James Gunn Confirms the 4 Most Important Cities In the New DCU

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The first chapter of the DC Universe (DCU) has already shown us some key locations that will appear again throughout the series. James Gunn’s DC Studios recently clarified which places are most important for the future of the universe. So far, we’ve seen two live-action projects – Superman and Peacemaker Season 2 – that featured cities like Metropolis, the fictional town of Evergreen (located in Washington), and even alternate dimensions such as Salvation.

DC Studios has revealed that four cities will be central locations in the new DC Universe (DCU). While these cities have all been featured in DC comics and movies previously, only one has been shown within the DCU so far.

A new book, Superman: The Art and Making of the Film, features interviews with DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran discussing their vision for the franchise. The book also reveals which of four cities will play the biggest role in the new DC Universe.

According to James Gunn and Peter Safran, the detailed roadmap for the first chapter of the DC Universe is unlike anything Warner Bros. has done before with its other franchises. Safran specifically pointed to The Conjuring as an example, noting that Warner Bros. has never before had a fully developed, long-term plan for a shared universe like the one they’re building with the DCU.

We’ve never started a film series with such a clear vision from the beginning. When we made the first ‘Conjuring’ movie, we just aimed for a single, good scary movie, and it unexpectedly grew into a larger universe. But this time, we had a lot more source material, characters, and stories to work with, so we intentionally created a detailed plan beforehand.

Because DC Studios has a comprehensive plan, they already know the key settings for the DCU. Thankfully, a recent behind-the-scenes book shared by James Gunn revealed these locations to fans.

Metropolis

It’s no surprise Metropolis is considered one of the four key cities in the DC Universe. While the book Superman: The Art and Making of the Film didn’t rank them, it’s difficult to imagine any other city being more central to the DCU than Metropolis.

As a huge DC fan, it’s exciting to remember that Metropolis was where the DCU first came to life with a live-action film. And it seems likely that the upcoming sequel, Man of Tomorrow, will spend a good chunk of its time there too, bringing us back to that iconic city.

Gotham City

Metropolis and Gotham City are the two most important cities in the DC universe – they’re practically inseparable. Superman and Batman are often linked, and similarly, one city rarely appears without the other. While Gotham hasn’t been fully shown on screen in the new DC Universe yet, it has been referenced. For example, a sign for “Gotham City” briefly appeared in the movie Superman during an evacuation of Metropolis.

While the next Batman movie, The Brave and the Bold, is still a ways off, fans won’t have to wait long to return to Gotham City on screen. A horror film called Clayface, set in Gotham, is scheduled for release in September 2026. And after that, Gotham is expected to be featured in many future DC Universe projects.

Palmera City

Palmera City is probably the most unexpected location on this list. While it’s appeared in a few Blue Beetle comics, it was specifically designed for the 2023 Blue Beetle movie starring Xolo Mariduena, who many fans are looking forward to seeing again as the character in the new DC Universe.

This suggests that Blue Beetle might reappear faster than anticipated, and hints that he’ll play a bigger role in the future of the DC Universe than ever before.

Since DC Studios has highlighted Palmera City as a key setting for the first chapter of the DC Universe, we can expect to see it featured in multiple stories.

Themyscira

Fans likely already know Themyscira is a key location – it’s Wonder Woman’s home and the land of the Amazons. What makes it so appealing is its connection to ancient myths and the fact that it’s a fictional place, not a real city.

DC Studios recently announced a new Wonder Woman movie that will be part of the DC Universe (DCU). With the TV series Paradise Lost also still in the works, fans can expect to see a lot of Themyscira – Wonder Woman’s home – in at least two projects launching in the first chapter of the DCU.

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2026-01-09 08:37