to a fan, before adding:
"I said some stories would be standalone like the Guardians movies were (which is what Clayface is) and some stories would have part of a larger narrative structure, which is what the Superman Saga is. All that said, each piece of the larger story should work on its own with or without having to see everything else."
"Also, some things get conflated here. The often-cited '8 to 10 year roadmap' originally pitched wasn't only story points (although that was a part of it), but also the plan for DC as a whole, including focusing on diamond characters (Superman, Batman, WW) as well as smaller characters we could turn into diamonds (Krypto, John Stewart, Peacemaker), how we would foster filmmaker freedom [and] allow for multiple tones [and] ratings, the influences of Star Wars [and] George R.R. Martin, and so much more."
However, perhaps aware of the frustration of those who feel the DCU isn't coming together in quite the same way as the MCU—by now in that franchise's timeline, The Avengers was fast approaching—Gunn pointed people to next summer's Man of Tomorrow.
"It's exciting seeing things start to come together, and all that makes me even more excited for what we have in store for everyone in Man of Tomorrow," the filmmaker shared as rumours continue to swirl that Wonder Woman and Batman could appear in his Superman sequel.
His comments today are largely consistent with that original vision for the DCU: some projects, like Clayface, can tell self-contained stories, while others, like the Superman Saga, contribute to a larger storyline.
Still, the fact that Gunn regularly has to clarify his approach suggests there is some confusion about how DC Studios intends to build its shared universe. Whether that's down to his original vision not being communicated clearly enough, the way the DCU has developed since 2023, or expectations shaped by the MCU, it's clear that not everyone is on the same page about what this franchise is supposed to be.