6 Lessons From DCEU’s Mistakes To Make The DC Universe Great

As a die-hard movie fan who adores the world of DC Comics, I’ve got to admit that the DCEU stumbled on several occasions, but if they learn from these missteps, they could create something truly extraordinary. For nearly a century, DC has been spinning tales that captivate our hearts and minds. From the introduction of heroes like Superman and Batman in the 1930s and 1940s, to countless others since then, DC has honed its craft when it comes to delivering compelling stories. Regrettably, these skills didn’t seem to materialize in the DCEU as we had hoped.

Essentially, it can be said that the DCEU had some significant blunders during its creation. They released numerous stories without giving them enough time to mature, and they failed to emphasize key characters who should have been the mainstays of the franchise. As a result, the DCEU’s beginning was shaky, and things only got worse as it progressed. However, with James Gunn and Peter Safran taking charge at DC Studios and starting anew, there is a chance to understand past errors and build their new shared universe on a more robust base.

6. The DCEU Avoiding Giving Its Batman A Solo Movie Is A Major Lesson For The DCU

In contrast to assembling an entire Justice League ensemble, the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) commenced their narrative journey with a standalone Superman film titled “Man of Steel.” After a period of tranquility, they subsequently unveiled “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” three years later. Following that, they delved into characters such as Wonder Woman and Aquaman, but not every hero had their moment in the spotlight, with Batman being the most noticeably absent. Although Ben Affleck’s casting was met with initial skepticism, his portrayal of Batman turned out to be one of the most thrilling live-action iterations of the character.

Indeed, fans eagerly anticipated further development of the Gotham Guardian in new stories, yet in The Batman, a fresh take on the character emerged, with Affleck making appearances only in cameos. Consequently, Affleck was denied an opportunity to truly excel, even though he had introduced compelling aspects of the hero’s backstory, such as his tragic loss of Robin and complex relationships with anti-heroes like Harley Quinn within the DCEU. In essence, despite being a pivotal figure in the DCEU, Batman’s narrative often took a backseat. Fortunately, the DCU is now focusing on a Batman and Robin tale, at least offering these characters more screen time.

5. The Reaction To Batgirl’s Cancellation Could Be Useful For The DCU To Take From

Although Batman didn’t receive a standalone movie, it was intended for Batgirl to star in her own film. In truth, it wasn’t merely an idea; the entire production was carried out. The casting had been finalized, shooting and filming were wrapped up, and post-production work was progressing smoothly. However, due to potential tax benefits, Batgirl, featuring Rosario Dawson as Batgirl and Brendan Fraser portraying Firefly, might have raised some eyebrows, but the decision to cancel the film at the last moment was far more contentious.

As a devoted DCU fan, I must admit that the response towards this film was diverse, but there was undeniably a lot to look forward to. It’s clear that the decision to revise something so many people have invested their time and effort in wasn’t made lightly by fans like me. The DC Universe needs to demonstrate its commitment to seeing projects through to completion if it wants to maintain our trust. Fortunately, James Gunn appears to be taking a thoughtful approach, focusing on script development before casting and production, which suggests they’re becoming more deliberate in their planning.

4. The Divided Reactions To Many Of The DCEU’s Sequels Is A Reminder The DCU Needs To Hold Up Over Time

Contrary to expectations, the sequel to Shazam!, titled Shazam! Fury of the Gods, didn’t resonate as positively with audiences as its predecessor did. While it introduced a new hero and maintained a lighter tone, it fell short in comparison. Interestingly, this pattern of less favorable reviews and box office performance is echoed in Wonder Woman 1984, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom within the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Whether this decline was due to production delays or waning audience interest in the overall universe, each DCEU sequel has failed to meet expectations, both critically and financially.

In their ongoing efforts to develop the first journeys for their team of superheroes, DCU needs to remember that sequels play a crucial role. They can be equally or even more significant than the initial tales in fleshing out these characters and constructing a cohesive cinematic universe. After all, building a series of films relies on producing sequels based on individual narratives as well as collaborative crossover sequels. If subsequent adventures fall short, what would compel viewers to remain engaged and eager for more?

3. The DCEU Rushed To Bring Its Superheroes Together

Although there was a three-year span between the debut film of the DCEU, Batman v Superman, and its sequel, the shift from a solo story to one featuring a confrontation between the two titular characters occurred. Additionally, the rest of the Justice League was introduced hastily and unsatisfactorily in the movie. While it’s understandable that they wanted to establish the universe swiftly, the lack of character development on the part of the studios left viewers with little motivation to connect and empathize with the characters. Despite their fame and recognition, the studio should not rely solely on other narratives to set the foundation for these characters.

Moving forward from Batman v Superman, the year following saw the release of Justice League in cinemas, which remains one of the most contentious and perplexing comic book films to this day. It seemed that the studio’s primary focus was on producing and releasing the movie rather than the substance of its story. This oversight was detrimental to the studio, causing more damage than good. Consequently, the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) began to crumble, with only a Snyder Cut release in 2021 as a notable exception; there has been no further team-up film from the Justice League since then.

2. The DCEU Was Too One-Note

Shazam! offered a unique, humorous twist to the DCEU, but unfortunately came too late in the game. Rather than experimenting with genres and tailoring each character’s story with a distinctive tone, the DCEU predominantly relied on a somber, gloomy aesthetic that didn’t align well with heroes who represent optimism, brightness, and virtue. If the DCEU had been more open to diverse narratives, it might have garnered much wider appeal.

It seems that the DC Universe (DCU) is heading in the right direction by offering a diverse tone for its stories. For instance, “Creature Commandos” takes on an animated and comedic yet dark approach, whereas “Superman” is preparing for a heartwarming fantasy-style adventure. On the other hand, movies like “Clayface” are expected to delve into intense body horror with a dark undertone. This diversity in tone prevents the stories from becoming monotonous, which was a pitfall experienced by the DCEU (DC Extended Universe).

1. The DCEU Over-Promised And Under-Delivered

Initially, the DCEU aimed to challenge the MCU in terms of cinematic universe development, which stemmed from the long-standing friendly competition between Marvel Comics and DC. However, instead of strategically laying a strong foundation, the DCEU attempted to rush things, striving for grandeur before mastering the basics, as suggested by David S. Goyer’s comment on the Happy Sad Confused Podcast.

At one stage, the individual in charge of Warner Bros. presented a plan: “We’re planning to release 20 movies over the next decade!” However, none of these films were written at that point. It was astonishing to see so much construction based on nothing but promises. To me, some of the activities happening during that period seemed like trying to build a house without a blueprint.

The DC Universe (DCU), with grand ambitions to produce numerous films and lacking a clear strategy, was destined for failure. Instead of making extravagant promises and delivering lackluster results, as James Gunn and the DCU should be more strategic in their planning, releasing information when it’s prepared rather than offering too much and delivering too little. If the DCU can learn from these significant mistakes and mishaps, they could potentially become the most beloved comic book movie universe; however, if they fail to adapt, they risk losing their chance at success.

2025-06-01 16:50