The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) is dead. Long live DCEU.
Well, in a new style anyway, it looks sparkly. The recent merger between Warner Bros. and Discovery – a super-sized entity known as Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) – has led to serious discussions about how the DCEU will work from now on.
Now, according to a report from The Hollywood Reporter, WBD’s new blueprint for DCEU movies and HBO Max shows It’s a simple thing: let the DCEU’s most prominent creators lead it in a new direction.
What does it mean? Effectively, directors, writers, and actors including Matt Reeves (Batman), James Gunn (Suicide Squad, People of Peace), and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson (Black Adam) builds pocket universes based on DC characters who have proven to be box office superheroes.
Among the DCEU’s numerous missteps in recent years, including the fall of Snyder-Verse and my fans are over Batgirl movie cancellation, this seems like a really smart move by WBD. In fact, it’s a creative decision that could signal the end of the DC premise for a cinematic-present multiverse.
Take Black Adam for example. Johnson is currently the most marketable and earning A-list star in the world. The wrestler’s massive box office appeal and popularity regularly help his films reach huge numbers worldwide, even if those films aren’t. always well received by critics. Meanwhile, in the streaming world, Johnson’s star power helped make Red Notice the most-watched original. Netflix Movies all time back in December 2020. Not even famous stars Don’t look up or the Russo brothers’ Gray Man could usurp the throne in December 2021 and July 2022.
Regardless of how critics viewed Black Adam prior to its October 21 release, one thing is clear: if you’re WBD, you’re allowing Johnson to create his own Black Adam-specific universe . Forget tying it to DC’s cinematic multiverse. First, let the anti-hero get on his superpower’s feet, making him a household name across the globe, and afterward started introducing him to the broader DCEU.
Similar approaches can also be taken with other recent DC properties. James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad wasn’t a huge hit from a monetary point of view. In fact, it only grossed $168.7 million globally. Compared to its reported $185 million budget, that was considered a box office disappointment.
However, superhero movie was praised by critics upon its pre-release and received praise from DC fans for its humor, subtle visuals, and R-rated action sequences. Add to that the fact that it was had the second-biggest opening weekend of any Warner Bros. released day and month – August 2021 anyway – on HBO Maxand The Suicide Squad was quite successful.
Gunn’s magical touch was also evident in early 2022. Peacemaker, the Suicide Squad TV series starring John Cena, was one of the most popular series of the first few months of the year, with Books by Boba Fett and The Witcher season 2 struggled to keep up with it from an audience demand perspective.
Like Johnson, so Gunn deserves to continue creating a similar mini-universe based on The Suicide Squad. Peacemaker already has a second season, and as reported by THR, Gunn is prepping a few more DC projects. Does that include a Suicide Squad sequel or another TV spin-off? Based on the success of the two works he has directed, it is in the best interest of WBD to give the green light to other projects led by Gunn.
Then there’s The Batman. Matt Reeves’ first stab at superhero property was a huge success for Warner Bros, with the film grossing nearly $800 million at the global box office and receiving critical acclaim from fans as well as critics.
Unsurprisingly, WBD is extremely keen to continue exploring Batman’s new universe, in pulp style. The sequel has been confirmedone A TV spin-off starring Colin Farrell’s Penguin has been developed, while a horror project Arkham Asylum is also in the works. As THR reports, Reeves has also been meeting with screenwriters and directors to create multiple film and TV sequels based on Caped Crusader’s iconic gallery. Those projects may focus on villains including Scarecrow, Clayface, and even Professor Pyg.
Given Batman’s enduring popularity as a character and the new direction Reeves has taken the franchise into, it’s understandable that more Batman-centric projects are underway. It’s a universe well beyond the confines of the DCEU – and that’s how it should be. Like Black Adam and The Suicide Squad, WBD should allow Reeves to create a world that is untethered to its broader cinematic universe, allowing it to be untethered and unburdened by works. Batman and other DCEUs have come and gone.
Unfortunately, a potential long-term plan to create smaller, superhero-specific universes isn’t easily remedied. There are other DCEU movies coming out in the next few years, such as Aquaman: Lost Kingdom and Wonder Woman 3, which are intrinsically linked to the DCEU. Based on the rumors swirling around Black Adam, it seems likely that a relationship has been forged between this film and the films set in Snyder-Verse, which further clutters the DCEU’s waters than it does. they.
Those potential problems are nothing when you wear The Flash – WBD’s most controversial upcoming movie, with the events surrounding lead star Ezra Miller – is under review. The June 2023 movie has ties to the DCEU multiverse and before Movies about Batman is obvious. And, with a script for The Flash sequel already in the works, this may not be the end of the DCEU’s exploration of the multiverse.
The point, however, is that it has to be. Well, at least for now. Warner Bros. Discovery tried to build a multiverse in the same vein as Marvel’s movies, but it didn’t work as intended. There is no clear blueprint for its creation, nor how all of its movies and TV shows would effectively fit into the DCEU.
In our view, the best way for the DCEU to move forward is to do so with as little or no tie between each universe as possible. Let each creator shape their pocket-sized world in their own image, and eliminate the worry of having to fit into each property around their contemporaries. Then, let’s see which resonates with audiences the most before starting to build a multiverse where these characters can interact. Certainly, it will be a long, methodical road to a common DC universe. However, given the alternative, WBD should take a step if it ultimately wants to be able to compete with Marvel.
For more DC and MCU based content, check out Marvel movies in order center. Also, find out how to watch the Batman movies in orderor read about top 10 best performances in every Batman movie hitherto.
