Creature Commandos Finally Clears Up The DCU’s Messy Canon

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Creature Commandos Finally Clears Up The DCU's Messy Canon

Key Takeaways

  • James Gunn leads revamped DCU with Creature Commandos as the first entry in Chapter One: Gods and Monsters.
  • Creature Commandos references events from DCEU, setting up ties to Suicide Squad movies and Peacemaker.
  • DCU canon includes references to previous movies, while Gunn suggests future integration in the new era.

As a longtime fan who has witnessed the ebb and flow of DC Universe on the silver screen, I must say that the current state of affairs is nothing short of intriguing. It seems like we’ve been tossed into a kaleidoscope of continuities, with the old DCEU and the new DCU vying for our attention like feuding cousins at a family reunion.

James Gunn holds significant influence in the realm, as his reimagined DC Universe rises from the remnants of the DCEU. First up is a project called “Creature Commandos,” intended to serve as the launchpad for the DCU and pave the way for a more expansive 2025 slate that includes the second season of “Peacemaker” and the highly anticipated “Superman.” Following the success of two live-action Suicide Squad films, the DC Universe is debuting with an animated series centered around Task Force M, which specializes in the supernatural.

Initially, Zack Snyder’s vision for the DCEU aimed to establish a multiverse equivalent to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe. However, the financial flop of 2017’s Justice League caused him to depart, leaving Warner Bros. struggling to manage complex storylines. Later, James Gunn and Peter Safran were appointed co-chairs and co-CEOs of DC Studios, and they unveiled Creature Commandos as the initial project in “Chapter One: Gods and Monsters.

Where Does Creature Commandos fit Into DCU canon?

Creature Commandos Finally Clears Up The DCU's Messy Canon

Although DCU initially began anew with the introduction of Creature Commandos, it’s more complicated than that. In fact, Creature Commandos has subtly hinted at events within the DCEU. Rather than Viola Davis portraying a fresh Amanda Waller character, this animated series makes it evident that she is the same Waller who managed Task Force X in David Ayer’s Suicide Squad and James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad.

In its initial two episodes, the series Creature Commandos has clearly established both when and where it unfolds, in a reworked timeline of established lore. The opening scene shows Rick Flag Sr., portrayed by Frank Grillo, being summoned to lead Task Force M, an assignment given to him by Amanda Waller. His query about Waller assembling another team after her daughter exposed her government-linked misuse of incarcerated humans refers to the events in the finale of Peacemaker, where Leota Adebayo (Danielle Brooks) revealed her mother’s involvement in Project Butterfly and Task Force X.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but appreciate how swiftly the Creature Commandos integrated themselves into the lore of The Suicide Squad, given that James Gunn was at the helm and it marked John Cena’s debut as Peacemaker. Intriguingly, Amanda Waller hinted that Weasel (portrayed by Sean Gunn) was one of the rare survivors from Project Starfish and the Corto Maltese mission, expressing her condolences to Flag Sr., following the demise of Rick Flag Jr., played by Joel Kinnaman. Moreover, the Creature Commandos have carved out a robust niche in the DCU timeline, with Flag Sr. sharing with Princess Ilana Rostovic that his son “passed on approximately two years ago.

What’s Canon in the DCU?

Creature Commandos Finally Clears Up The DCU's Messy Canon

Despite Gunn stating that Creature Commandos marked the beginning of the DC Universe, there’s some perplexity as it seems more fitting to trace the true start back to David Ayer’s 2016 film, Suicide Squad. This is puzzling because there hasn’t been a clear explanation on how Waller, portrayed by Eleanor Milton in both Suicide Squad and The Suicide Squad, has managed to survive while Henry Cavill’s Superman appears absent. Additionally, there’s uncertainty surrounding the return of Margot Robbie’s beloved character Harley Quinn for the DC Universe.

Given that Davis featured in “Black Adam” and Steve Agee’s John Economos (who is set to appear in “Creature Commandos” season 1) was part of “Shazam! Fury of the Gods”, it seems reasonable to assume that these movies might be considered part of the same continuity. This could potentially reintroduce The Rock’s Black Adam and Cavill’s Superman into the picture, but James Gunn, head of the DC Universe, has provided his perspective on what constitutes canon. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he clarified:

In simpler terms, “If a recent DCU production refers back to something from the past, then we consider it as if it actually occurred. This is how we’re handling it in our storytelling.

Many people are eagerly anticipating Andy Muschietti’s The Flash, as it is being widely speculated as a potential solution to the current mystery.

Creature Commandos Finally Clears Up The DCU's Messy CanonCreature Commandos Finally Clears Up The DCU's Messy CanonCreature Commandos Finally Clears Up The DCU's Messy CanonCreature Commandos Finally Clears Up The DCU's Messy CanonCreature Commandos Finally Clears Up The DCU's Messy Canon

Initially, it was thought that the 2023 film would mark the end of the DCEU as we know it. However, The Flash movie muddied the waters by reintroducing Ben Affleck’s Batman and Michael Keaton’s Batman from the 1989 Batman movie. The story then concluded with a puzzling post-credit scene hinting at George Clooney’s return as Bruce Wayne from Batman & Robin. By exploring the multiverse, The Flash has intertwined it into the DCEU, but it’s yet to be seen if this idea will permeate the DCU. It’s plausible that Barry Allen’s meddling with time altered things so the events of the DCU occur in a reality that’s nearly identical to the DCEU.

Gunn proposed that “The Flash” might serve as a means for merging various elements. In a post on Threads dated September 2023, he provided himself with a sort of pass for any potential errors or misunderstandings, expressing this by writing:

“And, yes, some actors will be playing characters they’ve played in other stories & some plot points might be consistent with plot points from the dozens of films, shows & animated projects that have come from DC in the past. But nothing is canon until CC and Legacy. 🧜‍♂️”

According to his interview with THR, it seems that additional events and characters from the DC Extended Universe might become a part of this new phase. However, fans hoping for their beloved DCEU actors to return for some multiverse action rivaling the Marvel Cinematic Universe may be disappointed as Gunn views the DCU as a fresh start. Contrary to popular belief, the Justice League’s appearance in the Peacemaker season 1 finale does not belong to the DCU. When asked about the new franchise’s Justice League, Gunn clarified that they don’t exist…yet.

In simpler terms, we’ve kicked off in a logical manner, with Grillo being proposed as a DCU equivalent to Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury from the early days of Marvel Cinematic Universe. Grillo has been enlisted for various DCU projects, and he hinted that Flag Sr. will seek revenge in the second season of ‘Peacemaker’, and he also secured a role in ‘Superman’. An upcoming episode of ‘Creature Commandos’ might establish David Corenswet as the DCU’s Superman, although Henry Cavill has wrapped up his role as Superman in the MCU. The DCU is trying to resolve a confusing limbo of canons by possibly making things clearer for both old and new fans.

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2024-12-10 00:05