DCU: James Gunn's Bold Strategy for Character-Driven Stories"

Over the weekend Slav's Free Talk was passed along some intriguing information that we were not sure about running with. Our intent is not to be the first or at the forefront of news. But as Slav and I discussed this we thought this is information that while not directly stated by James Gunn makes A LOT of sense to what has been announced thus far. So, lets break down what we were told.

We were told that

the DCU will eventually have a large focus on Gotham's heroes This will including Robin, Batgirl, Nightwing, Batman, and even the Teen Titans. Patience is key as the team works on scripts and details to build this unique world within a world.

this is similar to how Gunn has approached Superman and then Supergirl immediately after and he wants to approach Batman the same way. Each big hero will essentially have their own little World within the larger universe.

Crossovers can and will happen. But they all have their own living and breathing World that can be explored to a certain degree.

Okay, so there is a good bit to unpack there.

Let’s start by examining James Gunn’s approach to launching the DC Universe. Beginning with Superman and following it up with a Supergirl film is quite a bold strategy. It clearly signals that these iconic characters share a common universe, or at least a similar framework.

With Andy Muschietti now on board for "Brave and the Bold," especially as "Welcome to Derry" wraps up post-production, it’s easy to speculate that a Teen Titans movie could be among the next projects greenlit. Additionally, there are rumors that "Waller" will have significant ties to "Batman: Brave and the Bold," with Gunn revealing its release has been moved to after "Peacemaker" season 2, potentially leading to an early 2026 debut. This timeline suggests we could see Batman related content from the DCU starting around that time.

Next, let’s delve into the concept of a "World within a World." This idea makes a lot of sense upon reflection. In contrast to Marvel, which recently struggled with its overarching narrative, DC can benefit from crafting more self-contained stories within their own "worlds." The challenge remains: how do they unite these narratives for Justice League level films? That remains to be seen. However, creating these distinct pockets within the DC Universe, while allowing for crossovers (which will be established right away in "Superman 2025"), can enhance the focus on individual character stories, ultimately enriching the overarching narrative.

Interestingly, this approach mirrors how Gunn managed the "Guardians of the Galaxy" films within the MCU, which proved to be a remarkable success!