DC's New Superman Series: A Spectacular Redemption and Evolution for the Beloved Franchise
DC's New Superman Show, 'My Adventures With Superman', takes a fresh approach by avoiding unnecessary crossovers & cameos Learn how the DCEU is rectifying past mistakes caused by rushed crossovers that hindered its potential
Summary
"My Adventures with Superman" is learning from the DCEU's past mistakes by avoiding rushed crossovers and cameos with other DC heroes.
The show centers exclusively on Superman, with the creative team emphasizing their passion for the character and their commitment to his narrative.
The objective of the show is to diligently construct Clark Kent's universe and characters, dedicating ample time to their development and deliberately avoiding hasty introductions of iconic antagonists like Lex Luthor.
My Adventures with Superman is taking measures to avoid repeating a mistake made in the DCEU seven years ago. In 2013, Henry Cavill made his debut as Superman in Man of Steel, which served as the launching pad for the DCEU. However, there were a number of mistakes made over the years in regards to Henry Cavill's portrayal of Superman, both on and off screen. Part of the issue was due to DC executives not allowing enough time for director Zack Snyder to properly develop Clark Kent's character arc, transitioning him from a darker phase in his life to the optimistic version depicted in the comics. One of the biggest mistakes of the DCEU was attributed to the 2016 film, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Now, with James Gunn's forthcoming DC Universe, the DCEU will be rebooted, following in the footsteps of the previous cinematic universe's decision to start with a Superman movie. Set for release in 2025, Superman: Legacy will feature David Corenswet as the iconic character of Clark Kent, with Gunn, the creative head of the DC Universe, serving as both writer and director. This indicates the significant role Superman plays in the DC Universe. However, even before the release of Superman: Legacy, the animated series My Adventures with Superman is already demonstrating that the franchise has learned from the mistakes made seven years ago.
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My Adventures With Superman Is Actively Avoiding Crossovers & Cameos
In an interview with the Superman Homepage, Josephine Campbell, the producer of My Adventures with Superman, dismissed the possibility of Batman making an appearance in the show's second season, debunking one of the prevalent theories surrounding My Adventures with Superman season 2.
The producer expressed excitement for the upcoming animated series, Batman: Caped Crusader. However, Campbell clarified that Batman will not be featured in the My Adventures with Superman series, emphasizing that the focus is on Superman. Other characters from Gotham, such as Vicki, will make appearances, but the main emphasis is on Superman.
Campbell: "Oh yeah."
SH: "… Not going down that road of bringing in Batman and necessarily other characters along the line?"
Campbell's statement suggests that My Adventures with Superman season 2, and possibly future seasons, will solely focus on Superman and will not include other DC heroes, including Batman. The show aims to highlight the characters of Superman, Lois, and Jimmy, as they are the ones the creators love the most and have invested time in developing. The absence of other DC heroes does not detract from the show's appeal, as it introduces fresh interpretations of well-known villains, such as a younger version of Deathstroke. This decision prevents the series from repeating the mistake made by the DCEU in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, where the film struggled to balance the inclusion of multiple superheroes.
How DC's Rushed Crossovers Hurt The DCEU
The Marvel Cinematic Universe achieved success by carefully building its world and introducing its heroes before bringing them together in The Avengers. The DCEU, on the other hand, took a different approach. Instead of debuting Ben Affleck's Batman in a standalone film, they had him face off against Cavill's Superman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. This decision to have their two most popular heroes spend their first time together onscreen fighting each other was not the best choice for setting up a future team-up, potentially damaging the overall franchise.
Additionally, the DCEU's rushed introduction of Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman in a supporting role, as well as the rest of the Justice League's cast through short videos Diana watches, further harmed the structure of the franchise in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Thankfully, My Adventures with Superman avoids these missteps by focusing on properly developing Clark's world and its characters, even holding off on the introduction of Superman's iconic nemesis Lex Luthor. This shows that My Adventures with Superman has learned from DC's past mistakes.
