James Gunn‘s DCU is looking forward to a bright future, as 2026 will see the releases of titles like Lanterns, Supergirl, and Clayface. Gunn himself is hard at work on Man of Tomorrow, the follow-up to Superman. Yet, if Paramount Pictures succeeds in acquiring Warner Bros., this exciting shared-universe future might be in jeopardy just as it is getting started.
A recent report from Puck, via Collider, states that Paramount Pictures co-chair Josh Greenstein has already discussed with Weapons director Zach Cregger about his Henchman script set in the DC Universe as a project the studio wants to make if they acquire the iconic studio. Currently, James Gunn and Peter Safran approve all projects greenlit by DC Studios, as well as who will direct, write, and star in the films. However, this report indicates a significant change could place, with higher-ups like Greenstein, or even Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison, forcing projects into the shared universe if Paramount Pictures is successful in its bid to buy Warner Bros.
What Does This Mean for the Future of the DCU?
Since James Gunn and Peter Safran took the reins of DC Studios in November 2022, the duo has largely been given creative control by current Warner Bros. head, David Zaslav. The duo canceled Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman 3, kept Matt Reeves’ The Batman films in their own separate universe, and developed their own interconnected slate of movies and television series. The DCU ranges from the adult-animated series Creature Commandos, the blockbuster Superman, and the upcoming R-rated horror film Clayface. There is nothing to say that Zach Cregger’s Gotham-set henchman film couldn’t fit within Gunn’s DCU, but the idea of it being forced into development without the say-so of the person whose job it is to run DC Studios is troubling.
Paramount Skydance has made headlines in the past year, and not for good reason. The company’s recent efforts to develop a new live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film not only led to the cancellation of the R-rated Last Ronin movie that was in development, but have also worried many fans about the future of the animated Mutant Mayhem corner of the franchise. Paramount Skydance also canceled a planned Star Trek 4 that would bring back stars Chris Pine, Zachary Quinton, and Zoe Saldaña in favor of a new reboot. Paramount leadership certainly will have thoughts and plans for films centered on popular brands like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, and those might not be for the best.
There is also the Donald Trump factor. Paramount Skydance head David Ellison and his father, Larry Ellison, have a strong working relationship with Trump. At Trump’s request, Paramount Pictures recently announced Rush Hour 4 with director Brett Ratner returning after having not worked in nearly a decade following multiple sexual assault allegations. Gunn was a vocal critic of the first Trump administration, with this action potentially playing a role in the targeted doxxing and harassment campaign against Gunn that got him fired from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (he was later rehired).
Will Gunn want to stay on to lead a DC Universe that he no longer has complete creative control of, and one that could be altered at the whim of a studio head who wants to cozy up to Donald Trump? This could jeopardize the entire DC Universe just as the franchise was finding its footing with audiences after a decade of being in Marvel’s shadow.
- Release Date
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July 11, 2025
- Runtime
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130 minutes
- Director
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James Gunn
- Producers
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Peter Safran