With 6 Mega Stars, DC’s future is in jeopardy

The plan for the new DC Universe is in place: at the end of January, the designers James Gunn and Peter Safran presented a first insight into their vision of a modern and closed superhero universe. This vision includes a new Batman and a new Superman, but also many fresh comic book characters like Supergirl, Booster Gold and Swamp Thing.

So, under James Gunn, one begins new DC era – is this the definitive rejection of the Zack Snyder generation? Which characters from the old Justice League will the DC boss take with him to his new world? We clear up the current return status of stars like Margot Robbie, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot and Henry Cavill.

Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot and Jason Momoa: The DC old guard faces an uncertain future

Ben Affleck as Batman

projects in planning: The Bruce Wayne actor appears in the Flash movie, which opens in mid-2023. Barring anything out of the ordinary, Ben Affleck will ditch the cape for good after that — without ever having starred in a solo Batman film. According to Gunn, he is planning without the star and the new Batman film speaks against further Batfleck appearances anyway. However, Affleck may be directing one of the upcoming Gunn projects. Here’s what’s happening with Robert Pattinson’s Batman and Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker.

Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman

projects in planning: Wonder Woman 1984, which is unpopular in parts of the DC fandom and swallowed up by the pandemic, does not necessarily invite further sequels. Wonder Woman 3 is currently on hold. However, Gunn is planning a series set in Wonder Woman’s homeland of Themyscira – sadly before Diana was born. Nevertheless: Gunn is in contact with Gal Gadot, the DC door is not closed for her.

Jason Momoa as Aquaman

projects in planning: Aquaman: Lost Kingdom hits theaters on December 21, 2023. After that, the Arthur Curry future becomes cloudy like a storm-tossed ocean. A move Momoas to Marvel is in the room. On the other hand, the star says he wants to stay Aquaman. His departure would be a great loss for DC, no hero has made more money at the box office in recent years. There is much to be said for an Aquaman future under Gunn as well.

Ezra Miller as The Flash

Projects in planning: The first The Flash movie starts June 15, 2023 and is already being hailed as one of the best superhero movies ever. The future of the fast hero will be measured by the (financial) success of the blockbuster. And if Ezra Miller gets a grip on himself.

Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam

projects in planning: no. Black Adam fizzled out at the box office last year. It currently seems unlikely that Dwayne Johnson will reveal himself after much ridicule and malice and return to the Blitz costume. In addition, the combination of the idiosyncratic James Gunn with the no less idiosyncratic superstar bites in the bare imagination. Dwayne Johnson’s DC era may have been a flying visit.

return chances: 0.001 percent

Zachary Levi as Shazam

projects in planning: Shazam 2: Fury of the Gods will be in theaters soon. The family-friendly Shazam is considered a solid brand that is already largely separate from the rest of DC. If the sequel advances economically into the spheres of the first part, nothing would stand in the way of a third part. While leading actor Zachary Levi’s controversial statements aren’t lost on James Gunn, they don’t bother him.

Henry Cavill and Jared Leto: These stars are definitely out

Henry Cavill as Superman

Projects in planning: no. The actor announced his final farewell after an embarrassing back and forth himself. Henry Cavill is not part of James Gunn’s plans. The DC Universe will reboot the character. Superman: Legacy is the name of the new Superman movie. Launch date: July 11, 2025.

Ray Fisher as a cyborg

Projects in planning: no. The tablecloth between Ray Fisher and DC is cut. The cyborg actor was one of those who suffered the most in Justice League’s disastrous directorial transition from Zack Snyder to Joss Whedon. The Snyder cut was the best possible send-off for the actor and the character.

Jared Leto as the Joker

projects in planning: no. If anything, only Jared Leto believes in another Joker appearance. There are enough jokers even without Leto’s version. Robert Pattinson’s Batman has his own and Joaquin Phoenix is ​​still there. If James Gunn is tickled by a Joker need, he will recast the character.

Margot Robbie and Idris Elba: These characters remain pillars of the DC Universe

Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn

Projects in planning: There are no concrete plans for Margot Robbie’s extremely popular character, Harley Quinn. But there is a lot to be said for a return. She is the heart and soul of James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, which turned out to be the origin of DC’s Gunn vision. The boss just has to find a gap in Robbie’s busy schedule.

John Cena as Peacemaker

Projects in planning: Peacemaker Season 2 is scheduled to come, but is delayed. In addition, like Margot Robbie, John Cena would probably be part of a new Suicide Squad part.

Viola Davis as Amanda Waller

Projects in planning: The Suicide Squad boss gets her own series, probably a core project of the DC Universe. Viola Davies is currently the longest thread running through the DC world. She started, it’s easy to forget, in the first Suicide Squad.

Idris Elba as Bloodsport

Projects in planning: no. Idris Elba was also an important part of the new Suicide Squad, the Big Bang of Gunn’s DC Universe. The DC boss would probably only have to ring the bell at Elba. However, his role is not quite as closely linked to DC as those of Viola Davies and Margot Robbie. Like Will Smith’s Bloodshot, it would probably be replaceable.

Conclusion: What does James Gunn’s superhero team look like right now?

The old Justice League finally breaks up under James Gunn. Henry Cavill is already gone, and Ben Affleck’s farewell can hardly be prevented. Stars like Gal Gadot and Jason Momoa have yet to find their place in the whirlwind superhero roster. If they don’t succeed, it will soon be over for them too.

On closer inspection, however, it turns out that only the smaller part of the figures in Gunn’s plan have a fixed position. There is still a lot that needs to be done. The DC boss will pick the characters that are best in his Soft reboot of the universe fit. That’s exactly what he did with his reinterpretation of Suicide Squad.

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