The DCU Is Making a Big Mistake by Going All-In on the Shared Universe

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In the trailer for Season 2 of “Peacemaker,” it’s been confirmed that two crime-fighting figures from the “Superman” universe, played by Isabela Merced (Hawkgirl) and Nathan Fillion (Guy Gardner/Green Lantern), will make an appearance. These characters can be seen poking fun at Peacemaker in the trailer, hinting that this character from the “Suicide Squad” is a clear underdog within the DC Universe. This appearance also suggests that the different TV show and movie characters in James Gunn and Peter Safran’s new multimedia interpretation of the DC Comics mythology are deeply connected.

In the upcoming HBO TV series “Lanterns,” John Fillion’s Green Lantern will join forces with Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart. The DC Universe is breaking down barriers by merging its big-screen and small-screen stories. This narrative spans both streaming platforms and movie theaters, ready to take off from the get-go. However, one potential issue for this franchise could be the heavy focus on a shared continuity between films and television.

Juggling Movie & TV Mythology Asks Too Much of the Audience

It’s quite another thing to recall who portrays Batman and Superman in big-screen movies compared to remembering details from an entire TV series season. These blockbuster films have such a significant impact on pop culture that simply recognizing the actors on superhero movie posters is often sufficient for keeping track of important continuity points. Moreover, these films usually run between 2 hours (120 minutes) and 2 hours and 30 minutes (150 minutes). In contrast, a typical TV season can span eight to ten hours of content, which isn’t promoted as heavily as movies, making the characters less familiar to most people.

In simpler terms, it’s challenging to maintain consistency between movies and TV shows because TV storylines often influence movie plots. However, following every character in long-running TV series can be overwhelming for viewers. Historically, TV has been seen as a casual form of entertainment where people relax with friends while watching shows like Seinfeld, Community, or other sitcoms. Shows like ER or Law & Order present problems that are solved weekly in a straightforward manner. Using TV to set up movie stories goes against the more escapist or artistic nature of television itself.

In the realm of DC Comics, it seems that the financial limitations of television don’t quite match up. For example, the Green Lantern series will shift the expansive cosmic universe into a murder mystery occurring in Nebraska. This means we may overlook the vibrant, otherworldly realms from the Green Lantern comics or cherished quirks like Tomar-Re, Kilowag, and the Pink Lanterns. Adapting to the expectations of an HBO show means that the Green Lantern universe is being streamlined into a more budget-friendly, earthbound format. Why restrict these characters by focusing on television storytelling when it risks stripping them of their unique qualities?

Marvel’s Television Woes Provide a Cautionary Tale for the DCU

The challenges that the DC Universe might face when adopting serialized storytelling across films and TV, as demonstrated by the creative struggles faced by the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the 2020s, are evident. Starting from 2021, Marvel Studios started releasing a series of shows on Disney+, which led to several issues for the franchise. For instance, making movies such as The Marvels and Multiverse of Madness overly dependent on television storylines made these films confusing for general viewers. On top of that, increasing the number of TV shows like Secret Invasion has impacted the high-quality reputation that Marvel Studios had built up.

The most challenging aspect, however, was that the Disney+ shows seemed to take away from the unique appeal of Marvel superheroes. In the 2010s, these characters were extraordinary beings that could only be enjoyed during shared, memorable experiences at your neighborhood cinema. Transitioning Wanda Maximoff, Nick Fury, Hawkeye, and other MCU mainstays to Disney+ seemed to diminish their allure. Instead of being a communal experience in the movie theater, they became something you could watch on your couch while browsing your phone. After these characters made their way back to the big screen, it left viewers questioning why they should pay for movie tickets to view figures that were now commonplace on television screens.

In an attempt to establish a strong presence of the DC Universe in popular culture and provide content for sister companies like HBO and HBO Max, this franchise might be heading towards replicating the early challenges faced by the MCU’s Phases Four and Five. Instead of hurriedly introducing big-screen superheroes onto smaller screens, this live-action relaunch of DC characters requires careful handling. If Gunn and Safran aim to make the DC Universe’s main characters feel unique and consistent for general audiences, they should avoid creating a multimedia shared universe as it presents too much risk with minimal rewards, potentially damaging the DC Universe by spreading its storytelling across Max and multiplexes.

Peacemaker Season 2 begins airing on HBO Max on August 21st.

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2025-05-16 19:40