In case you take pleasure in comedian e book films, then it has been exhausting being a DC fan for the previous few years.
Sure, I do know, the Snyderverse acolytes will let you know in any other case. However, as any individual who was personally comfortable to see the Snyderverse come to an in depth, I — and lots of different DC followers — have seen Marvel have their time within the solar, solely to look at DC journey over its personal cape time and time once more.
However, what’s that? Is it a chicken? Is it a aircraft? No, it is James Gunn! And, with him now guiding the DC cinematic universe, I feel I am lastly extra excited for the DCU than I’m for the MCU. This is why.
The MCU Exhibits Have Grown Variety Of Stale As Of Late, Whereas The Penguin Proves That DC Can Ship The Items On The Tv Entrance
I was obsessed with Marvel’s TV exhibits. Week after week, I would ensure to remain up late simply to see each new episode that got here to Disney+.
Nevertheless, the yr is 2025, and also you truthfully could not get me to even test Disney+ as of late to see what the MCU has to supply. What If…? Extra like, Why Hassle? Agatha All Alongside? I imply, I heard good issues about it, however I simply had no curiosity. The upcoming Daredevil: Born Once more? In case you had instructed me two years in the past that there was going to be a brand new Daredevil present, I’d have flipped my lid. Now, I don’t even wish to flip on my Disney+ app anymore.
However, I used to be utterly enraptured with the current DC present, The Penguin (although I HATE Oz Cobb as a personality).
And, I did not anticipate something from Creature Commandos, nevertheless it’s one of the attention-grabbing exhibits that I’ve seen in a very long time. I am additionally surprisingly pumped for the upcoming Lanterns TV present, since I’ve by no means been a fan of Inexperienced Lantern up to now.
That’s why, in each approach, I really feel just like the DCU is on fireplace, whereas the MCU is merely smoldering. And, I feel I’d know one motive why…
I Additionally Like How It is Completely Pure For DC To Go R-Rated Every time It Desires, Nevertheless Marvel Appears To Want To Make Exceptions
After I first realized that Deadpool & Wolverine can be Rated-R, I used to be truthfully skeptical. I imply, this was a studio that made headlines for dropping an F-bomb in Guardians of the Galaxy 3, so I actually didn’t imagine the MCU would ever have a Rated-R movie till I lastly noticed that pink band trailer.
However, Warner Bros.? They don’t have any downside having Rated-R content material of their superhero tales. I feel that is necessary, as a result of it has all the time set it other than the MCU, however I feel it may possibly go even additional now that James Gunn is on the helm.
As a result of truthfully, I’m sort of uninterested in comedian e book tales dropped at the display, a minimum of relating to the fun-for-the-whole-family MCU method. Nevertheless, watching The Penguin, with all of its foul-mouthed, violent storytelling, it simply made me glad that they didn’t should comply with the MCU mandate of protecting nearly all of their content material in a PG-13/TV-14 realm.
And, it’s not like I feel that ALL DC tales must be Rated-R, as I most definitely wouldn’t need that for the upcoming Superman film. Nevertheless, I’ve full religion that if James Gunn did wish to make one other Rated-R film like he did with The Suicide Squad, then it wouldn’t be a stretch.
Hell, I might even see an R-Rated Batman film after what we bought with The Penguin and Joker, which I discover thrilling. Way more thrilling than something we’re getting from the MCU. And about that…
I Suppose The Upcoming Slate Of DC Films Sounds A Lot Extra Fascinating That What We Know So Far Of The MCU’s Line-Up
I’m sorry, however when this upcoming slate for Part 5 and Part 6 of the MCU, I’m not impressed. I imply, I need to be, however I actually can’t drum up any pleasure for Captain America: Courageous New World, or Thunderbolts*.
I imply, certain, I’ll in all probability be excited for The Unbelievable 4: First Steps since I’m a sucker for something Unbelievable 4-related (Sure, even the “unhealthy” film). However, I truthfully could not care one iota for one more Avengers flick.
That mentioned, I’m virtually panting for the upcoming slate of DC films. First off, Superman has me freaking drooling in anticipation, and I don’t even LIKE Superman. That’s the ability of that trailer. After which, we now have Supergirl: Lady of Tomorrow in 2026, which can characteristic one among my favourite DC characters, Lobo (Performed by Jason Momoa, which is excellent casting). And, to high off 2026, we’ll additionally get my favourite Batman villain, Clayface, in his personal film, in addition to (hopefully) The Batman: Half II.
I imply, like, what’s going on right here? I’ve by no means been excited for upcoming DC films until it pertained to Batman. After we had been mired within the Snyderverse, we saved getting films that had been main as much as the inevitable Justice League, however none of them had been hitting for me.
And I noticed all of them, no much less! Movie after movie, I used to be increasingly more disenchanted, and it bought to the purpose the place I skipped the second Aquaman, and solely caught The Flash as soon as it landed on MAX (And hated it, by the way in which).
Nevertheless, the long run is nothing however vibrant for DC, whereas I’ve no enthusiasm in any respect for the MCU, and there’s a giant motive why.
We Are Additionally Getting A Type Of A Reboot With DC, Whereas The MCU Appears To Be Working On A Treadmill
I do know I’m beating a useless horse, however I actually hated the Snyderverse. That’s why I’m tremendous comfortable that we’re getting a type of do-over with DC, with Superman being the proper leaping off level.
Not solely that, nevertheless it seems to be like we’re getting all types of attention-grabbing new tales from DC, like Sgt. Rock (Let’s go, Straightforward Firm!) a brand new Swamp Factor film, and a freaking Constantine 2 (About rattling time!)
And the MCU? I don’t know…MORE Avengers films. One other Spider-Man movie. Truthfully, I actually don’t care anymore. Eternals is my favourite Marvel film (which in all probability says all you have to learn about me), however I like that movie as a result of it took trustworthy to God dangers. It was completely different, it was distinctive, and folks hated it, nevertheless it was a brand new method for the MCU, and I’ve been ready for one thing as daring for years now, however haven’t gotten it.
As a substitute, we’re simply getting extra Avengers films, which makes me really feel just like the MCU is on a treadmill, and I’m fairly uninterested in it.
I simply need one thing new from the MCU, and it doesn’t seem like I’m ever going to get it, whereas DC is filled with nothing however pleasure. And I feel we now have one man to really thank for it.
I All the time Thought James Gunn Was The Most Fascinating Director In The MCU, and Now DC’s Bought Him
I don’t assume this can be a controversial assertion, however James Gunn was probably the most attention-grabbing director the MCU ever had. Sure, one might argue that the Russo Brothers left the largest impression on the MCU with Avengers: Infinity Battle, and Avengers: Endgame, however I’d additionally counter that neither of these movies needed to take digital unknowns like The Guardians of the Galaxy, and make them into family names.
However James Gunn did it.
He took D-level Marvel characters, and made them into A-level phenomena. That’s no small feat! So, when Warner Bros. acquired his providers, I simply knew that they had been deciding to move in a unique, extra attention-grabbing route with their properties.
And whereas sure, the way forward for the DCU will not be squarely on James Gunn, I feel it’s protected to say that he’s to DC, what Kevin Feige is to the MCU, in that he’s now the man whose shoulders all the successes and issues that may fall upon within the foreseeable future.
James Gunn has a singular thoughts and perspective, and I like the concept of what his initiatives have to supply, whereas I’ve sort of given up hope in what Kevin Feige has to supply. Perhaps Part 6 of the MCU will shock me, and hopefully the X-Males will reinvigorate my ardour for the MCU, however as of proper now, I’m all James Gunn, all day, child.
How about you?