What’s next for the DCU after yesterday’s dramatic news? What news? Well late last night (for me) some huge news broke from the DCU. James Gunn is writing a Superman movie. However it will feature a new actor as Henry Cavill is out as Superman. The news broke initially through James Gunn directly. Then, Cavill responded with his own confirmation of the news. To say this is dramatic news is an understatement. Remember how much Dwayne Johnson has been promoting the fact Cavill is back, or the new cameos he has filmed? Well, that’s all out the window and reports of a complete DCU reboot now seem most likely. So much for Johnson saying those reports were ‘just noise’.
I won’t cover exactly what was said, as LRM‘s Manny Gomez already has you covered in the related links below.
So what happens next? For now we wait to see what the new DCU bosses announce next year. One movie we know is coming is a new Superman movie, written by James Gunn, but perhaps not directed by him. However what about the likes of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom? Is that the final Aquaman film? Has Dwayne Johnson just starred in his first, and last Black Adam movie? What about Shazam, Peacemaker or even the Reeves universe of The Batman?
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Well, on the last one it seems like that will remain a separate franchise. Variety ran an article yesterday saying DC was considering using Reeves The Batman as the DCU’s version of the Dark Knight. However Gunn was quick to debunk this story. Gunn praised the reporter who published this story, but he did warn that perhaps he should get some new sources. This marks one of several times that the trades have published bad information in the last few weeks. It just shows that happens to everyone, even trades.
Yet, there are still serious questions to be answered around the new DCU. Are we supposed to go see Black Adam, Shazam: Fury of the Gods, and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, knowing that ultimately they may mean nothing if the DCU is being rebooted? Where will that reboot occur, will they just start again, or have an event that changes the Universe, aka The Flash? If we have a new Superman, a new Flash (rumored heavily), and a new Batman (implied by Gunn), then do we also need a new Shazam, Black Adam, and Aquaman? Could those rumors that Jason Momoa will play Lobo be true? With Johnson being so vocal and seemingly previously winning a power struggle against DC’s former execs, is his position now untenable given these developments?
At the end of the day, its now James Gunn and Peter Saffran’s jobs to make movies that make money. Black Adam, if it does end up being profitable, it won’t be by that much. Therefore, does this prove that even Johnson is not a big enough draw to get people invested in the current DCEU?
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I have to say, if for some weird reason I was given the keys to the DCU, then I might have seriously considered a full reboot myself. Cavill is likely the only one I would have chosen to keep. However I can also totally understand a full recast with a young actor they can contract for several movies for half the cost of Cavill.
I guess when it comes to this universe the one creative I trust most of all those involved in the DCU is Gunn. Therefore, I’m prepared to see what he and Saffran come up with. I’d love a DCU as good and consistently enjoyable as the MCU. Oh and those 12 Zack Snyder obsessives with a million accounts can just stop whining and moaning now. Snyder’s vision was a failure with audiences. Despite all the online noise, the numbers just are not there. Hopefully this impending reboot puts a nail and that coffin for good.
What’s next for the DCU after yesterday’s dramatic news? We cannot say for certain. However, as evidenced above, there is a lot for Gunn and Saffran to sort out, and that may take some time.
What do you think of the current DCU drama? As always, leave any thoughts below.