THE FUTURE OF DC FILMS
THE future of DC Films
James Gunn came in like a wrecking ball. When news hit that DC was taking on the much-loved director of the Guardians of the Galaxy films as their very own Kevin Feige, the internet seemed to respond with excitement. Then the news hit like a brick to the face that he was more-or-less firing Henry Cavill, who had just made his grand return as the Man of Steel, and fans lost their minds. Some embraced the fact that Gunn would be rebooting this universe with a fresh new take. Others were more than upset, with a few going to extremes, such as pushing to have DC let Gunn go (and worse). How could he suddenly pull the plug on an epic that still felt unfinished, and what about all the projects he’s attached to in the current DC movie universe? Let’s dive in!
WHY DID HE DO IT?
This is the burning question audiences are asking. Moviegoers have invested a lot of time into the current DC movie universe. Many feel like the rug has been pulled out from underneath them. Surely Gunn has his reasons. Many would argue that the DC movies within the foundation Zack Snyder first laid out have been sloppy so far, with a few exceptions. The critics haven’t warmed up to several of the films in this roster, while ticket sales typically fall below that of their competitor, Marvel’s MCU. On the other side are those who believe the DCEU has been just as good, sometimes better than the MCU. Those same defenders of DC claim that critics are unabashedly biased.
Neither side is completely wrong. Many of the films have underperformed, even if they were largely considered quality cinema. While the internet had a heyday poking fun at parts of Batman v Superman and the Suicide Squad, films such as Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, and Zack Snyder’s Justice League have all been better than almost everything Marvel presented in it’s Phase Four. Even Shazam! was well received by audiences and critics alike.
So why did James Gunn decide to pull the plug almost immediately after being hired as the head of DC movies? There is no definitive answer to that as of now, but we can all speculate. Perhaps he feels that the current roster of actors are simply too old for the roles going forward. Maybe he doesn’t feel like the fans love the franchise as much as they should, and a clean slate is necessary. Or What If… James Gunn just wants to create a world that his completely his own? Let’s break it all down with what we know so far.
WHO IS SAFE?
While Henry Cavill announced his departure as Superman, rumors swirled that Wonder Woman 3 was also being shelved, as well as it’s star Gal Gadot. People began to wonder what would happen with those projects Gunn himself was involved with. He directed the much-loved Suicide Squad sequel/soft reboot, and the spinoff HBO Max series Peacemaker. John Cena then answered those questions by announcing that he would be returning as Peacemaker. If Cena is still in the game, then it’s safe to assume the rest of the show’s cast are as well. That includes Gunn’s wife, Jennifer Holland, who plays Emilia Harcourt.
Now this may look and feel like nepotism to those paying attention. Calling for a reboot, letting go of everyone and everything in this universe except for your own pieces of work and people you hold dear. It’s still too early to call it nepotism just yet though. We still do not have confirmation that Ben Affleck is finished as Batman. Also, it has been said by Dwayne Johnson himself that Black Adam may appear again down the road. Gunn has stated that he loved working with Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn for his The Suicide Squad film. As of current, it is being reported that she is staying put in the role. The latest rumors coming in are that Ezra Miller may end up continuing to play the Flash going forward. This is particularly strange, considering he had been a huge liability this passed year.
THE FUTURE OF DC FILMS
So what does that mean for this “reboot” exactly? Once you let all of that soak in, it doesn’t feel like much of a reboot at all. It just appears as though James Gunn wants to remove some things in the Snyderverse while keeping others in tact. There is a way to do this gracefully while paying respect to those characters and actors who’ll be leaving. Think of it like the Thanos snap, or “the blip” as it’s called, only some heroes won’t be returning as we know them. And it all has to do with one particular superhero…
BLAME THE FLASH
How should James Gunn respectfully send specific actors/heroes off into the sunset while keeping others around? The answer is pretty simple: Flashpoint. The Flash movie has been in production for a long time. There’s still time for reshoots and additional scenes to be added before it’s release in late June. I think it’s almost necessary to make sense of what has been unfolding. Gunn apparently wants a younger Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman for his universe, but wants to keep the current Flash, Harley Quinn, and Peacemaker (amongst others). That sounds like a job for….the multiverse!
The Flash is going to be multiverse story. We know from the trailer that we’ll be seeing Michael Keaton’s Batman as well as other variants of the Flash himself. Have the Trinity show up near the films’ end to assist the Flash, and remind us why we love these characters. The film could explain that there are superhero-less universes out there in dire need of heroes. The Trinity, knowing they’ve done their job here in this universe full of heroes, make the hero’s sacrifice and head into a portal to parallel world that desperately needs them. The film should (and probably will) also explain that messing with time and the multiverse changed many things as they know them.
THE FUTURE OF DC FILMS
This would set up a post credit scene revealing a much younger Clark Kent waking up at the Kent farm. He’d be dumbfounded but would recognize Martha and Jonathan Kent as he comes downstairs. Yes, Pa Kent is alive again! This scene would also insinuate that there’s a younger version of Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince now as well. Just imagine the theatre’s reaction to something like this. A second post credit scene could introduce us to Jason Momoa as Lobo. It’s rumored that he’ll be switching roles from King of Atlantis to the Czarnian bounty hunter. Fans would lose it, and everyone else would at least get a glimpse of this lesser-known antihero.
IN CONCLUSION
Simply put, we don’t know enough yet about what James Gunn has planned to be upset (or thrilled) about what’s going on. He may have something in store that satisfies even the highest of comicbook movie standards. I hope that he uses the upcoming Flash film as an opportunity to make the changes he wants. Paying respect to these characters and actors we’ve grown to love is important for audiences. Maybe he’ll still give us something incredible even he chooses a different path. Gunn does have a pretty good track record, so for the time being, I think it’s fair to give him the benefit of the doubt. Let’s all sit back, relax, and hope for the best.
