James Gunn recently revealed why the DC Universe will likely not feature many comic tie-ins or novels that explore more of the blossoming DC Universe’s canon.
Why wont there be DCU tie-in comics?
In a recent post on Threads, Gunn was asked if he would ever mind if DC Comics wanted to produce comics to tell the origin of Clark Kent in the DCU. Gunn explained that, due to how hard it is to keep track of the canon with multiple films and TV shows, Gunn and those at DC Studios don’t consider anything outside of the filmed media canon.
Gunn was then asked if the Superman novel Welcome to Metropolis, which was inspired by the 2025 movie and serves as a “prequel junior novel,” was canon. Gunn confirmed that, as far as he is concerned, it is not canon to the DCU.
As for the future of the DCU, Gunn is already looking ahead. Just this past week, he revealed the next Superman film, Man of Tomorrow, would release on July 9, 2027. Man of Tomorrow will once again be directed by Gunn, based on the DC characters created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. It will feature the return of David Corenswet as Superman/Clark Kent, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor.
At the moment, it’s still unclear which cast members from the first installment would also be returning for the sequel. Following the project’s official announcement, rumors started circulating online about its potential cast members and plot. Recent reports suggested that Jason Momoa might appear as Lobo, along with Milly Alcock’s Supergirl.
Superman also starred Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Wendell Pierce as Perry White, Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant, Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard, María Gabriela de Faría as The Engineer, Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, Anthony Carrigan as Metarmorpho, Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr., Edi Gathegi, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern, and more. Since its release, the movie has received a Certified Fresh rating of 83% on Rotten Tomatoes. During its theatrical run, it earned a worldwide gross of over $600 million at the box office.
Originally reported by Anthony Nash on SuperHeroHype.
A lot of things on Peacemaker have the capacity to surprise us. The creatively gruesome action sequences, the bizarre non sequiturs, the seamlessly way that its events were retconned over into James Gunn and Peter Safran’s new DC Universe.
But the latest episode of the show’s second season just found a whole new way to blow the audience’s minds… with the introduction of a relationship that nobody could have expected.
**Spoilers for Season 2, Episode 3 of Peacemaker, “Another Rick Up My Sleeve”, below!**
The very first scene of the episode, before we dive into the anthemic opening dance sequence and into the parallel dimension adventures of Christopher Smith / Peacemaker’s (John Cena), is a flashback. More specifically, it is to three years before the events of Peacemaker Season 2, as Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) gets out of bed and gets ready for the day. In the bed behind her is Rick Flag Jr. (Joel Kinnaman), and the two of them begin to talk about the nature of their relationship.
Rick brings up the possibility of him breaking up with June Moone / Enchantress (played by Cara Delevigne in 2016’s Suicide Squad), who could react by tearing “a hole through the planet.” He says that that might be worth it, though, so he and Emilia can truly be together.
Emilia, meanwhile, claims that the two of them are probably each other’s only friends and that really being in a relationship could “screw that up.” Rick argues that, by hooking up, they probably already have screwed things up. Emilia pushes him to get dressed for the day because he ships out to Corto Maltese in just a few hours, before a montage of his scenes from The Suicide Squad play, culminating in his tragic death at the hands of Peacemaker.
A new ship for a new DCU
It’s impressive what this scene accomplishes (and raises questions about) in the span of just a few minutes. Even though Gunn has referred to the events of The Suicide Squad as an “imperfect memory” in this new DCU (with the fallout of Peacemaker killing Flag Jr. on that mission remaining the biggest constant so far), fans will probably spend the next few days and weeks debating the timeline and canon of it all.
The “three years ago” flashback would move the DCU events of The Suicide Squad (and by extension, the first season of Peacemaker) later than they were in the previous DC Extended Universe canon, putting them in closer proximity to what we’ve recently seen in projects like Creature Commandos and Superman. And Rick’s mention of June provides the biggest crumb in years for 2016’s Suicide Squad, even though there’s no telling at this point if any of that film’s events are canon, or if Delevigne would even reprise the role in the DCU. Rick mentioning that June could use her powers in 2022, when Suicide Squad ended with her being freed from Enchantress in 2016, seems to hint at a different chain of events than what we’ve previously seen onscreen.
But beyond that, this scene between Emilia and Rick is impressive on an emotional level. It ties together two characters who never even shared a frame in The Suicide Squad, but whose personalities and histories with Black Ops have more overlap than any of us could have probably realized. Some fans probably had their suspicions after Peacemaker Season 2’s premiere, when Earth-2 Keith Smith (David Denman) told Peacemaker that Earth-2 Emilia is dating a “jarhead,” but the reveal that they were also together on Earth-1 is something else altogether.
It adds a new weight to Rick’s death, and to the ensuing months of Emilia having to work alongside the man who killed him… which has only become more complicated now that they’ve seemingly started to develop feelings for each other. As Season 2 of Peacemaker has shown us thus far, there’s a multiverse of possibilities for how this could shake out.
New episodes of Peacemaker debut Thursdays at 9/8pm CT exclusively on HBO Max.
Keepers of the DCU. Photo: Stewart Cook//Warner Bros. via Getty Images
In 2022, James Gunn and Peter Safran were named co–biggest boys of DC Studios. Shortly thereafter, the pair announced that they had an “eight- to ten-year” plan for how the DCU would be connected across movies, TV, and video games. In that initial press conference, the duo unveiled the first part of their universe, Chapter One: Gods and Monsters, the big keystone of which was Superman. Or, as it was known then, Superman: Legacy. Other pieces set to follow included an Amanda Waller cartoon, some live-action Green Lantern shenanigans, and the film debut of Damian Wayne. So how has Gunn and Safran’s ten- (or eight-)year plan been going?
Before Gunn and Safran could get their vision underway, they had to finish out the projects already chugging along the Warner Bros. Discovery assembly line. Okay, not all of them. A third Wonder Woman film was axed in December 2022.
It was always unclear how much of the old DCEU would be making it into the Gunniverse. Viola Davis has played Amanda Waller across the Suicide Squad movies, but after the underperformance of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Jason Momoa transitioned from Ocean Man to Space Bounty Hunter. He’s playing Lobo in the upcoming Supergirl film. Then there’s The Flash. In his initial rollout video, Gunn said the film “resets the entire DC Universe.” But that reset ended with George Clooney as Batman, so how central to the continuity can it be?
The first official release from the ten-/eight-year plan was the animated Creature Commandos. It was Gunn’s trial run in having the same actors play characters across animation and live-action. Frank Grillo plays Rick Flag Sr. on the show and in Superman. The show introduced animated Amanda Waller, voiced by Viola Davis, cementing her place in the nüDCU. It also means G.I. Robot can fight Nazis in live-action, should the need arise.
But obviously, the most important release for this ten-year plan was Superman. And now that it’s breaking box-office records, Gunn & Co. can unclench a little. The film sets up the Green Lantern Corps. and Supergirl, and even brings Hawkgirl from Peacemaker into moviedom.
Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion) sets up the Green Lantern Corps. for HBO’s Lanterns. The show will be a double-hander between Lanterns Hal Jordan and John Stewart, “very much in the vein of True Detective,” per Safran and Gunn. The show is expected to come out in early 2026. Kyle Chandler will play Jordan, opposite Aaron Pierre as Stewart, per Deadline. Created by Damon Lindelof and Tom King, the show will follow noob Lantern Stewart and veteran Jordan as they solve a murder in flyover America. And those boys can fly.
The ending of Superman sets up Milly Alcock as Supergirl, a hot mess Kryptonian party girl. Turns out Krypto is her dog, and Clark was pet-sitting while she got shit-faced off-world. Gunn has already said the film will closely follow the Woman of Tomorrow arc, with outer-space high jinks with her protege Ruthye (Eve Ridley) and the dark ’n’ gritty Lobo (Jason Momoa). Supergirl lands in theaters June 26, 2026.
David Zaslav indicated that the Clayface movie is imminent in his statement celebrating Superman’s box-office success obtained by THR. “Over the next year alone, DC Studios will introduce the films Supergirl and Clayface in theaters and the series Lanterns on HBO Max, all part of a bold ten-year plan,” he wrote. “The DC vision is clear, the momentum is real, and I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead.” Clayface is reportedly shooting in Liverpool right now, with a tentative release date some time in 2026.
While the world waits for Supergirl, her cousin’s next adventure is already being worked on. James Gunn told Collider that he’s “totally done with the treatment” for the Superman sequel. “We’re scheduling it now,” he explained. “My treatments are incredibly intense. They’re not regular treatments. They’re 60-page treatments with dialogue and everything. And so, now I’m just turning that into a script. We’re planning out when we’re going to shoot that. It’s going to be much sooner rather than later.” On September 3, Gunn announced that the upcoming Supes sequel will be titled Man of Tomorrow and come out July 9, 2027. Start your Doomsday clocks now.
Gunn has been sharing some details about The Brave and the Bold, the DCU’s introduction to the entire Batfam. It’s going to be a father-son flick about Bruce and his son, Damian Wayne. All we really know about this movie’s casting, however, is that Robert Pattinson won’t be BatDad.
We haven’t heard much about the planned Waller animated show since November 2024, when Gunn bleeted that the show was still in development. But on August 30, Gunn told Peoplethe show was still on his To-Do list. “We’re working on it, so we’ll see what happens,” he said. “Some things have moved faster than others. Waller’s not been the fastest.” In a since-deleted tweet, Gunn had previously attributed the delay on Waller to script issues. “Unlike most studios, we’ll never start production on a process if the script isn’t finished. Quality is the utmost priority,” he wrote in a very obvious dig at Disney’s MCU.
James Gunn confirmed that Supergirl and Teen Titans writer Ana Nogueira is working on the script for the upcoming Wonder Woman movie. Gunn also denied the rumor that the movie’s being fast-tracked by the studio: “It’s a priority, but I wouldn’t call that fast-tracked. Nothing is going to be shot unless we’re as sure as we can be that the script is good.” Sorry, Gal Gadot, DC Studios is eyeing a new Diana Prince for the next generation of supes. So we’re probably still a few years away from revisiting Themyscira.
Some shows and movies seem to have moved to the back burner, if they’re happening at all. There’s been very little info about The Authority (a “by any means necessary” alternative to the Justice League), Paradise Lost (a Game of Thrones–look-alike set on Wonder Woman’s homeland), the Booster Gold HBO Max series, or whatever Gunn and Safran are/were planning to do with Swamp Thing. But, hey, there are still five to seven years to go!
With the season two premiere behind us, it’s time to see what new debaucherous misadventures await John Cena’s Christopher Smith in the second episode of DC Studios’ Peacemaker. Given the explosive finale of the first episode, we’re in for a lot of explanations from our silver-helmeted would-be hero.
Episode two, “A Man Is Only as Good as His Bird,” jumps back eight months before the show’s premiere, providing context for why Chris was being surveilled by his ginger-bearded buddy, John Economos (Steve Agee). Turns out it was all the machinations of ARGUS figurehead Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo). While Flag Sr. and Economos’ work relationship is tenable at best, Flag Sr. does pull rank by having Economos spill the beans over his son’s death. Apparently, Amanda Waller ordered that the details for everything that happened in The Suicide Squad (James Gunn’s version) be covered up, as she’s wont to do.
However, Economos hands over a file about Flag to Flag Sr., and he learns the gory details about his son’s death at the hands of Chris. And with that, the inevitable clash between the two has gotten even more anticipation boiling under the surface of Peacemaker‘s second season.
We then return to Chris in the present, and he is still in a bit of a pickle, having killed himself from an alternate dimension. Ever the galaxy-brained genius, Chris’ first attempt to hide the evidence of his Kafkaesque homicide is to sweep it under the rug, literally. But it turns out not even Chris can employ the “You Can’t C Me” approach to covering up a murder. After justifiably crashing out a wee bit, taking a shower, and having a bit of a cry, he phones a friend to aid in sawing himself into pieces.
While Economos is still surveilling Chris mid-lunch break, noshing on some McDonald’s, we’re introduced to a new Peacemaker character, Fleury (Tim Meadows). After some dressing down of Economos’ gun safety faux pas (he tried to pull his firearm on Fleury while his weapon was still in its holster), Fleury informs Economos that he was sent by Sasha Bordeaux (Sol Rodriguez) to serve as backup, since it’s clear Economos can’t in good faith objectively surveil Chris, given their history as bros.
Serendipitously, Leota Adebayo (Danielle Brooks) shows up on Chris’ doorstep, and he tells her about his pocket dimension. In the spirit of sharing, Adebayo tells him about the whole Rick Flag Sr. situation. She then advises Chris to stop using his pocket universe because ARGUS is alerted whenever he does. She also says he should surrender it to them so they can’t hang it over his head, should something go wrong, as a reason to send him back to prison.
Soon after, Adrian Chase (Freddie Stroma), aka Vigilante, shows up. It turns out he was the friend Chris phoned earlier. Apropos, Adrian shows up with cleaning supplies in hand to help Chris deal with his Weekend at Bernie’s pocket dimension whoopsies. Underscored by Foxy Shazam’s “Evil Thoughts,” Chris and Adrian get to hacking away at the cadaverous doppelganger.
With the doppelganger Peacemaker properly charcoaled in the pocket universe incinerator, Chris, understandably fucked up by the whole situation, peeks through the photo gallery of his double’s phone to see if life really was greener on the other side. The first album he clicks on is a 158-picture album dedicated to Milla Harcourt (Jennifer Holland). After thumbing through candid photos of them snuggled up in bed and other Hallmark-worthy candid moments, the gears begin to turn in his square skull to ditch his life in our dimension for the newly Chris-less one, proving men will literally waltz through pocket dimensions instead of going to therapy. Meanwhile, Fleury’s assortment of fratbro ARGUS militia task force, charged with surveilling Chris, is chomping at the bit to bumrush his house.
Speaking of Harcourt, we then cut to her attempting to nurse her barroom brawl scars from the previous episode to host their rooftop going-away party for Economos. That’s right, the gang is finally getting back together. As Economos notes, the impromptu venue looks really lovely. It features a whole string of overhead vintage lights that fancy restaurants use to create a cozy ambiance for their dining experience. Only their get-together exclusively features chips and dip, music from a dingy music speaker, and Bud Light brewskies. But hey, what more can a viewer ask than to see the gang back together finally?
But because we can’t have nice things, the ARGUS task force springs into action, raiding Chris’ house while the proverbial papa bird was away from his nest, partying. During their sweep, an ARGUS grunt drops a little DC Universe lore tidbit, saying that they’re equipped with scanners to detect extraterrestrial beings, which, as noted, is a major “dimensional discrepancy.” If you can forgive the above bird pun, know that it was all in service of setting up the Smith abode guard dog, Eagly, foiling ARGUS’ plans. We love an episode title that perfectly encapsulates the money-shot moments of its episode.
Eagly kicks tons of ass, taking out every task force member one by one. And because of Fleury’s bird blindness, he can’t take the shot and save his team because he “can’t tell how big this thing is.” For everyone furiously Googling “Does Eagly die?”, the answer is no. After handing the team their generous asses, the winged symbol of America struts back into the house.
Unfortunately, the bow on this wonderfully Eagly-filled episode sees Chris and Harcourt finally kind of talk at the party about what they are. Things don’t go well. While Chris tries to voice his concern for Harcourt since Task Force X broke up, she rebuffs, saying she doesn’t want to be seen as some damaged bird he can fix. So after stumbling back home sauced AF, Chris decides to go back into the hugbox of his pocket universe to see if things were as great with alternate dimension Harcourt as they seemed in the pictures.
But while Chris settles into the house, we overhear inquisitive questions from his not-racist alt-dimension dad, Auggie Smith (Robert Patrick), wondering where his son went. During Auggie’s out-loud questioning—assumedly toward Chris’ alternate-dimension brother, Keith Smith (David Denman)—we get hints that shit ain’t so sweet in the alternate universe for Chris after all. Apparently, his dead doppelganger had a pill problem and might’ve been messing around with another woman that wasn’t Harcourt. Chris, too blitzed to care, texts a risky “Hey” message to alt-dimension Harcourt and receives a “Hey” with a broken heart emoji in turn. Hopefully, our nails won’t have been gnawed to the bone in anxious anticipation of how Chris’ man-pain will lead to even more cosmic problems for everyone and himself.
Peaceful Peacemaker Pontifications
Adebayo reveals that she and her ex had plans to move to Gotham. In retrospect, they’re probably better off staying their broken-up selves, given how the low rent in either Matt Reeves’ Elseworld or a Creature Commandos‘ iteration of the city can’t be worth moving to.
The aftermath of Chris’ orgy reminds us that he’s a bisexual icon, even when he’s not taking the Justice Gang’s LinkedIn-ass interview well.
Vigilante’s surprisingly insightful diatribe about liking sex, despite Chris’ assumption that he wasn’t into it because of how freaky sex can be, feels like an act of bonding with his friends.
Fleury is another oddball addition to the cast. Notably, his bird blindness and lack of workplace decorum, as well as his whole Mean Girls try-hard act of name-calling to seem cool
Economos puts to bed that the plural of Pokémon is Pokémon, not Pokémon.
With Superman in the books, the time has finally come to see how DC Studios’ rebooted universe will continue with the second season of James Gunn’s John Cena-led TV series, Peacemaker. Even before the show’s release, Peacemaker existed in a unique transitional phase between the old and new DC Universes, leading fans to wonder which elements would carry over and which would be left behind.
The answer to that, as gleaned from trailers and the occasional Gunn interview about its premiere being not safe for work, will have something to do with pocket universes and Peacemaker contending with himself in some capacity. So without further ado, let’s see what Gunn and DC Studios have been cooking up.
During a season one recap that brings us up to speed, noting Christopher Smith, (a.k.a. Peacemaker)’s relatively normal upbringing with his racist father, Auggie Smith (Robert Patrick), we’re reminded that his dear old dad has a pocket dimension in his house. Unlike Lex Luthor’s pocket dimension, which he uses as a prison for those who slight him, Auggie (a.k.a. the White Dragon), utilizes it as a storage facility for all his gadgets, including Chris’ many Inspector Gadget-coded helmets. The explosive finale of season one saw Auggie killed, yet still present as a ghost haunting Chris in his pursuit of being recognized as a legitimate superhero. Surely, the show’s focus on pocket dimensions will prove to be a valuable narrative device later this season.
Why focus on the recap, you ask? Well, it’s already done some retconning on the season one finale. Famously, the finale saw the Justice League’s Wonder Woman, Superman, the Flash, and Aquaman show up late as hell to the party. However, Peacemaker season two’s recap is already showing its hand in taking creative liberties, changing how it incorporates its superhero cameos. Now, instead of the Justice League showing up, it’s silhouettes of the Justice Gang’s Mister Terrific, Hawkgirl, and Green Lantern, with Superman and Supergirl in tow.
Just like the Peacemaker finale, the recap only features Hawkgirl and Green Lantern actors Isabela Merced and Nathan Fillion. Appropriately, they barb back at Chris, with Hawkgirl calling him a meathead and Fillion’s Guy Gardner taking issue with Peacemaker spreading rumors that he’s a puke freak.
From here, the first episode, “The Ties That Grind,” begins with Chris rolling out of bed, awakened by Eagly on a cold winter night. After a reflective glance out his window, Chris quickly punches in a code and stands at the threshold of a pocket dimension doorway, wearing nothing but a shirt and his tighty whities, as he witnesses an aurora borealis light show as whatever cosmic mumbo jumbo morphs into his Peacemaker lair.
Peacemaker’s lair apparently doubles as a communal garbage incinerator; a “crypt-keeping looking” alien guy appears, shrugs off Chris’ “good morning,” incinerates a giant rat, and then waltzes back through another interdimensional door like he strolled right out of Rick and Morty. But we’ve no time for interdimensional pleasantries, because Eagly discovers there’s another door, equipped with the same keypad, as Chris’ inside the pocket universe. What’s more, just outside of it is a pile of off-brand-looking Peacemaker helmets.
After punching in the same door code as his own, Chris stumbles into a well-furnished trophy room with eerie villain music, and something is amiss. This adversarial alternate reality has a newspaper clipping of Chris, his father, and what can only be assumed is his brother in the Evergreen Sentinel, showing them being awarded them the key to the city for being a top superhero trio. To add more credence to his strange discovery, Chris is greeted by an alt-version of his father, who wonders if he’s been sleepwalking again. Chris, overwhelmed by this reunion not being a ghostly haunting of his father like in the season one finale, runs away in terror.
There’s a pocket dimension inside Chris’ home, and it leads to a world where he didn’t kill his dad and wasn’t a raging racist and homophobe (as far as we know). All things weighing on Chris’ mind that he’s, like a man, trying to push down as he drives on the passenger’s side of Leota Adebayo (Danielle Brooks)’s ride as she tells him about her apparent breakup with her girlfriend.
Instead of blindly parroting Adebayo, he suggests that her ex was probably concerned about her safety. Adebayo counters this by pointing out that Chris seems to think he’s invincible and immune to danger during their missions, despite her concerns about his bravado. Their conversation steers into Chris asking about his crush, Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland), and whether she has spoken with Adebayo since the season one finale, which saw her hospitalized. Naturally, Chris is only concerned with whether or not Harcourt has talked about him, which she hasn’t. Womp womp.
Romantic pining aside, Chris gets vulnerable about his own insecurities, admitting that metahumans have apparently been bullying him, saying they make fun of him for his Jersey Shore haircut and “wearing a disco ball” on his head—conveniently forgetting he’s also said some not-so-nice things about Aquaman sleeping with the fishes.
“I know it’s cause my muscles are bigger than theirs, but jeez, right?” Chris remarks.
Adebayo reminds Chris that, despite the online trash talk, Peacemaker is a superhero who saved the world from a hivemind of alien bugs. Still, Chris seeks validation from his would-be peers as well, saying he no longer wants to be taken as a joke. This brings us to our first trial in legitimizing Peacemaker as a superhero: his job interview for the Justice Gang in a derelict strip mall. Things didn’t go so well for a lady ahead of him, storming out in a huff, clad in a full bunny get-up, but she’s not played by 17-time WWE world heavyweight champion John Cena, so Chris’s luck might be better.
Chris’ interview is officiated by Hawkgirl, Gardner, and LordTech owner and Justice Gang financier, Maxwell Lord (Sean Gunn). After some mic issues, Chris overhears Hawkgirl and Gardner shit talk him between asking questions. But instead of popping a lid like he usually does, Chris swallows his pride and recites his bona fides as one of the best marksmen in the world with virtually any weapon and his hand-to-hand prowess. All of which only translates to Gardner as Chris being a violent dude who kills first and asks questions later.
Ironically, Lord emphasizes that the Justice Gang does not kill—this prompts Hawkgirl to scrunch her face as she recalls her act of pancaking a genocidal world leader who allied himself with Luthor in Superman. Regardless, the events of Superman have raised doubts about trusting metahumans, so they’d like to be extra cautious with screening who gets to be part of the team.
Lord cuts to the chase, bringing up Chris’ background check, noting he’s served time for first-degree murder and his killing of “dozens of people”—all of whom Chris says were for good reason. But Lord wonders which ones weren’t. While spilling his guts metaphorically about reckoning with his indiscriminate violence from the trauma his father gave him and the death of his brother, he overhears Hawkgirl and Gardner babble on about butts and how Peacemaker sucks. Instead of being embarassed that the mute function on their microphones isn’t working, Gardner laughs in Chris’ face—despite being the guy in charge of this not happening all day with every other interivewee.
By the time Lord looks up to apologize, Chris has already stormed out of the building in a similar huff as the bunny lady, telling Adebayo that his only talent, according to the Justice Gang, is “sucking dick.” Incensed, Chris retorts, saying sucking dick isn’t a put-down, but a compliment. All the same, Chris is fully disenchanted with the idea of joining the Justice Gang.
Turns out Chris wasn’t the only person getting a harsh grilling. While he was getting the worst superhero interview of his life, Harcourt was receiving hard truths from an interviewer from the NSA, saying that despite her “having a vagina,” she suffers from toxic masculinity. Proving his point, Harcourt has a shouting match with the interviewer about her “maintaining a hard appearance” and burying he feelings. After trying to walk back and calling him a “see you next Tuesday,” Harcourt claims her black-balling is a result of Amanda Waller’s own wrath.
After punching the dashboard of her car in a rage, Harcourt meets up with Chris, who asks about all the bruises, which she candidly admits to having caused by bashing her fists against it.
While nursing her bloody hands and remarking about how virtually every intelligence agency rejected her, Chris plays housekeeper, wrapping ice in a towel to place on Harcourt’s knuckles, all while noticing her pile of overdue bills. The romantic sparks between Chris and Harcourt are pretty undeniable in this touching scene, but they’re trying their damndest to keep things strictly business. And what better way to do that than airing out their grievances with Amanda Waller?
As they’re commiserating, Chris inquires if Harcourt wants to talk about something that happened “the other night on the boat.” Harcourt doesn’t seem to remember much beyond it being a party boat and not wanting to be on it, but Chris begs to differ. Apparently, the two got drunk and bumped uglies, but Harcourt quantified their tryst as a fuckup. Chris, pained by her waving off whatever happened that night, tries to at least have Harcourt acquiesce to it being a fun mistake, but she leaves him out to dry.
In full mourning territory, Chris returns home, loads up his bong, and starts snorting lines of coke like he was listening to the new Clipse album instead of the diegetic musings of “Guestlist” by Swedish rock band Hardcore Superstar. Which then cuts to Chris throwing a nude orgy rager at his apartment, full of all the adult private parts danging about on screen with reckless abandon that would make any parent rush to cover their children’s eyes had they dove straight into Peacemaker after watching Superman, expecting the same kind of general audience camp.
While everyone is having sex around Chris, some fist-bumping him mid-act, it’s clear he’s not having a good time (but he does give a little smirk when being kissed by male and female participants simultaneously—a bi icon!). Still, Chris is having the definition of a bad trip, rubbing at his face in a dizzying sequence. At the same time, appropriately bisexual lighting of his living room goes full kaleidoscope as everyone at his party either dances or sexes their night away.
In a stupor, Chris decides now’s the perfect time to bail on his party into the recesses of his pocket dimension. The camera then moves through space outside of his house to show John Economos (Steve Agee) has been outside in an ice cream truck, surveilling Peacemaker. Economos then answers a call from Adrian Chase (Freddie Stroma), a.k.a. Vigilante. Evidently, they’ve become close enough buddies since the last time we saw them that Vigilante will cold-call him, requesting Economos to quiz him on owl facts.
Echoing Chris’ question to Adebayo about Harcourt, Vigilante asks Economos if he has spoken to Peacemaker lately. It’s very sweet that everyone, despite not checking in on one another, seems to worry about how Chris is handling the whole not being accepted as a genuine hero thing. Just after Vigilante reluctantly returns to his restaurant job, one of the screens on Economos’ ice cream stakeout set up alerts him to something being missed.
Economos then gets a call from a newcomer to Peacemaker season two, Sasha Bordeaux (Sol Rodriguez). In the comics, Bordeux served as the bodyguard of Bruce Wayne—who we’ve yet to see in the new DC outside his appearance in Creature Commandos—and later served as the Black Queen of Checkmate. Here, her role seems to be that of a member of Belle Reve, which employed Economos at the end of season one, and she asks him to investigate. After hanging up on Economos, Bordeaux storms into the office of Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo), who’s busy massaging the bridge of his nose, watching the newscaster complain about Arkham and Belle Reve metahuman escapees.
Here, we get the most consequential conversation in the episode that viewers have been wondering about since its opening. Apparently, in January, a “Christopher Smith” glitch similar to Luthor’s pocket dimension incident—which nearly consumed Metropolis in the final act of Superman—occured. This glitch has been happening more frequently at Chris’ humble abode, hence why Economos was stationed to surveil his house.
Flag Sr. and Bordeaux phone Economos, who spots Chris standing in front of his pocket dimension doorway. Flag Sr. decides to classify the situation as a priority one threat until they determine whether the Chris glitch results in another dimensional rift. Inside the portal dimension, Chris drunkenly stumbles through the room and punches the code back into the alt dimension as Foxy Shazam’s “Dreamer” plays in the background.
Inside the room once again, Chris gawks at the life his alternate dimension self appears to be having as a celebrated hero who, at one point, saved Gotham from an “ultra-humanite.” Unlike before, Chris’s window shopping of his alternate dimension self extends beyond the trophy room as he starts galavanting about the rest of the house, which looks more like a lavish mansion than the humble suburban house he currently lives in.
After making his way to the front yard, Chris gawks at a pickup truck in the driveway; Chris’ brother, Keith Smith (David Denman), emerges. Bewildered, Keith asks what Chris is doing home, inquiring if his matters at Blüdhaven have been sorted out. Seeing one’s dead brother all grown up would send anyone, much less Chris, into a tizzy. But after the two hug it out, and are joined by dear old dad, also wondering why Chris is home, and the dudes decide to throw a party.
At this point, the idea of leaving his old world behind for a second chance with his brother and father—who, in this version, don’t seem to be raging white supremacists (unless you’re a “knee-high imp”)—is as tempting to Chris as kryptonite is deadly to Superman. Elsewhere, Harcourt is getting harassed by dudes at a bar and shutting them down in typical Harcourt style. Beer bottles get smashed over some generous foreheads, balls get punched, and it’s safe to say feelings and orbital bones get hurt. Unfortunately for Harcourt, the numbers in her barroom brawl get the better of her, leading to her getting punted in the face and thrown outside.
Checking back in on Chris, the Smith patriarch stuns his befuddled son with an “I love you” before retreating to bed, leaving Chris and his brother alone while Chris is no doubt running the numbers on whether or not he should pull a page out of the doppleganger playbook of Jordan Peele’s Us and stay in the alternate dimension. Before he can think any further, Keith asks how things were with his ex. Reading the room, it’s clear that Harcourt is the ex, so at least we can figure that the grass isn’t as green on the other side of the pocket dimension either, at least when it comes to Chris’ love life. Still, Keith says Chris should try to win her back, whoever this (totally Harcourt) lady is, even if she’s with “some jarhead.”
Still keeping up the ruse that he’s this dimension’s Chris, Peacemaker nearly breaks down when he tells his brother he loves him, which his brother shrugs off with a laugh that he’s being too sentimental while drunk—not knowing all 251 pounds of Peacemaker can pack a lot of soft boy energy. While Chris is left weeping, we cut back to our dimension, where Economos is debriefing Adebayo about Peacemaker’s pocket dimension being a high-priority threat under the surveillance of Flag Sr. and his organization ARGUS (finally, a name, linking us back to Creature Commandos!).
And yes, Flag Sr. knows Chris killed his son, Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman), in The Suicide Squad. Since the end of season one, Economos says Flag Sr. has been watching Chris in the hopes that he will mess up on a grand scale, so he’d have a reason to arrest him (or worse) for the betterment of humanity. Which brings us back to the anomaly inside Chris’s house, likely triggered by his dimension hopping and whatever is going on with his doppleganger, who is using their room as a shared storage closet.
After accidentally airdropping a dick pic to Adebayo, they hatch a plan to have her ask Chris what’s up with his pocket dimension instead of ratting him out to Flag Sr. Back in the alternate dimension, Chris is walking around the decadent Smith house once more and gawking at his bedroom and posters of bands like Hanoi Rocks (spelled Hanoi Roxx) on his walls. I’m sure someone more tapped into music tastes can note whether it’s in character with Chris’ raucous rotation.
Here, it’s confirmed that alt-dimension Chris’ ex is, in fact, Harcourt, with the reveal of a vacation photo of them all booed up. But before Chris can continue to romanticize over how nice his life is here, he pulls a gun on himself. Or rather, the alt-dimension Chris finally shows up and threatens to exercise his Second Amendment right on the back of our Chris’s head.
Fortunately, or unfortunately for our Chris, this alt-dimension Chris is also a bit dense, wondering if our Chris is a shapeshifter. Alt-dimension Chris gives chase to our Chris, who tries to book it back to his dimension. Alt-dimension Chris activates “magic stars,” prompting the wings of his helmet to track Chris like heat-seeking missiles, scaring up his back as he tries to put the code back into their pocket dimension, where they do battle. After some rocket tackles into some expensive-looking columns, Alt-dimension Chris beats the brakes off our Chris. But before he can deliver the finishing blow, Chris activates Alt-Chris’ jetpack, causing him to get impaled on a spike in the ceiling, thus freeing me from having to type alt-dimension Chris ever again.
We’re left with a shot of Chris holding the limp body of himself, wondering whether he should continue the charade in the alternate dimension or leave it be. Chances are, he won’t, and we’ll have more fun witnessing how he handles trying to pull double duty in his dimension or if he’ll leave it all behind to continue the chicanery in the alternate dimension.
The DC Universe is back down to only two confirmed canon projects following DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn‘s latest update on the franchise.
Are the new Superman shorts starring Krypto canon to the DCU?
Earlier today, Gunn responded to a fan on the social media platform Threads who asked if the animated Krypto the Superdog short films were canon to the DCU.
“No. I love ’em tho,” Gunn wrote back, confirming that the recently released Krypto Saves the Day! was not part of the DCU, even though the character designs are clearly inspired by the DC head’s Superman reboot.
Krypto Saves the Day!, the first of at least four animated short films that will be released over the next year, was included on the digital release of Superman as one of its bonus features. Gunn’s canon clarification means that the only released projects so far that are part of the DCU are Creature Commandos and Superman, with the next set to be the second season of Peacemaker.
Looking further ahead, fans have Lanterns, Supergirl, and Clayface to look forward to, with all three DCU projects set to be released in 2026. Krypto the Superdog will appear in Supergirl, which will be headlined by Milly Alcock, who made her DCU debut as the Girl of Steel at the end of Superman, where she swung by the Fortress of Solitude to retrieve Krypto from her cousin Kal-El/Superman.
Next year will also see production beginning on Gunn’s Superman follow-up movie as well as a mystery show that “nobody knows about.” The Batman Part II is also expected to begin filming in early 2026, although, like Krypto Saves the Day!, the movie is not part of the DCU. Robert Pattinson will be back as Bruce Wayne/Batman for The Batman Part II, with Matt Reeves returning to the director’s chair after helming the first installment in his The Batman Epic Crime Saga.
The first Krypto short, Krypto Saves the Day!, is currently available on the digital release of Superman, but will also be included in the upcoming home video releases of the DCU movie, which arrive on September 23, 2025.
James Gunn recently addressed what makes the DC Universe (DCU) unique and different from other franchises, including the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Notably, Gunn has directed the three Guardians of the Galaxy movies for Marvel and currently serves as the co-head of DC Studios along with his long-time producing partner Peter Safran.
James Gunn says New York and Los Angeles don’t exist in DCU
Gunn discussed the world-building aspect of the DCU during an interaction with Rainn Wilson for Interview Magazine and underlined what sets it apart from the MCU and other popular franchises.
When asked how it felt to be part of the DCU world-building, the filmmaker responded, “I think it’s the reason I agreed to the job. You talk about George R.R. Martin [the author of A Song of Ice and Fire book series, the source material of Game of Thrones] and he is really one of the guys who I love and look up to. I’m an enormous fan of his and people say, ‘Oh, the DCU is doing what MCU is.’”
The filmmaker added, “But I think it really is a lot more to me what the Game of Thrones world is like or what Star Wars is like, because we’re building a universe and then picking out little pieces of it and telling individual stories from that universe.”
Gunn’s first DC project was the 2021 DCEU feature The Suicide Squad. The movie performed poorly at the box office for a variety of reasons, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it received glowing reviews from the critics. Since then, Gunn has created two seasons of Peacemaker and one season of Creature Commandos and helmed 2025’s Superman. Creature Commandos, Superman, and Peacemaker Season 2 are all part of the DCU.
When Wilson asked what makes the DCU unique as a franchise, Gunn pointed out that Metropolis, Evergreen, and Coast City exist in this fictional universe instead of New York and Los Angeles. He added, “It’s a different map. It’s a world in which some form of superheroes, which we call Metahumans, have existed for at least 300 years, and they’ve been a part of our life.”
Originally reported by Tamal Kundu on SuperHeroHype.
John Cena‘s Peacemaker has gone from the big screen to the small screen, and many have questioned if the anti-hero could potentially have his own feature film.
The DC Studios co-head James Gunn was recently asked if Peacemaker would jump back into the big screen following Season 2 of the HBO series.
“I actually know the answer to that question,” he said (via ComicBook). “And I am not at liberty to say under penalty of the Safran punishment, which is a loss of my knuckle. Every time I give away something, Peter Safran will take away another joint of my finger. It’s very painful. He uses a cigar cutter.”
Cena first played Christopher Smith in the Gunn-directed film The Suicide Squad (2021). The actor reprised the role in the HBO Max series Peacemaker in 2022. Cena made a brief cameo in Superman earlier this year, and his adventures will continue in Season 2 of the HBO series, which premieres August 21.
Gunn has been selective in what stories and characters are canon in the DC Universe he’s creating alongside Safran. Cena’s Peacemaker survived from the previous universe, and Gunn also recently opined about what the future holds for Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn, given her role in The Suicide Squad.
“That will be revealed down the line,” he recently told EW about Robbie’s role as Harley Quinn.
Another character from the old universe Gunn is trying to bring over to the new universe is Bloodsport, played by Idris Elba.
“I definitely am always looking for a place to put Bloodsport and figuring that out,” Gunn told the publication. “So we’ll see what happens.”
Gunn recently said he was busy working on a new script, which would be the follow-up to his Superman film. The filmmaker made it clear it’s not a direct sequel to the David Corenswet movie, but Superman would be heavily featured.
James Gunn’s Superman is gearing up for a digital release on Friday, and the director says there’s a reason behind its quick virtual arrival.
The DCU film hit theaters on July 11, with the film being out for only a little over a month before it was available to buy/rent on Friday via Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango at Home, among other platforms. When speaking with Screen Rant, Gunn said the film had such a quick streaming turnaround due to the release of Peacemakerseason two.
“Well, it’s very complicated, but the truth is it is because of Peacemaker,” he said when asked what drove the “mindset” of releasing the film on streaming so “soon after” Superman’s theatrical release.
“I originally thought Peacemaker was going to be coming out next month,” Gunn added. “There was a lot of things that are beyond our control, so that Peacemaker is coming out now, and, at the end of the day, I wanted everyone to be able to see Superman that wanted to, even those people who couldn’t get to a theater before Peacemaker. And that’s really the reason for it.”
At the Wednesday night New York premiere of the DCU series, the showrunner told The Hollywood Reporter that his David Corenswet-led superhero movie “leads directly into Peacemaker” while the second season of the TV show will end up “setting up all of the rest of the DCU.”
“It’s a big part, definitely Superman leads directly into Peacemaker,” he explained. “It should be noted that this is for adults, not for children, but Superman leads into this show and then we have the setting up of all of the rest of the DCU in this season of Peacemaker, it’s incredibly important.”
Of what to expect in season two, Gunn added, “Lots of guest stars coming up, lots of characters that are showing up that we’ve already met in Superman. I don’t think there’s anything that I’ve ever done that I love more than this season of Peacemaker, so I’m so excited for people to see it.”
John Cena, who stars in the show, reiterated Gunn’s sentiments, telling THR that season two “is about furthering the narrative. Instead of stand-alone properties, all of the DCU is now connected, as you saw Peacemaker show up in Superman. I think what you see in season two is just a forward of that narrative. That whole DCU throughline — it takes the 11th Street Kids through their next adventure, but it also has a lot to do with the DCU going forward.”
When you get permission to rule over the DC Universe, what’s the first franchise to take up, up, and away? If you ask DC’s new boss James Gunn, the answer is, of course, Creature Commandos. Wait, creature what-now? Slated to premiere on Max on December 5, Creature Commandos is a new adult-oriented animated series based on a mighty obscure superhero team from DC Comics. On day two at New York Comic Con 2024, series creator James Gunn appeared on the main stage — along with members of the show’s cast — and revealed why Creature Commandos, of all things, is launching the “new” DCU – and what it might foreshadow about the DCU’s future.
Gunn began work on the show entirely of his own volition after the success of his other DC series Peacemaker. “The truth is, I had talked to Max after Peacemaker did so well. I talked to Peter Girardi at WB Animation about creating an animated series,” Gunn explained. “I like the Creature Commandos. I love monsters. I love Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein. It just seemed like the perfect thing to do. I wrote the scripts without even having a deal, and I happened to get hired as the head of DC Studios. And I very graciously, thank you self, greenlit the show.”
During the panel, a new two-minute trailer for Creature Commandos premiered to rapturous enthusiasm from the audience. With a vivid art and animation style with deep, bold colors, the trailer introduces each member of the Creature Commandos, voiced by David Harbour (as Eric Frankenstein), Indira Varma (as the Bride), Frank Grillo (as Rick Flagg Sr.), Alan Tudyk (as Dr. Phosphorus), Zoë Chao (as Nina Mazursky), and Sean Gunn (as both G.I. Brobot and reprising his Weasel from The Suicide Squad), as well as all their unique monstrous abilities. The trailer goes hard and heavy on the bloodletting, along with some cameos from other DC characters like Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller.
“We want this to be very different from what Superman is going to be when that comes out,” Gunn said. “We want Peacemaker to be different from that.”
Gunn also confirmed DC actors will portray their characters across live-action and animation productions. For example: Frank Grillo, who stars as Rick Flagg Sr., will reprise his Creature Commandos role in both Superman and Peacemaker season 2. (Grillo commented that his white hair as Rick Flagg conflicted with his shooting schedule for Paramount’s Tulsa King.)
Name-dropping in-development projects like Supergirl and Lanterns and insisting they will be different too, Gunn clarified “it’s a connected universe, but we’re not imposing any sort of overall aesthetic. And Creature Commandos is definitely its own thing.”
Every superhero must have a supervillain to face off with—those are the rules!—and it sounds like Supergirl, as played by Milly Alcock(House of the Dragon) in the James Gunn-produced, Craig Gillespie-directed Supergirl movie coming summer 2026, has found her foe. And we know who’ll be playing him: Belgian actor Mattias Schoenaerts, whose many credits include 2020’s The Old Guard.
This news comes from Deadline; the trade—pointing to the fact that fans already know Supergirl will draw from the 2022 Tom King-Bilquis Evely comic series Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow—adds the likely suggestion that Schoenaerts will be playing the same villain from that comic: Krem of the Yellow Hills, whose random killing of an alien girl’s father is what draws Supergirl into his orbit. That, and as the Hollywood Reporter further references, he shoots arrows at Supergirl and Krypto, injuring “everyone’s favorite superpet.”
As all devoted pet owners can understand, someone daring to harm a beloved animal companion automatically triggers what’s known as the John Wick reflex, so there’s no better impetus for bringing Kara Zor-El into the fight. (And as to Krypto’s fate, with noted dog lover Gunn involved, it seems entirely possible the pooch makes a full recovery—though let’s not forget not every adorable animal made it out of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 unscathed.)
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is being scripted by Ana Nogueira (The Vampire Diaries, the upcoming live-action Teen Titans movie), with Gillespie (I, Tonya; Cruella) handling directing duties. It will be the second feature in the new Gunn and Peter Safran-led DC Studios era, following Gunn’s Superman, which arrives July 11, 2025. Supergirl, meanwhile, will hit theaters June 26, 2026.
Reports of a game set in the universe of Matt Reeves’ The Batmanare, apparently, greatly exaggerated. The internet was swirling with rumors of such a game’s existence on the morning of August 30, with many hoping that such a project was real. However, none other than James Gunn, the head of DC films, weighed in to set the record state.
Tears Of The Kingdom’s Newspaper Questline And The State Of Hyrulean Journalism
The rumors stem from an article on news site Puckdiscussing the state of Warner Bros. and the outlook of its CEO, David Zaslav, on selling assets. The article states that former Warner Bros. parent company AT&T decided against selling the Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment division responsible for games because it was “too valuable to unload.” The article goes on to claim that, in addition to the upcoming Penguin HBO show, there is a game in development “rooted in the 2022 The Batman movie.” This one line made fans theorize on what this could be, and if the game itself would be more closely tied to the movie or the Colin Farrell series. If true, this would be the first Batman game set in the Reeves’ universe. However, it seems the game does not actually exist.
On social media site Threads, a user directly asked James Gunn if there was any accuracy to the rumors. Gunn succinctly shut them down by saying, “Sadly there is no truth to this whatsoever.” For hopeful fans, though, the use of “sadly” may suggest that he does hope a project like this will exist at some point. Batman fans are long overdue for another great game starring the caped crusader. 2025 will mark the tenth anniversary of Batman: Arkham Knight’s release, which is arguably the last good Batman game Warner Bros. has released. If you are really craving another Batman game, however, the VR title Batman: Arkham Shadowis set to release this fall, and it actually looks kind of good! Still, hope springs eternal for another amazing AAA Batman game.
Beyond that things might be more of us seeing James Gunn doing what he does best, just over at DC Studios. In an interview with the Wrap, Creature Commandos executive producer Dean Lorey (co-creator of Harley Quinn and Kite Man: Hell Yeah!) shared an update on the show: “That’s going to be the first expression of James Gunn’s DC Universe. We’re considering that canon, and I think it expresses his perspective, tonally, on where he wants the universe to go.” Lorey went on to describe it as “nothing new;” it’s another Amanda Waller gets a new anti-hero gang together for punishment tale, but this time with monsters. Which we think we follow but also is a bit of a head-scratcher of a take.
Lorey continued, “It’s Suicide Squad. He’s done it,” he elaborated, at the risk of sounding well… not risky, which is disappointing because we love that Gunn is usually a risk-taker. The rest feels sort of like whiplash word gymnastics: “People aren’t going to be surprised by what it is, but I think they’ll be really encouraged to see how completely it’s going to inform this new version of the DCU, which I’m very excited about.” It’s quite an endorsement that both tempers expectations but sorta leaves us feeling confused about what we’re excited for.
Previously, David Harbour—who’s playing a classic monster in the series—hyped Creature Commandosto io9 as being “…very different. I mean, it’s the mind of James Gunn so it is wacky and strange, but also full of a lot of depth and complexity. The most interesting thing to me about Frankenstein’s monster in general is that he was created to be this sort of erudite, intellectual, romantic, brilliant person, and he winds up being a monster. I mean, that complexity can make for some pretty ripe comedy and also pathos—that a guy who considers himself one thing, is viewed by others as something very different.”
Harbour continued. “That’s the broadest, most mysterious way I can put it, because all I know is the scripts are really good. What we recorded is really great. I’ve seen the art, James is a genius. I think it’s going to be really fun and really exciting, and it opens up a whole new door to the DC Universe of how these characters will occupy the world. I like the concept of a live action and cartoon back and forth.”
After taking on the MCU multiverse, Chris Pratt isn’t ruling out a jaunt to the DCU.
Following his recent visit with director James Gunn on the set of Superman: Legacy, the actor said “there’s always a chance” he could make the franchise leap, but he played coy when it came to naming a character he’d like to play.
“I just have to leave that to the fans and people like James to decide,” Pratt told TMZ. “I’m not exactly sure. I’m truly not sure.
When asked flat-out if he’d join the competing franchise, Pratt didn’t hesitate in declaring, “Yes, of course”
“If it could fit into my schedule and it made sense, I would love it,” he continued. “Of course I love playing Star-Lord, and hopefully there’s a chance that can come back. I just feel so blessed to be able to do any of it, to be considered for any of it. If it’s right and the fans would love it, I’d be more than happy to do it.”
His comments come after Gunn shared a photo of Pratt on the set of Superman: Legacy earlier this month. “Always nice to have friends visiting set,” he captioned the post.
Pratt previously made his MCU debut as Peter Quill (aka Star-Lord) in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy, which was directed by Gunn. They reunited for the sequels in 2017 and 2023, as well as Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019).
Pom Klementieff, Dave Bautista, Chris Pratt, Kurt Russell and Zoe Saldana in Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017). (Marvel Studios)
Disney
After confirming he’s open to casting MCU actors in his upcoming DCU work, Gunn told Empire that a crossover between the two comic book worlds is “more likely now that I’m in charge,” adding: “That’s many years away, though. I think we have to establish what we’re doing [at DC] first. I would be lying to say that we haven’t discussed it. But all discussions have been very, very light and fun.”
Gunn has since been in talks with Pratt’s Guardians co-star Pom Klementieff to play a “specific character” in the DCU, she recently confirmed.
This year is already off to a very good start at the movies but 2025 is looking even bigger, in more ways than one. Fresh off the huge success of last year’s Oppenheimer and this year’s Dune: Part Two, IMAX just revealed 14 titles in 2025 that will not only be released in IMAX, but are being filmed specifically for the format.
Spoilers of the Week | June 10th
The list, so far, is as follows:
Captain America: Brave New World – February 15, 2025
Untitled Ryan Coogler/Michael B. Jordan – March 7, 2025
Of course, as these films are all so far out, release dates are subject to change and there will probably be more films using IMAX cameras in the coming months. (Also, why isn’t Avatar 3 on this list? Did Cameron not use IMAX cameras? What about Gareth Edwards and Jurassic World?)
Now, for real film nerds, you all have one question right now. Since all of these films are being “filmed in IMAX,” will they just be released in normal, bigger, 1.9:1 IMAX? Or will any of them be full-frame, Christopher Nolan/Denis Villeneuve 1.43:1 IMAX? io9 reached out to IMAX for clarity and was told since most of these films are still in production, they couldn’t confirm what each film is using or what format each will be released in. It’s simply too early to be sure.
But let’s have some fun and guess anyway.
As none of the Marvel movies have ever gone 1.43, you can probably cross all those off the list. Same for the other Disney movie, Tron. Coogler/Jordan is rumored to be a period vampire movie, which sounds amazing, but maybe not “1.43 IMAX” amazing. Flowervale Street is rumored to be about dinosaurs and David Robert Mitchell is an exciting filmmaker, but I’m still thinking “No” there. Mission: Impossible 8 is a real possibility since the format has been used in the franchise, plus this is rumored to be the end of the saga so it would be a nice boost. I doubt How to Train Your Dragon would as it’s a family film but, you never know. The Joseph Kosinski-Brad Pitt Formula One movie, with its rumored $300 million budget, feels like the most obvious one to use the 1.43 aspect ratio, followed closely by James Gunn’s Superman. That would set an exciting precedent for the start of the DC Universe, if true. Mercy is an Amazon movie so, probably not that, and then there’s The Bride!, which we’re of course excited about but seems a bit more personal than epic. But again, that’s all just speculation.
No matter what the case though, even if none of the films go the full Nolan, just filming for IMAX does give the screen a significant jump in size, not to mention the incredible sound. Out of all of the premium formats out there, it’s certainly my favorite, and one of the most profitable for studios too.
Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe shared their plans Monday for the annual animation fest held June 9-15 in Annecy, France.
Among the planned events include Andy Serkis hosting a filmmaker conversation and extended look at The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, the anime feature that hails from New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Animation. Director Kenji Kamiyama and producers Philippa Boyens, Joseph Chou and Jason DeMarco will take part in the discussion and present the first footage from the movie that Warner Bros. is set to release theatrically on Dec. 13.
The animation process is currently underway for The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, which centers on the fortress of Helm’s Deep and its founder, Helm Hammerhand, the King of Rohan. (Images from the project can be seen above and below.) Last week, Warner Bros. announced that a live-action Lord of the Rings film from director Serkis is in early development and eyeing a 2026 release.
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Other programming highlights at Annecy from the studio include a making-of session for Creature Commandos, which marks the first DC Studios project from bosses Gunn and Peter Safran. Gunn serves as executive producer and writer for the Max animated series that hails from DC Studios and Warner Bros. Animation and does not yet have a premiere date.
At the Annecy presentation, Creature Commandos supervising producer Rick Morales and supervising director Balak Yves will share an in-depth look at the artistic process behind the series that focuses on Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) forming a military group comprised of monstrous villains.
Also set for Annecy is a panel sharing an inside look at the return of the Cartoon Network series The Amazing World of Gumball, in addition to a world-premiere screening of the forthcoming animated feature The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie.
James Gunn is shutting down a fan conspiracy theory that he always planned to remove Henry Cavill from the DCEU.
Amid the shooting of the new Superman film and the second season of Peacemaker, Gunn finds time to answer fan inquiries on social media.
A fan shared a quote from Nathan Fillion about how he found out he was cast as Green Lantern in the new DC film, which will be released in 2025.
“We were actually at the premiere party after Suicide Squad and he [Gunn] was in a huge crowd of people,” Fillion said in an interview with Collider. “…He goes, ‘Hey, did Peter [Safran] tell you what we’ve got for you next?’ I said, ‘No, he hasn’t said.’ He looked around like someone was gonna be listening. We were in a throng of people, but he leaned over and said, ‘You’re gonna be Guy Gardner.’”
DC fans took Fillion’s words as Gunn already working on the reboot of the DCEU since the release of The Suicide Squad in 2021, more than a year before he and Peter Safran were named co-CEOs of DC Studios in October 2022.
However, Gunn clarified on Threads that Fillion misspoke, which meant he found out about his Green Lantern casting during the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 premiere party.
Gunn went on to clarify the rumor that he always intended to replace Cavill as Superman since he helmed The Suicide Squad.
“I don’t quite understand how that fits,” he shared on Threads. “Aside from the fact I had no interest in running DC until Peter decided to do it with me so he could do the exec stuff & I could focus on creative, when I was hired to write Superman it was always intended as & pitched as a new Superman story, so why would I lie about not planning that at the Squad premiere which would have amounted to the same thing at the end of the day? How does this particular conspiracy theory make sense?”
Amid the DC Studios executive shakeup, Cavill reprised his role as Superman in an end credits scene from 2022’s Black Adam. However, when Gunn and Safran took over DC and planned to reboot the universe, they announced they would be recasting Superman.
David Corenswet was cast as the new Superman, with filming already underway. The film also stars Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor and María Gabriela de Faría as The Engineer. The ensemble includes Skyler Gisondo, Sara Sampaio, Sean Gunn, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Isabel Merced and Fillion.
The actor stopped by the Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum podcast to chat about his acting career, including the highly-anticipated movie, which began production last week, per the director.
Hoult looked back at his time auditioning for the classic villain, saying Gunn has an “ability to keep things fun and alive and try things in the moment and be like, just shouting out from the monitors, ‘Say this line. Do this! Do that!’ And that’s something that I really enjoy. … That’s the whole process of prep for me is like, be prepared as possible so when you get there you can throw it all away and do whatever you want in the moment.”
As for the weeks leading up to filming, the Renfield actor also told the host that he began working out to play Lex.
“There’s that bit in All-Star Superman [comic book series] where he talks about his muscles being real and hard work and all that,” Hoult said. “I kind of took that as a little bit of fuel for the fire.” But he also noted that he doesn’t think the villain will have any shirtless scenes in the film.
Earlier in the podcast, Hoult revealed to Rosenbaum, who played a younger version of Lex on Smallville, that his iteration of the villain was the first time he saw Lex on screen.
“The first ever Lex I saw was you. Yeah, I grew up, Smallville was on,” the Warm Bodies actor said. “That was the show I would watch and see my first iterations of Superman and Lex and all those stories. I’ve since seen Richard Donner’s movies and all the other ones and kind of seen some of the other performances but you’re like the one. … It’s the best.”
At the end of February, Gunn shared a photo of the cast all together for the first time, noting that the image was taken after the first table read. Hoult appeared to be sporting a shaved head, gearing up to play Lex.
Gunn’s Superman, also starring David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, is set to be released on July 11, 2025.
When you look at Dave Bautista, the last thing you think of is failure. Even if he wasn’t a former wrestling superstar turned mega movie star, if you saw this tall, muscular, tattoo-covered man walking down the street, you’d instantly think he’s got it figured out. But in Dune: Part Two, Bautista’s character doesn’t have anything figured out. And the actor loves him for it.
Working With Recasted Characters
Once again, Bautista is Glossu Rabban Harkonnen, nephew of Baron Harkonnen and the new lord of Arrakis… having massacred almost the entire Atreides family for the privilege. Rabban is given the task of taking over the entire planet for his family, with almost no knowledge of the formidable Fremen force he’s up against. It results in the character not faring too well in the eyes of his family, which is exactly why Bautista was so excited about the film.
In his chat with io9, we talked about playing the pathetic villain, his relationship with director Denis Villeneuve, the chip on his shoulder when it comes to acting, and if he’s really done with his famous Guardians of the Galaxy character, Drax. Check it out.
Rabban in Part OneImage: Warner Bros.
Germain Lussier, io9: Rabban doesn’t have a huge role in Part One—it’s a much bigger role here in Part Two. Was there ever a conversation between you and Denis to say, like, hey, we might not make the second movie, but if we do, [your character] will have more to do?
Dave Bautista: Well, I always knew that my role in the second film was going to be bigger. We never [laughs]… I only heard rumblings that there might not be a second film. We never had that official conversation with Denis. I think he always had confidence that there would be. I think he’s a person who has a vision and he doesn’t stray from that vision. I think his vision was never one film, so I think he never abandoned that. So we never had the conversation. And I also was pretty confident because I saw the first film and I was like, it’s amazing. It’s not only beautiful storytelling, but it just really cuts off and it leaves you hanging. And I didn’t see a world where people wouldn’t want to have closure on that. So I never lost faith at all. But it was a sign of the times we were living in. It was uncertain times. And I think a lot of people were cheated, not through the fault of anyone, but by not being able to see the first film on a big screen because that is what it what was designed for. That’s what it was meant to be. But yeah, I never thought that there wouldn’t be a second film.
io9: Most of the guys you play, for obvious reasons, are pretty capable, right? However this guy, besides his size and strength, is kind of an idiot.
Bautista: [Laughs]
io9: And kind of a failure. So was it fun to play somebody that is the butt of all the jokes?
Bautista: For sure. Yeah. For me, that’s why I’m in this, man. Because I want to play characters that are layered and interesting, and not clichés or generic. That’s also the challenge. But I also think that’s my obsession. So that’s what I loved about him. I was so excited when I read the script for the second film and I was even more excited after I had the conversation with Denis because I knew that there was so much for me to play with here. I mean, I always search out roles because I do have this chip on my shoulder. It’s never going to go away. I want to prove myself as an actor because guys like me, they want to put in a lane. And I never wanted to be stuck in that lane. So I came out of the WWE, came out of the gates refusing to be stuck in that lane. And so this gives me the opportunity to prove my point.
io9: Yes.
Bautista: So I thought, this character is so great because you would think about him in one way. He’s just one way. He’s just a brute and that’s all he is. But I thought, if I can take this character and make him not only that, but make him so pathetic that you almost feel sympathy for him.
io9: “Almost.”
Bautista: Yes, almost. [Laughs] I only need one little hint of sympathy when you’re like, you feel sorry for him for a second, then it’s like, “Nahhhhh, I don’t feel sorry for him.” But if I just had that one opportunity, then that could be a real accomplishment.
Bautista with Villeneuve and Austin Butler.Image: Warner Bros.
io9: Oh I think you nailed it. I think also he’s so angry early on in the movie—what was it like to be so vocal and angry?
Bautista: So, for me, screaming for me is just another way to get rid of my anxiety. I’ve always known that about myself. I discovered that in WWE and I just let it all out. On one side of the curtain in WWE, before I came out, I was dry heaving. I was a nervous wreck. I was a mess, and I was always thinking, “God, everything’s going to go wrong. I’m not ready. I’m not warmed up enough. Oh man, I don’t know what to do.” As soon as I hit that curtain, walked out the curtain, lights, music, [crowd roars]—anxiety gone. And it’s the same with this. So it just allowed me the opportunity to just shake that anxiety, and then I can just kind of slowly transform to this performance. But again, I mean, just the richness of the character, the layers of the character and the support and encouragement from Denis, he just made this very easy for me.
io9: Very cool. Now obviously this a big ensemble piece but, by the nature of your character, you don’t really get to act with most of the people in the movie. Is that isolating? Do you form a bond with the other people that you’re with?
Bautista: Yeah, for sure. No matter what you spend a lot of time with people in makeup trailers or on set or socially. There’s always a get-together, especially for the ensemble cast, where the director wants to meet with the cast. And so there’s always going to be that camaraderie. [But] selfishly, personally, like I want those scenes. I want scenes with Timmy [Chalamet]. I want scenes and Zendaya. I want scenes with Florence [Pugh]. I want a scene with Christopher Walken. But it just, you know, it wasn’t meant to be.
io9: You get a scene with Josh Brolin.
Bautista: You know, I love Josh. Josh is one of my favorite people in the world. I’ve known Josh for years now through our Marvel experiences. So I was pretty giddy getting to share scenes with him on this in this film. And it was just nothing but fun. And I love that our characters just despise each other. So it’s great.
Dave Bautista Opens Up About His Relationship With Denis Villeneuve
Dave Bautista Opens Up About His Relationship With Denis Villeneuve
io9: One of the things I love about your career, you talk about having that chip on your shoulder, is you work with such incredible filmmakers. Obviously, there’s Gunn, Snyder, Shyamalan, and Villeneuve. What sets Denis apart from the other ones you’ve worked with?
Bautista: Our conversations are different. And it’s hard for me having these conversations without sounding… because I never want to be dismissive of anybody else that I’ve worked with. They’ve all been special experiences. And they’ve all made me rise as a performer and helped me in my career. James Gunn changed my life. His belief in me, his support of me, changed my life. But our conversations have been different. Denis supports me in a different way.
Our conversations are more intimate. I’ve never had a director until Denis, since Denis, say to me that you’re a very strong actor. And he said this to me on the first film. I was holding back because I was self-conscious [and] I was. I was very unsure of myself. And he came to me. He said, “I feel like you’re holding back.” He said, “You’re a very strong actor, my friend. Just follow your instincts.” And so I started belting it out, and I started finding this character. He not only loved it so much, but he was so supportive of my performance that he wanted to capture other people’s reactions to my performance. And so when you’re getting that kind of support, that was an experience I’ve never had before or since, with a director of that caliber. So it means everything. It’s validation.
Image: Warner Bros.
io9: Wow, that’s awesome. SoI’m talking to Stellan [Skarsgård] after this and you have a lot of scenes with him. What is it like working with him in that suit? Because it’s got to be weird. Do you laugh or are you just serious? What’s the vibe?
Bautista: It’s very serious. We are respectful because we know that it’s harsh. The experience he’s gone through, like what he’s living with and what he’s dealing with. And you can tell through conversations while he’s working, that he’s already exhausted because he’s been in a makeup chair eight hours before we even started working. Eight hours, you’re typically leaving work.
io9: Right, right.
Bautista: He’s just starting work. And so it’s very respectful of him and what he’s going through. So we’re very respectful of his time. Everybody this is from the top down. But also the actors were very, aware that he’s suffering.
io9: Last thing is, I know you said on Guardians 3 that you were done with Marvel, but is there any way that you would come back, or have you just kind of put that part of your career aside?
Bautista: No, no. When I said that I was done, I was really just done with my journey as Drax. I still have a relationship with Marvel. I’ve seen Kevin Feige again, Lou [D’Esposito] as recently as two weeks ago. And they know that I would be up for a role. I love the universe—the superhero universe, I love it. I’m a fan. So Marvel or DC, if they call, I would answer the phone. And if the role makes sense, I’d be all over it. I just would like the opportunity to do a bigger role, a different role. Maybe a deeper role. I’d love to have the opportunity to play, like an ominous villain in the superhero universe. Yeah. But never. I’m not done with it. But my journey with Drax is over.
The CW’s Arrowverse was once the talk of the superhero town, and arguably DC’s more successful live-action venture in the 2010s. But in recent years, the network’s superhero outings have all been shuttered, with Superman & Lois standing as the last Arrowverse hurrah for one more season.
Sean Gunn on Working With His Brother
In a recent interview with TheWrap, CW’s entertainment president Brad Schwartz and overall company president Dennis Miller talked about keeping some shows from the old regime. Superman & Lois has apparently performed quite well in previous seasons, but it was allegedly Warner Bros.’ call to cap it at four seasons. “They don’t want a competing Superman product in the marketplace,” Schwartz explained, effectively laying the blame for the show’s end at 2025’s Superman: Legacyfrom James Gunn.
This isn’t the first time the Arrowverse has been put in this position: WB asked Arrow’s creators to put in several Suicide Squad regulars like Deadshot and Amanda Waller in its show to get audiences used to them before their silver screen debut. The show was also apparently keen to do something with Harley Quinn, but those plans had to be junked once she was a principal lead in the film. Both Deadshot and Waller, along with Katana, were killed off or disappeared. The same was true of Deathstroke, who was a recurring character on the show: when it seemed like he’d be getting a solo movie (or be the villain in a planned solo movie for Ben Affleck’s Batman), Arrow’s Deathstroke had to walk into the mist, never to be seen again.
It’s a weird situation DC has put the Arrowverse in, least of all because it let Grant Gustin’s version of the Flash stick around for Ezra Miller’s (possible) entire tenure as the Flash in the movies. Batman’s also been fairly exempt from this rule, since Gotham was on during Affleck’s Bat-tenure, and Robert Pattinson’s version is getting to co-exist with the evental Bats who’ll headline The Brave & the Bold.
However, it’s also worth noting that the new CW regime is about saving (and eventually making) money lost by the old bosses. Schwartz even admitted when he and Miller came onboard, the network had “lost a lot of money.” And like WB Discovery, it’s in a penny-pinching move: Superman & Loishas had to dump several longtime series regulars and writers for its final season, and the episode count has been slimmed down from a standard 13-15 range to just 10. Schwartz similarly told TheWrap other veteran shows like All American and Walker will stick around on the network…as long as their budgets stay relatively the same.
Either way, four seasons is a solid run for any show, and getting too long in the tooth has long been an issue with the medium (especially ones on this network). It’s not ideal, but at least Superman & Lois gets to go out on its own terms and deliver as much of an ending as it can.
