James Gunn Says the Highest-Grossing DC Movie Ever Is (Probably) Not DCU Canon

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James Wan’s movie “Aquaman” has earned more money than any other film in the DC Extended Universe, as well as being the highest-grossing DC Comics adaptation ever with $1.15 billion at the global box office. But even though it was a huge success, this doesn’t mean that “Aquaman” will be included in the new DC Universe continuity that James Gunn and Peter Safran are overseeing. In the first episode of the podcast “Peacemaker: The Official Podcast with James Gunn“, Gunn explained what is and isn’t part of the DCU canon for “Peacemaker” Season 1. In the opening scene of the series, Peacemaker has a funny conversation with a hospital janitor named Jamil about Aquaman. This is the only scene in the first episode that doesn’t fall under the DCU canon.

Is Aquaman part of the official DC Universe storyline? Gunn isn’t sure, but he seems to believe it’s unlikely. Since there’s a planned second season for Peacemaker, it seems that characters like Superman have more recognition within the DCU compared to Aquaman.

James Gunn’s production, “The Suicide Squad,” and the initial season of “Peacemaker” belong to the DCEU (DC Extended Universe), but the second season of “Peacemaker” falls under the DCU (DC Universe). Due to this difference, Gunn is taking steps to address any potential fan questions. He has already clarified that “Black Adam” and “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” two DCEU films featuring “Peacemaker’s” Emilia Harcourt and John Economos, are not considered DCU canon. To further elaborate and resolve any ambiguities, “Peacemaker: The Official Podcast” is starting with a complete rewatch of Season 1, providing Gunn an opportunity to clarify any inconsistencies.

Although metahumans have been present in the DC Universe for three centuries prior to the events portrayed in “Superman”, it seems fans will need to exercise patience as they wait for some prominent Justice League members to make their appearance in the shared universe. In discussing his vision for the future of the DCU, Gunn indicated that we can expect a wait of at least a couple of years before The Flash and Aquaman emerge. Both characters played significant roles in the DCEU and were slated to lead standalone films in 2023.

Restarting the DC Universe (DCU) allows for a fresh beginning following the inconsistent phase of the DCEU. Consequently, it’s not surprising that Aquaman is not part of the new continuity. Maintaining it would have only raised more confusion, like why Jason Momoa’s Arthur Curry was included while other DCEU heroes were not. Gal Gadot won’t reprise her role in the upcoming DCU Wonder Woman film, a different actor will portray Batman in The Brave and the Bold, and David Corenswet is cast as Superman. Essentially, it’s less complicated to start anew rather than address the complications of continuity. Notably, Momoa has been cast as Lobo, the cosmic bounty hunter, in the DCU’s Supergirl movie.

Initially, the first “Aquaman” film was a massive success, but its sequel, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom”, only earned $440.2 million compared to a production budget of around $200-215 million. Lower earnings (alongside less favorable reviews) might have influenced the decision not to include “Aquaman” within the established continuity. For example, the “Deadpool” series originally stood alone at 20th Century Fox, but was later incorporated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe following Disney’s acquisition of Fox. The twist here is that the “Deadpool” movies were generally well-liked by audiences, making them more receptive to the character within the MCU. Conversely, given the reception of “Aquaman”, a fresh start may be preferable in several years’ time.

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2025-07-24 18:40