James Gunn Taps Writer of Failed ‘The Flash’ and ‘Birds of Prey’ Movies for Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Raising Major Red Flags for DC

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James Gunn is aiming for a fresh start with the new DC movies, hoping to create a stable franchise after years of inconsistent results. However, his recent choice of screenwriter for Batman: The Brave and the Bold – Christina Hodson, who has written several unsuccessful DC films – is causing worry among fans.

As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Christina Hodson will be writing the next Batman movie for DC Studios. This is a significant choice, as Batman is DC’s most valuable asset and essential for building a thriving shared universe. He’s not just another superhero – he’s the key to DC’s future.

Look, I’m a little worried about who James Gunn chose to help build this new DC universe. This writer’s previous work for DC hasn’t exactly been inspiring, to put it mildly. It’s a shaky foundation to build on, and frankly, it has me concerned about where this is all heading.

A Resume Defined by DC’s Biggest Missteps

Hodson’s work at DC Comics doesn’t show a lot of success. Most of the projects he was involved with weren’t well-received by audiences or critics, and didn’t perform well financially.

She wrote The Flash, a movie that was promoted as a groundbreaking, universe-spanning event. However, it turned into one of the biggest box-office failures in superhero movie history. Despite a lot of pre-release buzz, numerous reshoots, and studio claims it would revitalize the DC universe, The Flash performed poorly when released, earning far less money than expected and failing to capture audience attention.

She also wrote the film Birds of Prey, which didn’t do well in theaters and didn’t resonate with most viewers. Some fans believe the movie was unfairly criticized or poorly promoted, but ultimately, Birds of Prey didn’t prove successful enough to launch a franchise and quickly lost public interest.

Perhaps the most talked-about project on Hodson’s list of credits is Batgirl. It’s the only DC film ever finished and then completely canceled – a shocking decision that caused a stir in Hollywood. Warner Bros. Discovery decided not to release the movie at all, opting to write it off as a tax loss instead. Although several things played a role in this choice, the outcome is clear: a fully completed DC film that was considered not worth releasing.

This is the writer now being asked to define Batman’s future.

Batman Is Not a Test Case

The decision is particularly surprising considering the circumstances. Gunn and Safran, who jointly lead DC Studios, have consistently stated their intention to rebuild DC cautiously. They’ve acknowledged previous errors and stressed the importance of regaining audience trust gradually, with each new project.

If the people saying those things really mean it, then we need to be very careful with Batman: The Brave and the Bold – it shouldn’t be seen as just a fun risk to take.

Batman is DC’s biggest strength. He’s the one character that consistently works on screen, even when the movies change direction or different creative teams take over. Whether DC is struggling or thriving, Batman is usually a key part of the story.

Giving this character to a writer whose recent work for DC has included a big flop at the box office, a failed franchise attempt, and a movie that was completely canceled is a significant gamble.

And it’s a risk Gunn is taking voluntarily.

The Andy Muschietti Problem: More Familiar Failure

Adding to the worries about the upcoming Batman: The Brave and the Bold movie is the continued, official involvement of director Andy Muschietti. Despite months of rumors suggesting he may have left the project, DC Studios hasn’t actually confirmed his departure.

If Muschietti continues as director, it would be another risky move, considering previous unsuccessful attempts.

Andy Muschietti previously directed The Flash. Unfortunately, the movie didn’t perform well at the box office and faced a lot of bad publicity. This was largely due to issues surrounding its star, Ezra Miller, who was involved in several legal problems and exhibited unpredictable behavior for over a year before the film came out.

Instead of avoiding the issue, Muschietti consistently spoke up for Miller in interviews, portraying him as someone who had been misinterpreted and arguing that he should still be involved in upcoming films. However, these statements didn’t ease the concerns of fans or those who were already questioning DC’s decisions and how they handled difficult situations.

As a huge cinema fan, I have to say I’m a little worried about the latest news from DC Studios. Bringing on Andy Muschietti and Christina Hodson – the team behind The Flash – feels less like a fresh start and more like they’re sticking with the same people who contributed to some of their recent missteps. It doesn’t seem like they’re really taking a hard look at what went wrong and making big changes, just reshuffling the deck, if you know what I mean.

For a Batman film intended to anchor an entirely new cinematic universe, that seems very reckless.

Doubling Down Instead of Course Correcting

Those defending Gunn will likely say a writer shouldn’t be evaluated based on issues with the studio or problems with the franchise itself. This point could be valid for a less significant project – or if Hodson had proven her abilities on other DC films or shows.

But that’s not the case.

Projects Hodson has worked on at DC have consistently underperformed or highlighted the studio’s larger struggles. Instead of changing direction, Gunn seems to be continuing with the same creative approach that led to these issues.

This is particularly interesting considering James Gunn is actively promoting the DC Universe as a fresh start – a distinct approach designed to consistently challenge Marvel’s dominance.

Yet this hiring decision suggests continuity — not change.

A Warning Sign for the DCU’s Future

Batman: The Brave and the Bold isn’t just a film; it’s a statement of intent. It shows viewers, those funding the projects, and dedicated fans what to expect from the new direction of DC Studios.

As a fan, I’m really intrigued by James Gunn’s choice of Christina Hodson. It feels like he’s saying, ‘Let’s forget what’s happened with DC movies before and start fresh.’ It’s a bold move, considering some previous DC films haven’t done well, but I’m willing to give it a chance and trust his vision.

That is a bold ask. And not necessarily in the way DC intended.

If James Gunn’s new DC Universe doesn’t succeed, this choice will be seen as a missed chance – a time when the studio could have changed course but opted to stick with what they knew instead of backing a path that had already shown promise.

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2026-01-22 16:58