The DC Universe franchise that DC Studios launched has been in a little bit of flux over the past yr. The success of James Gunn’s Superman was an enormous first win, however since then, the franchise has been a bit scattered, it appears. Tasks have been cancelled (The Authority film, Sgt. Rock), different tasks got here out of left discipline (Clayface), and generally, the preliminary plan Gunn and Peter Safran offered to us three years in the past appears to have been vastly revised.
That features the overarching theme and title of the DCU’s first arc, “Gods and Monsters”. We’ve barely heard that title uttered for the reason that first DCU slate reveal, and now, we’re listening to James Gunn beginning to use an entire new title, and shockingly (sarcasm), it’s far more brand-specific than “Gods and Monsters.”
James Gunn Explains DCU Standalones vs “Superman Saga” Tasks
James Gunn was doing PR upkeep on social media in the present day. Whereas Clayface gained its opening weekend field workplace and has already earned again its manufacturing price range, some followers have criticized how little it does to acknowledge its DC id and ties. Batman is rarely talked about within the movie, and no different franchise lore will get referenced. That’s particularly complicated since an skilled and fully-powered Clayface already made an look in DC’s Creature Commandos animated collection – which is straight related to Superman. However in accordance with Gunn, the identical plan is guiding issues.
“You’ll be able to take a look at my quotes from January ’23 after we began and I stated we had been going to do precisely what we’re doing,” Gunn defined on Threads. “I stated some tales can be standalone just like the Guardians motion pictures had been (which is what Clayface is) and a few tales would have half of a bigger narrative construction, which is what the Superman Saga is. All that stated, every bit of the bigger story ought to work by itself with or with out having to see every part else.”
Whereas that’s a good clarification, we are able to’t assist however hone in on the truth that Gunn mentions “The Superman Saga” because the arc of interconnected tasks inside the DCU. That time period began popping up after Superman‘s launch, as tasks like Supergirl and Man of Tomorrow had been introduced. It was clear that DC Studios had modified focus and needed to strike whereas the franchise’s core character is sizzling.
Now a venture nobody ever anticipated, The Individuals v. Gorilla Grodd, is within the works, starring Superman’s pal Jimmy Olsen. Even Lanterns, a present with its personal distinctive tone and nook of the franchise, ties again to Superman. At this level, it appears clear that the primary DCU arc is The Superman Saga, which then begs the query: Do every of the DC Trinity Characters get a “Saga?” As a result of hundreds of thousands of followers are wanting to see that ‘Batman Saga’ start sooner earlier than later. Simply saying.
“It’s thrilling seeing issues START to come back collectively and all that makes me much more excited for what we have now in retailer for everybody in Man of Tomorrow,” Gunn concluded in a later publish.
Man of Tomorrow will proceed “The Superman Saga” on July 9, 2027.