DCEU should forget about the multiverse — for now

The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) is dead. Long live DCU.

Well, in some new fashion that looks shimmering, anyway. The recent merger between Warner Bros. and Discovery — a huge entity known as, wait, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) – To serious discussions about how the DCEU will operate from now on.

Now, according to a report from The Hollywood Reporter, a new WBD scheme is up for him DCEU Movies And the HBO Maxshows It’s simple: let the top creators of DCEU lead it in a new direction.

what does that mean? Effectively, directors, writers, and actors including Matt Reeves (Batman), James Jean (suicide squadAnd the peace maker), Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (black AdamBuild pocket-sized worlds revolving around DC characters who become megahits at the box office.

Amid many missteps for DCEU in recent years, including The collapse of Snyder Virus Fans are angry Batgirl movie canceledThis seems like a really smart move on the part of WBD. In fact, it’s a creative decision that could signal the end of DC’s premise for a cinematic multiverse — for now.

If Dwayne Johnson wants to build a universe of Black Adam, let him do it. (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

Take Black Adam, for example. Johnson is the most profitable and marketable superstar in the world right now. The massive box office fee and likeness of the wrestler-turned-actor regularly help his films amass huge personalities across the globe, even if these films weren’t always well received. Meanwhile, in the streaming world, Johnson’s star power helped Red Notice become the most-watched original. netflix movies of all time in December 2020. Not even the stars studded do not search Or the Rousseau brothers gray man She could be raped in December 2021 and July 2022, respectively.

No matter how critics view Black Adam before its October 21 release, then, one thing is clear: If you’re a WBD, you’re letting Johnson own his own Black Adam universe. Forget about writing it on DC’s cinematic multiverse. Let the hero stand on his superhero feet first, make him a world-famous name, and and then Begin submitting it to the broader DCEU.

Bloodsport, Ratcatcher 2, Polka-Dot Man and The Suicide Squad's Peacemaker

Give us a sequel to Suicide Squad, please. (Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Similar approaches can be taken with other modern DC properties as well. The Suicide Squad by James Gunn was not very successful financially. In fact, it has only made $168.7 million globally. Against the announced $185 million budget, this should be considered a disappointment at the box office.

However, the superhero movie It was hailed by critics ahead of the release and earned praise from DC fans for its humor, visual flair, and R-rated action sequences. Add to the fact that it had the second biggest opening weekend for Warner Bros. films. Which received day-and-date versions — by August 2021, anyway — in hbo maxThe Suicide Squad was very successful.

Gunn’s magic touch was evident at the start of 2022 as well. Peacemaker, the John Cena movie starring Suicide Squad TV, was one of the most popular series of the first few months of the year, with boba fett book And the The Witcher season 2 Struggling to keep up with that from an audience demand perspective.

Like Johnson, then, Gunn deserves to continue to embody a similar small world based on The Suicide Squad. Peacemaker is already getting a second season, and according to a THR report, Gunn is lined up for quite a few DC projects. Does that include a sequel to Suicide Squad or another TV show? Based on the success of the two producers he directed, it is in WBD’s best interest to give the green light to other projects that Gunn is leading.

Matt Reeves directs Robert Pattinson in Batman

Batman from Matt Reeves should be the start of the new Dark Knight universe. (Image credit: Jonathan Ollie/Warner Bros. Pictures)

Then there is Batman. Matt Reeves’ first stab at a superhero property was a huge success for Warner Bros., with the film grossing nearly $800 million at the global box office and thrilling audiences and critics alike.

Unsurprisingly, WBD is very keen to continue exploring the new Batman world along the lines of a pulp. The sequel has already been confirmeda A TV show starring Penguin directed by Colin Farrell is already under development, while work is also underway on the horror-filled Arkham Asylum. According to a THR report, Reeves has already met with writers and directors to create more spin-offs and TV movies based around the popular Caped Crusader show. These projects could focus on villains including Scarecrow, Clayface, and even Professor Pyg.

Given the enduring popularity of Batman as a character, and the new direction Reeves has taken for the brand, it’s understandable that more Batman-centric projects are on the way. It’s a world that lies outside the confines of the DCEU, too – and that’s how it should stay. Like Black Adam and The Suicide Squad, WBD should allow Reeves to create a world free of connections to his wider cinematic universe, allowing him to remain untethered from, and not overburden, other Batman and DCEU productions that have come and gone.

Wonder Woman folds her arms to form her iconic pose in a promotional photo for Wonder Woman 1984

Wonder Woman and other DC character films are still tied to the broader DCEU. (Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Unfortunately, a potential long-term plan to craft smaller superhero universes cannot be easily fixed. There are other DCEU movies coming in the next few years, such as Aquaman: The Lost Kingdom and Wonder Woman 3, who are closely associated with DCEU. Based on the rumors swirling around Black Adam as well, it appears that relationships have actually been rigged between this movie and those in Snyder-Verse, which muddies the waters of the DCEU even more than it otherwise is.

These potential problems are none when you attend flash – WBD’s most controversial upcoming movie, given the events surrounding lead star Ezra Miller – in mind. This June 2023 flick links to the DCEU multiverse and the past Batman movies clearly visible. And with script already written for a sequel to The Flash, this might not be the end of DCEU’s exploration of its multiple universes.

The thing, though, has to be. Well, for now, at least. Warner Bros. tried. Discovery built a multiverse along the lines of Marvel’s cinematic giant, but it didn’t work out as intended. There was no clear blueprint for its creation, nor how all of her films and TV shows effectively fit into the DCEU.

In our view, the best way forward for DCEU is to do so with as few or no links as possible between each universe. Allow each creator to shape pocket-sized worlds into his or her own image and avoid the worry of having to match each property to its contemporaries. Next, see which ones resonate with audiences before you start building a multiverse where these characters can interact. Sure, it would be a long and methodical road to a shared DC universe. Given the alternative, though, it’s a career the WBD will have to make if it wants, at last, to be able to compete with it. marvel.

For more DC and MCU based content, check out Marvel movies in order The center is major. Instead, find out How to watch Batman movies in orderor read about Top 10 performances in every Batman movie Until now

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