The DC cinematic universe is officially at a turning point. The Hollywood Reporter published a report about the cinematic future of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and more—or, in some cases, the lack thereof—under the new direction of James Gunn and Peter Safran. The most surprising revelation is that Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman 3 will not move forward at Warner Bros. The Gal Gadot-fronted series started strong with Wonder Woman but the sequel, 2020’s Wonder Woman 1984, was a bemusing misfire, but it set the foundation for a possible third film and teased the involvement of TV’s original Wonder Woman, Lynda Carter. THR reports that the Gunn/Safran regime felt that Jenkins’ treatment doesn’t fit with their future plans for the whole DC cinematic universe. While this doesn’t necessarily mean that there won’t ever be another Wonder Woman movie—in another form or with a completely different concept—as of no there has been “no decision” made about possible next steps.
The decision came after a long creative retreat that Gunn and Safran held to solidify their long-term vision for DC film and TV, which they will present to Warner Bros. head David Zaslav next week. (It also came just one day after Gadot tweeted her gratitude for playing the iconic character and her excitement to present her “next chapter.”) THR states the duo’s plan is still very much in flux, but the post did provide some details about what’s next. In short, it’s not just Wonder Woman getting the axe—but, potentially, everything that falls under the Snyderverse umbrella, the overarching, interconnected cinematic universe Zack Snyder began with 2013’s Man of Steel and continued through 2017’s Justice League.
While some actors have already exited the Synderverse (like Ben Affleck, ceding Batman’s cowl to Robert Pattinson), this—again, potential—move by Gunn and Safran would jettison everything for a new slate. That means: no more Aquaman movies, despite the Jason Momoa-led franchise grossing $1 billion at the global box office; no more Henry Cavill, who just left Netflix’s The Witcher series because he was ostensibly headed for a new DC contract to play Superman, thanks to The Rock and his efforts to get Cavill in Black Adam. And yes, Black Adam could also be in jeopardy, even as Johnson is currently spinning a PR web that Spider-Man would envy to deny the project’s rumored financial loss. There’s some hope for Momoa, as THR story posits a possible return for him in the role of Lobo, a Deadpool-like character that would suit Momoa’s beefcake charm.
Further complicating the plans of the Gunn-Safran duo are the looming release dates of Shazam! Fury of the Gods (on which Safran is a producer), Blue Beetle, and The Flash—which, crafted by the previous regime, once seemed like DC’s biggest hope, despite its troubles with star Ezra Miller. And one also wonders if Gunn’s new plans will affect his own DC projects, like season 2 of Peacemaker, a spinoff from his Suicide Squad sequel. Speaking of his Squad, that technically sits under the Synderverse umbrella, as it features characters from David Ayer’s Snyder adjacent film like Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn. Robbie’s portrayal is one of the unanimously praised parts of the Synderverse, but if there’s a reset coming, will she get ousted as well?
The only property that seems to be safe is Matt Reeves’ and Pattinson’s Batman, as plans continue for a sequel to this year’s successful reboot, as well as the Colin Farrell-fronted Penguin spin-off. It’s unknown if the character will be allowed to remain siloed off if Gunn and Safran’s new vision will incorporate Reeves’ burgeoning trilogy.
There’s something to be said for Gunn and Safran wanting a clean slate. Half-hearted attempts to keep the parts of Snyder’s dark vision that worked while trying to move forward have resulted in a mixed bag for DC and Warner Bros—financially, creatively, and reception-wise. Perhaps it’s for the best that Gunn and Safran are considering pulling a Joker and watching the world burn instead.