DC Studios Expands Its Universe Without Constructing a Foundation: Can the DCU Succeed Where the DCEU Stumbled?

Warner Bros., which holds the rights to DC Comics characters, aimed to create its own version of the MCU after witnessing the immense success of Disney’s franchise, leading to the establishment of the original DCEU.

Despite its significant potential, star power, and some standout films, the DCEU was ultimately doomed by a series of poor decisions and miscalculations.

Following the departure of Zack Snyder, the former director of the DCEU, James Gunn—who brought valuable experience from his time at Marvel—was brought in. Faced with a chaotic situation, Gunn opted to reboot the franchise and develop a new fictional universe called DCU it’s first chapter titled “Gods and Monsters.”

The project began in 2022, and now, nearly three years later, where do we stand with the DCU? In this article, we’ll reflect on what Gunn and DC Studios have accomplished and explore the potential of the new DC Universe.

While several films have been released during James Gunn and Peter Safran’s leadership at DC, none are officially part of the new DCU, which is set to launch later this year. Projects like Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom and Blue Beetle belong to the old DCEU, while Matt Reeves’ The Batman and Todd Phillips’ Joker: Folie à Deux were never intended to be part of the main universe.

Although Gunn’s The Suicide Squad is well-known, it is not officially categorized as a DCU film. Peacemaker, on the other hand, is included in the DCU but is considered an exception.

As you may know, Gunn announced that the first phase of the DCU will be titled Gods and Monsters, serving as an introduction to the new lore. So far, no films from this phase have been released, even though Gunn has been developing the world for nearly three years. The first movie from this phase will be Superman, set to premiere on July 11, 2025.

Following that, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is scheduled for a June 26, 2026 release, along with five additional movies that currently have no set release dates.

We also have several television projects in the pipeline, but they are not our primary concern at the moment, as these shows will serve as supplementary content rather than forming the core of the DCU.

So here we are, three years into world-building with nothing to show for it. That seems rather odd, doesn’t it? While various casting decisions have been made, the main issue remains that Gunn has yet to present anything tangible.

With over six months still to go before the first major DCU project debuts, this poses a significant challenge. It may not be an issue for us—we’re accustomed to delays—but it certainly is for Gunn, as Superman will have to meet high expectations and prove to be worth the wait.

If the movie underperforms, it would suggest that three years of work yielded nothing substantial, raising doubts about Gunn and Safran’s ability to create something that resonates with audiences. The future of the DCU could be in serious jeopardy.

It remains uncertain whether this strategy will succeed for Gunn, but several potential pitfalls are evident. For one, a lot of announcements have been made—some major and others more obscure, like the unexpected Bane/Deathstroke solo movie, especially considering the DCU doesn’t even have its Batman yet.

This could pose a problem. One of Marvel’s biggest challenges in retrospect was its attempt to produce as much content as possible in a short timeframe. While we don’t know Gunn’s timeline, it’s clear that audiences aren’t willing to wait ten years for seven movies, particularly if only two are likely to be major hits; it simply doesn’t add up.

Secondly, Gunn is constructing his DCU around lesser-known characters. We’re not suggesting that Peacemaker or the Creature Commandos are bad choices, but they aren’t the marquee heroes, and fans typically want to see the iconic figures before delving into the more obscure ones.

Imagine if the MCU had kicked off with Ms. Marvel, Hawkeye, and Ant-Man without properly introducing Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America first—it likely wouldn’t have achieved the same level of success.

Sure, we will eventually see Supergirl, the Teen Titans, some Green Lanterns, and Swamp Thing, but where are Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, and Aquaman? Gunn faces the challenge of introducing characters that are already deeply ingrained in the collective memory of fans (unlike Marvel, which essentially started from scratch).

Still, audiences want to experience the main heroes with compelling stories first before exploring lesser-known characters. While Batman is slated to appear in The Brave and the Bold, the other three heroes are noticeably absent, which is disappointing, especially for fans of Wonder Woman and The Flash.

Given all this, Gunn will need to step up his game and move quickly while maintaining a high standard of quality, which won’t be an easy feat. At this point, there are more obstacles to his vision than advantages, but we remain hopeful that the release of Superman will change that and usher in a new, brighter era for DC’s heroes.

Do you have any thoughts to share? Let us know in the comments below!

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