Key Takeaways
- DC Studios ought to spotlight bigger heroes like Superman or Wonder Woman.
- Focusing on lesser-known characters like Creature Commandos might be risky.
- DC Studios faces obstacles in kicking off its universe with an untested approach.
As a long-time comic book enthusiast and moviegoer who has witnessed the highs and lows of DC’s cinematic universe, I can’t help but feel a sense of both excitement and trepidation regarding DC Studios’ new direction.
DC Studios, under new leadership of James Gunn and Peter Sarafan, aims to rebuild their universe following the unsuccessful DC Extended Universe previously managed by Warner Bros. Instead of focusing on popular characters like Superman or Batman, they are planning to delve into lesser-known heroes such as Creature Commandos. However, this strategy carries a degree of risk, given that it mirrors Marvel Studios’ approach in launching the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the relatively unknown character, Iron Man.
From the standpoint of DC Studios, it would have been advantageous to debut some of their more prominent characters initially. Although Superman is slated for a theater release next year, it appears that the studio’s plans for Wonder Woman and Batman are still in the distant future. Given that these three characters have demonstrated their box office appeal in the past, DC Studios could have benefited by unveiling some of the major heroes first, before concentrating on projects featuring less familiar characters like those in Creature Commandos. This is particularly relevant since general audiences might not exhibit as much enthusiasm for projects that deviate from the well-loved characters they are already acquainted with.
DC Studios Doesn’t Need to Focus on Smaller Characters
DC Studios appears to be drawing lessons from Marvel Studios as they approach building their shared universe. Unlike Marvel, who initially worked with lesser-known characters due to rights issues with characters like Spider-Man, X-Men, and Fantastic Four, DC Studios has the advantage of using any iconic DC Comics heroes. However, instead of launching with Superman, Wonder Woman, or Batman, they’ve chosen to debut with an animated series called “Creature Commandos”. This decision excites comic book fans, but it might be more beneficial for DC Studios to focus on attracting a wider audience, as both Batman and Superman have consistently proven to be box office successes. For instance, the latest Batman film, “The Batman”, grossed over $772 million globally. Gunn and Sarafan seem determined to create something unique with DC Studios, but they face several challenges in launching a new universe.
The DC Extended Universe left a sour impression on many viewers. While the first Wonder Woman film was widely praised, earning over $822.96 million globally, its follow-up disappointed some. Critics argued that the DC Extended Universe fell short in depicting Superman authentically, leading to no sequel for The Man of Steel. However, the trinity performed relatively better than other DC characters; Shazam!’s second installment underperformed at the box office, and Blue Beetle, Flash, and Black Adam have continued the franchise’s downward trend financially. Starting with a series like Creature Commandos might not prove beneficial in the end.
The Impact of DC Studios’ Decisions on its Future
Although DC Studios won’t debut its first theater film, Superman, until next year, it’s following a rocky phase at the box office. The recent DC production, Joker: Folie à Deux, has fallen flat with just $165.31 million in global earnings so far. This is a stark contrast to the first film, which made $96.2 million during its opening weekend five years ago and later surpassed a billion at the worldwide box office. General audiences might find it hard to distinguish between DC’s past films and DC Studios’ future projects. DC Studios has the potential to compete strongly with Marvel Studios, but it currently faces numerous obstacles. The decision to not produce a third Wonder Woman film was disappointing for fans of Patty Jenkins’ trilogy plan. However, DC Studios could have corrected this misstep by starting fresh with a new Wonder Woman franchise, leveraging the popular character to spearhead the new shared universe. This move would have been beneficial for the studio, especially with a new Superman in the pipeline. By focusing on Wonder Woman and Superman, the studio would have had ample time to prepare its new superhero, as it waits for Matt Reeves to release the next two installments in his Batman trilogy before the role is recast for the new universe.
Certainly, as DC Studios hasn’t debuted its first movie yet, it remains possible that they might surprise us, and their decisions could indeed be beneficial. The audience might find James Gunn’s dual role as writer and director intriguing, and the concept of a Superman who aligns more closely with the comic book character they’re familiar with could spark interest. For now, fans can only speculate on how DC Studios’ choice to kickstart a new universe with a project like Creature Commandos will turn out in the end.
Superman will fly into theaters on July 11, 2025.
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2024-10-16 00:33