The DC Universe is currently bracing itself for a seismic shift under the stewardship of James Gunn and Peter Safran, promising to usher in a new era that could either be a monumental triumph or a cautionary tale of flying too close to the sun. Other stakeholders are also fanning the flames, including the highly controversial David Zaslav.
It’s been an intriguing year since the duo first revealed their grand vision for the DCU, but there hasn’t been much in the way of actions to make us believe that this will not be yet another DCEU waiting to happen. Back in 2022, Gunn disclosed that the studio was working on an 8- to 10-year plan focused on telling one great overarching story. This story would be launched by Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters.
During the company’s latest earnings call, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav teased that the horizon holds much more than fans were led to believe. Zaslav vaguely hinted at a near future where Gunn and Safran will unveil not just the rest of Chapter 1 but the broad strokes of their decade-spanning saga – that’s sure one way to beat the leakers, huh?
“I’ve had a glimpse into what James and Peter are doing, and it really does serve as an exciting indicator of where the new DC is headed under their leadership. There’ll be more you’ll hear from them in the months ahead…We’ll have James and Peter take you through in the next few months a full spectrum of what they see over the next 10 years.”
At the time of writing, ten projects have been announced for Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters, namely:
- Creature Commandos
- Superman: Legacy
- The Authority
- The Brave and the Bold
- Booster Gold
- Lanterns
- Paradise Lost
- Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow
- Swamp Thing
- Waller
According to Safran, Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters will be set up in such a way that casual viewers who’ve never watched any DCEU project can still start off here and understand what’s going on. Essentially, the revamped DCU will serve as a starting point for audiences, ensuring viewers don’t get confused.
Of course, this will help Gunn and Safran have an advantage over their biggest rival, Marvel. Unfortunately, this will not stop the DCU from facing the same challenges that the MCU is currently facing. As soon as Chapter 2 begins, new audiences will have to acquaint themselves with Chapter 1 to understand what’s going on. After all, chapters are just another name for phases.
WBD has scheduled a presentation by CEO and President, Global Streaming and Games, JB Perrette, that will take place on March 4, where we might hopefully get more clarity on some of the moves being made. Until then, we’ll have to stay put and wait for more news on Creature Commandos, which is expected to debut sometime this year.
