The Snyderverse is done. The last vestiges of DC’s current failed attempt to create an interconnected comic book universe will surely still hit theaters but with little fanfare. Shazam: Fury of the Gods, Aquaman, Lost Kingdom, and maybe even The Flash may all be fun movies, but there’s no doubt that they’re the end of a misfire.
Earlier this year, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy franchise director James Gunn and prolific producer Peter Safran were announced as the new Guardians of the DC Universe. And with that news, for the first time in over five years, I’m really excited about the future of DC movies again.
As you might expect, the Snyder cult took the news hard. And just this month, Gunn had to bring out a file statment (Opens in a new tab) Acknowledgment that there will be a “turbulent period” and that “hard and unclear choices” will be made in the wake of the constant bluster of a vocal minority.
The ultimate fates of a few of the characters introduced in DC’s first extended universe remain unknown, but there’s no doubt that Zac Snyder’s original vision was not only placed on ice, but buried six feet below. And while some mourn the decision to completely abandon Snyder’s plans, if DC really wants to compete with the juggernaut that is Marvel, this could be the tipping point we look at in the years to come.
The Snyderverse failed to take off
When Zac Snyder got the keys to running the DC kingdom in the early 2010s, he wasn’t a universally popular choice. After all, Snyder has always been a divisive filmmaker. However, his work on 2009’s Watchman proved his chops when it came to adapting comic books for the big screen. Unfortunately, 2013’s Man of Steel wasn’t a movie that was able to carry the heavy burden of launching an interconnected movie franchise capable of competing with The Avengers.
Comic book geeks have questioned Superman’s reckless destruction of Metropolis in the film’s final act, and some longtime Supes fans have also criticized the ending. But if the Man of Steel suffered a tepid reaction, it would be nothing compared to the fallout that followed the release of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in 2016.
DC’s attempt to rush straight into a big crossover movie that included both the confrontation between the Dark Knight and the Last Son of Krypton, as well as introduce a slew of new characters including Wonder Woman, Lex Luther, and the GCI-monstrosity Doomsday was a miserable failure. The film underperformed expectations at the box office and its critical reception was equally bruising.
David Ayer’s baffling release of Suicide Squad a few months later didn’t do much to convince anyone that DC’s bigwigs had a well-thought-out long-term plan. But at least 2017’s Wonder Woman offered a glimmer of hope, and it still stands as one of DC’s best efforts over the past decade. Sadly, any hope of a recovery was well and truly put to rest by Justice League which hit theaters in November 2017.
By this point, Marvel was a well-oiled machine that turned the talking raccoon and Ant-Man into global names; Conversely, DC couldn’t even get the core players right. Of course, the film’s troubled production should not be ignored, as well as the tragic death of Zack Syndrome’s daughter during this period which led to Avenger director Joss Whedon stepping in to finish the film. However, Justice League was widely rejected by audiences and ended up making less money than Batman vs Superman.
A growing confusing situation in the capital
After the failure of Justice League, DC Studios has spent the past six years making increasingly outlandish decisions. It primarily released a series of films that attempt to be entirely self-contained and part of a shared universe. Although there haven’t been more crossover movies since Justice League. Indeed, in many ways, the DC universe for the last half-decade seems to have been barely connected at all.
Characters from Snyder films including Jason Momoa’s Aquaman, Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman and Ezra Miller’s The Flash have been suspended. But new blood was also introduced in the form of Shazam (Zachary Levi) and Black Adam (Dwayne Johnson). Plus, Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn gets her own movie and is reunited with a new look from Suicide Squad for a slate-wiping semi-sequel directed by James Gunn himself after he was briefly fired from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 from Disney.
DC’s output in the past few years has ranged from absolutely excellent (Birds of Prey, The Suicide Squad) to downright awful (Wonder Woman 1984, Black Adam) with two mediocre films thrown in for good measure. But the board is not only worn out, but also lacks coherence. There’s a bit of connective tissue between each new film, and the few scenes or lines that indicate these films all take place in the same continuity usually feel suspended.
The increasingly chaotic timeline has been complicated by DC also choosing to create films that exist outside of the DC Extended Universe. As much as I hold 2019’s Joker and 2022’s Batman in high regard, it’s hard not to feel that the presence of these films is only further muddying the waters. Can you imagine Marvel choosing to produce a standalone Iron Man movie that exists in its own continuity just a few years after the first Avengers movie?
Adding another wrinkle was the release of Zac Snyder’s Justice League (aka SnyderCut) after years of online campaigning from ardent fans. This four-hour exercise in self-indulgence was heralded as proof that Zack Snyder’s original vision was the right path for Washington DC moving forward by evangelicals, but all it really did was confirm what many of us have been saying for years: the DC universe needs a remake. Tough run.
These characters deserve better
I used to consider myself more of a Marvel guy – sorry, but the universe with Spider-Man will always win in my books – but even I can appreciate that DC is lucky enough to have some of the most iconic superheroes in history. Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman is a trio to build your franchise around.
I desperately want to see Superman and Batman clash in a movie worthy of both names. Wonder Woman needs to continue to inspire a generation of young female viewers. The Flash should be played by an actor who isn’t making headlines for the wrong reasons. And heroes yet to be discovered on the big screen like Batgirl, Nightwing, and Starfire deserve a chance to prove to the general public why they’ve delighted comic book readers for decades.
DC has a really impressive roster of heroes to draw from, but we’ve only seen brief glimpses of what can happen when they’re featured in films worthy of their name. Now I want to see a large-scale franchise with dozens of films that live up to the full potential of these super-powered beings. And I’m keeping my fingers crossed tightly so that James Gunn (and Peter Safran) can fully realize the massive potential of a well-connected DC movie universe.
I should also point out that I wouldn’t disagree some A successful item in the old DC Universe that is being kept. Henry Cavill is definitely out as Superman – an odd situation after confirming his return as Clark Kent just two months ago – but there are reports Jason Momoa could be recast (Opens in a new tab) Like Lobo, and John Cena’s peacemaker is unlikely to go anywhere (Peacemaker Season 2 is already in the works).
I definitely prefer the vast majority of what comes before being snubbed but there are a small handful of items from the Snyderverse that can still be held without any complaints from me. Although I wouldn’t be against a full reboot either. Weaving parts of the old into the new can be a tricky needle for a thread, and clinging to the past may spur Gunn and Safran’s plans before they have a chance to fully reveal them.
The Gunnverse needs immediate success
In many ways, the timing of Gunn and Safran’s arrival on the scene could not have been better than his own. The once-seeming Marvel Cinematic Universe is starting to look a little flabby. Complaints of Marvel fatigue rose in 2022, and there seems to be a growing sense that Disney is oversaturating its franchise with non-stop content hitting theaters and the Disney Plus streaming service.
Now is the perfect time for DC to come along and offer a credible alternative. Frustratingly, 2023 will be a lost year for DC as the green-lit final films are already slated for release under the previous leadership. However, if Gunn and Safran quickly put their plans in place and strike while Marvel looks a little shaky, I feel like there’s a real chance for DC to challenge the comic book movie crown.
Of course, it is imperative that the foundations be solid this time. The mistakes of the Snyderverse can’t be repeated. The new DC needs to slowly build up its universe by properly establishing its core players before bringing them all together in a big team-up movie, a Justice League. Marvel has laid out a proven blueprint for how to craft a successful syndicated film franchise – there’s really no shame in following it.
Of course, whatever happens next, it would be great to see it all unfold. And even if I still consider myself more partial to Marvel, I really hope Gunn and Safran can turn DC Studios into the comic book movie production powerhouse they should be. After all, a rising tide lifts all boats, and continuous firing on all cylinders can be good for everyone.
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