James Gunn’s new plans for the DCU are giving the fandom déjà vu from 6 months ago. The new chief’s plans have taken on a momentum that rival even David Zaslav’s take on slashing projects to cover the costs of the April merger. As existent films and actors get pushed and pulled into this new torrent of change washing over DC, the fandom had looked forward to one particular event as the light at the end of the tunnel, i.e. Henry Cavill’s return.
That singular hope amid all the chaos now has been taken away, too. Instead, DC Studios’ CEO promises the audience something starkly different than what the DC universe from a decade ago had received and it could very well be a Richard Donner-like Superman movie.
James Gunn’s Superman Plans Don’t Include Henry Cavill
Since assuming office in November 2022, James Gunn and Peter Safran have been hard at work creating the blueprints of the DC Universe Bible. With promises and heartbreaks marring the way, the month that had comprised the formative stages of their planning has finally come to an end, but even that is not a relief.
In the latest news, Gunn pawns off Henry Cavill‘s Superman to the black hole of lost projects at DC and replaces the much-requested Man of Steel 2 with an entirely new Superman movie that is being penned by the Peacemaker director and will focus on the formative stages of Clark Kent/Superman, beginning from his time as a budding reporter at the Daily Planet.
James Gunn’s Scorched Earth Policy Goes Nuclear
Both James Gunn and Henry Cavill have confirmed the news of the DCEU Superman’s departure recently via their individual channels. The latter claimed, “I respect that. James and Peter have a universe to build. I wish them and all involved with the new universe the best of luck, and the happiest of fortunes.”
At this point, the only hope for the fandom ever witnessing Cavill as Superman could be via a multiversal movie or the Kingdom Come arc (which Gunn has teased numerous times) — considering how the franchise doesn’t harbor animosity toward films existing parallel to the mainstream framework that Gunn and Safran are trying to build, for instance, Joker: Folie à Deux, The Batman, and the Black Superman movie by Ta-Nehisi Coates and J.J. Abrams that is still in development.
The latter one, specifically, has been the projected punching bag for the grieving and angered fandom who have criticized James Gunn for slashing a Man of Steel 2 while Ta-Nehisi Coates is still penning the script for the movie that will focus on a parallel Superman story besides Gunn’s own.
OH MY GOD ITS GETTING WORSE
— Dung Dung #MakeTASM3 (@RadiantLadorian) December 15, 2022
So! Are we going to have two Supermans from different earths? Are they going to collide sometime in the future? Why don’t keep Cavill then… @JamesGunn explain this pleaseeeeeee
— Christian Bartra (@Bartra1941) December 15, 2022
We getting every superman except for our superman 😔
— Sepanta Claus ❤️🔥 (@SeptemberRains) December 15, 2022
Really? Abrams? I mean okay…
— Shsh (@skigapjack84) December 15, 2022
I can't lie my renewed faith in DC has plummeted a solid 20 thousand leagues under the sea
— Ryan O'Connell🇮🇪 (@DominantCub72) December 15, 2022
Don't let JJ Abrams touch your franchises – signed Star Wars and Star Trek fans
— Joe (@HeatDenizen) December 15, 2022
Currently, the script currently being written by Ta-Nehisi Coates is set to bring in Michael B. Jordan as Superman with J.J. Abrams directing the movie. The other Superman movie that is being penned by James Gunn might be helmed by The Suicide Squad director himself, given that the character will be placed at the center of DCU’s vision, leaving no room for reboots or mistakes, and the CEO has already stated the importance of Superman in DC moving forward.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
