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Connecting the DCU after James Gunn and Peter Safran’s big reveal

By Michael Johnson

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 02: James Gunn attends the Warner Bros. premiere of "The Suicide Squad" at Regency Village Theatre on August 02, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 02: James Gunn attends the Warner Bros. premiere of "The Suicide Squad" at Regency Village Theatre on August 02, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images) /
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Superman, All-Star Superman, DC, Kal-El,
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 22: A Superman costume from the 1978 Superman film worn by Christopher Reeve and designed by Yvonne Blake is on display at the DC Comics Exhibition: Dawn Of Super Heroes at the O2 Arena on February 22, 2018 in London, England. The exhibition, which opens on February 23rd, features 45 original costumes, models and props used in DC Comics productions including the Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman films. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images) /

Superman: Legacy kicks off the DCU

No, Henry Cavill won’t wear the cape, but a Superman franchise that promises to deliver more than one film has fans excited. Like Iron Man was to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we can expect Superman to be the catalyst of the DCU. We know Superman: Legacy won’t be an origin story, and several comics will play a role in influencing Supes, perhaps even All-Star Superman.  However, there are two comic books that stand out among the crowd when thinking of potential stories to adapt: The Man of Steel and Superman Birthright.

The Man of Steel, written by John Byrne, brings an action-packed approach to the story of Superman. It introduces us to the villain Brainiac, a technological terror from Krypton who collects cities from across the universe. Brainiac is not just any ordinary villain, but an intellectually superior enemy who challenges Superman in ways he has never been challenged before. With his vast knowledge of Krypton, Brainiac forces Superman to delve deeper into his heritage and legacy.

Superman Birthright, written by Mark Waid, takes a more grounded approach to the story of Clark Kent. It showcases Clark as a reporter, struggling to find his place in a world that doesn’t value kindness. Through his work as a reporter, Clark must come to terms with his powers and the responsibility that comes with them. He learns to embrace his heritage and becomes the symbol of hope that the world needs.

These two arcs create the perfect blend of action, drama, and character development. If the film adapts this story, it would show us the early days of Superman as he faces the challenge posed by Brainiac as a lurking threat, while also exploring the man behind the glasses, Clark Kent.

But if that was the case, who could be the main antagonist for Legacy? None other than Lex Luthor. Fans deserve a redo after what Batman v Superman did to arguably the greatest comic book villain of all time. What better way than have Lex, the genius entrepreneur as a pawn in Brainiac’s game?

It would be awesome to see Brainiac as a looming threat as Superman: Legacy kicks of the future of the DCU and perhaps seamlessly leads into a Supergirl movie. Whoever plays the role will likely be in his late 20s, given the DCU will have a well established Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and Flash. He’ll have to be young enough to play this character for a while,  but old enough to make sense for the Batman we’ll have in the DCU.

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