James Gunn’s DCU Could Be Over Sooner Than Expected, New Report Suggests

The new DC Universe hasn’t gotten off to the strongest start.

Though it officially launched in theaters last summer with Superman (2025) – written and directed by DC Studios’ co-CEO James Gunn (alongside Peter Safran) – many fans don’t know that it had already quietly started with HBO’s R-rated animated TV series Creature Commandos in 2024.

As for Superman, the film received mostly positive reviews, with many praising the chemistry between David Corenswet‘s Man of Steel and Rachel Brosnahan’s Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane.

But it hardly “soared” at the box office, grossing $618.7 million worldwide against a production budget of $225 million plus a worldwide marketing budget of $125 million, as reported by Variety after the film was released in theaters on July 11 last year.

A Superman Sequel Is in the Works

Still, it was enough for a sequel to get the green light.

Man of Tomorrow will see the return of Corenswet as Superman, opposite Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor. Gunn, who’s back in the director’s chair, recently shared a first-look image from the film ahead of its theatrical release on July 9, 2027.

Looking that far ahead for the DCU, however, might be a little too optimistic at this point.

The first film to follow Superman will be Supergirl, directed by Craig Gillespie and starring Milly Alcock as the lead. It releases in theaters on June 26 this year, but there hasn’t been a great deal of hype, which could be due to the look of the movie itself, a lower interest in Supergirl as a character compared to Superman, or the lack of excitement for the new DCU overall.

Watch the trailer below:

Related: James Gunn’s DCU Future in Question as Zack Snyder Teases “New Project”

The DCU Could Be in Trouble

Supergirl has also gotten off to a rocky start with some fans.

Many have compared the look and tone of the film to Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy films, with some describing it as feeling “samey,” while others have reacted negatively to comments made by Alcock in an interview with Vanity Fair, where she explained how her role in the upcoming film and in the HBO series House of the Dragon have helped make her aware that “simply existing as a woman in that space is something that people comment on.”

“It definitely made me aware that simply existing as a woman in that space is something that people comment on,” she told the outlet, adding, “We have become very comfortable having this weird ownership of women’s bodies. I can’t really stop them. I can only be myself.”

Fans were quick to label the film “woke” as a result of the actress’ comments.

Now, while marketing for Supergirl is beginning to ramp up ahead of its release later this month, a new report suggests the film is expected to have a weak opening at the box office.

According to early box office projections reported by Box Office Theory (via Dark Horizons), Supergirl is expected to open somewhere between $47 million and $65 million domestically. This would be a substantial drop from Superman‘s $125 million debut last year (Supergirl is said to have a production budget of $170 million).

It’s also worth noting that Supergirl‘s release is sandwiched between some big players: Toy Story 5, Minions & Monsters, and the live-action Moana.

Fans Are Buzzing About Certain Corners of the DCU

With all that said, there does appear to be an interest in the DCU, but mostly with regards to individual projects. For instance, there’s a fair amount of hype surrounding the upcoming film Clayface following its trailer premiere in April.

Clayface, which centers on the shapeshifting Batman villain, is directed by James Watkins and stars Tom Rhys Harries. It releases in theaters on October 23. Watch the trailer below:

The trouble is that the film is confirmed to be an R-rated “body horror,” which is at odds with the poppy, vibrant, and family-friendly tone of the DCU so far. On the other hand, Creature Commandos and Peacemaker Season 2 also depict graphic violence, so maybe Gunn – who has a history in horror – is trying to have his cake and eat it too.

In other words, the DCU has a major identity crisis.

HBO’s Lanterns (2026) is yet another example of this. Starring Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre, that project has also gotten off to a troubled start with fans, as the trailer came under fire for depicting the Lanterns’ should-be-green costumes in muted, olive-like colors, and for its apparent True Detective-inspired tone. The new streaming series launches this August.

The DCU Is Also a Mess Canonically

Then there’s the issue surrounding the DCU’s continuity.

Gunn hasn’t been shy about how he’s salvaging characters from the now-defunct DC Extended Universe—including John Cena’s Peacemaker, Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller from the Suicide Squad films, and Xolo Maridueña’s Blue Beetle—which has left fans who felt they were promised a fresh start in continuity frustrated and confused.

Whether or not Supergirl can defy expectations remains to be seen, but there’s no denying that the DCU needs to do a lot better if it’s going to keep fans interested (and in theaters).

What are your thoughts on the DCU so far? Let us know in the comments!