Summary
James Gunn’sDCUis a fresh start for the DC movie and TV franchise, but the DC Studios boss offered what may be the clearest insight into what events from Zack Snyder’s DCEU are still canon.
Gunn’sDCUis being touted as a reboot of the DC Extended Universe, which launched with Zack Snyder’sMan of Steelin 2013 andeffectively concluded with Ezra Miller’sThe Flashmovie. However, fans were confused when they learned that characters from Gunn’sThe Suicide SquadandPeacemaker, both part of the defunct DCEU, were joining the new DCU in projects such asCreature CommandoesandPeacemakerseason 2. This confusion was exacerbated when Gunn saidPeacemakerseason 1 wasn’t canon but the second season was. Now, Gunn has set the record straight on how and when fans will know which DCEU events are canon in the new DCU.
Gunn attended New York Comic-Con 2024 to promote theDCU animated seriesCreature Commandos, the first DCU project being released, even though Gunn has stated that hisSupermanfilm is the ‘true’ start of the new franchise. During the panel (viaDCU Brief), Gunn suggested that DCEU events will become canon in the DCU if they’re mentioned in the franchise’s new projects. “There are references to some other things that have happened in the past [inCreature Commandos], and those references then become canon in the DCU because we mention them,” Gunn said. As an example, Gunn mentioned thatCreature Commandosreferences the death of Rick Flag Sr.’s son, Joel Kinnaman’s Rick Flag Jr., and other events from past DC media.
Gunn also addressed the DCU’s aesthetic. Marvel Studios' MCU and even the DCEU to an extent tended to have the same tone and aesthetic, even if some projects delved into different genres (Captain America: The Winter Soldierhas been likened to political thrillers andWonder Woman 1984arguably stepped away from the darker tone of Snyder’s DCEU movies). Some fans wondered if DCU directors and showrunners must adhere to a single aesthetic, but Gunn shot down this notion. “Every single project that comes out of DC studios is going to be its own thing,” Gunn explained. “It’s a connected universe, but we’re not imposing any overall aesthetic.”
The takeaway from Gunn’s comments seems to be that if a DCEU event is mentioned in a DCU movie or show, it’s still canon. Anything from Snyder’s DCEU that isn’t mentioned could technically become canon later, but it isn’t official until a DCU movie or show says so. Some of these non-canon events and characters likely go without saying. For instance,David Corenswet’s DCU Supermanwill be joined by new actors playing the Man of Steel’s supporting characters, so it’s safe to assume events involving Henry Cavill’s Last Son of Krypton won’t be canon anymore. Fans must wait to see what Gunn’sDCUwill include from past DC media, and it will likely be whatever suits his storytelling needs.
DC
DC is a brand of superhero comics, television shows, movies, video games, merchandise, and more. The company owns the rights to popular characters like Batman, The Suicide Squad, Green Arrow, Wonder Woman, and many more.
