SUPERMAN: James Gunn Talks Logo Inspiration, DCU "Introduction," And SHAZAM! 2 Not Being Canon

SUPERMAN: James Gunn Talks Logo Inspiration, DCU "Introduction," And SHAZAM! 2 Not Being Canon

DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has shared a handful of DCU updates, including some Shazam! Fury of the Gods clarification, his main inspiration for Superman's suit, and the DCU's true introductory chapter.

By JoshWilding - Sep 15, 2024 02:09 PM EST
Filed Under: Superman

DC Studios co-CEO and Superman director James Gunn has once again shared a few DCU updates on his social media accounts. However, the Shazam! Fury of the Gods fans among you may be disappointed.

Asked whether that movie is DCU canon based on previous comments he's made (remember, the sequel featured Peacemaker's Emilia Harcourt and John Economos attempting to recruit Billy Batson to the Justice Society), Gunn reiterated, "[You] don't need to be confused. It's not canon. I don't know now or then what Harcourt or Economos have to do with the Justice Society."

The filmmaker was never happy about the characters being thrown into projects like Shazam! Fury of the Gods and Black Adam, so we're not exactly shocked he plans to now ignore those scenes. 

Gunn was also asked whether Creature Commandos or Superman should be considered an introduction to the new DCU, prompting him to respond, "I think both of them as individual stories that are a part of an overall universe. They both exist for their own sake. I don't see either one as an 'introduction,' but [Creature Commandos] does come first."

Finally, the Superman director confirmed the Man of Tomorrow's new logo is specifically based on Kingdom Come, leaving us to wonder what, if anything, he plans to adapt from Mark Waid and Alex Ross' comic book. 

One social post from Gunn that's also receiving a lot of attention contains what many fans believe is a shot at Marvel Studios and its habit of shooting movies without a completed script. 

Dig or not, we've seen that approach result in some very good MCU films and more than a few very bad ones; with that in mind, it's no bad thing that DC Studios is looking to handle things differently. 

We also have some new artwork from Superman courtesy of crew wrap gifts.

Superman tells the story of Superman's journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.

David Corenswet is playing the Man of Steel, while Rachel Brosnahan has been tapped to star as Lois Lane.

The cast includes Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, and Gabriela de Faría as The Engineer.

Supporting characters include Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, Wendell Pierce as Perry White, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Pruitt Taylor Vince as Pa Kent, Neva Howell as Ma Kent, Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard, Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant, Christopher MacDonald as Ron Troupe, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor.

Milly Alcock is also expected to make a cameo appearance as Supergirl before taking flight in her own movie, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.

Superman is currently set to be released in theaters on July 11, 2025.

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MrDandy
MrDandy - 9/15/2024, 2:29 PM
What about the entire Justice League from the old DCEU showing up at the end of Peacemaker. Are they canon? This is kind of the problem with trying to have your cake and eat it too. I’m not sure how Gunn in planning to bring Suicide Squad and Peacemamer into this new series when they are pretty clearly part of the older franchise.
Timerider
Timerider - 9/15/2024, 2:38 PM
@MrDandy - Peacemaker also went to the NeatherRealm and Lui Kang reset that universe, that’s how it changed everything. When Peacemaker came back it was a new universe.
UncleHarm1
UncleHarm1 - 9/15/2024, 2:43 PM
@Timerider - Definitely not how they're gonna explain it in the show, but now I wish they would holy buckets
valmic
valmic - 9/15/2024, 2:45 PM
@MrDandy - People make this so much more serious than it is. Its movies/tv shows, it's not that serious. Obviously it's tricky but if just use your brain and know that things have changed, makes much more easier to get used to whatever the new world he introduces.
Twenty23Three
Twenty23Three - 9/15/2024, 3:36 PM
@MrDandy - I completely expect the change of the universe to not only be addressed, but to be a constant plot point going forward. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s what the Waller show is about
FireandBlood
FireandBlood - 9/15/2024, 3:56 PM
@MrDandy - They’re just going to do with these characters what Bond did with Dench’s M. Eventually, people will realise this is a different continuity or just stop caring altogether.
tylerzero
tylerzero - 9/15/2024, 2:39 PM
I almost wouldn’t want a Kingdom Come adaptation because it’d be impossible to recreate that visual perfection.
TheLight
TheLight - 9/15/2024, 5:32 PM
@tylerzero - Adding to that, I don't think Gunn has the psychological palate to pull off bringing so much of that story's immeasurable depth to live action.
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 9/15/2024, 2:54 PM
Yeah, not surprising. Shazam 1 was damn good, but part 2 was just boring and mid.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 9/15/2024, 3:06 PM
I don't think he's throwing shade at Marvel Studios specifically. Most studios operate like that these days. He's just recognising that it's not the best way of working.
bcom
bcom - 9/15/2024, 6:32 PM
@ObserverIO - Exactly. It's just Josh selling some false drama.
TheLobster
TheLobster - 9/15/2024, 3:08 PM
Damn, all 3 fans of Fury of the Gods are gonna be super bummed.
AnungUnRama
AnungUnRama - 9/15/2024, 3:15 PM
DCU seems doomed to fail. It was announced as full reboot. But then the attempt got watered down and some DCEU characters were integrated into the DCU which opened the discussion on any other character or movie being canon as well.

As of now it seems like a (bad) semi-reboot at best repeating all the DCEU‘s mistakes like not inteoducing the major characters first before (i. e. Supes, Bats, WW, Flash, GL) bringing in secondary characters like Supergirl) or not throwing in too much lesser known characters before having established them or at least a wider universe (See Black Adam or the new Superman)
MuadDib
MuadDib - 9/15/2024, 3:18 PM
Best I can guess is it’s a parallel universe where some things are extremely similar or identical and some things aren’t.
Mrnorth1921
Mrnorth1921 - 9/15/2024, 9:45 PM
@MuadDib - it’s kind of like what Batkeaton said in flash about the multiverse. You will have timeline that run parallel and are almost similar. I suspect flash did not reboot the Synderverse, instead he left it and ended up in a Schmucker universe. This is the Gunnverse. Which is probably intersecting with the Synderverse. So some things exist. Or it’s running parallel with it.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 9/15/2024, 3:29 PM
My excitement levels are flip-flopping like crazy.

A recent article said that Superman would fill us in on how this universe's history was different and that gave me some hope, but now Gunn saying that he doesn't "See either one as an 'introduction'," has me worried.

You're really gonna drop us into an overpopulated superhero universe, in medias res, without explaining it at all in the first movie and expect anyone other than 5 year olds and die hard comics fans to roll with it?
FireandBlood
FireandBlood - 9/15/2024, 5:10 PM
@ObserverIO - Essentially, yeah. It’s a hard ask, but if he sticks the landing, it can be done. Audiences are fine with rolling with it, as long as there’s something worth rolling with. Whether he can pull this off or not is another thing entirely.
ProfessorWhy
ProfessorWhy - 9/15/2024, 3:50 PM
He won't explain it because he can't do so believably.... there is no prior setup, it's all been starts and stops. Maybe boomtubes lol
HulkisHoly
HulkisHoly - 9/15/2024, 4:02 PM
I think it’s obvious that peacemaker season 2 is gonna deal with multiverse shenanigans and PM and Waller will find themselves in the DCU when it’s all said and done.
Ojeet78
Ojeet78 - 9/15/2024, 4:31 PM
Every DC movie from DC studios is going to have a disclaimer stating that resemblance of fictional characters to prior DCEU characters is purely coincidental and not because James Gunn likes to work with his friends.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 9/15/2024, 4:33 PM
@Ojeet78 - I mean , good for him..

If I got the opportunity , I would want my friends and family to be involved too
Ojeet78
Ojeet78 - 9/15/2024, 4:37 PM
@TheVisionary25 - Yeah good for him. Its only odd cause they are playing the same characters they played, before the switch up. Had they been different characters maybe there wouldn't be so much doubt. However I hope he handwaves it away instead of writing in expositional jokes to address it.
bcom
bcom - 9/15/2024, 6:31 PM
That "dig" about studios starting a movie without a finished script is not a specific dig at Marvel, that's Josh selling false drama.

It's a practice that many studios do. They'll have a 'loose' script just to get green lit and then the script goes through tweaks and changes while the movie is in production.

Sometimes it works out well and the audience is none the wiser, other times it is very noticeable with the story/plot being all over the place.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 9/15/2024, 6:58 PM
I mean , it’s not really a dig at Marvel since most big budget studio movies go into production with unfinished scripts which they work on during the shoot so it’s moreso a shot at that process in general.

Also , I dig that mug artwork especially the contrast between Clark & Superman you can already see such as the former’s clothes being baggy and his posture bent a bit etc.

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