DC Entertainment Prez: Movies, TV Will Stay Separate

The Marvel Cinematic Universe connects all of the company’s movie and TV efforts, and it works for Marvel. It’s just not the way DC Entertainment plans on going.

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That’s the word from DC Entertainment president Diane Nelson, who spoke with Variety about the plans for her company’s upcoming movies and its hit TV series. Because Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is set to introduce Wonder Woman, the Flash, Aquaman and potentially other super heroes into a shared film universe that began with Man of Steel, there’s been some thought, or at least hope, among fans that the TV shows on The CW or upcoming fare like Supergirl would somehow be connected to them as well.

Nelson says that’s not the case, not because she doesn’t admire what Marvel has been able to achieve for the MCU but simply because it doesn’t make sense for DC and Warner Bros. Pointing out the wide range of tones the movies and shows can have if left on their own, she told Variety she doesn’t want the talent making them to feel constrained in any way.

"We’re so talent driven. [Combining the movies and TV shows] could end up handcuffing our creators into trying to work with the same storyline or force them to hold back characters or introduce certain characters. Ultimately it hinders the ability for someone like (showrunner) Bruno Heller to come in and create ‘Gotham.’"

It’s worth pointing out that thanks to The Flash, DC has already set up a way to have its cake and eat it too in the area of connected universes. Barry Allen’s adventures have introduced the idea of both timelines that can be changed by tinkering with the past and alternate worlds. Who’s to say that sometime down the road, DC can’t have the TV Flash and his movie counterpart crossover while still maintaining the status quo of separate universes?

Nelson’s comments don’t make that scenario sound likely, but it’s something to file away for later. One thing that does come naturally from DC’s approach is that people can be fans of Arrow or The Flash and not feel compelled to rush out for Batman v Superman without feeling like they’re potentially missing out on something important, and vice versa. It’s a “something for everyone” philosophy, and at least for now, it’s what DC believes will work.

(via Comic Book Resources)

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