James Gunn’s recent announcement confirms the official conclusion of Zack Snyder’s DCEU, often called the Snyderverse, as Gunn now leads DC into a fresh chapter called the DCU. By the time the 2025 Superman film releases, Gunn’s DCU will be clearly distinct from the earlier Snyder-directed universe, ending hopes among some fans that the Snyderverse would make a return. This James Gunn DCU update marks a decisive shift in the franchise’s trajectory, signaling the replacement of Snyder’s narratives with new stories and characters under Gunn’s leadership.
While comic book universes often explore alternate realities or “Elseworlds” stories that could theoretically revive Snyderverse elements, Gunn’s recent statements make clear that he does not intend to continue the Snyderverse in any capacity. His focus lies in integrating and redefining key components within the newly formed DCU rather than revisiting or spinning off from the DCEU’s canon.
Mister Miracle to Introduce Apokolips and Darkseid to the DCU
James Gunn confirmed via social media that the character Mister Miracle will be introduced into the DCU through an upcoming animated series adapting the twelve-issue run written by Tom King with art by Mitch Gerads. The series will explore Mister Miracle’s life on Earth alongside his wife Big Barda, connected to the ongoing conflict between their home worlds, Apokolips and New Genesis. Central to this storyline is Darkseid, Scott Free’s cruel adoptive father, who appears to have gained control of the feared Anti-Life Equation.
No prison can hold him. No trap can contain him. He is Scott Free, the worldwide celebrity sensation known as Mister Miracle, and he is the greatest escape artist who ever lived. But can he pull off the ultimate trick – and escape death itself?
Something has gone horribly wrong with the perfect life that Scott and his warrior wife Big Barda have built for themselves on Earth. With war raging between their home worlds of Apocalypse and New Genesis, Scott’s cruel adoptive father, Darkseid, seems to have finally captured the Anti-Life Equation – the ultimate weapon that will give Darkseid total dominance over the universe.
As the mountains of bodies on both sides grow ever higher, only Mister Miracle can stop the slaughter and restore peace. But the terrible power of the Anti-Life Equation may already be at work in his own mind, warping his reality, exposing his long-buried pain, and shattering the fragile happiness he’s found with the woman he loves.
And so, begins the odyssey of Scott Free, Mister Miracle: a harrowing, hilarious, heart wrenching journey across the pitfalls of the ordinary and extraordinary as the son of God raised by the devil tries to save his family, his world, and maybe even himself.
The animated series’ official synopsis indicates that it will introduce both Darkseid and the apocalyptic world of Apokolips into the DCU continuity. The plot heavily involves Darkseid’s acquisition of the Anti-Life Equation, which threatens universal domination. This expansion of Gunn’s DCU into New Gods territory underscores the definitive end of Snyder’s continuity, dismissing any calls for Snyderverse continuation, even through non-canon Elseworlds tales.
The Significance of the New Gods in the Snyder Universe and Gunn’s DCU
The New Gods mythology, including Apokolips, Darkseid, and related characters, was a cornerstone of Zack Snyder’s DCEU vision. Snyder’s Justice League featured Steppenwolf, a disgraced servant of Darkseid, as its primary antagonist, setting the stage for New Gods to become the franchise’s overarching villains. This mythology was essential to the Snyderverse storyline and its future threats.
In contrast, James Gunn’s approach repurposes the New Gods mythos for the DCU, incorporating these elements directly into the mainline continuity rather than relegating them to alternate stories. The arrival of Darkseid through Mister Miracle in the DCU signals that Gunn is not interested in maintaining two parallel versions of these major characters — one canonical and one not. This development effectively eliminates any likelihood of Snyderverse-based projects being revived outside the new DCU framework.
The presence of the New Gods in Gunn’s DCU also means that continuing Snyder’s narrative threads would create confusion by duplicating characters and storylines. With Gunn’s DCU embracing key Snyder elements under a new vision, audiences can expect a unified interpretation rather than fractured, conflicting versions of the same villains or heroes.
Is Darkseid Poised to Become the Central Villain in James Gunn’s DCU?
The integration of Apokolips and Darkseid into the Mister Miracle storyline raises important questions about the role Darkseid might play within the broader DCU franchise. As one of the few powerful antagonists currently confirmed for upcoming DCU films and series, Darkseid stands as a prime contender to be the main antagonist opposing the Justice League across multiple projects. Mister Miracle’s focus on Darkseid and the Anti-Life Equation suggests that Gunn is positioning this cosmic villain as a pivotal threat.
That said, the DC universe is rich with other potential villains who could assume the role of a franchise-wide menace. Figures such as the Anti-Monitor and Perpetua could challenge Darkseid’s dominance as the DCU’s principal villain. Considering that Darkseid has already featured prominently in prior animated series like Justice League Unlimited and the DCEU’s Justice League movie, Gunn has the opportunity to introduce fresher villains from the comics, diversifying the DCU’s rogue gallery.
Ultimately, Gunn’s choices in crafting his DCU may blend legacy villains with newer antagonists, aiming to surprise and engage longtime fans while broadening the DC mythos. Whether Darkseid will reign as the “big bad” or share the spotlight with other adversaries remains a key element of intrigue moving forward.
Upcoming DCU Projects and Their Narrative Roles
The slate of upcoming DCU films and series reflects Gunn’s vision for a cohesive but diverse universe. Titles like Supergirl, Clayface, The Batman Part II, Dynamic Duo, The Authority, Teen Titans, Swamp Thing, and Constantine 2 are scheduled, each varying between mainline continuity or stand-alone stories labeled as Elseworlds. This mix aims to offer both interconnected narratives and self-contained tales, allowing creative freedom while building the core DCU foundation.
Some projects like The Batman Part II are considered part of the “Batman Epic Crime Saga” and might continue in the Elseworlds vein, maintaining a separate continuity. Meanwhile, others will integrate directly into the mainline DCU, likely involving characters and storylines aligned with Gunn’s unified vision. This strategy supports the gradual and deliberate expansion of the DCU, managing audience expectations and deepening world-building without overlapping conflicting canon versions.
By differentiating which movies and shows are in continuity versus stand-alone, Gunn’s DCU maintains flexibility and avoids diluting its overarching narrative, paving the way for sustained growth and innovation within the franchise.
