As a cinephile, I’ve been eagerly anticipating the new chapter in the DC Universe, and it seems that James Gunn has some intriguing surprises up his sleeve to rejuvenate the superhero genre. In an exclusive chat with Entertainment Weekly, he divulged a significant revelation – when we first dive into the DCU, super-powered beings, or metahumans as they’re called, will already be part of the public consciousness.
As a filmmaker and co-CEO of DC Studios, Gunn and his team have decided that these extraordinary individuals have been known to man for approximately 300 years by the time Superman makes his appearance. This move is intended to make the integration of supernatural abilities more seamless, potentially reducing some of the exposition requirements. However, it also brings its own set of challenges when it comes to world-building.
In a more polite and conversational manner: “If you came across a man who looked like a shark on the street, you might feel so startled that you’d be inclined to get sick or even scared to death, humorously speaking,” Gunn playfully suggested. “On the other hand, if they saw one, it would likely be as surprising as bumping into Paul McCartney strolling down a New York sidewalk.” Gunn disclosed that in this movie, there is an established group known as the Justice Gang, which includes Green Lantern (played by Nathan Fillion), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), and Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi). This team is supported by tech mogul Maxwell Lord (also played by Sean Gunn), a factor that could potentially influence their decisions.
Gunn stated, “They’re decent, but not saintly.” Such anti-hero superheroes, backed by corporations and tainted with corruption, will resonate with fans who have enjoyed series like The Boys and similar narratives. The intrigue lies in placing Superman, a character usually depicted as solitary or the world’s first hero, within this gritty, disillusioned universe. This could be an innovative approach to make the idealistic Superman more appealing for contemporary viewers.
In a different perspective, constructing an alternate reality with such a vastly distinct history compared to ours can be a risky endeavor for filmmakers, as it has often resulted in failure in the past. It presents numerous challenges that might prove hard to resolve, since the impact of a handful of superheroes could potentially alter historical events over the last 300 years. This was one of the primary complaints leveled at the 2017 fantasy film Bright, serving as a notable instance.
The DC Universe might find itself being compared to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), as its storyline closely mirrored our actual world until 2008, when Iron Man’s public debut occurred. Since then, the MCU has embraced a diverse array of superheroes, space travelers, deities, interdimensional threats, and many other novel aspects as unquestionable facts. It’s also gearing up for the introduction of significant changes, such as mutants. In contrast, the development and planning of the DC Universe could appear more systematic.
You’ll have a chance to judge for yourself how effective this take on the superhero genre is, as “Superman” premieres in cinemas on July 11th.
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2025-06-11 19:43