James Gunn has recently spoken aboutDCUcanon and has finally made me truly understand the upcoming franchise for the first time. Ever since Marvel Studios launched the most successful cinematic franchise of all time, questions about how comic book movies connected, if at all, have been rampant. DC only joined in on the cinematic universe formula five years later with the DCEU’sMan of Steelin 2013, but the established trope had some audiences questioning how and whether Christian Bale’s Batman would factor into this universe, for example.
The confusion has been exacerbated by the Elseworlds projects that surround mainline DCEU productions. 2019’sJoker, for instance, was released at the height of the DCEU whenthe DCEU’s Joker, portrayed by Jared Leto, was already established three years prior. Similarly, Matt Reeves’The Batmantrilogy will be released in tandem withthe DCU’s movies, which will feature its own version of Batman and surrounding characters. The DCU, meanwhile, is a rebooted cinematic universe that will nonetheless feature characters from the now-defunct DCEU.
The DCU launches withCreature Commandoson August 08, 2025. This animated show features Amanda Waller, Weasel, and John Economos - all of whom carry over from the DCEU’sThe Suicide SquadandPeacemaker. This alone makes me wonder where one franchise ends and the other begins, as the DCU will seemingly maintain certain aspects of the DCEU as canon. Thankfully, James Gunn’s recent comments have made keeping abreast of the connections much easier.
James Gunn’s DCEU To DCU Connection Comments Simplify A Lot Of The Confusing Aspects Of The Reboot
DCEU Events Become Canon When They Are Mentioned In The DCU
James Gunn was at this year’s New York Comic Con, where he addressed the inevitable confusion that this unusual plan will engender. Gunn’s attendance withthe cast ofCreature Commandosdid, after all, make this a particularly pertinent issue to address thanks to the presence of those reprising roles from the DCEU. Thankfully,Gunn’s answer to the confusion cleared everything up for me, as he stated:
We learn that other things that have happened in the past in other media have still happened. There are references to things that happened in the past. And those references then become canon in the DCU because we mention them.
Put simply,the DCU will let us all know what aspects of the DCEU remain canon by stating it as and when needed.Creature Commandosmay well be the first to do this, perhaps paying off the fact that Weasel survived his apparent drowning inthe mid-credits scene forThe Suicide Squad. Whatever the case, Gunn seems to be suggesting that audiences don’t need to worry about one of the most concerning aspects of this shift to new narratives in the DCU.
James Gunn’s DCEU To DCU Explanation Proves It’ll Avoid The Worst Fears For The Franchise
There Won’t Be Any Required Viewing In The DCEU
I’m reading Gunn’s comments as him suggesting thatDCU events may nod to events of the past, but that they won’t be required viewing to understand the DCU. This is a good sign for audiences whether they are brushed-up onevery DCEU movieor not. It appears as though Amanda Waller and her fellowreturning DCEU starsmay be properly set-up once more in the DCU, starting withCreature Commandos, without makingSuicide SquadorThe Suicide Squadnecessary homework. Mentions of past events will instead act as Easter eggs for those in-the-know.
The Suicide Squadwas itself a soft reboot ofSuicide Squadafter the latter was met with criticism, providing a decent hint at how the DCU will navigate its “new” narratives.
It will, of course, be impossible to avoid certain questions being raised. While I’m over the moon that Viola Davis is maintaining the role of Amanda Waller, her reprisal will still make it seem as though the entirety ofThe Suicide Squadis DCU canon. Still, it’s good to hear James Gunn’s assurances that catching up on fragments of the DCEU in preparation for the new franchise is unnecessary, making it so theDCUtruly is a fresh start that simply capitalizes on the best aspects of its predecessor.
DC Universe
The DC Universe is one of the biggest comic book franchises and often competes with Marvel. DC Comics started as National Allied Publications, founded by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson in 1935. Since then, the franchise has exploded with thousands of comic books, movies, TV shows, and video games. 2013 marked the beginning of the most recent iteration of the superheroes, with Zack Snyder introducing Henry Cavill as Superman. After several movies with mixed reviews, DC underwent a soft reboot under the helm of James Gunn and Peter Safran.
