Highlights
James Gunn clarified that the upcoming animated film Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths is not part of his DC Universe.
There is a lot of confusion among fans regarding what is considered canon in the DC Universe (DCU). This has resulted in numerous questions being raised. While fans might be disappointed to learn that Crisis on Infinite Earths is not connected to the DCU, they can still look forward to upcoming theatrical animated films within the DCU.
When Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths was announced, it raised concerns among fans regarding its relationship with James Gunn's upcoming DC Universe. However, Gunn has addressed these concerns and clarified that the animated film is not a part of his upcoming project.
Gunn and Peter Safran have utilized The Flash to initiate a reboot of the DCEU, now known as the DCU, with certain actors returning to portray their characters or new versions of them. Additionally, some characters will be completely recast. Alongside this, there will be an animated series called Creature Commandos, which will be considered canon within the DCU. Voice actors from the show will also have opportunities to portray live-action roles within the DC Universe.
With the varying elements and mixed messages, fans have been left confused about what is officially considered canon within the DCU. Fortunately, Gunn has been actively engaging with fans on social media, providing answers and insights to help alleviate this confusion.
At San Diego Comic-Con 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery and DC revealed their plans to produce a captivating animated film named Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths. This highly anticipated movie is an adaptation of the renowned comics of the same title. Initially announced as a "DC Universe Movie," fans were intrigued and wondered if it would be interconnected with the live-action DCU. On the Threads platform, a passionate fan asked Gunn a burning question, "Will the upcoming Crisis animated feature be part of your DCU, similar to Creature Commandos?" Gunn's response was succinct and to the point, "Nope."
The thread compared the animated Justice League movie to Watchmen, with the latter being labeled as a "DC Animated Movie" instead of a "DC Universe Movie." This prompted additional questions from fans. One fan asked why it was referred to as a DCU movie, and Gunn explained that it was a mistake that has been fixed. Another fan inquired, "Will there be theatrical animated projects for the universe in the future or not?" Gunn responded with a simple and direct "Yes."
Fans who were hoping for the connection between Crisis on Infinite Earths and the DCU will be disappointed by this news, but it is probably for the best. Crisis on Infinite Earths is a major comic book event with numerous characters who have not been cast in Gunn's DCU. It wouldn't make sense to create this movie before securing the castings if they intend to have actors appear in both live-action and animated DC features.
Fans can rejoice as Gunn has confirmed that the DCU will be producing theatrical animated films. Following the triumph of non-Disney animated movies like Spider-Man: Across Spider-Verse, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Puss in Boots, and the highly anticipated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, it is only logical for Gunn to discover a captivating storyline for a DCU animated film. Look out for the release of Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths in 2024.
Source: James Gunn/Threads
