James Gunn’s Surprising Tease: Is Animal Man Joining the DCU?

by

In a possible slip-up, James Gunn, one of the co-CEOs at DC Studios, might have hinted at potential plans for a lesser-known DC character in the new DC Universe (DCU). Gunn has kickstarted an interconnected cinematic universe with the premiere of Superman, following the animated prelude of Creature Commandos. This new venture offers a fresh take on the world of DC Comics and its diverse cast of characters. Although attention will understandably center on some of DC’s major figures in the initial phase of the DCU, Gunn has shown that he is not shy about incorporating the unusual in his comic book adaptations.

In a hint at what’s to come in his upcoming DC universe, the director of “Guardians of the Galaxy” has casually dropped names like Bat-Mite, alongside projects featuring lesser-known characters such as Booster Gold and The Authority. It seems another unique DC character might join the roster for this new TV and movie franchise, as Gunn maps out his superhero realm.

As a passionate cinephile, I was thrilled to catch wind of an intriguing morsel dropped by James Gunn during his chat on Late Night with Seth Meyers. It appears that the esteemed director of Superman may have hinted at some secret ambitions he harbors for the lesser-known DC character, Animal Man, within the DC Universe.

In Meyer’s show discussion, the Late Night host started suggesting possible characters for Gunn in the newly formed superhero series. Meyers proposed a few names like Elongated Man and Ted Kord’s Blue Beetle before finding Animal Man (also known as Buddy Baker).

Although nothing Meyers discusses seems to spark much interest from the co-CEO of DC Studios, when he mentions Animal Man, Gunn shows enthusiasm, saying, “‘He’s a great character,’” followed by a smirk and a playful, “‘I can’t divulge that information:’

Animal Man is quite the interesting character, but I’m afraid I can’t share more about him right now. He deserves to be discussed by someone particularly knowledgeable.

Mentioning Animal Man could hint that the DC executive may already have ideas for incorporating the hero into his upcoming DC universe, although it doesn’t necessarily mean a confirmation yet.

James Gunn’s DC Universe officially began in full swing just a few days ago with the premiere of the Superman movie starring David Corenswet, marking the start of an exciting new chapter for this universe and its superhero characters. Following closely is the second season of Peacemaker, scheduled for release on August 21st. Furthermore, series based on Lanterns, Supergirl, and Clayface have all been confirmed for a 2026 debut (for more details about the DCU schedule, check here).

Who Is DC Comics’ Animal Man?

Although Animal Man may not be as well-known as some other DC characters, he is cherished by devoted fans as a lesser-known gem in their extensive collection.

The character was created in 1965 as a hero who could mimic the abilities of any animal on Earth. 

Nurtured as Bernhard “Buddy” Baker, also recognized as Animal Man, derives his abilities from a mystifying energy source called The Red – a power network linking all creatures of Earth, similar to ‘The Force’ in the animal realm.

One afternoon during his teenage years, Buddy acquires his powers while on a hunting trip in the Adirondack Mountains, following his encounter with The Red. It’s not obvious at first what has transpired, but after visiting the zoo and coming across several loose animals, he discovers that he can take on their unique abilities when near any animal.

Throughout my years of analyzing comic book series, I’ve noticed that Animal Man has graced numerous prestigious DC teams, such as the Justice League International. Some enthusiasts even suggest that this team could be a precursor to Superman’s Justice Gang.

The character hasn’t made an appearance on the silver screen yet, but there have been whispers about Animal Man joining the DC Universe for quite some time now. His name has been mentioned in conjunction with The Authority and Mister Terrific, notably in a widely-circulated leak from 2023, as shared on Reddit.

Read More

2025-07-18 00:04