James Gunn on building a unique DC Universe history is reshaping the superhero landscape, as he and Peter Safran steer the DC Studios reboot into uncharted territory. Unlike Marvel’s cinematic timeline, this new approach introduces metahumans and legendary locations that have coexisted with humanity for centuries, promising a deeper, more complex universe when Superman premieres in theaters on July 11.
DC’s Historical Approach to Superheroes Outpaces Marvel’s Origins
When the Marvel Cinematic Universe launched in 2008 with Iron Man—a film that introduced Tony Stark as the world’s first high-profile superhero—the groundwork for an expanding universe was laid. Marvel later revealed figures like Steve Rogers, who became Captain America in the 1940s, and introduced others such as Ant-Man (Hank Pym) and Carol Danvers (Captain Marvel), whose stories extended the history back several decades. However, the baseline moment that changed the population’s awareness of superhumans remained Stark’s “I am Iron Man” announcement.
Subsequent films highlighted that the existence of enhanced individuals, like the Hulk and Thor, began well before Iron Man took flight, with Paul Bettany’s Vision stating,
“the number of known enhanced persons has grown exponentially”
—Paul Bettany, Actor. Still, the larger public in Marvel’s world only became truly conscious of superpowers after these events unfolded.
James Gunn, now co-chief at DC Studios, is purposefully crafting a different narrative for the new DC Universe. He has emphasized that in this continuity, metahumans have shaped public consciousness over a span of three centuries, not just the past few decades. This shift fundamentally changes the relationship between the population and the super-powered beings living among them.
Public Perception of Superheroes in the DC Universe
Gunn’s vision greatly contrasts with Marvel’s more recent emergence of superheroes. According to his explanation to Entertainment Weekly, the average citizen of the DC Universe has been aware of extraordinary beings for generations. This history affects how people react to both familiar and terrifying figures in their world. When asked about fitting metahumans like a shark-man into the setting, Gunn described:
“If you saw a shark-man walking down the street, you’d probably vomit and s— yourself to death. If they saw one, it would be more like if you saw Paul McCartney on the sidewalk in New York.”
—James Gunn, DC Studios Co-Chief
Such comments highlight that the spectacle of superhuman individuals is now normalized to the public. The population has grown used to seeing extraordinary characters, whether in bustling Metropolis or other renowned locations.
By the time the audience meets Superman, played by David Corenswet, in Gunn’s new film, the Man of Steel is already an established and well-known protector of Metropolis. Parallel to this, in Creature Commandos the world possesses knowledge of Themyscira, the legendary and possibly real all-female island nation, soon to be explored in the series Paradise Lost and the newly announced Wonder Woman movie. These elements show that public knowledge of super-powered nations and heroes is not new or hidden but integrated into everyday reality.
Expanding the DC Universe With New Teams and Classic Locations
The Superman film is also set to introduce the Justice Gang, a new team composed of corporate-sponsored heroes. Among them, Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi), Green Lantern Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion, who gave the team its name), and Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) bring a diversity of abilities and backgrounds. The presence of such groups further illustrates that the populace accepts superteams as fixtures in their society.
Key figures like the shape-shifting Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan) and Superman’s dog Krypto expand the hero’s connections to a larger world. The return of General Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo), who appeared in Creature Commandos and will be seen again in Peacemaker Season 2 on HBO Max, demonstrates the interlinked storytelling Gunn aims to deliver. Familiar DC locales—including Metropolis, Gotham, Themyscira, Atlantis, and Bialya—are all central, as Gunn confirmed:
“Here at DC, we have Metropolis, Gotham, Themyscira, Atlantis, Bialya… This is the world that we’re creating,”
—James Gunn, DC Studios Co-Chief
Gunn went further to elaborate,
“We’re coming into a world where superheroes exist and have existed for some time in one form or another, and that’s the universe.”
—James Gunn, DC Studios Co-Chief
This approach means that, as new stories are introduced, they build upon a world already crowded with heroes and mythical places, instead of constructing their legacy from zero.
How Gunn’s Vision Compares to the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Drawing inevitable comparisons to the MCU, Gunn asserts the DCU is not simply following Marvel’s lead but instead is prioritizing substantial planning and collaboration among writers. He explains that, rather than evolving organically as Marvel did, this universe is intentionally mapped out:
“We are telling a big, huge central story that is like Marvel, except that I think we’re a lot more planned out than Marvel from the beginning because we’ve gotten a group of writers together to work the story out completely.”
—James Gunn, DC Studios Co-Chief
This statement underscores Gunn’s commitment to a meticulously organized narrative across multiple franchises and characters, drawing clear connections from Superman to upcoming stories like Creature Commandos, Paradise Lost, and future Wonder Woman and Peacemaker installments.
What Lies Ahead for DC’s Cinematic Future
The impending release of Superman marks the start of Gunn and Safran’s ambitious plans for the DC Universe. The film’s arrival will introduce not just fresh faces like David Corenswet as Superman and new team dynamics, but an entire backdrop of history embedded in every storyline and city. Established teams, legendary figures, and coexisting mythologies all point toward a broader, interconnected franchise not restricted by recent history.
With Gunn and Safran assembling a team of writers to carefully plot out this multi-layered world, fans can look forward to a DC Universe that combines depth, long-standing history, and creative complexity. The move to make superpowered history part of the fabric of society from the beginning ensures the DCU stands apart from its Marvel counterpart, delivering a more lived-in and culturally rich universe where heroes and legends are familiar to all.
