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DCU is poised to enter a new era following a transformative 2022.
The DC cinematic universe (DCU) has undergone a turbulent 2022, especially in the last two months of the year, with James Gunn and Peter Safran assuming the roles of President and CEO of DC Studios.
DC and Warner Bros. continue to roll out numerous major projects, such as The Batman and Black Adam. However, at this juncture, it can be said that their cinematic universe has had to completely tear down and rebuild to serve James Gunn's 10-year plan, bringing forth a vastly different DCU in the future.
The familiar faces will be absent from DCU
After nearly a decade of development, the DCEU (DC Extended Universe), the predecessor to the DCU, has brought many superheroes to the big screen, with the Justice League as its central focus. Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman are considered the key characters of this cinematic universe, alongside other notable names such as Aquaman and Shazam.
However, the future of DCU may see the absence of many familiar faces following James Gunn and Peter Safran's 'grand renovation.' Ben Affleck has confirmed his departure from the role of Batman after the Justice League project concludes, although the actor will still make an appearance in The Flash blockbuster as a guest star. Additionally, Henry Cavill won't return as Superman as DCU aims for a younger version of the Man of Steel to bring forth different narratives.
Furthermore, Gal Gadot's future in this cinematic universe is a significant question mark, with Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman 3 project officially canceled. Although not officially confirmed, James Gunn has hinted at his desire for the actress to continue her association with DCU in her exceptional portrayal of the Amazon warrior in recent years.
Jason Momoa will indeed reprise his role as Arthur Curry in Aquaman & The Lost Kingdom, slated for release on Christmas 2023. However, numerous sources have unanimously asserted that this is the actor's final project as the DC sea king before transitioning to a new role, a new character in the future.
Ray Fisher, who portrayed Cyborg Victor Stone, won't return to DC due to conflicts in views and working methods with director Joss Whedon and the Warner Bros. production team. Thus, nearly the entire Justice League lineup constructed by director Zack Snyder will be completely absent from DC's future projects.
Black Adam, despite joining DCU this year, is not exempt from James Gunn's overhaul. Just a few days ago, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson himself confirmed that his character is not part of the first chapter of the DC cinematic universe. The Rock stated that Black Adam may return in the future, with stories related to the multiverse. However, if that were to happen, it would likely be many years before audiences see this character on the big screen again.
Robert Pattinson's Batman will become the centerpiece of a new DC cinematic universe
The Batman stands out as one of the few projects unaffected by James Gunn's new DC plan, with its sequel continuing production as originally scheduled. Partly due to being part of a separate cinematic universe, with the central character being portrayed by Robert Pattinson. While DCU is still undergoing its revamp, The Batman could serve as the flagship to retain audiences with DC's superhero works.
It's no coincidence that DC decided to develop the cinematic universe of The Batman alongside their main cinematic universe. Since its release in early March 2022, this blockbuster has grossed nearly $771 million (according to BoxOfficeMojo), accompanied by numerous positive reviews from both critics and audiences. Pattinson's performance in The Batman is a highlight, vividly depicting the intelligence and detective skills of the Dark Knight and bringing forth fresh narratives compared to previous Batman film projects.
Currently, alongside The Batman 2, DC Studios is also nurturing several television projects to gradually build a mini cinematic universe dedicated to Pattinson. One of them is the Penguin series, revolving around one of Batman's most famous villains, portrayed by Colin Farrell. Additionally, some sources suggest that DC will soon roll out projects dedicated to Gotham City Police Department, Arkham, and Catwoman.
The new blockbuster lineup of DCU in the future
Despite still being in the process of 'tearing down and rebuilding,' DCU will still release several film projects in 2023 according to the original plan. Shazam! Fury of the Gods, The Flash, Blue Beetle, and Aquaman & the Lost Kingdom are among the titles that have escaped the 'culling' process by James Gunn and Peter Safran.
Among them, The Flash is considered the most significant blockbuster of the year for DC as it explores time travel and the multiverse. It's highly possible that the speedster Barry Allen's actions will help reboot the entire DCU, ushering in a new phase with new Batmans, Supermans in the most cohesive manner. However, according to recent reports, cameo segments featuring Henry Cavill and Gal Gadot in this blockbuster have been cut.
Among these films, Blue Beetle is the only one set to introduce an entirely new superhero to the big screen. That's Jaime Reyes, portrayed by Xolo Mariduena. James Gunn has affirmed his desire to explore lesser-known superheroes and villains, similar to how he approached The Suicide Squad and Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy.
Currently, James Gunn remains quite secretive about his plans for DCU. The director has only confirmed his production of a Superman film, but not starring Henry Cavill. Gunn's project won't delve into the origins of Superman but will offer a fresh story about the character's younger days.
HBO Max plays a significant role in the future of DCU following the success of the Peacemaker series
Speaking of The Suicide Squad, we can't overlook the spin-off series Peacemaker by director James Gunn. Debuting in early 2022, this project quickly became a television phenomenon in the superhero genre and one of DC's most successful series on the HBO Max platform. That's why DC Studios immediately greenlit a second season, although the specific release date has yet to be determined.
The success of Peacemaker underscores the importance of HBO Max for the future of DCU. It's no coincidence that many projects are being developed on this platform, including a series for the character Amanda Waller, as well as The Penguin and Arkham Asylum as previously mentioned.
The collaborative relationship between HBO Max and DC Studios will not only continue but could extend for many years to come, as DCU expands into both the film and television realms. James Gunn himself is a staunch advocate for bringing superhero content to the small screen, especially after the exhilarating experience with Peacemaker.
Source: ScreenRant
