James Gunn Reveals DCU Timeline Plan & Defends Changing The DCU’s Original Slate

by

James Gunn is building the DC Universe with the goal of making each movie and show accessible to new viewers – you won’t need to have seen everything else to enjoy it. However, these projects are all part of a bigger, multi-year story. Gunn previously revealed the first chapter of this universe, called “Gods and Monsters,” and announced several upcoming films and TV series. Since then, some plans have evolved because Gunn is focused on ensuring everything meets his standards as the projects develop.

During an interview on the 2 Bears, 1 Cave podcast, James Gunn discussed the timeline for a larger, ongoing story he’s developing. He estimated it would take around a decade to unfold, but stressed that this is flexible. Gunn explained he won’t approve any project unless he loves the script, and some planned projects haven’t come together as expected. He wants to keep the overall vision consistent, but also be prepared to adjust details as needed, meaning the broad strokes remain the same even if specific plans change.

DC Studios Is Favoring Quality Over Quantity

A great example of how plans are evolving at DC Studios is the recently announced film *Man of Tomorrow*, a sequel to *Superman* that James Gunn is writing and directing. This movie wasn’t originally included in the first announcement of DC’s upcoming projects, but it’s now set to be released in July 2027. Other previously announced films, like *The Authority*, *Waller*, and *The Brave and the Bold*, don’t have release dates yet. Because *Man of Tomorrow* came together relatively quickly, Gunn adjusted the overall schedule to include it.

It’s encouraging for the future of the DC Universe that James Gunn and his team aren’t rigidly pushing for a specific set of movies and shows just to meet deadlines. Some projects naturally take longer to develop, and rushing them can lead to disappointing results. Especially now, as the DCU is getting started, it’s crucial that each project is well-made to build excitement for both current and future DC content. Reports suggest DC Studios is aiming for only one or two theatrical releases each year, which shows they’re focusing on quality over simply releasing a lot of content. Unlike Marvel Studios, which faced issues with releasing too much, Gunn wants to ensure only the strongest projects are released.

DC’s current strategy feels less connected than Marvel’s. While Marvel has made changes to its plans over time (like shifting away from the Kang storyline), its phases have generally felt more cohesive. This is largely because Marvel movies, especially those leading up to *Avengers: Infinity War* and *Avengers: Endgame*, were strongly interconnected, with even standalone projects contributing to the bigger picture. DC, however, seems to be allowing for more independent projects. James Gunn has hinted that the main storyline will continue with *Man of Tomorrow*, suggesting that films like *Supergirl* and *Clayface* might be more self-contained and not significantly impact the overall decade-long narrative.

The flexible approach at DC Studios is creating a welcoming environment for filmmakers. James Gunn wasn’t initially planning a *Clayface* movie, but after a compelling pitch from Mike Flanagan, it’s now becoming a highly anticipated R-rated horror film that will also introduce audiences to the DC Universe’s version of Gotham City. If Flanagan succeeds with *Clayface*, it suggests that any creator with a good idea can present it to Gunn for consideration. It will be fascinating to watch how DC’s plans develop over the next ten years, but Gunn seems open to all kinds of creative possibilities.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/movies/news/4-dc-characters-actually-stronger-than-superman-in-the-dcu/embed/#

Read More

2025-09-23 19:44