DC’s ‘The Authority’ Film Hit With Major Roadblock

by

For approximately two years now, James Gunn has shared his vision for Chapter 1 of the DC Universe, titled Gods & Monsters. This vision began to unfold with the premiere of Creature Commandos, and the franchise continues to progress steadily. The upcoming Superman film is scheduled for release in July 2025, preceded by previously announced projects like Peacemaker Season 2, Lanterns, and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. New additions to the lineup include Clayface, Sgt. Rock, and Dynamic Duo, indicating a varied array of projects and genres for the DCU. However, titles unveiled in January 2023 seem to be stagnant, with one title, The Authority, conspicuously absent and raising some eyebrows as it has shown no signs of progress yet.

As a movie enthusiast eagerly anticipating the next installment in the DC Universe (DCU), I was intrigued to learn about the progress of “The Authority” during a recent press briefing with James Gunn and Peter Safran. In an exclusive interview, Safran shared that “The Authority” is a monumental project, stating, “To do ‘The Authority’ justice, it requires a grand scale, and some plot points may overlap with ‘Superman’ and other upcoming films we’ve accelerated.” Gunn further elaborated that “The Authority” has faced certain challenges in its development process, and the film has taken a backseat to projects like the Wonder Woman prequel series “Paradise Lost” and the DCU Batman film “The Brave and the Bold.

The Authority comic book series, established by Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch in 1999, sprang from the residual members of the Wildstorm superhero group Stormwatch. This groundbreaking and contentious work centered around a team of superheroes who took action to improve the world, frequently treading on the border between heroic and villainous actions. The Authority was an intriguing addition to Gunn’s DCU given its unconventional nature, but it demonstrated that this DC Universe would cover diverse aspects of the company’s rich history by being alongside more familiar figures like Superman and Batman.

‘The Authority’s Current DCU Status, Explained

James Gunn’s recent remarks indicate that “The Authority” is not currently a top priority in the DCU, which stands in stark contrast to earlier expectations that it would serve as a direct sequel to “Superman“. Initially, it seemed plausible that “Superman” and “The Authority” would be linked films, following the casting of María Gabriela de Faría as Angela Spica / The Engineer, a key member of The Authority. However, it appears now that “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow ” will follow “Superman” in the DCU, leaving the fate of “The Authority” uncertain. Gunn has stated previously that no DC film would begin production until a final script was ready, suggesting it may take some time before we see “The Authority“.

Ever since the unveiling of The Authority, a variety of directors have been speculated for the project, often those renowned for creating R-rated superhero movies. Initially, Matthew Vaughn, famous for Kick-Ass and Kingsman: The Secret Service, was a popular guess. More recently, a picture shared by James Gunn with Zack Snyder has sparked hope among fans that Snyder could direct the anti-hero DCU selection. In truth, Snyder’s style seems more fitting for the realm of The Authority than the Justice League heroes. Although progress on The Authority may have stalled, there will be no dearth of DC films to compensate for the wait.

Read More

2025-02-24 22:35