James Gunn: DC Reborn

So James Gunn has taken his first steps as DC's co-head honcho alongside Peter Safran. To say I'm excited is an understatement. To be alive for the rebirth of a cinematic universe is what living is all about to me. That and filmmaking. But we're here to talk about James Gunn's latest announcement about DC's first chapter.

But before we get into the first chapter, let's talk about one of, if not his best decision yet in his new role at DC. The Elseworlds tag.

So in his video announcement not long ago, James Gunn talked about how Todd Phillip's Joker and Matt Reeves Batman would still be given their time to finish what they started. This was made possible by dubbing these projects "DC Elseworlds" which in my opinion, will change the face of blockbuster franchise-making forever. What this means is that these projects will take place outside of the main DC continuity.

This will allow for there to be more than one Joker, more than one Batman and so on. Moreover, this will give any auteur like Christopher Nolan or Tim Burton who have partaken of the slice of superhero pie, a chance to make their own iterations of their favourite superheroes the way they want to. Free from the constraints of uniformity within a universe.

This will give the DC Universe the ability to both break the box office and challenge for the top awards. A masterstroke by Gunn and Safran.

Now onto DC's first chapter, Gods and Monsters.

In this chapter and presumably future chapters, the DC Universe will be connected across Live-Action, Animation and even Gaming. Ambitious and if planned out well, which it does seem to be, it would be a game changer to say the least.

The first project, written by James Gunn is the animated show, Creature Commandos. These characters aren't super well-known outside the comic-reading community and even within it, are pretty obscure, but essentially this is a World War 2 Suicide Squad in animation. Personally, I love how these obscure, relatively unknown characters are given a chance to headline their own project and gain some recognition as a part of the DC Universe. Chances are we're likely to see them in live-action too.

Moving on...

Up next we have Waller, a live-action Tv Series starring the amazing Viola Davis. This might be a project that follows the same vein as Peacemaker of The Suicide Squad, or it might not. Regardless I'm always up for more Viola Davis and DC are frankly lucky to have one of the best living actresses to play such a part in their Universe. The show is created by Crystal Henry who did Watchmen and Jeremy Carver who made The Doom Patrol. I think we can expect some amazing tonal shifts in this show from such diverse creators.

Onto the real beginning of the DC Universe.

Scheduled for release in 2025, we have Superman: Legacy. Gunn himself is penning the script and this really signifies the true start of the DC Universe. This will feature a young superman and of course signal a new change in how the DC Universe operates. I personally liked Henry Cavill as an actor for this role, but I am willing to give James Gunn the benefit of the doubt on this one.

Following that we have...

Lanterns. A new live-action return for the Green Lanterns to me is one of my most anticipated projects to date. The Tv series will function like a "space cop True Detective" style series and I couldn't be happier. Starring Jon Stewart AND Hal Jordan. For years I've wanted a Lantern reboot and now that it's finally here I just wholeheartedly support the direction DC is taking with this show.

Moving on from that...

We have another film, this one titled, "The Authority". James Gunn describes this as a passion project of his, which fills me and many of the DC faithful I'm sure, with the confidence that it'll be done right. The film follows a group of superheroes who are from an entirely different corner of the DC Universe that isn't as well known as many of their counterparts. It'll centre around a Justice League-type team of heroes that bear a striking resemblance to the original members with the exception that they stop crime by ANY means necessary. I'm intrigued to see how this plays out and also I applaud the decision to give such an unknown project a theatrical release.

Next up we have...

Another live-action Tv series is presumably a prequel to Wonder Woman and its set on Paradise Island aka Themiscyara. The show according to Gunn will be a Game-of-Thrones-style show. Personally, I think this is an interesting way to re-introduce us to Wonder Woman and even potentially Wonder Girl or even further back with the relationships between the Amazons and Atlanteans. There are so many ways this show could go and it's obvious it's still in its infancy planning-wise but overall it's a unique approach that could pay off big-time.

Next on the list is...

The DCU's Batman. This iteration of the Dark Knight will be based on The Brave and The Bold comic book run. The film will also feature the first Robin that we've seen in a while and my second favourite one too. Damian Wayne. According to Gunn, this will be the beginning of the Bat Family in the DCU. Sweeter words could not be said.

Next up...

A Tv series about Booster Gold. A hero from the future who comes back to the past. He's going to no doubt bring that levity to the DC Universe what with all its dark characters. A loser from the future who comes back to the past with his futuristic tech and becomes a hero. Loved him in the animated universe so happy to have him in the live-action one.

following that...

Based on Tom King's comic book run on Supergirl with his series, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. This will be adapted into a film for cinemas and it will be an epic sci-fi adventure according to James Gunn. Personally, I would love to see this done right because it could open up a huge opportunity for many more super-powered female characters to headline their own films in DC.

Lastly...

DC's Swamp Thing will be revived as a part of the new DC Universe under James Gunn and Peter Safran. This film promises to be a bold, dark horror film that pulls no punches. This film will tonally be outside of the DCU it will still feed into the rest of the universe in a connected way. I am thrilled that DC is diversifying its tone so as to avoid the superhero film fatigue from its audience that its counterpart, Marvel is now seeing the signs of.

This new slate of DC films will also include Shazam, The Flash movie and Aquaman in the universe. I am really excited to see where these DC films will take us as they unfold over the next few years. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Are you excited about this? or not?