DC Tried to Ruin a Popular Team Before James Gunn Had the Chance to Use Them

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As a dedicated movie critic, I must say that the current trend in cinema is undeniably the rise of superhero teams. The Avengers have undoubtedly taken the Marvel Cinematic Universe by storm, and they’re back together again, ready to clash with Doctor Doom in the upcoming blockbuster, Avengers: Doomsday. In response to this formidable team, DC has assembled its own powerhouse – the Justice League. Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman rally their allies to safeguard the planet from perils such as Darkseid and Lex Luthor. The Justice League initially had a grand screen debut within the 2017 DC Extended Universe film, but unfortunately, it didn’t meet expectations. Warner Bros. replaced Zack Snyder with Joss Whedon, resulting in a hodgepodge of a movie that was eventually met with public dissatisfaction. Under the pressure, they reconsidered and decided to release Zack Snyder’s original vision instead.

It’s not just the Justice League whose reputation Warner Bros. seemed to tarnish. Shortly after the release of “Justice League” in cinemas, DC was planning its own streaming service called DC Universe. To attract subscribers, they decided to create a show centered around another beloved DC team. Unfortunately, the creative direction of the show left fans confused and almost led to the demise of the team forever.

DC Universe’s Titans Felt Like a Fever Dream

For years before 2018, whispers about the Teen Titans transitioning to live-action had been circulating. The Cartoon Network series made Robin, Beast Boy, Starfire, Cyborg, and Raven familiar faces in many homes, and it seemed like their time to shine on a broader stage was finally here. However, DC struggled to find the right approach since they didn’t want to target the show exclusively towards children. The rationale behind this decision wasn’t evident, but it probably had something to do with the original viewers of the series growing up and showing less interest in juvenile programming.

DC Universe overstepped boundaries when the trailer for Titans was released and showed Robin using a strong profanity like the “f-bomb”. The first glimpse also contained other perplexing moments, and things didn’t improve much once the show was launched.

In the live-action version, the cheerful personalities were missing, replaced by somber young adults with questionable decision-making skills. Characters like Hawk and Dove, who had grim backgrounds, made the situation even more intense. When the team finally got together and found their rhythm, things began to improve. However, the closure of the DC Universe platform meant that Titans was operating on borrowed time, and despite moving to HBO Max, it concluded after its fourth season. At that point, the DCEU also came to an end, so there was no space for Teen Titans on the big screen. Fortunately, James Gunn‘s DC Universe provides a pathway for the team to revisit their innocent beginnings.

DC Studios Is Working on a Teen Titans Movie

James Gunn, leading DC Studios, isn’t immediately focusing on a Justice League movie, but he won’t pass up the opportunity to introduce the Teen Titans. Ana Nogueira, who has worked on Supergirl and is scripting the next Wonder Woman film, is currently writing a movie about this young team of superheroes. At present, specifics are scarce, leaving us guessing which characters Nogueira intends to feature. However, there are hints scattered throughout the DC Universe’s upcoming projects that might offer some insight. For instance, a film called “The Brave and the Bold” is in production, featuring both Batman and his son, Damian Wayne, aka Robin. Given that Damian is part of the story, it suggests other Robin-like characters are present, thereby giving Nogueira various options when selecting the Teen Titans’ leader.

An animated series featuring Starfire is being developed, with the storyline revolving around her journey away from her home planet Tamaran in pursuit of adventure. As for a live-action adaptation, Gunn and Co. haven’t given confirmation, but hints suggest that all elements are interconnected. With Robin and Starfire already set to appear, just a few more characters need to join the roster to complete the DCU team. This implies that the days of Titans and its peculiar characters might soon be behind us.

Titans is streaming on HBO Max.

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2025-07-27 23:39