James Gunn has confirmed that he continues to work on the Amanda Waller series led by Viola Davis, a project centered around the ruthless government espionage director. The series, which has been in development since 2022, is intended to be a drama and is part of the expanding DC Universe. This news was shared amid ongoing anticipation from fans eager to see more of Davis reprising her role from the Suicide Squad films and the Peacemaker series.
Viola Davis’ Role and Previous Appearances
Viola Davis has portrayed Amanda Waller, the amoral leader of Task Force X, in Suicide Squad and its sequel, The Suicide Squad, as well as in the first season of Peacemaker. Her character is known for her hard-edged leadership and morally ambiguous decisions, traits that have made her a compelling figure within the DC franchise.
Challenges in Bringing the Series to Life
James Gunn and DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran have both acknowledged that the Amanda Waller series has faced delays and difficulties during its development. While other projects like Peacemaker moved ahead at a faster pace, progress on Waller’s spin-off has been slower. Gunn noted,
“We’re working on it, so we’ll see what happens. Some things have moved faster than others. Waller’s not been the fastest. But I can’t wait to see Viola put on their Waller pants again.”
Safran also commented on the challenges:
“We’ve taken a couple of cracks at Waller, and we haven’t been able to land it.”
Gunn added, “We’re still working on it.” The COVID-19 strike impacted production timelines, and priorities shifted to completing Peacemaker’s second season, which Gunn wrote quickly, allowing that project to proceed before focusing again on the Waller series.
Recent Reception of Gunn’s Work on the DC Universe
Meanwhile, Gunn’s latest Superman film has debuted to mixed but generally positive criticism. NME gave the film a three-star review, praising it for reinvigorating the franchise with fresh energy and describing the portrayal as the closest to the DC Comics Superman fans have seen. The review highlighted supporting characters such as Anthony Carrigan’s shapeshifting Metamorpho, which adds depth to the story.
The critique noted,
“And while the good-versus-evil plot does little to push the envelope, the idea of Superman being an alien peacekeeper is surely going to stir up political controversies back in Gunn’s MAGA-homeland. Mainly, though, just give us more Krypto – this canine really is super.”
Speculation on Superman’s Reception and Future Prospects
Gunn has also speculated that negative attitudes toward the United States may explain why Superman’s film is achieving stronger reception domestically compared to its global performance. The situation suggests a complex cultural backdrop that might influence the trajectory of Gunn’s DC Universe plans going forward, including the Amanda Waller series.
