James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ is Not Focused on Universe Building Unlike MCU

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As a seasoned film critic who has seen more superhero movies than I care to count, I must say that James Gunn’s reboot of Superman is shaping up to be quite the game-changer for both the DCU and the superhero genre as a whole. It’s refreshing to see a director who seems genuinely committed to crafting a standalone story, rather than using his film as a springboard for future projects.

James Gunn’s reboot of Superman will not follow a key element that has been a staple of the Marvel Cinematic Universe since its beginning, such as the interconnectedness of stories hinted at in post-credit scenes or elsewhere. Unlike how Marvel Studios carefully constructed the MCU by alluding to a larger universe, DC Studios aims to introduce their DCU with Superman by primarily telling an independent story.

During a visit to the Superman film set, The Wrap spoke with Gunn about the extent to which the movie is designed to lay groundwork for future projects. He stated bluntly, “None,” then added, “I’m talking about almost nothing, just a couple of minor details, but if something exists solely to hint at something else, forget it.” The co-CEO of DC Studios emphasized that a movie like Superman, tasked with rebooting the DC Universe, should be able to stand tall on its own merits and minimize teasing other elements. While there might be a subtle hint or two for the wider universe, the focus of Superman is predominantly on itself.

It’s important that each piece should be self-contained and not depend on any other work. No one should have to watch this film relying on anything else. If it happens to establish elements for ‘Peacemaker’, that’s fine, but I will never compromise the story, even for a second or a single beat, just for that purpose.

Later on, Gunn hinted that the television division of DC Studios would contribute significantly to establishing future endeavors and the broader cinematic universe. The occurrences in Superman may serve as a foundation for projects such as Peacemaker, but don’t anticipate explicit plot points or scenes to directly introduce a new film or TV series within the DCU.

In the realm of visual storytelling, I find that television offers a touch of flexibility. Yet, when it comes to cinema, each and every moment carries significance for the overall narrative.

‘Superman’ Carries the Hopes of the Superhero Genre

In a manner reminiscent of Superman, the future of the superhero genre appears to be somewhat dependent on the movie directed by James Gunn. Slated for release in theaters next July, it will share the spotlight with Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Footsteps, another new franchise endeavor from the MCU. These two projects are arguably the most eagerly awaited superhero productions of next year, and if they resonate with audiences, they could easily rank among the highest-grossing films. Notably, Superman faces a challenging task in rebooting an entire cinematic universe, as the DCEU struggled to take flight initially.

Although it’s been decided that Superman won’t initiate the DCU setup, we’re confident that Gunn understands the future of this cinematic universe depends on his unique interpretation of Superman. In today’s unpredictable industry, where projects can be abruptly canceled or discarded as a tax-saving measure by some studio executives, it’s clear that Superman needs to be a box office success to warrant more DCU ventures, even if they aren’t directly linked. Despite the official announcements and greenlights for various titles from DC Studios, fans understand nothing is set in stone until the final product is seen on the big screen.

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2024-12-17 22:03