James Gunn Has a Chance to Fix the DCEU's Most Unforgivable Mistake (2024)

During the time of the DC Extended Universe, Warner Bros. announced various projects that never saw the light of day despite building excitement for fans. Now DC enters a new era with James Gunn and Peter Safran restarting their slate of projects in development. While there was excitement to see what's in store for the new DCU, some remain upset that projects like Ben Affleck's The Batman, a proper Man of Steel sequel, Wonder Woman3, Nightwing, and others will no longer see the light of day under the new direction.

Gunn has said on numerous occasions they have several years of stories they hope to tell in the DCU and so far fans are only aware of what will occur in Chapter I: Gods and Monsters. The projects announced don't appear recycled from the previous DC regime, but there is one in particular that would be perfect for the new cinematic universe: New Gods.

A New Gods Film Was Previously in Development

The New Gods are part of Jack Kirby's Fourth World Saga that arrived in DC Comics in the 1970s and features the likes of Orion, Mister Miracle, Big Barda, Granny Goodness, and more. The stories deal with the intergalactic conflict on the opposite planets of Apokolips and New Genesis. While the New Gods characters may not be household names, neither were the Guardians of the Galaxy before Gunn took them over. Not to mention, they offer a clean slate for the general audience already very familiar with members of the Justice League.

The New Gods characters have appeared in animation over the years and an animated film from Hellboy creator Mike Mignola was also in the works at one point. However, the New Gods remain one of the few DC properties that await a big-screen live-action adaptation with untapped potential. TheNew Gods film set for the DCEU that was ultimately scrapped had Ava DuVernay set to direct. The planned DuVernay film eventually fell apart due to Zack Snyder's Justice League and didn't carry over in the initial plans for the DCU, but the rich world from Kirby is still right up Gunn's alley.

Tom King Plays a Major Role in the DCU

Ava DuVerrnay's involvement with New Gods wasn't the only exciting prospect about the planned DCEU film. It was eventually announced DC Comics' Tom King was also on board as a writer with DuVernay. King is a top name in comics and delivered the award-winning Mister Miracle run that has reinvigorated interest in the New Gods property among comic fans.

King is no longer writing a New Gods film as far as we know, but he is now part of the DCU writer's room with Lanterns being one project he's helping shepherd into production. With King now involved with the genesis of the DCU, it's hard to imagine him not looking to resurrect his live-action New Gods in some fashion after working on the project prior and his close attachment to the source material.

New Gods Can Set the Stage for Darkseid

New Gods has a deep bench of characters and lore that can make it the Game of Thrones type of series every streamer chases if it doesn't go to the big screen first. There's also a major DC character the series could introduce for future stories and easily tie into the overall story of the DCU: Darkseid.

Darkseid is one of the most menacing villains in all of comics and he has yet to receive his due in live-action beyond the tease in Zack Snyder's Justice League. The DCU could easily go in another direction under Gunn with a more obscure choice as the universe's overarching big bad, but it may be too hard to ignore Darkseid's potential on the big screen. A New Gods series or film can build Darkseid up as the main villain of the DCU before he battles the Justice League, similar to what Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy did with Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The DCU has no shortage of exciting projects that are early in development and will all play in Gunn and Safran's plans for its first chapter. Given the first chapter is about Gods and Monsters, it's hard to imagine Gunn leaving out some of the most notable in DC Comics canon. If there's one thing the DCEU deserves credit for, it's that it finally gave comic book fans an expanded DC universe with the long-awaited big screen debuts for heroes like Aquaman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, and many others.

Based on Gunn's sensibilities and the current DCU roadmap released thus far, DC Studios will continue to tap into all corners of the great history it can bring to animation and live-action. New Gods in particular is a comic book property unknown to the mainstream and ready for exposure. Audiences are more open to new superhero franchises than ever before, making it the perfect time for DC Studios to involve the New Gods in its grand plans.

DCU

Get ready for a brand new DC experience!The DC Universe (DCU) is coming soon,bringing together familiar comic book heroes in a connected storyline across movies,TV shows,animation,and even video games. Itis an upcoming Americanmedia franchiseandshared universebased on characters fromDC Comicspublications.

Created by

James Gunn , Peter Safran

First Film

Superman (2025)

Upcoming Films

Superman (2025) , The Authority , The Brave and the Bold , Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow , Swamp Thing (DCU)

First TV Show

Creature Commandos

Upcoming TV Shows

Creature Commandos , Waller , Lanterns , Paradise Lost , Booster Gold , Peacemaker

Cast

David Corenswet , Rachel Brosnahan , Nicholas Hoult , Milly Alco*ck , Edi Gathegi , Nathan Fillion , Isabela Merced , Anthony Carrigan , Viola Davis , John Cena , Xolo Mariduena

Current Series

My Adventures With Superman , Harley Quinn , The Penguin

Where to watch

Max