The DCEU might be in the weirdest spot in Hollywood right now. Be it anything, from every side it seems like DC is going through their worst phase and they thought the 2017 Justice League crashing at the box office was bad. There is the recent Discovery and Warner Bros. merger that is leading to all kinds money cuts. The money cuts led to the cancellation of various previously greenlit projects, including Batgirl that was almost complete. There is the backlash coming from that cancellation and I think most importantly it was Ezra Miller’s various illegal actions that reflected badly on Warner Bros. After the Batgirl movie cancellation fans were asking why is Warner Bros. cancelling Batgirl but they’d let the reshoots for The Flash film to happen even if the film stars a known felon. Well, no one answered that question.
However, after the merger with Discovery one thing thing was confirmed that there are some big changes afoot, for better or worse? Well, that is to be seen. The recent exit of DC Studios Head Walter Hamada confirmed the big changes. We’ve been hearing for a quite a longtime that DC is planning a total reshuffle of its content and wants to start anew. Moving forward they wish to create something like the MCU or better and for that they need a Kevin Feigi. After months of searching, they’ve finally found them and along with them they’ve issued a new plan as well.
The DC Extended Universe has a New Name Now!
Just today morning, Warner Bros. have given us the biggest update when it comes to the future of the DCEU and it is a good one. This morning we got a report from The Hollywood Reporter that Guardians of the Galaxy Franchise Director James Gunn and producer Peter Safran will co-chair and be co-CEOs of the DC Studios which in itself is a newly formed division. This new division shall include television, film and animated DC projects. Both Co-CEOs haves specific duties- Safran will focus on the business and production side, Gunn will head the creative part. Left and Right Brain of the DC mind.
This contract that Safran and Gunn have signed are reportedly for 4 years, in which Gunn will be exclusive to DC, that ends the filmmaker’s relationship with Marvel temporarily. Safran and Gunn will report to no one in Warner Bros. but directly to none other then Zaslav and they’ll partner with Warner Bros.’ film heads Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy. Here is what Zaslav had to say about the new executives:
“DC has among the most entertaining, powerful, and iconic characters in the world, and I am thrilled to have the singular and complementary talents of James and Peter joining our world-class team and overseeing the creative direction of the storied DC Universe. Their decades of experience in filmmaking, close ties to the creative community, and proven track record thrilling superhero fans around the globe make them uniquely qualified to develop a long-term strategy across film, TV, and animation, and take this iconic franchise to the next level of creative storytelling.”
Just to be clear Gunn and Safran are only responsible for the DC Universe. The side DC projects like Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker franchise and Matt Reeves’ The Batman franchise will not be overlooked by them but will be headed by De Luca and Abdy. Now about the name. The DC universe has gone through several name changes. Starting with the The Worlds of DC then the DCEU. However, with this rebirth of the universe, there is another title assigned to the DC universe. Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav gave a comment on the appointment of Gunn and Safran as the new heads of DC Studios.
“For over 60 years, these and other DC characters have captivated and inspired generations of fans around the world, and as stewards of the iconic franchise, we feel a real responsibility to preserve and expand the DCU for the enjoyment of future generations. In many ways, we have only begun to scratch the surface. James and Peter have a broad vision for DC storytelling and how it all fits together, and they plan to create even more compelling and unforgettable experiences for DC fans worldwide, while building a sustainable growth business out of the iconic franchise. [Gunn and Safran] are highly respected by creatives and talent alike and bring their own deep love and appreciation for the characters and stories of the DCU to their new roles. As they told me, this is a passion project for them, not just a job… and that is sure to be evident in their storytelling.”
As you can see in the statement, Zaslav calls the DC Universe DCU multiple times. Making it clear that the DC Universe would henceforth be regarded as the DCU which then makes stand right next to its closest competitor- The MCU.
DCU’s next film- Shazam!: Fury of the Gods will release in theatres near you next year on 17th March 2023.
If you have any questions regarding The DCU, feel free to ask in the comments below. For more content, stay tuned. As usual, like, subscribe and share our articles as we are trying to build a community of people High on Cinema!
