Gunn's DCU Grand Plan: More Than Just a Flying Chap, But Are We Buying the Hype?

AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·

Gunn's DCU Grand Plan: More Than Just a Flying Chap, But Are We Buying the Hype?

Jeff dives into a Wall Street Journal report revealing James Gunn's DCU plans, from *Superman*'s box office targets and exciting TV spinoffs (hello, Mister Terrific!) to the eyebrow-raising past attempts to poach Kevin Feige and the 'too woke' Black Superman script that almost was. It's a chaotic but potentially thrilling ride, peppered with Jeff's signature blend of gentle skepticism and genuine curiosity.

Right, so apparently Warner Bros. thinks we're all just sat here twiddling our thumbs, waiting for the next cinematic universe to magically unfurl itself, completely oblivious to the digital tea leaves and past cinematic blunders. But hold your horses, mates, because a cracking report from The Wall Street Journal has just blown a hole in reality (or at least, the PR-sanitised version) to spill the beans on James Gunn's DCU plans, and it's wilder than a rogue spell cast at a wizard's tea party.

We’re talking about more than just David Corenswet’s *Superman* taking flight – though that’s definitely the big kick-off. According to this intel, Warner execs are eyeing a cool $500 million globally for the Man of Steel. Now, Gunn himself apparently reckoned $700 million was a bit ambitious, which, fair dinkum, makes you wonder if these targets are plucked from thin air or calculated with a crystal ball that’s been dropped a few times. The budget was a 'modest' $225 million, apparently kept in check by casting mostly folks who aren’t A-list megastars. Smart move, or a subtle nod that perhaps they’re not banking the entire farm on this single flick? I mean, who *isn't* a bit tired of seeing the same five faces in every big-budget blockbuster, eh?

But here’s where it gets proper interesting, especially for us curious types who like to peer behind the curtain. Gunn is apparently eyeing TV spinoffs for characters like Mister Terrific and even bloody Jimmy Olsen! Now, that’s a genuinely exciting thought. Getting to explore the deeper cuts of the DC roster, especially on streaming? That’s the kind of unexpected magic I can get behind. It's less about the 'big hero punching big bad' and more about building out a living, breathing world, which is always a good sign. Prerelease surveys are hinting at a big opening weekend too, north of $125 million domestically. Fingers crossed it translates to a proper good showing, because nothing kills a grand plan faster than a quiet opening.

Now, for the really juicy bits – the history lessons, or perhaps, the cautionary tales. After the DCEU pretty much keeled over following 2017's *Justice League* (remember that trainwreck?), Warner executives, in a move that feels ripped straight from a desperate, late-night D&D session, apparently tried to poach Kevin Feige from Marvel Studios. Kevin Feige! That’s like trying to convince the Dungeon Master to switch tables mid-campaign because your party keeps TPK-ing. Predictably, those talks 'fizzled'. Colour me shocked.

Then there’s the saga of the Ta-Nehisi Coates Black Superman script. Announced back in 2021 with J.J. Abrams at the helm, it was reportedly dismissed by Warner Bros. boss David Zaslav in 2022 as 'too woke'. Bloody hell, 'too woke' – that’s a classic, isn't it? As if exploring a character in a historically relevant context is somehow… detrimental to a superhero narrative. Coates, bless him, said he was 'meaningfully adding to the legacy of America’s most iconic mythic hero'. And then… nada. No director, no lead actor. But here’s the kicker: Gunn and DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran might still try to make it, potentially as an 'Elseworlds' movie, chilling out with *Joker* and Matt Reeves' *The Batman* in their own separate universe. So, not 'too woke' for *another* universe, just *this* one? It’s enough to make your head spin, mate, trying to follow the logic. It's like trying to untangle a wizard's knot – looks simple on the surface, but there are layers of 'why' beneath it.

Oh, and speaking of trying to fix things, Zaslav also reportedly met with Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson to figure out how to salvage DC. Those talks, predictably, ended after *Black Adam* went down like a lead balloon. Funny that, isn't it? (And yes, for those keeping score, Henry Cavill's Superman did pop up at the end of *Black Adam*, only for Gunn and Safran to promptly say 'nah, new guy' for the DCU. Ouch.) And while we’re on the subject of scrapping things, a third *Wonder Woman* film starring Gal Gadot, set in the present day, got the axe too. A bit rough for fans, no doubt, but sometimes you gotta clear the arcane dust before you can build a new summoning circle, eh?

Looking ahead, Gunn and Safran are apparently targeting one animated and two live-action films a year, plus a bunch of TV shows primarily for HBO Max. The big goal, the Holy Grail of superhero team-ups, is eventually getting DC’s biggest hitters – Batman, Wonder Woman, all the gang – together for a new *Justice League* film. Gunn’s already hinted at it, which is good, because frankly, it’d be a bit weird if they *didn’t* eventually plan to get the band back together. It's a classic strategy, and one that, if done right, could actually be bloody brilliant. But we've heard these grand designs before, haven't we? The proof, as they say, is in the casting of the first spell.

All these revelations come hot on the heels of *Superman* reviews starting to trickle out. IGN, for what it’s worth, chucked an 8/10 at it, calling it a 'wonderfully entertaining, heartfelt cinematic reset for the Man of Steel, and a great start for the DCU on the big screen.' Now, an 8/10 for a superhero flick these days is practically a miracle, so that’s a decent sign. As for what’s next from this new DCU? *Peacemaker* Season 2 in August, then next year we’re getting a *Supergirl* movie and, get this, a *Clayface* film! Plus a new *Batman* and a *Sgt. Rock* movie. *Clayface* and *Sgt. Rock*? Now *that’s* genuinely fascinating. That’s the kind of deep cut that gets a curious gamer like me excited. It signals they’re not just sticking to the big names, and that, mates, is something worth watching.

It’s a chaotic universe out there, both on-screen and behind the scenes. But if Gunn can weave some genuine magic, focusing on good stories and letting the unexpected shine, we might just be in for a proper treat. Here’s hoping they learned a few lessons from those fizzled talks and 'too woke' dismissals, eh? Because even in the digital ether, the best stories are always the ones that dare to be different.

Original Source: IGN South Africa | URL

Tags: DCU, Superhero Films, Gaming Culture, Industry News, Hollywood Rumors

Original article: IGN South Africa