James Gunn Reveals 8th Big Project Tying the New DC Universe Together

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The world of DC films (DCU) is just getting started with the debut of “Creature Commandos” and the upcoming “Superman,” while DC Studios is already building the foundation for a connected universe. Co-head of studio James Gunn has hinted that his DCU will deviate from the existing MCU in certain ways, but both franchises share the goal of developing an array of superhero stories that intertwine to form a unified universe. This requires careful planning of these connections long before they become reality.

DC Studios has already planned ways for some of their projects to interconnect, either by featuring the same character across various DC movies and shows, or by tying these separate stories together with a shared narrative event.

All the DC Studios Projects That Connect To the Broader DCU

Paradise Lost & Wonder Woman

One of the early DC Universe projects in James Gunn and Peter Safran’s “Gods & Monsters” lineup was the television series titled “Paradise Lost.” This show explores the origins and societal aspects of Themyscira, the legendary female-only island where Wonder Woman’s alter ego, Diana Prince, originates.

Gunn has revealed to Entertainment Weekly that Paradise Lost and the upcoming Wonder Woman film will be distinct entities yet interconnected. Since the new Wonder Woman project is fresh in development, the extent of their connection remains uncertain; however, it’s likely that Themyscira will serve as a bridge between them.

Creature Commandos Seasons 1 & 2

The motley crew known as Creature Commandos, featuring an ensemble of monster protagonists, has already left its mark on various storylines within the DC Universe. This is partly due to the presence of Frank Grillo’s character, Rick Flag Sr., who plays a part not only in Superman, but also in the second season of Peacemaker.

Viola Davis reprises her role as Amanda Waller, the ARGUS director who put together the Suicide Squad in the previous DC Universe (and Gunn’s sequel “The Suicide Squad”), by calling upon the Creature Commandos team in the animated series.

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t help but feel thrilled at the confirmation that Creature Commandos is getting a new season! This means we’ll undoubtedly see more of our favorite DCU characters coming to life, and the opportunity for intriguing connections across the expansive superhero universe will be endless.

Superman

The first live-action film in the revamped DC Universe (DCU) featuring Superman serves as a crucial link in the superhero world. The character Rick Flag Sr., played by Frank Grillo, ties this movie to the “Creature Commandos,” but it’s the connection between Superman and the upcoming DCU project, “Peacemaker” Season 2, that might be more significant.

In the upcoming second season of Peacemaker, it has been verified that several actors who have played Superman in different roles will make appearances. These include Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern, and Sean Gunn as Maxwell Lord.

It’s widely speculated that Superman might make an appearance alongside Milly Alcock’s character from the Supergirl movie, potentially linking their tales as Kryptonian heroes.

Peacemaker Season 2

In August, you’ll find season 2 of “Peacemaker” streaming on HBO Max. This distinctive production straddles both the old and new DC Universes, acting as a link between the two superhero series. Having made an appearance in “The Suicide Squad,” John Cena’s unconventional hero has garnered enough fan support to secure his own television show.

In its first season, Peacemaker continued the storyline from The Suicide Squad, as it paired up Peacemaker with Leota AKA Amanda Waller’s daughter (played by Danielle Brooks) to thwart an alien invasion. The second season of this series will delve into the narrative of Superman and bring in Frank Grillo Sr., along with some characters from Superman’s Justice League team.

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow

Following the release of “Superman”, a new film titled “Supergirl” will hit theaters on June 26, 2026. This action-packed movie is directed by Craig Gillespie and features Alcock as the titular character in an exciting journey that includes Jason Momoa portraying Lobo.

As for elements shared between the stories, “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow” might link up with “Superman” incidents since they are family members. It’s possible that David Corenswet’s character or another “Superman” figure could make a brief appearance, especially if Alcock appears in his standalone movie first. Moreover, “Supergirl” is anticipated to have Superman’s pet, Krypto, who is present in both narratives.

Lanterns

As a film enthusiast, I can’t wait for audiences to encounter Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, also known as Green Lantern, in the upcoming Superman movie. However, it’s important to note that he’s not the only one to bear the Green Lantern mantle. This intriguing aspect will be delved into in the HBO series Lanterns, offering a fascinating exploration of the various heroes who have worn this iconic title.

In the series “Lanterns,” we’ll see renowned Green Lantern characters such as Hal Jordan (portrayed by Kyle Chandler) and John Stewart (Aaron Pierre). The character of Guy Gardner will serve as a bridge to the broader DCU, having made appearances in both “Superman” and “Peacemaker” prior to joining “Lanterns.

Waller

One TV show among those announced in the DCU’s Chapter One lineup is titled “Waller“. This series will feature Viola Davis as the director of ARGUS, a role she played in other productions. The storyline of this series is expected to be linked to “Peacemaker“, focusing on Waller’s interactions with her ARGUS team members, particularly her daughter, Leota.

Yet, it remains uncertain about the current status of the series, as a report suggests that Waller is among various DCU projects encountering difficulties during their development process.

At present, there are several other projects in the works at DC Studios aside from these. But, it’s worth noting that the ones mentioned here have been explicitly linked to other projects within the DC Universe.

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2025-06-24 19:04