After years of mismanagement that plagued the confusing DCEU, Warner Brothers Discovery and DC Comics announced that Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad director James Gunn will be taking executive control over the DC Cinematic universe. Along with Peter Safran, Gunn came up with a slate of films that would revamp the DCEU and usher in a new series of DC films with the DCU.
The slate of films included 7 films as well as the already-filmed Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. In recent interviews, Wonder Woman actress Gal Gadot mentioned that the third installment in her franchise would also be happening in the DCU. However, conflicting reports state otherwise.
James Gunn’s New DC Universe
Plans to make an interconnected shared universe of DC characters like the MCU led to the creation of the DC Extended Universe. Kickstarted by Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, the shared universe soon encountered problems from the studio after the sequel Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice received polarizing reviews. Despite some successes with Wonder Woman and Aquaman, the DCEU films always received mixed to negative responses.
After years of revising plans, the studio finally took the call to do a soft reboot of the franchise and brought in James Gunn and Peter Safran to head the newly created DC Studios. Gunn had previously directed the DCEU film The Suicide Squad and the spin-off series Peacemaker. The duo planned a story arc for months and then in January 2023, revealed the slate of films that would begin the DCU.
The duo revealed that the first chapter would be titled, ‘Gods and Monsters’. The universe would be starting with Superman: Legacy, which Gunn would be writing and directing. Actors David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan were cast as Clark Kent and Lois Lane respectively. Gunn said that DCEU Superman Henry Cavill would not be returning for the role, despite being teased at the end of Black Adam, as Superman: Legacy would follow a younger Superman.
Gunn also revealed that there were seven more films planned, which included Matt Reeves’ The Batman – Part II and Todd Philips’ Joker 2: Folie a Deux. He announced that these would be standalone films and would be set in ‘Elseworlds’, separate from the main continuity. He also revealed that the upcoming film Blue Beetle would be the first DCU character, while not having any continuity with the DCEU.
Is A Wonder Woman Sequel In The Works?
The initial slate of films that were in development as announced by James Gunn and Peter Safran is Superman: Legacy, The Authority, The Brave and the Bold, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, and Swamp Thing. Along with the two Elseworld projects and Jason Momoa’s Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, there are a total of eight DCU films in development. Gunn also mentioned that actors from the DCEU might carry over to the DCU.
Along these lines, Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot revealed in recent interviews that the third installment to her franchise was in fact in development as she had met Gunn and Safran. Speaking to Comic Book.com, Gadot said,
“I love portraying Wonder Woman. It’s so close to and dear to my heart. From what I heard from James and from Peter is that we’re gonna develop a Wonder Woman 3 together.”
In a more recent interview with Flaunt magazine, the actress seemed more confident about her reprisal as Diana Prince. She said,
“I was invited to a meeting with James Gunn and Peter Safran. They told me, and I’m quoting: ‘You’re in the best hands. We’re going to develop Wonder Woman 3 with you. [We] love you as Wonder Woman— you’ve got nothing to worry about.’ So time will tell”
However, sources from Collider revealed that no such plans were in development at the DCU studios. Multiple sources seem to have confirmed that a Wonder Woman sequel would not be happening in the near future. This news is more in line with reports during the DCU’s planning stage when Gunn and Safran told Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins that a sequel would not be possible in their current plan.
After the exit of Henry Cavill as Superman as well as Ben Affleck as Batman, James Gunn seems to be eliminating the last remnants of the Snyderverse. Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman was one of the few decisions that got unanimous praise from the fandom. There has been no confirmation from James Gunn regarding Wonder Woman 3.
Source: The Direct
Also read: Not Henry Cavill’s Superman, James Gunn Needs to Bring Back 12 Things to Save DCU
