Summary
- James Gunn takes over the DCU film slate, introducing the “Gods and Monsters” plan for a shared universe.
- Gunn is inspired by animated DC shows like Justice League Unlimited and Young Justice for storytelling and character development.
- Gunn may focus on younger, more obscure DC heroes, possibly leading to the formation of teams like Young Justice in future projects.
At this point, anyone who has been paying attention at all knows that James Gunn has officially taken the reins of DC’s new slate of films, resulting in the birth of the DCU. It feels like Gunn’s takeover came at just the right time as DC Comics’ films were really struggling to find an audience. There were plenty of less-than-beloved DCEU films like The Flash and Black Adam and there were also plenty that got canceled even if they were nearly finished. It was time for a refresh, and Gunn seemed to be up to the challenge.
When he took over, Gunn announced plans to create a shared universe that would seamlessly blend DC’s cinematic, television, animated, and gaming divisions under one well-orchestrated umbrella. The first phase of this plan is the much spoken of “Gods and Monsters,” which is set to include five films and six television series. It’s a degree of detail that only people like Gunn can come up with and It’s quite an ambitious first step. The first steps of the new DCU have started now with the animated series, Creature Commandos and will continue in the summer of 2025. As it turns out, there are a couple of animated series from the DCAU that Gunn relies heavily on for his plans.
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The Two Series Influencing James Gunn And The DCU
This news of James Gunn’s DCU is exciting for fans of animated DC properties, as it signals James Gunn’s intention to draw inspiration from some of the most beloved and critically acclaimed shows in the DC universe. Both Justice League Unlimited and Young Justice are known for their deep storytelling, complex character arcs, and the ability to balance expansive casts—all qualities that could enhance the live-action DCU.
Gunn’s engagement on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) not only builds goodwill among fans but also offers valuable insight into his creative approach. It’s here in a prolonged exchange with one of his fans where it was learned that the two DCAU shows were leaned on as influences.
So what does relying on those two series mean for what James Gunn has planned. It appears fans of the DCU are already getting a look. It could mean a stronger focus on ensemble storytelling, nuanced character development, and serialized narratives in the DCU’s future projects. It also suggests that Gunn is keenly aware of the potential of animated DC properties to inform and elevate live-action adaptations. Fans will no doubt watch closely to see how these inspirations manifest in the upcoming slate of DCU films and series.
Younger Heroes Could Be The Key
The question now is who will the DCAU, Young Justice and Justice League Unlimited really impact Gunn? It’s possible viewers are already seeing that influence with Creature Commandos. He may believe that it’s simply possible to tell interesting stories through animated shows and movies. While the Amazon Prime series looks like something for kids it decidedly is not. It does everything an adult-themed show does and more. It’s not clear what else is planned in that department but certainly that show is getting rave reviews.
It’s also possible that those shows could lead Gunn to lean into including younger and more obscure DC superheroes than any previous iteration of the franchise. The DCEU didn’t really include sidekicks or young heroes at all other than The Flash. And yet, sidekicks are a big part of DC Comics lore.
Gunn has also talked about wanting to feature more obscure heroes and villains in the DCU. If not this stage, then the next phase and the one after that. Is it possible that entire roster of characters who make up Young Justice could very well be on their way to the new DCU. Gunn is already including that group’s leader, Robin in the upcoming The Brave and the Bold.
Even with the admitted problems he’s having putting that project together, Batman and Robin will arrive at some point. It stands to reason that other sidekicks or former sidekicks will surface soon after. Should the rest of the roster of Young Justice show up at some point, it could give Gunn a chance to put together not only the Justice League, but a couple of different teammups that could form Young Justice or even the Teen Titans.
All of this is still very much in the region of speculation as only the Brave and the Bold, which James Gunn has said is nowhere near ready has really learned into younger heroes, or sidekicks. But the fact that the man in charge of the DCU has specifically talked about a couple of very specific DCAU shows as being his inspiration seems like a hint of what is to come in the next few years. And fans who get impatient need to be reminded that he’s just getting started.
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