SAG-AFTRA and the WGA are on strike together for the first time since 1960, and Hollywood has been brought to a standstill. While some work can continue on movies and TV shows, that's easier said than done when neither writers nor actors can contribute.
For the time being, filmmaker James Gunn remains hard at work on Superman: Legacy. The first DCU movie, it will be down to the 2025 release to set the tone for this rebooted shared world...and help moviegoers forget recent disasters like Shazam! Fury of the Gods and The Flash.
We're not expecting any casting news to break for this or any other superhero movie in the months ahead, but last week's sudden influx of actors has given us some ideas!
In this feature, we're looking at 7 more superheroes we believe should join the likes of Mister Terrific and Green Lantern in Superman: Legacy and think there are some names here which will surprise you. Simply tap the "Next" button below to check them out.
7. Phantom Girl
A character who we're shocked wasn't added to Superman: Legacy last week, Phantom Girl seems a likely addition to the first DCU movie.
After all, it was during the "DC Rebirth" era of storytelling that she assembled alongside the rest of The Terrifics, a group which counted Mister Terrific and Metamorpho among its ranks (two heroes confirmed to appear in Gunn's reboot).
That connection aside, Tinya Wazzo is a great character who has the power to phase through solid objects. A native of the extra-dimensional planet Bgztl, she can pass through the Phantom Zone and onto Earth, and once served alongside the rest of the Legion of Super-Heroes, a team we'd love to finally see in live-action.
6. Plastic Man
Another character with ties to The Terrifics - a group Gunn is clearly a fan of after sharing artwork of them prior to any of this casting news breaking - Plastic Man's big screen debut has been long overdue for several years now.
Many attempts have been made to bring him to theaters, but Superman: Legacy would be a great place to establish him as a key part of the DCU. Funny and brave in equal measure, he's more than just DC's Mister Fantastic, and someone who we're sure Gunn would have a tonne of fun with on screen.
In the comics, former thief Patrick "Eel" O'Brien accidentally fell into an acid vat and acquired powers to bend his body into any imaginable form. To see him stand alongside the likes of Batman and Superman would be a blast.
5. Vixen
Mari Jiwe McCabe, better known as Vixen, is a successful fashion icon, talk show host, animal activist and superhero who is able to channel the powers of any animal that has walked or evolved on Earth.
She does so with the use of a mystical object given to her ancestor by the god Anansi, and Arrow fans will surely remember the sort of memorable impact Vixen can make in a live-action setting. Her presence would allow Gunn to explore a whole new side of the DCU and she's a character with major spin-off potential.
Again, Gunn has said he's a fan of Mari, so even if it doesn't happen in Superman: Legacy, we'll see her on screen again at some point in the next few years.
4. Martian Manhunter
This is a tricky one, especially as Martian Manhunter has, in some respects, been a little over-exposed in recent years. Don't forget, he was a major part of Supergirl for several years, while he's also a character now forever tied to Zack Snyder's DCEU plans after the "Snyder Cut" of Justice League was released.
A completely fresh start will be needed if he's to shine in the DCU, and we'd suggest Gunn make him as "alien" and out there as possible.
As a fellow refugee from a dying planet, there's the potential to explore a really fascinating dynamic between Kal-El and J'onn J'onzz. The last Martian is a fan-favourite who has been a detective, secret agent, explorer, and even a founding member of the Justice League.
3. Detective Chimp
Like it or not, Gunn's DCU is going to be vastly different to the DCEU. You need only look at The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker for an idea of how he'll approach these characters, while Guardians of the Galaxy should offer some pretty big clues as well.
That's not a bad thing, however, and it surely means we can look forward to a much more comic-accurate take on this comic book world. It's in that sort of reality the door will almost certainly be open to the introduction of a character like Detective Chimp.
Exactly as his name suggests, this chimpanzee is a detective who fancies himself an even better investigator than even Batman. Would it be weird for him to cross paths with Superman in 2025? Absolutely. Would we like to see it? You know what, yes actually...
2. Mr. Miracle
It very much sounds like Superman: Legacy's metahumans will only be making cameo appearances, and we wouldn't be surprised if they're part of the DCU's Justice Society or even Justice League International.
In the comics, Scott Free was traded as an infant for Darkseid's child, Orion, to end the war between the New Gods of Apokolips and New Genesis. He later fled to Earth where he took on the mantle of Mister Miracle, establishing himself as the greatest escape artist in the universe.
That's a lot of backstory to squeeze into a Superman movie, but just seeing him in action as part of this team could be enough to garner the sort of interest which would allow a future movie or TV to properly explore the New Gods!
1. Green Arrow
If Arrow's longevity proves anything, it's that there's a lot of storytelling potential with DC's Emerald Archer. His goofy trick arrows help Oliver Queen stand separate from Marvel's Hawkeye and, if Gunn leans into that, we could be treated to a really fun take on this hero.
There's also his relationship with Black Canary to factor into that, not to mention the way he's often clashed with the Justice League. Making him part of the "International" team would be a great way to build on the tension, anyway.
A big screen role for Green Arrow is long overdue and we see no reason not to have him assemble alongside his fellow heroes as they cross paths with Superman in this movie (presumably for the first time if he's only just now making himself known to the world).