The DC Universe is just getting started. With its first film, Superman, set to hit theaters in 2025 and the animation series Creature Commandos about to debut, excitement is building. Despite its early stage, DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has a precise vision for the universe, including what direction he intends to take and what he wants to avoid.
In a chat with Collider, Gunn expressed that he doesn’t want the interconnected storylines to overwhelm viewers or create an impression that they need to study previous content to keep up. “A lot of what excites me about DC is in the world-building, not solely in the narrative. I don’t view the DCU as just a collective saga revolving around one major villain. I don’t want audiences to feel burdened by having to watch everything,” Gunn elaborated. “It’s about a cohesive universe that resides in one domain, which is the DCU.”
Gunn’s perspective may take some comic book aficionados by surprise. He has previously emphasized the significance of a unified DCU, even suggesting that the actors voicing animated versions of characters would generally reprise their roles in live-action adaptations. However, while he aims for a minimal number of continuity discrepancies, particularly in casting, he has made it evident that he wants to steer clear of complications related to canon or stories that heavily depend on crossover elements.
This approach could bring some relief, especially considering that other franchises, particularly the Marvel Cinematic Universe, have found it increasingly challenging to manage the complexity of their expansive narratives and expanding storylines. It appears that the DC Universe is being structured to sidestep such challenges, even with a robust lineup of upcoming projects.
