James Gunn has hinted at a significant upcoming event within the DC Universe, stirring excitement about what could follow after the releases of Superman and Peacemaker Season 2. The James Gunn DCU major event is expected to unify the universe’s new characters introduced in these projects and others, setting the stage for a potentially groundbreaking storyline.
The rebooted DCU under Gunn and producer Peter Safran launched with the live-action film Superman in July 2025, building on the animated Creature Commandos series that debuted on HBO Max in 2024. As multiple projects prepare to expand this fresh chapter, fans are eager to discover how these narratives will intersect in the broader DC Universe.
Introducing Earth-Three: A Possible Direction for the Upcoming Event
In a discussion with Screen Rant, James Gunn mentioned a future event that would bring together the DCU’s Chapter 1 projects, collectively titled Gods and Monsters. While Gunn described the event as something unexpected, speculation from sources like @BobbensArtsDen proposes that the DCU might explore the Earth-Three storyline, a classic DC Comics concept.
Earth-Three, first introduced in 1964’s Justice League of America #29 by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky, depicts an alternate reality where villainous versions of beloved DC heroes exist. Unlike the main universe, Earth-Three flips the roles of heroes and villains, creating a unique mirror world filled with dark reflections of familiar characters. This setting might be the perfect foundation for the James Gunn DCU major event, offering fresh narrative possibilities.
Earth-Three’s Presence Already Felt Through DCU Characters
The live-action DCU may have quietly laid groundwork for Earth-Three in its recent releases. David Corenswet’s Superman in the 2025 film doubles as Ultraman, Earth-Three’s notorious supervillain version of Superman. Within the movie, Lex Luthor, portrayed by Nicholas Hoult, is Earth-Three’s sole hero, having created Ultraman as a powerful yet controllable clone of the original Superman using his hair. This role reversal vividly emphasizes the inverted morality of Earth-Three.
Similarly, the second season of Peacemaker teases another step toward Earth-Three’s influence, as John Cena’s Christopher Smith encounters a doppelgänger emerging from the Quantum Unfolding Chamber. This development hints at the presence of villainous doubles across the DCU’s growing catalog of characters, amplifying anticipation for the larger event to come.
The Crime Syndicate of America Could Be Central to the Event
Adapting Earth-Three fully to live-action could bring the infamous Crime Syndicate of America into the DCU, introducing an array of villainous counterparts to the Justice League. Ultraman, as a member of the Crime Syndicate, already makes this team’s debut probable, especially if characters such as Superwoman, Johnny Quick, Atomica, and Sea King are featured in future projects.
Upcoming DCU installations like Supergirl, Lanterns, Paradise Lost, and The Brave and the Bold provide ample room to introduce additional dark versions of DC’s iconic heroes, enriching the narrative and tension leading to the teased major event. Such a storyline would also align with the idea of the DCU heading towards an adaptation of Crisis on Infinite Earths, a landmark crossover in the comics featuring multiple universes colliding.
Potential Impact and What to Expect Next in the DCU
The James Gunn DCU major event promises to be a pivotal moment in the franchise’s rebooted trajectory, introducing complex dynamics between heroes and villains in a multiverse setting. By incorporating Earth-Three and its malevolent inhabitants, the DCU can explore darker themes and character conflicts, providing new challenges for its protagonists.
This direction could significantly differentiate the DCU from existing superhero universes by emphasizing the blurred lines between heroism and villainy. As the franchise rolls out new projects, fans should watch for further hints about Earth-Three’s full arrival and its influence on the DCU’s evolving story landscape.
“How Superman Sets Up A DCU World’s Finest Sequel With Batman”
—James Gunn
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Does James Gunn believe in God?
A. Gunn grew up in a Catholic household. He says that prayer is still important to him, but he also feels somewhat opposed to organized religion.
Q. Is James Gunn no longer with Marvel?
A. Before becoming co-CEO of DC Studios in 2022, Gunn collaborated with Marvel on the Guardians of the Galaxy films. Following his brief dismissal from Marvel, he directed The Suicide Squad (2021) for DC. Later, he was welcomed back to direct Guardians of the Galaxy 3.
Q. What is James Gunn’s religion?
A. In Gunn’s 2025 Superman adaptation, the CGI-animated version of Krypto the Superdog was inspired by Ozu. Gunn grew up in a Catholic household and still finds prayer important. However, he has described himself as being “in some ways, against religion.”
