DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn confirmed his upcoming DCU slate is a soft reboot after Ezra Miller’sThe Flash,meaning the film will narratively reset the franchise, and the followingAquamanandBlue Beetlefilms will be reworked as part of the DCU. However, new questions on the purpose and intent of this restructuring remain.In the DCU slate announcement,The Flashis similar to Flashpointin resetting the franchise for the reboot. Even so, there are still returning actors in ongoing storylines from the previous DCEU era that are part of the new slate, like the cast of the upcomingWaller,Creature Commandosseries, andPeacemakerseason 2, which were all spearheaded in Gunn’s previous DCEU projects. Jason Momoa will continue his role as Aquaman and Warner Bros. Discovery has suggested the possibility of other actors returning, like Ezra Miller asThe Flashand Zachary Levi as Shazam. As a result, fans are confused why some storytelling elements are staying if it’s marketed as a reboot.RELATED:James Gunn Says Henry Cavill Wasn’t Technically Fired From SupermanA fan on Instagram asked Gunn how the DCU is a reboot if Viola Davis is still playing Amanda Waller, suggesting that ifThe Flashis to reset everything, that means getting rid of not only the Snyderverse but also Gunn’s work inPeacemakerandThe Suicide Squad. Gunn replied with “nope,” and expressed that the “Flash resets many things, not all things,” and that “some characters remain the same,” and “some do not.” Gunn’s reply further solidifies previous statements of keeping what works and getting rid of what doesn’t.
There has been a significant amount of backlash to this approach by Snyderverse fans and industry insiders who claim that Gunn is cherry-picking his creative decisions with favoritism based on previous working relationships. This is supported by statements that suggest the possibility ofThe Guardians of the Galaxycast in the DCUand a photograph shared by the wife of DC Studios' co-head Peter Safran that shows Levi and Safran together on a family vacation trip. This was taken just after the actor had released a video expressing his desire to stay a part of the DCU while praising the previous studio executive Walter Hamada, who had similar intentions on how to shape DC films, which seem to have taken form in Gunn’s DCU slate.
Whetherthe next chapter of DC filmswill be in Gunn’s image is up for debate. However, his recent statement that it “is not the Gunnverse” seems to contradict the business and creative decisions that carry over Gunn’s work but get rid of actors and storylines that a large portion of the fan base had wanted to see continue.
The Flashis scheduled for release on Jun 09, 2025.
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