Recently-appointed DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran made it clear that the new DCU will incorporate movies, TV and animation, and we now have an update on their plans for the animated side of this connected universe.
While speaking at the U.K. TV conference in London (via Variety), Head of Warner Bros. Television Channing Dungey revealed that Warner Bros. TV and Amazon are in the process of closing a deal for new DC animated content.
"One of the interesting things that's exciting for me at this moment, the approach of the previous management was much more like 'Everything has to stay in house, we don't want anything to go outside,'" she said. "David Zaslav has been much more open to our exploring all of our animated IP and being able to do it on different platforms. Certainly, HBO Max is going to be our first stop but we're already in the process of closing a big deal with Amazon that's going to feature some of our DC-branded content in animation."
This is an interesting development, but it probably won't come as too much of a surprise to anyone who's been keeping up to date with the "strategic realignment" that's being implemented at WBD.
Last month, Warner Bros. Television underwent a major restructure, laying off 19% of its workforce across the scripted, unscripted and animation divisions. Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios’ development and production teams were merged, and there was an indication that they might be looking to outsource animation to third parties.
We have no idea what this new animated content will focus on, but fans will be hoping for a shift away from the likes of Superman and Batman in order to give some lesser-known characters the spotlight.