The Future of the DC Universe: James Gunn's Perspective on 2024

The Evolution of the DC Universe

DC Universe co-CEO James Gunn has responded to questions revolving around whether or not he is worried about 2024's release schedule damaging the overall brand. The DCEU is officially coming to an end this year as Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will finish the franchise that began in 2013 with Zack Snyder's Man of Steel. However, one franchise ending its run is opening the door for a new one, as Gunn and Peter Safran are busy working on the upcoming DC Universe continuity.

James Gunn Talks About The DC Universe In 2024

Even though 2023 had multiple DCEU projects, 2024 will be a different animal, with only a handful of non-DC Universe movies being released. With 2024 set to be lighter on DC movies and TV shows, Gunn has opened up about his perspective on how this could affect the franchise going forward.

When asked if he was worried that fewer releases would hurt the larger DC brand, Gunn got candid by saying that 'I think it's great for us for the reset.' 2024 certainly appears to be bringing in a new future, as this will be the first year in quite a while where there have been this few upcoming DC movies slated for release, and Marvel has similarly followed this path with only one MCU movie set for the year.

What's in Store for 2024: Movies and TV Shows

As far as theatrical releases go, the upcoming Joker: Folie \/ Deux will be the only DC movie for 2024, and in this case, it is an Elseworlds project, meaning it has no ties to the larger DC Universe. This will focus on Joaquin Phoenix's Joker meeting Lady Gaga's Harley Quinn, with the sequel being imagined as a musical. On the straight-to-DVD-front, Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part One is set to arrive in January 2024, with parts two and three coming out later.

Joker 2 Harley Quinn

There will, however, be quite a lot of DC TV shows in 2024, with Superman & Lois season 4 finishing the Arrowverse era once and for all on The CW. On Max, Matt Reeves' The Penguin spinoff show is coming up, along with Gunn's first DC Universe project, Creature Commandos. Netflix will also be expanding The Sandman universe with its first spinoff, Dead Boy Detectives, and potentially more episodes from the main show itself.

Superman in the Superman and Lois season 3 finale

A big factor in why there are fewer superhero movies coming out in 2024 is the delays caused by the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Harley Quinn season 5 (on Max), My Adventures with Superman season 2 (on Adult Swim\/Max), and Batman: Caped Crusader season 1 (on Prime Video) are potentially also set to premiere in 2024, but no specific release dates have been set yet. Sweet Tooth season 3 will also likely premiere in 2024 on Netflix, as they get ready to wrap up the DC\/Vertigo series. While the main DC Universe may not be the big centerpiece for 2024, it will still be fun to see other DC TV shows and films that are able to be enjoyed next year.

Creature Commandos in James Gunn's new DC Universe

The Impact of 2024 on the Larger DC Brand

James Gunn's insights into the 2024 release schedule shed light on the evolving landscape of the DC Universe and the potential impact on the larger DC brand. With fewer releases in 2024, the focus shifts to the quality and innovation of the projects, such as the unique approach of Joker: Folie \/ Deux and the expansion of the DC TV universe with compelling new shows.

Colin Farrel as Oswald Cobblepot in The Penguin

The delays caused by the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes have presented challenges for the industry, leading to a lighter lineup of superhero movies. However, this setback has paved the way for a diverse range of DC TV shows, offering fans a variety of engaging content to look forward to in 2024.

Justice League: Crisis On Infinite Earths logo.