Momentum has been slowly constructing for nicely over a 12 months now for James Gunn and Peter Safran’s new DC Universe. The multimedia, DC Comics-inspired franchise hasn’t formally begun, although. That long-awaited second will come when the brand new Gunn-created animated Suicide Squad spin-off TV sequence, Creature Commandos, premieres December 5 on Max. Nonetheless, Gunn is already not solely receiving criticisms from some comedian e-book readers and superhero followers, but in addition pushing again in opposition to sure claims.
The DC Studios co-CEO did that very factor when one fan just lately argued on Threads that Gunn’s resolution to greenlight initiatives about “area of interest” characters like Sgt. Rock and Swamp Factor makes it seem to be he’s solely “making the DCU for hardcore comedian e-book readers and never for the overall viewers.” In response, Gunn wrote, “Don’t put Swamp Factor within the nook. That’s a mission in growth we’ve really introduced, and he’s an extremely well-known character with not solely a number of the best comics of all time however a profitable movie sequence and his personal TV present, one thing that may very well be mentioned of solely a really small handful of DC characters.”
In the identical remark, Gunn additionally defended his resolution to skip Batman and Superman’s origin tales within the DCU, succinctly explaining, “I’m not telling Batman and Superman’s origin tales once more as a result of everybody is aware of them.”
As a filmmaker, Gunn has expertise bringing obscure comedian e-book characters into the mainstream scene. He did so in 2014 when he directed Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. There are, moreover, a number of initiatives in growth at DC Studios proper now that promise to concentrate on lesser identified comedian e-book characters, together with Creature Commandos, The Authority, Booster Gold, and the just lately reported, Luca Guadagnino-directed and Daniel Craig-starring Sgt. Rock.
That mentioned, there are additionally simply as many, if no more, TV and movie initiatives within the works at DC Studios proper now which are centered round characters who’re something however area of interest and obscure, like Superman, Supergirl: Girl of Tomorrow, The Courageous and the Daring, Swamp Factor, and Lanterns. Motion pictures in regards to the Teen Titans and fan-favorite Batman villains Bane and Deathstroke are additionally reportedly in growth.
Taking all that under consideration, it doesn’t seem to be Gunn and Safran are planning on relying an excessive amount of on “area of interest” characters within the DC Universe a lot as they’re making an attempt to fill the franchise out with a wholesome mixture of each well-known and lesser identified heroes and villains. Solely time will inform whether or not or not their efforts to take action really repay, nevertheless it’s a tough technique to criticize, particularly earlier than anybody has even seen one of many DCU’s forthcoming exhibits or motion pictures.
