The new DC Universe is off to a strong start, but its real test as a cinematic universe still lies ahead. The news of James Gunn and Peter Safran rebooting the franchise was an exciting prospect after the DCEU had struggled for years to find its footing. Thankfully, the success of Superman this summer laid a solid foundation for this cinematic universe to grow from.
Superman marked the first movie released in the new franchise, with Supergirl and Clayface also confirmed for next year. On the small screen, Gunn also delivered the animated series Creature Commandos and retconned Peacemaker to now be included in the continuity of the DCU. While all of these projects have been successful so far, there is still a very important question hanging over the future of the DC Universe.
The DCU needs to succeed without James Gunn
After being one of the defining voices of the MCU with the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, James Gunn successfully brought his distinct style over to DC. Superman has all the hallmarks that have made Gunn's movies so popular, from the irreverent humor to the fun soundtrack to the surprising heart. This has been all over his work in the DCU so far, but eventually, it will be time for a new filmmaker to step in.
From the moment Gunn took over as co-head of the DCU, he made it clear that he was going to be looking for filmmakers who could put their own spin on these superhero stories. Clearly, Gunn wouldn't be able to write and direct every project at the studio, but it also seems that he is not expecting the other filmmakers who step into the franchise to attempt to mirror his style. Of course, we still haven't seen what that will look like.
Every project from the DCU so far has been written by Gunn, and despite it only being a year into the saga, a style has been established. The true test of this particular cinematic universe that Gunn envisions will be in how the audience accepts a movie or show that has a completely different tone and voice from what they've seen so far.
Supergirl is the next movie on the horizon, and seeing as she was established in Gunn's Superman, it is safe to say that he will hold some influence over how the character is portrayed. It is the other projects of 2026 that will really give a sense of how the future will look. The horror-centric Clayface and the thriller series Lanterns will feel very different from Gunn's style and might challenge the audience to accept the fluid style of the cinematic universe.
The DCU's changing tones could be its secret weapon
The DCU's attempts to deliver a wide variety of projects that all still fit together is risky. However, in an age in which the MCU lost its focus from overexposure, this might be the edge that makes DC the premier superhero universe on screen.
One of the complaints that has followed the MCU around since the early days has been that everything feels the same. Despite new writers and directors coming in all the time, there was a certain formula that all the movies stuck to. This helped to establish a shared world, but it has also led many to grow tired of the same thing being offered again and again. In fact, Edgar Wright's abandoned Ant-Man movie seems to have come down to this issue.
The DCU might not always feel as cohesive as the MCU going forward, but audiences could find more fun in having something new each time. After all, fans could read DC comics and get something new each time. The optimism of Superman could coexist in the brooding world of Batman without destroying the feeling of a shared universe.
In that sense, it would be best for Gunn to focus on Superman and let other filmmakers have their shot at some of the other bigger names in the DC Universe. This can help to create a feeling of a cinematic world in which the audience cannot get bored with the same thing each time.