Some of the surprising information tales of 2026 simply got here out as James Gunn is formally out as the top of DC. Efficient on December 1, 2026, Gunn, together with Peter Safran, are stepping down from their roles as co-CEOs and co-chairmen of DC Studios. Meaning their reported 10-year plan for the franchise is out the window and it modifications every part going ahead. After they stepped in for DC, it damage the previous couple of motion pictures launched within the DCEU, like Blue Beetle and Aquaman and the Misplaced Kingdom, as individuals knew these movies in the end didn’t matter a lot.
That might be the case for the remainder of the deliberate releases left in Gunn’s universe. It has been confirmed that we’re nonetheless getting Man of Tomorrow, Creature Commandos Season 2, Mister Miracle, and The Individuals v. Gorilla Grodd. Exterior of Gunn’s aspect of issues, The Batman Half II can also be nonetheless occurring, however every part else is up within the air. Even one thing just like the Harley Quinn animated sequence won’t get one other season regardless of its success. There are a number of motion pictures and exhibits that Gunn had deliberate that sounded thrilling, but they might by no means see the sunshine of day now and that’s vastly disappointing.
5) Blue Beetle
The Blue Beetle film from 2023 is fairly underrated because it was a enjoyable superhero flick with a candy household dynamic at its core. There wasn’t any plan for a sequel, however James Gunn introduced plans for an animated sequence on the character. Xolo Maridueña, who starred as Jamie Reyes on the large display screen, was slated to reprise his function, and a number of other others from within the movie, like director Angel Manuel Soto, had been concerned.
The concept was that if the present was a success, it might result in Jamie Reyes showing in a much bigger sequence or film within the DCU and even deliver him again to the live-action world. Preliminary plans had the present geared toward youthful audiences with a 2026 launch date, however HBO Max introduced it wouldn’t prioritize kids’s programming and the present has been up within the air since then. With Gunn out, there’s an excellent likelihood the brand new of us in cost take a look at the field workplace struggles of the Blue Beetle movie and ignore any future for it.
4) Swamp Factor
Just like Blue Beetle, Swamp Factor is one other DC Comics character who bought a live-action undertaking in latest reminiscence. There was a 2019 sequence concerning the character that aired on the short-lived DC Universe streaming service, however James Gunn appeared to offer us a brand new tackle Swamp Factor in a movie. It was designed as a gothic horror film that explored the origins of Swamp Factor and would’ve doubtless been a creature characteristic with physique horror alongside the traces of Clayface.
Swamp Factor performed into Gunn’s “Gods and Monsters” idea completely, particularly since Gunn deliberate for it to be impressed by Alan Moore’s The Saga of the Swamp Factor comedian run. James Mangold, who did outstanding work on 2017’s Logan, was introduced in to write down and direct the undertaking and was penning the script as not too long ago as October 2026. Now, there’s an unlucky likelihood we’ll by no means see Mangold’s imaginative and prescient for Swamp Factor.
3) Lanterns Season 2
The field workplace numbers for Supergirl bought DC’s 2026 off to a tough begin, even when the movie itself was stable enjoyable. Lanterns managed to show issues round for the franchise, because the surprisingly grounded HBO sequence about two Inexperienced Lanterns was a success for the platform and was well-received by critics all over the place. Kyle Chandler, Aaron Pierre, Kelly Macdonald, and the remainder of the forged delivered nice performances on this present that felt loads like True Detective.
The present resulted in a means that set the tone for an fascinating future. Future seasons might give attention to a wholly completely different group of the Lantern Corps or might heart on John Stewart taking up because the Inexperienced Lantern on Earth (Pierre is about to seem in Man of Tomorrow although). Nonetheless, regardless of the acclaim and success, Lanterns hasn’t been renewed for a Season 2. With Gunn out of the image, the way forward for DC might go a completely completely different route with the Inexperienced Lantern, turning Lanterns right into a one-season phenomenon.
2) Surprise Lady
One of many largest criticisms tossed at James Gunn’s time with the franchise has been the give attention to much less common or well-known DC characters. Clayface, Peacemaker, Creature Commandos, and Jimmy Olsen are focal factors, whereas the likes of the Flash, Batman, and Surprise Lady haven’t appeared but. That stated, Gunn did verify plans for a Surprise Lady movie in June 2025, together with the Paradise Misplaced prequel present set on Themyscira.
Ana Nogueira, who wrote Supergirl, was employed to write down the screenplay and the film was stated to be getting fast-tracked. Nonetheless, we by no means bought phrase of a director or star, though Adria Arjona was extensively rumored as the favourite to painting Diana Prince. There may be even discuss of her showing in Man of Tomorrow. If she does and her efficiency is praised, there’s an opportunity the movie might nonetheless undergo, but when not, it’s not far alongside sufficient in growth to doubtless survive.
1) The Courageous and the Daring
In the case of DC initiatives, it’s laborious for something to be extra anticipated than one thing associated to Batman. Most issues involving the character on both the large or small display screen are hits, from The Batman to The Penguin to Harley Quinn. James Gunn’s plan for the Caped Crusader was meant to be considerably completely different from Matt Reeves’ work on The Batman. That’s why The Courageous and the Daring was meant to give attention to the Bat-Household, quite than simply the hero as a loner.
Gunn claimed The Courageous and the Daring can be a wierd tackle a father/son story, with Batman’s son Damian Wayne being launched as Robin. The movie can be based mostly on Grant Morrison’s comedian tales from 2006 to 2013 and Andy Muschietti was introduced on because the director. Writers had been within the technique of engaged on the movie when this information of Gunn’s departure hit, leaving the way forward for the Bat-Household in DC motion pictures unsure.
Which DC undertaking are you most dissatisfied in probably not attending to see now? Inform us within the feedback!