As the co-CEO of DC Studios, James Gunn has laid a roadmap of how his new DCU will be and what characters are to be included in it. While he has announced a plethora of projects that will be a part of his new DCU, he and Peter Safran are the only ones who know how multiple films and characters tie in and the ramifications it will have in the larger DCU.
He is currently shooting his first live-action film in his universe- Superman. Gunn has included the character of The Engineer in the film as a way to signal the film’s connection to The Authority film that was announced last year. Regarding the casting of other members of The Authority, Gunn’s statement might disappoint fans who are expecting other members of the team in Superman.
James Gunn Reveals the Casting Process Has Not Begun For The Authority
James Gunn is currently in the middle of production of his Superman film with David Corenswet playing the titular character. The film is set to kick off the new DCU under his supervision and the co-CEO of DC Studios has announced other DC projects that will continue building the DC universe after Superman.
One of the upcoming projects that Gunn has announced is a film based on The Authority, a superhero team that has never been translated into film before. The team of characters includes the Doctor, Swift, Apollo, Jenny Sparks, Midnighter, the Engineer, and Jack Hawksmoor. Out of these, only The Engineer is confirmed to be making an appearance in Superman, played by María Gabriela de Faría (via Deadline).
A fan asked Gunn about the casting process of The Authority film and when it will begin (on Threads). Gunn replied by saying that the casting has not yet begun as the script of the film is not finished yet. He also claimed that no matter what, quality is the top priority of his approach to his DCU. He said,
“We won’t green light a film until we have a finished script we’re happy with and, in general, we won’t cast a film until the script is finished. This is why some projects are moving faster than anticipated and others more slowly. It’s always gonna be quality first no matter what.”
This revelation will be sad news for fans who are expecting other characters of the Authority like Apollo and Midnighter to appear in Superman. However, the Engineer is expected to play a pivotal role in the film and her inclusion will set up what is to come with The Authority. Fans have to wait a little longer to see their favorite Authority characters on-screen.
James Gunn Debunks Similarities With a Recent Superman Fan Art With His Film
David Corenswet is currently shooting Superman directed by James Gunn. The actor put in immense hard work and bulked up to play the part. Although no official stills of the film or Corenswet as Superman has been released, it has not stopped fans from creating their own version of how he will look as the character.
Screenrant recently reported about a certain fan art by 21xfour (on Instagram) of Corenswet as Superman, which looked very impressive and life-like. When a fan asked him (on Threads) whether he would look exactly like the fan art, Gunn simply denied it and called it an incredible fan art. He wrote,
“Nope. It’s incredible fan art – just like @screenrant said”
Gunn will most likely release a first look at Corenswet as Superman by the end of the year. In addition to Corenswet, the film will also star Rachel Brosnahan, Isabela Merced, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, María Gabriela de Faría, and Nicholas Hoult. The film will hit theaters on July 11, 2025.
