Nothing vexes avid fans more than false promises, such as the case of DC Universe’s 10-year reboot plan. The announcement of upcoming projects from the newly revamped franchise under James Gunn and Peter Safran’s legacy thrilled millions of fans, only to be disappointed when it was excluded at CinemaCon 2023.
Attendees at the event heard Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav mention that Gunn and Safran would discuss the 10-year plan this week. This did not happen as the DC Studios executive clarified that it was “never the case” and that they will only announce occasional new projects.
Warner Bros CEO David Zaslav’s False Announcement At CinemaCon 2023 Angered DC Fans
Fans were completely devastated after David Zaslav’s false announcement that Gunn and Safran would present the much-awaited 10-year reboot plan. Last year, the Warner Bros CEO proudly declared (via The Wrap):
“You look at Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, these are brands that are known everywhere in the world, and the ability to drive those all over the world with great story is a big opportunity for us. We have done a reset. We’ve restructured the business. We’re going to focus where there will be a team with a 10-year plan focusing just on DC.”
In a tweet from Variety, Zaslav announced at CinemaCon 2023:
“This year, we’re going to do 16 movies. We want to do more than 20. We’re all in over the next couple of years with motion pictures and storytelling.”
Gunn set things straight in a Twitter post after the outrage of fans:
“That was never the case, no. We gave people lots of info a couple months ago. There won’t be much to add besides an occasional new project here and there for some time to come.”
After the announcement of the slate of movies and shows heading to DC Universe for Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters, fans immediately noticed that not everything was revealed at the event. Even one of Gunn’s favorites was hidden for the reason that it would give away too much.
DC fans took to social media their anger and disappointment. Check out their tweets below:
David Zaslav is a liar, @wbd No confidence https://t.co/6cr0DRvMLf
— TheDarshKnight (@Darshan14227345) April 26, 2023
someone lied to the press and i am NOT happy https://t.co/ZS7tFVQ02c
— alli (@allinicolee5) April 25, 2023
Yea that worked out so well for them before..they need to stop planning so far ahead before they know what works and what doesn't. Same ol WB.
— Derek Ruiz (@DerekRuiz) April 25, 2023
If by "talking about their 10 year plan", They meant just this year's films. https://t.co/U6MpBTf3Vy
— Jason DeMars (@MarvelWatch) April 25, 2023
So there is no DC 10 year plan news? And Joker 2 news which they saw in a sizzle reel? Is that it?
— Goofy Ahhh (@TTVAHMED) April 25, 2023
The public felt betrayed after this catastrophic presentation. It seems that DC Studios only reveals big projects by chapter, as in the case of Gods and Monsters. Unlike Marvel Studios, the company won’t likely be laying its whole 10-year plan out in the open.
DC Studios Will Most Likely Reveal Projects As They Come
James Gunn’s statement on presenting new movies and TV series from time to time shows that Warner Bros and DC are being pretty cautious about what they put out there to see how these projects would fare with the public.
The only movie reboot Gunn constantly discusses is Superman: Legacy, which would serve as an experiment to know if fans and critics would positively receive it and become a commercial success. Now that they are replacing Henry Cavill as Superman with a younger actor, this is a huge leap of faith for Warner Bros.
Superman: Legacy arrives in theaters on July 11, 2025.
