Back in 2022, Gunn told fans that the DC Universe will span across movies and TV, as well as video games. The first game to come out under his stewardship is Dynamic Duo, which tells the origin story of Dick Grayson and Jason Todd.
It will be produced by Swaybox Studios and utilizes a hybrid of stop motion, puppetry, and CG animation.
Tone
While Gunn isn’t able to reveal every DC Universe project, he has confirmed that there are multiple films and TV shows in the works. He’s also hinted that video games are in his sights.
While he won’t be overseeing the actual games, he’s set to help guide the overall tone. He’s aiming to create an interconnected universe, where films, TV, and video games all work together.
This approach is a clear break from the rigidly interconnected confines of Marvel Phase 6, which has been heavily criticized for making audiences do too much homework. Gunn seems to be aiming for a faster-paced approach that can place more emphasis on each individual story at hand.
Gunn has already begun to telegraph his vision with the 2025 Superman adaptation. The new film leans into Superman’s brighter, more optimistic side. This is a stark contrast to other modern depictions of the character, which have often focused on his dour and grounded persona.
This new take on the character is further reflected in the Justice League team. The film will feature a team that includes cult favorites such as Swamp Thing, who is being played by Jason Momoa. This is a departure from the traditional Justice League lineup, which has featured more established heroes such as Superman and Batman. The film will also introduce Damien Wayne as Batman’s son, a concept that was first introduced in Grant Morrison’s run on the comic.
Storytelling
The new DC Universe, which Gunn and Peter Safran have been building since taking over in 2022, is off to a fast start. We’ve got Superman saving Metropolis, Peacemaker jumping through dimensions, and a series about Green Lanterns and more coming soon. And that’s not even mentioning the Batman movie, which will likely be in theaters before 2031.
As for Gunn’s approach to storytelling, he has said that his DCU is not like the MCU and he intends to let each project stand on its own. That’s a smart move, as he wants to build up each world with care and avoid the problem that many massive cinematic universes run into by trying to connect everything too quickly.
In fact, Gunn’s been using his experience with the MCU in crafting his plans. His take on Nebula in Guardians of the Galaxy was a perfect example of this — it took time to develop the character from what had been a side character to one of the most important players in the trilogy.
And we’ll probably see this approach in his future projects, too. His new animated series Creature Commandos, for instance, is already bringing in stars like Jason Momoa to voice Lobo, Sgt. Rock, and other members of the Black Ops team assembled by Amanda Waller. The rest of the cast includes Michael Rooker as General Zod, David Harbour as Rick Flag Sr., Indira Varma as the Bride of Frankenstein, and more.
Characters
James Gunn is taking a different approach to his DC Universe than Marvel did with its multiverse. His plan seems to center around metahumans clashing with governments and corporations — a more grounded conflict than fending off alien invasions and reality-bending tyrants. It also looks like Gunn isn’t planning any massive, climactic showdowns between his heroes and villains, which was one of the MCU’s most prominent flaws.
The new DCU launched with 2024’s Creature Commandos, an animated series that follows Amanda Waller’s black ops team of monster prisoners. Game of Thrones and Torchwood star Indira Varma is voiced as the Bride of Frankenstein, who works for SHADE (the agency that deals with otherworldly threats and monsters) and leads the eponymous group. The DCU is also expanding to include other SHADE members, such as Isabela Merced’s Hawkgirl, Nathan Fillion’s Green Lantern Guy Gardner, and Edi Gathegi’s Mister Terrific.
The DCU will also expand to include more characters from the comics, such as Tom Rhys Harries’ shapeshifting Clayface. He debuted in The Suicide Squad and appeared again in Black Adam, Peacemaker season 1, and the upcoming TV series Waller. It’s not clear if the live-action Superman sequel directed by David Corenswet and starring Nicholas Hoult will feature the character, but it does seem to be tied to Creature Commandos, with new set photos teasing connections between the two shows.
Audience Hype
While the MCU once seemed incapable of missing, their once-lauded sense of interconnectivity began to falter in Phase 5. This eroded the fanbase and ultimately led to the lowest-grossing phase of the franchise.
Luckily, DC is attempting to rebuild the trust of audiences with more resonant stories that prioritize character over blockbuster spectacle. This approach allows them to release films that don’t have to reach the same lofty billion-dollar grosses as their MCU counterparts and still have a chance at success.
One way they’re doing this is by establishing the DCU’s first universe-shaking villain, and fans are very excited about it. James Gunn recently teased the debut of Brainiac, a universe-collector who could easily rival Thanos in power.
Another way that DC is trying to make up for its missteps is by prioritizing the script of every film before it hits production. Under Gunn and Safran, the studio only releases a movie if it has a strong story that can connect with viewers on a deeper level.
It’s a strategy that could be the key to beating Marvel, as it lowers the immense pressure on each film and gives the DCU more creative freedom. While the MCU might win the next few box office rounds, this tiered financial strategy can help the DCU build a stronger and more resilient ecosystem in the long run.