DC Universe: Should James Gunn and Peter Safran start over with the DCEU?

James Gunn and Peter Safran plan to give fans a stable dose of DC films to get excited about — a fresh start to the DCEU can make that happen.

DC movie fans are all too familiar with uncertainty surrounding the DC Universe, formerly known as the DCEU. Of course, when news hit the web, fans’ ears perk up. It’s not always good news, as fans of the convoluted franchise have to come to expect. According to reports, Patty Jenkins walked away from Wonder Woman 3.

Meanwhile, Black Adam’s lack of box office success has the Rock taking to Twitter to quiet the false financial claims. Oh, and Warner Bros execs are reportedly claiming that the Brahma Bull leaked the bad Black Adam profit info — talk about chaos. Newcomers James Gunn and Peter Safran have their hands full as they look to bring new hope and continuity to DC. Perhaps the best way to make that happen is to push the restart button.

The Flash makes the DCEU restart a realistic possibility 

They have a way to restart the entire franchise with Andrés Muschietti’s The Flash. The upcoming DC film stars Ezra Miller in what many expect to bring Flashpoint to life. With Barry disrupting the timeline and potentially creating an alternative universe, Flash is the perfect way to say goodbye to the DCEU. This could be our last time seeing Ben Affleck as Batman. Given the events surrounding Wonder Woman 3, The Flash could be the last time we see Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman.

The looming cloud of uncertainty doesn’t work well for Gunn and Safran. According to James Gunn, the duo is working on a long-term plan that will create a cohesive universe.

"“Peter and I chose to helm DC Studios knowing we were coming into a fractious environment, both in the stories being told and in the audience itself, and there would be an unavoidable transitional period as we moved into telling a cohesive story across film, TV, animation, and gaming.”"

Some fans get caught up in the negative aspect of a shared universe. However, there is a way to create a cohesive universe work without making it feel directly connected. A cohesive universe means every DC character can feel unique to their universe. Greg Berlanti’s Arrowverse is a good example of how it works. Arrow had its own tone and story arc before setting the stage for shows like The Flash, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, and Batwoman.

With Gunn and Safran’s plan to develop a cohesive universe, they need a catalyst. Building around Matt Reeves’ The Batman is one way to do it. Reeves has a solid foundation with a young, Caped Crusader. As Batman grows, so could his universe and uncomfortable interactions with other DC heroes. We could even see a different take on Batman as the outcast of the Justice League.

Batman gives Gunn and Safran a catalyst to build around, while continuing to make standalone films. Eventually, they could come together for one common goal, to defend against otherworldly threats.

Could a restart include Henry Cavill?

Doubt still looms over Henry Cavill’s future as Superman. We have waited forever and a day to see Superman in a solo movie. Black Adam gave us our first look at Cavill as Supes since Justice league.  However, despite the rumors, Cavill and Gunn expressed mutual interest in bringing the hero back to the big screen. Cavill didn’t hold back his excitement.

"“[Superman] means so much to me… It’s been five years now. I never gave up hope… I’m so excited to tell a story with an enormously joyful Superman.”"

Gunn even took things a step forward by taking to Twitter to debunk rumors about his thoughts on Superman and Henry Cavill. When responding to a fan, Gunn expressed his desire to make Superman a priority. Cavill is a megastar who wants to play the role, so why not make it happen?

There’s a ton of uncertainty surrounding DC Studios, but there’s no doubt Gunn and Safran have a plan. Could that plan involve pushing the restart button or a soft reboot? We shall see.

Would you like to see the DCEU get completely reset with a new storyline, timeline, and series of movies and TV shows? Let us know in the comments below!