When James Gunn’s Superman hits theaters next year, it might for a moment feel like you’re seeing more than one Man of Steel up on the screen. That’s because, as reported by Variety, the son of the late Christopher Reeve, Will Reeve, shot a cameo scene for the Superman film this week in Cleveland, Ohio. Will Reeve, the youngest of the late Superman star’s three children, is the spitting image of his dad. So it’s sure to be a touching moment when he and David Corenswet share the screen in the DCU movie. Will Reeve is actually a journalist and ABC News correspondent, so his Superman cameo will fittingly be that of a TV reporter who meets the Last Son of Krypton.

Locals caught the filming of many scenes from the Superman movie, including Will Reeve’s appearance on set. In the past week, we’ve seen David Corenswet in costume on set, not only as Superman but also as Clark Kent. This version of Clark has a curly mop of hair and thick glasses. The Clark Kent disguise actually makes us believe that people would believe that Superman and Clark are two different people. Also spotted on set is Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hault as Lex Luthor. We’ve also seen Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi), wearing his comics-accurate costume. But seeing Christopher Reeve’s son appear in the Superman production is definitely a very fun surprise.

Aside from the upcoming James Gunn film, Will Reeve will appear, along with his two siblings, in the documentary Super/Man. This new film chronicles their late father Christopher Reeve’s rise to fame as Superman, which led to three sequels. His acting career came mostly to a halt after a near-fatal horse-riding accident in 1995. The incident left him paralyzed from the neck down. Christopher Reeve would become an advocate and spokesperson for those suffering from similar injuries until his death in 2004. It’s safe to say his son’s appearance in Superman will be a more fitting tribute to Christopher Reeve than his CGI recreation in The Flash. Super/Man releases later this year, and Superman hits theaters in July 11, 2025.

The post Christopher Reeve’s Son Will Cameo in James Gunn’s SUPERMAN appeared first on Nerdist.

In a real “didn’t we already know this?” piece of news, HBO has officially greenlit the DCU drama series Lanterns based on the Green Lantern comics. This was one of the titles James Gunn mentioned in his now infamous DCU slate video in early 2023. That certainly made it seem like it was a sure thing. However, given how fickle Warner Bros. is these days, I suppose it wasn’t. At any rate, HBO has given an eight-episode, direct-to-series order to Lanterns. Emmy-nominee Chris Mundy (True Detective: Night Country; Ozark) will serve as showrunner.

The synopsis of the series says it follows “new recruit John Stewart and Lantern legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.” Pretty interesting concept for a Green Lantern series. Intergalactic cops solving an mystery on Earth. Definitely has True Detective vibes.

Joining Mundy in the writing of the show are none other than heavy hitters Damon Lindelof (Watchmen, The Leftovers) and comic writer Tom King (Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow). James Gunn and Peter Safran said of the announcement: “We’re thrilled to bring this seminal DC title to HBO with Chris, Damon and Tom at the helm. John Stewart and Hal Jordan are two of DC’s most compelling characters, and Lanterns brings them to life in an original detective story that is a foundational part of the unified DCU we’re launching next summer with Superman.”

No word yet on when the series will debut. We will, of course, keep you up to date on any casting news as it develops.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

The post DC’s LANTERNS Series Officially Greenlit at HBO appeared first on Nerdist.

Of all the projects announced for James Gunn’s new DCU, the one that was already in production was the animated Creature Commandos series for HBO Max. And now, James Gunn has announced the voice cast for this series about a squad of monster soldiers based on the cult DC Comics title from the early ’80s. Gunn has filled it with quite a few names you’ll recognize, including some making the jump from the MCU. Here’s the full line-up of the DC voice cast for the upcoming Creature Commandos and a little bit more about what we can expect from the project and when we might see it release.

Creature Commandos Voice Cast

Creature Commandos will showcase the voice talents of the MCU’s former Crossbones, Frank Grillo, who will portray Rick Flag Sr. Another MCU alum joining the Creature Commandos cast is David Harbour as Eric Frankenstein. Speaking of Frankenstein, Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Indira Varma will be playing The Bride. Also in the cast are Maria Bakalova as Princess Ilana Rostovic, Zoe Chao as Nina Mazursky, and Alan Tudyk as Dr. Phosphorus. Sean Gunn is reprising his role as Weasel and also playing G.I. Robot. Finally, Steve Agee will reprise his role as John Economos from the Peacemaker series. Already announced for this series is Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, who’s giving the Commandos their marching orders.

Additionally, The Witcher‘s Anya Chalotra has joined the DCU as the voice of Circe. James Gunn confirmed the news, though he indicated the role may be a more minor part of the series. Circe is a Wonder Woman villain and power sorceress/goddess in the world of DC. And we couldn’t think of someone better to give life to the role than Anya Chalotra.

James Gunn mentioned in his DCU announcement that actors who voiced characters in animation would also portray them in live-action. So this voice-cast announcement for DC’s Creature Commandos means we’re likely to see David Harbour as Frankenstein and the rest of the squad in a live-action project—probably even a project DC has already announced. If we were to guess, it’s likely to be the Amanda Waller series. Of course, they could all turn up in a future second season of Peacemaker. However, that’s now a long way off.

Creature Commandos Will Integrate Animated and Live-Action DCU Worlds

At the Annecy Animation Festival, more was revealed about the DCU’s Creature Commandos. Variety reports that, continuity is a key aspect of Creature Commandos. The publication notes that at the Warner Bros. panel it was revealed that Creature Commandos narrative would be “both narrative and stylistic, with the animated series playing as a direct follow-up to Gunn’s “The Suicide Squad” and “Peacemaker,” while the creatures designed for animation will keep their same looks once they turn up in upcoming live-action offerings like the Gunn directed “Superman” reboot and the Viola Davis-led “Waller” spinoff.”

Gunn noted specifically about this DCU continuity, “What this means in practical terms is that our characters can move in and out of animation or jump into a game or onto the big screen, but they will remain consistent throughout: same character, same history, same actor.”

Integrating animation and live-action offerings will certainly be a fascinating play by the DCU if it is successfully executed. It could also open doors for exploring unified adventures in ways not possible with live-action outings alone.

More About Creature Commandos

Warner Bros. also revealed the following brief from James Gunn about Creature Commandos, initially written in 2022. The memo notes that Creature Commandos is “dark, humorous but never goofy and unsentimental, [an] adult-themed show with political storylines.”

Additionally, Gunn revealed, “The new series picks up directly after our Peacemaker season one finale, which leaves Waller with her hands tied operationally, meaning that she’s no longer able to get away with putting human lives on the line to carry out her clandestine morally questionable mission. Instead, she recruits a ragtag band of misfits, not unlike the Suicide Squad and Peacemaker.”

What Is the Release Date for Creature Commandos?

There’s no specific date given for when Creature Commandos is set to premiere, so we’ll have to wait to see this cast in action. However, we now know that Creature Commandos will release on Max in December. Currently, Gunn notes, “Animatics and all recording done. Waiting on the first animated cuts.”

We did have a feeling it would be among the first DCU projects to make it to our screens. Hopefully, we’ll see a more specific release date emerge soon.

Originally published on April 12, 2023.

The post DC’s CREATURE COMMANDOS Will Release in 2024, Confirms James Gunn appeared first on Nerdist.

Soon, the world will meet a new Clark Kent in Superman. (Formerly titled Superman: Legacy). DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran are rebooting the most famous superhero in the world as they transition the franchise from the DCEU to the DCU. Who will play the Man of Steel on the big screen this time around? What kind of story will we see him in? And who will bring it to life? We’re keeping track of all these answers and more.

Here’s everything we know about Superman so far.

Title

The DCU’s first official movie (though not its first official release) is now titled simply Superman. Of course, the movie began its life as Superman: Legacy. It will kick off the film side of what James Gunn has called the franchise’s first chapter, “Gods and Monsters.” He has also called this movie “the true beginning” of the DCU.

Superman‘s Plot

While the film still has no official synopsis, Warner Bros. did provide a description of what we can expect from the story, which James Gunn says is not an origin tale.

Superman tells the story of Superman’s journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.

Gunn announced the film with art from the cover of All-Star Superman by writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely. Whether or not that means the story is influenced, inspired by, or adapted from the 12-issue comic series in any way is unclear. What Gunn has said is the movie will focus on “an earlier part of Superman’s life,” where he is still old enough to already be working for the Daily Planet.

We also have our first look at David Corenswet as the DCU’s Superman.

Superman‘s Cast

David Corenswet will play Superman, while Rachel Brosnahan will play Lois Lane.

In addition, four more actors have joined the cast of Superman. Isabela Merced will play Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi will play Mister Terrific, Nathan Fillion will play Green Lantern Guy Gardner, and Anthony Carrigan will play Metamorpho. María Gabriela de Faría will play the villain The Engineer in the movie. Also known as Angela Spica, the character has nanotechnology built into her body. Additionally, Sara Sampaio will play Eve Teschmacher, Skyler Gisondo will play Jimmy Olsen, and Wendell Pierce will play The Daily Planet boss Perry White. Saturday Night Live‘s Beck Bennett will play The Daily Planet‘s sports journalist Steve Lombard. James Gunn has also confirmed that Nicholas Hoult will play Lex Luthor.

Gunn also recently confirmed the casting of Ma and Pa Kent on Threads. Pruitt Taylor Vince (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) will play Jonathan Kent, a.k.a. Pa Kent. Meanwhile, Neva Howell will play Martha Kent.

Behind the Scenes 

James Gunn wrote the (definitely completed) script and is directing.

Superman‘s Release Date

Superman will soar into theaters faster than a speeding bullet on July 11, 2025.

Originally published on April 11, 2023.

The post Everything We Know About the DCU’s SUPERMAN: LEGACY appeared first on Nerdist.

Unlike the previous administration, new DC Studios co-head James Gunn is very active on social media. Since DC announced him in the role, he’s been teasing the fans about which deep-cut characters from the pages of DC Comics might be on his mind concerning future projects. Gunn has done this with random image reveals. So far, he’s dropped a few comic book images of characters that might excite fans—including a few that have yet to appear in any live-action incarnations before. Some he teased, like Mister Terrific, were officially announced just months later. Let’s tally all the Gunn hints we’ve had so far, while remembering they might not actually be hints.

Deathstroke

James Gunn recently hinted strongly at another major DC character, the super-powered mercenary Deathstroke. When the fan asked Gunn on Instagram to “please wink if you have plans for Deathstroke,” the DC Studios head replied with a winky face emoji. So there you have it — the deadly mercenary Slade Wilson (the obvious influence on Marvel’s Deadpool, a.k.a. Wade Wilson) is coming to the DCU. Where will he appear? It’s anyone’s guess, but we think there’s a good chance he is the villain of the announced Teen Titans movie. He’s their main adversary, so it just makes sense.

Mister Mxyzptlk

He’s been one of Superman’s most powerful (and annoying enemies) since the Golden Age, and yet, he’s never appeared in a live-action film. We refer to the imp from the 5th Dimension, Mister Mxyzptlk. This diminutive fellow is actually an all-powerful being, who can bend reality to his will. Think Star Trek’s Q, and just as annoying, and wearing a derby. He appeared every 90 days to make trouble for Superman, only returning to his home dimension whenever Big Blue could trick him into saying his name backward. James Gunn recently posted an action figure of Mxy on his Instagram, which is raising eyebrows. While the assumption is Mxy would appear in Superman, we think it may also be for the upcoming Peacemaker season two.

Captain Atom

The latest post from James Gunn suggesting a possible classic hero coming to the DCU came as a response to a fan question. When asked if he liked the character of Captain Atom, he responded on his Instagram story saying “I’ve been a big Captain Atom fan for a long time.” He even added comic artwork to his response. We’d say that’s a possible hint that he has plans for Captain Atom.

So who is the good Captain? Like Peacemaker and Blue Beetle, he originated as a hero from the Charlton Comics line in the ’60s. DC bought those characters and absorbed them into the DC Universe proper in the ’80s. Nathaniel Adam was an Air Force officer who volunteered for an experiment involving nuclear power and alien alloy, in exchange for a pardon for a crime he didn’t commit. Disintegrated in the experiment, Adam reformed decades later, now fused with the alien metal, and wielding nuclear power.

Nathaniel Adam then became the government agent and superhero Captain Atom, and joined the Justice League International. He was also the basis for Doctor Manhattan in Watchmen, although slightly less powerful. Along with Booster Gold, Green Lantern Guy Gardner, and Maxwell Lord, he’d be another famous JLI character joining the DCU. We think that lends further credence to our theory that the Justice League International is on the way to the DCU.

The Terrifics

James Gunn teased an image of the hero Mister Terrific back in 2022, a character later cast for Superman: Legacy. But now those plans seem to have expanded. He also shared an image of the DC heroes hovering around the Terrifics, a somewhat recent super team from DC Comics, introduced in 2018. The Terrifics are kind of a riff on Marvel’s Fantastic Four, as they are more explorer and adventurer types. Mister Terrific leads, and the other members include Plastic Man, the phasing Phantom Girl, and Metamorpho, who was also recently cast for Superman: Legacy. We could easily see them as subjects of a Max streaming series.

Deadman

On Halloween 2022, Gunn shared an image of one of DC Comics’ most prominent supernatural heroes, Deadman. Introduced by DC in the late ’60s, Deadman was circus performer Boston Brand. During a performance, a group of criminals murdered him. They (the supernatural powers that be) granted his soul the power to possess living people until he discovered who was behind his murder. In the meantime, he used the bodies he “borrowed” to help the innocent and fight various criminals.

Although a ghost, Brand’s spectral form still had his circus outfit and makeup he wore in his act. For the most part, he was essentially a superhero no one in the living world could see. However, a few mystical DC characters could perceive him. Despite being a prominent DC character for years, aside from a few animated appearances, we’ve never seen Deadman in live-action. From the look of things, James Gunn is hoping to change all that—unless he was just having some Halloween fun. Once upon a time, Guillermo del Toro talked about producing a Deadman project. Perhaps now is the time for that to finally happen.

It’s worth noting that Gunn recenly shared the image of Deadman again on his Instagram.

Lobo

And then, there’s the one that has everyone talking. Recently, Gunn posted an image of DC’s most famous intergalactic bounty hunter, Lobo, and fans got super excited. The “Main Man,” a huge seller back in the ’90s, was long rumored for a movie or TV project. In fact, it was reported Syfy was developing a Lobo TV series a few years ago, but nothing ever came of it.

With folks clamoring for Jason Momoa to play the role, including Momoa himself, it seems now would be the right time to see the space biker finally get a movie of his own. The character is an over-the-top send-up of tough-guy characters, but handled correctly, he made for some very funny comics. We think the comedy sensibilities of the character feel right in James Gunn’s wheelhouse, too.

Kingdom Come

Maybe the post that had fans most excited came on November 30. Gunn simply tweeted out the words “Making plans” accompanied by an image by artist Alex Ross from his seminal series Kingdom Come. That comic was all about an older Justice League vs their younger, more violent successors in an End Times scenario. Now, on the surface, it’s just Superman around a table with other heroes literally making plans. It’s probably just Gunn’s fun way of teasing his upcoming DC Studios plans, using an image of their headlining heroes.

On the other hand, he also used this same Alex Ross illustration as his featured image on his Hive Social account. Could he have something cooking for Kingdom Come? It seems way too soon for a live-action adaptation. You need to reestablish the Justice League first as a viable franchise. However, Gunn recently stated that DC Studios planned to incorporate animation as well. It’s at least a possibility.

Again James Gunn could just be posting random images of all of these characters and stories he likes. Time will tell.

Originally published on November 16, 2022.

The post Every DC Character James Gunn Has Possibly Teased for the DCU appeared first on Nerdist.

The DCEU is officially over. James Gunn and Peter Safran’s all-new DCU will soon replace it. Well, their cinematic universe will be mostly new. Some remnants of the franchise’s previous iteration are sticking around, we’re just don’t yet know exactly how that will work. One element not going anywhere is Gunn’s Max series Peacemaker. How will the show’s second season connect to the first? How will the first connect to the DCU? Which previous stars are returning alongside John Cena? And how will the show explain any changes?

Most recently, we learned that Frank Grillo has joined Peacemaker season two as Rick Flag Sr. Grillow will first voice this role in the animated DCU series, Creature Commandos. James Gunn revealed on Threads, “Pleased to announce the great @frankgrillo1 will be reprising the role of Rick Flag, Sr – the role he’ll first play in animated form in Creature Commandos – throughout Season 2 of Peacemaker. Christopher Smith and Rick Sr have a little unfinished business to take care of…” We can’t wait to see it all go down.

Here’s everything we know about Peacemaker season two so far.

Peacemaker Season Two‘s Plot

Peacemaker‘s second season does not yet have an official synopsis, but Gunn has shared some intriguing tidbits about it. He said the show’s first season “isn’t canon,” but that season two is “full DCU.” Gunn isn’t dismissing the character’s past entirely, though. He also wrote “many strands” of Peacemaker’s story “will remain consistent.” That indicates some aspects of Christopher Smith’s history from both The Suicide Squad and the Max show’s first season will still matter to the character’s future. Gunn has also said the explanation for the changes within the story will be easy for viewers to understand.

On social media Gunn also said the events of his Superman movie will matter for Peacemaker season two.

The show’s second season will also air before Waller, a new series announced as part of the DCU’s initial lineup. It was originally expected to serve as a bridge between Peacemaker seasons, but the events of Waller will take place entirely after Peacemaker season two, which will also have a new opening credits sequence. (If it’s as good as the original we’re fine with that. Otherwise….)

Behind-the-Scenes

Gunn has confirmed that, just as with season one, he wrote every episode of Peacemaker‘s sophomore outing. Unlike last time, though, he won’t be directing every episode because of his other DC responsibilities. He’s directing “only some” episodes this time.

Gunn also wrote what will be the first DCU movie, the new Superman. He’s directing that film, which will overlap with Peacemaker‘s shooting production, set to begin this summer. Despite his job overseeing the franchise and directing a Superman movie, Gunn has described Peacemaker‘s second season as a “priority” for him.

Peacemaker Season Two‘s Cast

“Team Peacemaker” is coming back. Gunn made that official in the lengthy Threads post where he shared much of what we know about the show. That indicates star John Cena will once again be joined by many (all?) of his season one colleagues. The DCEU version of the show also featured Jennifer Holland, Steve Agee, Freddie Stroma, Danielle Brooks, Nhut Le, and Amanda Waller herself, Viola Davis.

With a canon-shifting event changing the universe of the show as we know it, it’s unclear if the memory of Robert Patrick’s Auggie Smith will continue to haunt his son, which the end of season one teased. But whatever explanation Gunn has planned means he could also find a way to bring back characters who died in season one, like Chukwudi Iwuji’s Murn.

Gunn’s comments about the events of Superman having an impact on Peacemaker also indicates stars of that film could also show up on the Max series.

And don’t worry: Eagly is coming back.

Peacemaker Season Two‘s Release Date

Peacemaker season two does not have an official release date yet, but Gunn’s Superman movie does. It flies into theaters on July 11, 2025. We know Peacemaker won’t debut until after that film, so a fall 2025 release on Max seems possible, as does an early 2026 premiere.

Originally published on March 12, 2024.

The post Frank Grillo Joins PEACEMAKER Season 2 as Rick Flag Sr. appeared first on Nerdist.

While everyone is sharing their opinions on Superman’s new cinematic costume, the image James Gunn released also featured another big clue to the upcoming DCU film. Interestingly, it’s not exactly hidden in the background. In the image, as Clark Kent puts on his boots ready to fly to battle, we see outside his window a giant orb, sending presumably destructive beams down below to the city of Metropolis. So just what could this orb be? Brainiac? A different alien invader? Thanks to the folks at Comic Book, we actually think we have an idea.

The Giant Orb in the Sky Looks Like Solaris, the Tyrant Sun

The giant orb has the appearance of a giant eye, staring down its death-beam at the city beneath. This brings to mind Solaris, the Tyrant Sun. This is a fairly deep-cut villain, which first appeared in 1998’s DC One Million crossover event. It was created by writer Grant Morrison, who at the time was right in the middle of their iconic JLA run. Solaris appeared again, in a more minor capacity, in Morrison’s All-Star Superman. Many regard that series as one of the best—if not the best—Superman stories of all time. James Gunn has gone on record saying Morrison’s Superman run is one of his all-time favorites. So we think it makes sense he’d pull one of the Scottish scribe’s creations for Superman.

The Comic Book Origins of Solaris

Solaris is a stellar supercomputer that originally came from the 853rd century. This artificial star was created to warm the outer planets of the solar system like Pluto, which were terraformed and inhabited during this time. In this distant future era, the Justice League has evolved into the Justice Legion Alpha, a team of the modern-day Justice League’s descendents. Eventually becoming malevolent and seeking to destroy organic life on Earth, this artificial sentient sun went back in time to the modern era. It encoded itself into a techno-virus sent back to infect all known computer systems. The Justice League and the Justice Legion had to join forces to defeat it, but to do so, they had to create Solaris in the present to defeat its future self. So in a sense, Solaris’ time travel was a predestination paradox ensuring its own future existence.

Solaris’ Vast Powers and Abilities

As a sun, Solaris had the power of radiation, and could fire powerful thermal blasts. Imagine the Death Star, only if it were alive and with a mind of its own. Solaris also could control all computers and known machinery. Long after Lex Luthor and Brainiac were dust, it continued to plague Superman’s descendants for centuries. It became the biggest threat to Kal-El’s ongoing legacy. Despite this, it only appeared a few times, mostly in stories from writer Grant Morrison. During the New 52 era, a version of Solaris plagued Superman and Wonder Woman.

Did James Gunn Just Confirm Solaris as the Villain of Superman?

Could a giant glowing orb above Metropolis that looks like an eye be something other than Solaris? Absolutely. It could be a weapon of the villain Brainiac. Or even a sinister creation of Lex Luthor. In All-Star Superman, it joined forces with Luthor to turn Earth’s yellow sun into a red one. Maybe he creates Solaris himself in the new film? Given James Gunn’s status as an unabashed Grant Morrison fan, we have a feeling that the globe in the sky is the dreaded tyrant-sun. Certainly, it is a villain that gives Superman a physical challenge, beyond fighting another Kryptonian like General Zod (again), or Doomsday. We’re into Gunn giving us a very under-used villain from the deep well of DC canon for the Superman movie.

The post Did James Gunn Just Reveal the Villain for SUPERMAN? appeared first on Nerdist.

At last, we have our first look at David Corenswet as the Man of Steel, in a lovely costume image released to social media by Superman director and DCU lord James Gunn. In our first look at this Superman costume, we see it has plenty of influences from Kal-El’s 86-year history. These influences stem from comics costumes, as well as from other Superman media over the years. Let’s break it all down.

The “New 52” Superman Costume

The biggest influence on this new suit is Jim Lee’s 2011 update for DC’s “New 52” initiative. Lee gave Superman his most radical redesign in decades for that reboot. He gave Superman a raised collar for the first time, and added tons of piping and extra details to the suit itself. The red boots suddenly had new ridges on the side, and most famously, a red belt replaced the red trunks. The suit was always controversial, and the classic suit returned just a few years later. This new cinematic suit keeps the extra details, like the raised collar. Thankfully, the red trunks made a comeback, too.

The Muted Tones of Recent Live-Action Superman Costumes

In the comics, and in most outside of comic books media, Clark’s colors were bright red, blue, and yellow. But in live-action, that changed with 2006’s Superman Returns. Brandon Routh’s costume switched out the bright red for an almost maroon color but kept the blue classic. Ever since, the Superman costume has become more and more desaturated on screen. Both the Man of Steel suit as well as Tyler Hoechlin’s on Superman and Lois have extremely muted tones. With this latest costume, it looks like the red pops, but the blue remains muted. We should note that the image James Gunn released shows a Superman mostly in dim lighting. In places where the light hits his costume (in the knee area) the blue looks rather bright. So we’ll have to wait and see what this new Superman costume looks like when his DCU movie arrives.

The Classic Superman Spit Curl

It’s technically not part of Superman’s “costume,” but it’s a classic part of his overall look. Since almost the very beginning of his comic book career, Superman has had a stylized spit curl in his jet-black hair. It’s almost like a little min “S” on his forehead (branding, folks!) Original ’40s Superman Kirk Alyn had it, yet TV’s George Reeves didn’t. Christopher Reeve famously kept it for his incarnation of the Last Son of Krypton, as did the live-action Superboy TV series of the ’80s. However, most live-action Superman actors have since dropped it. Dean Cain on Lois & Clark in the ’90s had slicked-back hair, as did Henry Cavill. Brandon Routh, whose Superman was a version of Christopher Reeve’s iteration, maintained the spit curl. We’re glad David Corenswet is staying traditional and bringing back the spit curl for modern times.

The Kingdom Come “S” Shield

Although we’d already seen it, we’d be remiss not to mention the “S” shield. Artist Alex Ross designed this new crest for the series Kingdom Come. That 1996 mini-series by writer Mark Waid was about an older Superman who returns to the scene years after retiring. In that comic, the yellow was replaced with black. This version of the emblem has been seen in live-action before. Brandon Routh used it in 2019’s Arrowverse Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event. At first, it was a direct homage to the Kingdom Come look. By the end of that crossover though, it was a version in the traditional Superman colors. In fact, one of the very first things James Gunn teased when taking on the Superman job was an illustration from Kingdom Come.

Of course, we won’t really know how this DCU costume looks until we see Superman in action. We do know that this Superman costume is definitely full of influences from many previous takes on his iconic outfit. It remains to be seen if this one will become as legendary as many of the rest of them. Superman releases on July 11, 2025.

The post The DCU Superman’s New Costume Is Inspired by Key Parts of Kal-El’s Past appeared first on Nerdist.

Get ready for some serious excitement. James Gunn has finally revealed our first look at David Corenswet in costume as Superman in 2025’s Superman. Of course, this look includes our first glimpse at the Corenswet’s DCU Superman suit, something that’s been highly anticipated for quite a while.

James Gunn Reveals Our First Look at David Corenswet’s Superman and His DCU Suit

In this Superman DCU first look from James Gunn, we see Corenswet donning the traditional Superman red and blue, with his S logo emblazoned across his chest. We know that this S-logo takes inspiration from three different eras of Superman comics.

Gunn additionally shares about the first-look image from Superman, “The above photo was taken on set by Jess Miglio and was entirely in-camera.” It’s a pretty stunning shot and definitely increases our already intense excitement for the movie. In addition to Superman’s costume, we also see what we assume to be Metropolis and some kind of power surge. Very mysterious.

James Gunn’s Superman Will Include Superman’s Red Trunks As a Part of His Costume

But could it be? Yes, it can! After much debate about “will they” or “won’t they,” James Gunn has elected to give Corenswet Superman’s red trunks as a part of his DCU Superman: Legacy costume. Last year, Gunn held a Twitter poll to see whether fans preferred Superman’s costume with or without the red trunks. And “with trunks” won by a margin of about 10%. And it seems like now the people have received what they want.

When Will We Get to See David Corenswet and His Superman Suit Take Flight?

Of course, in our first-look image from Superman: Legacy, David Corenswet’s Clark Kent is just sitting there, donning his red boots. But hopefully, we’ll soon get to see him take to the skies as Superman. Could a teaser trailer be around the corner? Maybe when we’re exactly one year out from Superman‘s release, we’ll get another tidbit. Superman: Legacy releases on July 11, 2025.

The post James Gunn Shares First-Look at David Corenswet’s SUPERMAN Suit appeared first on Nerdist.

An MCU star is ready to cross the streams into James Gunn and Peter Safran’s new DCU. Black Panther‘s Winston Duke revealed he’d like to play Batman in the upcoming DCU movie, Batman: The Brave and the Bold. We haven’t heard too much about this Andy Muschietti-directed film yet, but we’re more than willing to start the campaign for this Batman casting.

When asked about playing Batman, Duke shared the following with Slash Film, “Listen, man, can you start that [campaign]? [Laughs] I would say I challenge you to get on all these socials and push for me. Get your community. I would love to. I would love to do that as Batman. I’d love any opportunity to explore new characters, to change narratives around some of these entrenched ideas of how these characters are supposed to look, sound, and perform. I’m all for it.”

Duke, of course, has voiced Bruce Wayne/Batman in the podcast Batman Unburied. Casting Winston Duke as Batman would be perfect for the DCU and for us. Ten out of ten, no notes. And we’d love to see Winston Duke’s Batman interact with David Corenswet’s Superman. Do the right thing, James Gunn.

The post Winston Duke Wants to Play Batman in James Gunn’s DCU (And We Want It Too) appeared first on Nerdist.

Jams Gunn and Peter Safran might be leading DC’s greatest heroes into a new cinematic universe, but their DCU isn’t completely abandoning the old DCEU that preceded it. At least three actors with major parts—Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller, John Cena’s Peacemaker, and Xolo Maridueña’s Blue Beetle— are reprising the roles under Gunn. We don’t know exactly how he’ll explain their presence within the new story, but their involvement means these are the DCEU movies (and one show) you need to watch before the DCU kicks off.

Suicide Squad

Warner Bros. doesn’t even want you to remember David Ayer’s 2016 Suicide Squad. The studio basically remade the film in 2021 with Gunn’s DCEU debut The Suicide Squad. But despite that rewriting of antihero history, the film is still important to Amanda Waller’s story. It’s where Viola Davis made her debut as the ruthless, pragmatic fascist willing to kill anyone it takes to keep her country safe.

The Suicide Squad

Gunn’s soft reboot/remake/sequel hybrid not only saw Davis return as Waller, it also introduced Cena’s Christopher Smith to the franchise. Peacemaker made his debut alongside a group of fellow inmates tasked with a seemingly impossible mission. Considering both Peacemaker and Waller will have their own shows in the DCU, knowing everything they did before (even if those events are no longer canon) will give their new story more context.

Peacemaker

The only DCEU television series will have major ramifications for the DCU. The show’s second season will follow Gunn’s upcoming 2025 Superman movie, which will feature the debut of David Corenswet as the Man of Steel. In addition to Cena, Gunn has also confirmed “Team Peacemaker” is coming with him to the new franchise. That means we will likely see the return of many stars from the show, especially those who also appeared in the two Suicide Squad movies. Gunn has already said Freddie Stroma will be back as Peacemaker’s unstable friend Vigilante. The best candidates to also reprise their roles in the DCU are Jennifer Holland as Emilia Harcourt, Danielle Brooks as Waller’s daughter Leota Adebayo, and Steve Agee as John Economos.

Even characters who died during Peacemaker‘s first season (or died at any point during the DCEU) could also come back, and we’re not just talking about Robert Patrick’s Auggie Smith as a memory like the show’s season one finale hinted. Gunn has said Peacemaker‘s first season is not canon for the DCU. However, “many strands” of the character’s story will remain the same or similar. That seems likely to be true of the new version of Waller and Xolo Maridueña’s Blue Beetle.

Black Adam

We promise we did not include Black Adam simply to avoid receiving a strongly-worded letter from Dwayne Johnson. The film marked the return of Davis’ Waller and the introduction of the Justice Society. She was the one who contacted Carter Hall about capturing Teth-Adam. She later sent Superman to meet/threaten Adam when he said no one on Earth could stop him.

Shazam: Fury of the Gods….End-Credits Scene

Zachary Levi’s second (and seemingly last) film as Billy Batson features a post-credits sequence that is likely to never get paid off, yet will still technically connect to the DCU. In the scene Emilia Harcourt and John Economos show up on Amanda Waller’s behalf to recruit Shazam into the Justice Society (a.k.a. the group without Wonder Woman).

The Flash

The Flash ultimately might not feature a single actor who will reprise their role in the DCU, but the movie might end up being the most important to understanding how Gunn’s cinematic universe will be all-new while still remaining elements of the one that came before it. In the film, Barry Allen learns he can change the past, present, and future by time traveling. By altering the past, he creates entirely new histories on perpendicular timelines of existence. That immense power can even change who someone is or when they exist. It’s how he ended up meeting three different Bruce Waynes, all of different ages and appearance, in the film.

Gunn has told fans they’ll need to wait and see how the DCU will be new and independent of the DCEU while maintaining consistent elements between the two. But he did say The Flash would “reset” the DCU, so the events of this film seem important to know.

Blue Beetle

Of all the DCEU projects to know about before the DCU, this one is the simplest. It marks the only appearance of Xolo Maridueña’s Blue Beetle. Gunn said that although the movie is not part of the DCU, Maridueña’s superhero is.

Until we learn if any other actors will also reprise their DC roles un Gunn and Safran’s cinematic universe, you can wrap up your DCU prep with Blue Beetle.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist who thinks we should get a new Batman movie every year. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

The post DCEU Movies and Shows to Watch to Prepare for the DCU appeared first on Nerdist.

There has been a flurry of recent activity in the world of DC. First, James Gunn and Peter Safran took over the cinematic DC Universe and announced an ambitious slate of projects. Next, work on Superman: Legacy began right away, with the movie now filming. But ardent fans of James Gunn’s hit show Peacemaker have been eagerly anticipating news of the project’s second season. Of course, Peacemaker was mentioned briefly in the announcement of DC’s slate. But it did not receive a coherent update about the status of its second season. Happily, James Gunn recently shared more about the status of the series on the Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum podcast. Here’s what Gunn had to say about Peacemaker season two and when fans could expect forward motion on the show, plus his latest updates on the status and contents of the season.

Peacemaker Season 2 Is a Priority for James Gunn

Rosenbaum asks Gunn about Peacemaker season two at the 1:16:20 mark. He questions, “Is Peacemaker really coming back, or is there just no time for it?” To which Gunn replied straight away, “No, Peacemaker‘s coming back right after Superman. That’s my next thing.” Gunn adds, “I’ll go straight from Superman to Peacemaker.”

Of course, there are no present dates on the timeline, at least no public ones. We know Superman: Legacy is currently slated to release on July 11, 2025. We’d bet that would put the second season of Peacemaker into 2026, with a smidge of hope it could release in 2025. Still, there’s an urgency in which Gunn suggests he’ll head from Superman to Peacemaker that makes it feel like the series is definitely a priority on Gunn’s full dance card.

Gunn additionally noted on Threads, “Yes, we’ll be shooting Superman & Peacemaker simultaneously; yes, I’ve written all the episodes; but, no, in the interest of getting the show out there I won’t be able to direct them all (only some); & yes, Waller’s still happening & Jeremy & Christal are hard at work writing great stuff, but the schedule was impacted by the strikes so it’ll come after Peacemaker.”

The Latest Updates on Peacemaker Season 2

Most recently, Gunn teased more about the season. He shared on Threads that fan-favorite character Eagly would definitely return. Gunn even shared and that he was currently being written into episodes. Additionally, Gunn noted that Peacemaker would not be coming back as a brand new show “because it’s my favorite thing to do, it’s the biggest original Max show ever, and I have a way in. It won’t be confusing.” But whether shifting the show into the DCU continuity will entail small shifts or big changes, fans will have to wait and see.

One thing we do know, though, is that Peacemaker season two will take place after Superman on the DC timeline and the events of Superman will impact the plot and happenings of the season. Gunn noted on Threads, “Answering this again to be clear: Peacemaker Season 2 will take place after the events in Superman.” And then replied a firm “Yes.” when asked, “Is that important? Meaning events in Superman will have an impact on Peacemaker S2?” Gunn additionally noted that “Season one isn’t canon” but that season two is “full DCU”

Recently, Gunn was working on episode eight of the series’ second season. Season one, of course, had eight episodes total, so this might just be the finale. We now know Gunn has finished writing the season. But we’re still not sure how many episodes season two of Peacemaker will last.

Of course, everything Superman will have to come first. But hopefully, we’ll start to hear more about Peacemaker season two sooner rather than later. It really is hard to believe that Peacemaker has only had one season to date. With any luck, though, we’ll see a second season and many more.

Originally published on June 14, 2023.

The post PEACEMAKER Season 2 Takes Place After SUPERMAN, Season 1 Not DCU Canon appeared first on Nerdist.

James Gunn’s new Superman film, titled simply Superman, has just begun filming. And many fans are wondering just what bits of Superman media Gunn is using as his source material for his new take. Well, in a post in Instagram, Gunn shared several images which show where he drew inspiration for his take on the Last Son of Krypton. Some are from comics, some from animation. But all are iconic in their own way.

Superman: The Movie (1978)

In the post, James Gunn answers a fan question on his inspirations “other than the Donner films.” That is a reference to Richard Donner, who directed 1978’s Superman: The Movie and much of Superman II. We know that the Donner Superman films starring Christopher Reeve are a key inspiration, as Lex Luthor’s minions Otis and Eve Teschmacher from those movies are in the film.

Superman #1 (1940)

The first image Gunn showed was a very early Joe Shuster drawing of the Man of Steel breaking out of chains, from the back cover of Superman #1 from 1939. This gives us an indication that, in many ways, Gunn is going back to the very beginning of Superman’s earliest comic book adventures.

All-Star Superman (2008)

The next comic book inspiration is from writer Grant Morrison’s seminal 2005-2008 series All-Star Superman. Specifically, issue #10. This famous image from artist Frank Quitely sums up everything that Kal-El is about. We see Superman save a suicidal person from taking their own life, by talking to them and showing love and compassion. This single page captures Superman’s essence in a nutshell.

Max Fleischer’s Superman (1941)

The following image Gunn posted was from the Max Fleischer animated shorts from 1941. These popular shorts were crucial in forming many signature traits of Superman’s, such as his ability to fly and not just “leap tall building in a single bound.” That costume featured a yellow border around the “S” shield, something the new cinematic costume will also have.

Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? (1986)

Next, Gunn showed off an iconic page of despondent Superman with his dog Krypto in his arctic fortress. It’s illustrated by Curt Swan and George Perez, from the classic Alan Moore story “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?” This story closed out the Silver Age/Bronze Age era of Superman comics, before the post-Crisis on Infinite Earths reboot Man of Steel. As already indicated by Gunn, this seems to assure us that Superman will have his Fortress of Solitude.

Superman Annual #6 (1962)

This image, by perhaps the artist most identified with the character, Curt Swan, is from Superman Annual #6 from 1962. It epitomizes the Superman of the Silver Age, with his vast family of characters. There’s Supergirl, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, his friends the Legion of Super-Heroes, and villains like Mxyzsptlk and Bizarro. This seems to indicate Clark will have a large extended family of characters in this movie, adding fuel to the fire that Milly Alcock’s Supergirl will appear.

New 52 Action Comics (2011)

The next image is far more recent, from the New 52 reboot of Superman from 2011. In this cover from Action Comics #4 by Michael Choi, we see a young Clark in his earliest hero days, before he could fly, and wore a t-shirt, jeans, and boots. Oh, and a little cape. It’s not really Superman without the cape, is it? This reboot harkened back to the Superman of 1938, when he was a “working man’s hero,” who fought corrupt politicians and elected officials in the Depression. This is yet another example of a Grant Morrison take on Superman serving as inspiration.

Kingdom Come/Justice Society of America (1996, 2010)

Superman from the universe of Mark Waid and Alex Ross’ Elseworlds 1996 mini-series Kingdom Come is next. Or rather, that older Superman’s appearance in the Justice Society of America story “Thy Kingdom Come” in the 2000s, when he crossed from the Kingdom Come universe to the “main” DC Earth. That story told of Clark Kent after he’d retired when a personal tragedy drove him away from Metropolis. The “S” shield design in the new movie is almost identical to Kingdom Come’s Superman, only without the black.

Superman: The Animated Series (1996)

Superman: The Animated Series debuted in 1996, set in the same world as Batman: The Animated Series. This image Gunn shared is from the show’s opening credits. The Superman of this series drew inspiration from the ’80s reboot of the character, particularly the evil CEO version of Lex Luthor. The show’s Metropolis was very art déco-inspired, which could play out in Gunn’s film. Creator Bruce Timm and Paul Dini largely reinvented the villain Brainiac for this series, as a Kryptonian AI. Maybe it’s a hint that he plays a part in the new film?

Superman For All Seasons (1995)

The late Tim Sale’s art from the four-issue mini-series Superman For All Seasons, written by Jeph Loeb, is next. It shows Clark Kent saying goodbye to his father Jonathan Kent as he prepares to leave Smallville for Metropolis. It has an almost Normal Rockwell quality to it, which may translate well to the big screen. Gunn has stated many times that the series Superman For All Seasons would be a big influence on his film. Showing this page is just another example.

Action Comics (2021)

Lastly, the most recent image used is from 2021’s Action Comics #1035, with a page from current Wonder Woman artist Daniel Sampare. It shows a married Lois and Clark take to the sky where they kiss under the stars. This lets us know that the love story between the two ace Daily Planet reporters is going to play a key factor in the DCU’s new Superman film.

The post James Gunn’s Main SUPERMAN Movie Inspirations, Explained appeared first on Nerdist.

Although it will be some time before we see David Corenswet in the full Kal-El regalia for James Gunn’s Superman (no longer Superman: Legacy) we did get a preview of a very important part of the costume — the ‘S’ shield emblem of the Last Son of Krypton. Although the photo released by James Gunn on social media on Clark Kent’s birthday doesn’t give us a full view of it, we have a pretty good idea of what the symbol looks like now. It draws inspiration from three distinct eras of Superman. Some from the pages of DC Comics, and some from other media. Here are the principal design influences on the new Superman ‘S’ shield.

Kingdom Come Superman

The first Superman ‘S’ Shield that the new emblem recalls is the one artist Alex Ross designed for the series Kingdom Come. That 1996 mini-series by writer Mark Waid was about an older Superman, one who retired from being a hero after a personal tragedy. This is a darker Superman, so the yellow in the emblem was replaced with black. But the very minimalist ‘S’ shape is present in the version of Gunn’s design. We actually have seen this design in live-action before. Brandon Routh used it in the Arrowverse Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event in 2019. At first, it was a direct copy of the Kingdom Come look. By the end, it was a version in the traditional Superman colors. One of the first teases Gunn released on social media when he took over DC Studios was an image from Kingdom Come. Now we know why.

Golden Age/Fleischer Animated Superman

The yellow trim outside the ‘S’ shield goes back to the earliest days of the comics. About two years after Superman debuted in 1938’s Action Comics #1, his emblem began to be a black triangle with a big red ‘S’ in the center, surrounded by a yellow trim. The yellow trim didn’t last that long in print. But they used it in a major milestone in non-comics Superman media. We’re talking about the 1940s-era Fleischer cartoons, which ran as afternoon serials. These shorts were extremely popular, and a big influence on the look and design of Batman: The Animated Series. Although the comics quickly pivoted away from the yellow trim, it’s clearly present in the costume design David Corenswet is going to wear.

The Classic Superman Emblem

Finally, the color scheme for this Superman looks to be pretty classic. The iconic Superman emblem most people know, worn by Christopher Reeve and seen on countless pieces of merchandise, made its debut in 1944. And it mostly stuck around for decades after, undergoing only minor revisions. Red and yellow is how we mostly think of the Superman emblem today. So far, it seems that Gunn is sticking to that aesthetic. Although it’s hard to say, the color palette does look more muted than the classic version. It’s akin to the one worn by Henry Cavill in Man of Steel, or Tyler Hoechlin in Superman and Lois. However, that could be lighting. The actual suit colors might “pop” a lot more than what we see in the image.

Superman hits theaters on July 11, 2025.

The post The Comic Book Influences of Superman’s New ‘S’ Shield appeared first on Nerdist.

Superman: Legacy just had its first table read for the principal cast in Atlanta, where most of the filming will take place. We know this thanks to a cast selfie posted by James Gunn on social media. But the newest Superman film will also be shot in Cleveland and Cincinnati. We’ve learned this is thanks to tax credits the production received from the state of Ohio. This has significance for two reasons. The first is that Cleveland is where young Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster created Superman as teenagers. The second though, might have larger implications for the DCU. You see, Cincinnati is the real-life home of the Justice League’s home base, the Hall of Justice. Well, sort of.

The Justice League has had many headquarters in the comics. A secret cave, a satellite in space, and a Watchtower on the moon. But thanks to the 1970s Super Friends cartoon, most people think of one HQ in particular when thinking of where the League hangs their capes—the Hall of Justice. Because it was so popular in the cartoon, the comics eventually incorporated it into mainstream continuity. However, Super Friends creators Al Gmuer and Joe Barbera lifted the design from Union Terminal in Cincinnati. First built in 1933, Union Terminal is a museum today. But with Superman: Legacy filming in Cincinnati, could using this building be too good an opportunity to pass up?

Now, we don’t even know that there’s a Justice League in this new DCU. That said, our best guess is that there is a functioning Justice League already in the film. The fact that prominent League members like Green Lantern Guy Gardner, Hawkgirl, Mister Terrific, and Metamorpho are in the film suggests a version of the Justice League already exists. If they do, then they need a base of operations. So with filming in Cincinnati, why not just use the building that inspired the Hall of Justice in the first place? At least the exterior anyway. We may just have our superhero tin foil hats on, but we wouldn’t be surprised if this bit of speculation turns out to be real.

The post Will SUPERMAN Feature the Hall of Justice? Here’s Why We Think It Might appeared first on Nerdist.

One year ago, DC Studios co-head James Gunn announced an ambitious slate of movies and series. Since then, we’ve learned of many more characters joining the new DCU, like Metamorpho, Mister Terrific, Hawkgirl, and Guy Gardner. But there are a few DC Comics heroes we’re still hoping to see announced for Chapter 1 of Gunn’s DCU, called “Gods and Monsters.” We didn’t include Wonder Woman and Aquaman on our list, as they are almost certain to show up eventually. And we didn’t mention members of the Bat-Family like Nightwing, because it’s implied we’ll meet them in Brave and the Bold. Here are the DC Comics heroes we hope to see in Chapter 1 of the DCU.

Green Arrow (Oliver Queen)

Billionaire Oliver Queen, a.k.a. the vigilante called Green Arrow, became a mainstream hero after starring in the series Arrow for eight seasons. The Emerald Archer of Star City was so popular that he started his own branch of the DC Universe, the “Arrowverse.” But because he was in his own separate corner of live-action DC, we never got to see him suit up on the big screen with the likes of Batman or Green Lantern, his best bud in the comics. Hopefully, James Gunn will remedy that situation in his DCU, and add him in somewhere in Chapter 1. Maybe first as civilian Oliver Queen in the announced Green Lantern streaming series?

The Flash (Wally West)

After nine successful CW seasons and one underperforming solo movie, we think it’s time to put a moratorium on Barry Allen’s version of the Flash. Even if he is arguably the most famous of the Scarlet Speedsters. Gunn’s DCU does need a Flash, though. The character is way too important to leave on the side of the road. So we suggest Barry’s nephew and successor, Wally West, the former Kid Flash, as the DCU’s main Flash. Wally was the sole Flash for over 20 years in the comics, and is the current star of DC Comics’ Flash book. Also, the idea of a former kid sidekick who must inherit a heroic legacy is great source material for a series or movie—one that has yet to be realized in live-action.

Zatanna

Marvel Studios has made a superstar out of the Avengers’ resident sorceress, the Scarlet Witch. But the Justice League’s most famous resident spell caster, Zatanna the Magician, has not appeared in live-action since Smallville. Hopefully, James Gunn corrects this oversight. Before the old DCEU died, a Zatanna project was announced, written by none other than Saltburn writer/director Emerald Fennell. However, it was canceled before production began. The DCU needs its backward-talking mistress of magic, and we hope she shows up somewhere in “Gods and Monsters.” Perhaps in the supernatural-tinged Swamp Thing?

Vixen (Mari McCabe)

The mid-80s Justice League Detroit era was not particularly well-loved. In fact, fans hated it so much, DC killed off several prominent members introduced in that run. However, JL Detroit member Vixen survived and thrived, rejoining the League on several rosters. Supermodel Mari McCabe could summon animal powers via her African Tantu Totem, passed down from her ancestors. It allowed her to channel the speed of a cheetah, or the strength of a rhino, and more. The CW Arrowverse had two versions of Vixen. One in the present, and one as her WWII-era grandmother on Legends of Tomorrow. But hopefully Gunn and co. introduce Mari to the DCU soon. Maybe even played by Zoe Saldana, his old Guardians of the Galaxy pal? We think she’d kill it.

Martian Manhunter (J’onn J’onzz)

One of the founding members of the Justice League of America, the DCEU never really included J’onn J’onzz, the Manhunter from Mars—not until a cameo appearance in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, retconning Man of Steel actor Harry Lennix into the role. The character was a mainstay on the CW Supergirl series, played by David Harewood. For years, J’onn has been called the heart and soul of the Justice League, and the new DCU needs him as an anchor. We’ve been waiting years to see a live-action J’onn fight alongside Superman and Batman. We hope he appears, and a perfect place for him to pop up is in the Green Lantern streaming series.

The Question (Victor Sage/Renee Montoya)

Like Blue Beetle, the mysterious faceless detective the Question originated at publisher Charlton Comics, before transferring to DC in the Crisis on Infinite Earths. Victor Sage was a reporter who took on the faceless identity of the Question, to fight crime and look for the answers to the questions he posed as a journalist. A beloved version of this Question appeared in the Justice League Unlimited cartoon as a conspiracy theorist superhero. In the comics, Vic died of lung cancer, and passed on his superhero mantle to Gotham City detective Renee Montoya. Either version (or both) would make for great additions to the DCU. Maybe first in Peacemaker season two? After all, Peacemaker also started out as a Charlton hero.

Mister Miracle (Scott Free) and Big Barda

Jack Kirby’s New Gods characters almost had a movie of their own, before Warner Bros. pulled the plug on Ava DuVernay’s film. But Kirby’s Fourth World mythology is too rich to not appear in Gunn’s plans for his DCU. We think the best entry point for this mythology is a more Earthbound one—escape artist supreme Mr. Miracle, and his wife, the strong woman Big Barda. Both characters are from Darkseid’s planet of Apokolips; they escaped to Earth seeking refuge. The DCU might downplay those aspects of the characters in favor of a husband and wife team of circus performers and part-time superheroes. We’re not sure where they’d appear in Chapter 1, but both characters are friends and teammates of Booster Gold, who has a series coming.

Static (Virgil Hawkins)

The Milestone Comics heroes need to be introduced into live-action. Before the DC shakeup, there were preliminary plans for the electrically powered teen hero Static to show up. First appearing in 1993, young Virgil Hawkins gained amazing electricity powers after an accident exposed him to radioactive “Quantum Juice.” A comic book geek in real life, Virgil became a hero just like the ones he read about, or saw in video games. Of all the Milestone Comics heroes, Static has the most popularity, thanks to his animated series Static Shock. We’re not sure where he fits into Chapter 1, but we feel he should appear somewhere.

Deathstroke (Slade Wilson)

The superpowered mercenary Deathstroke is one of DC’s most popular antiheroes, and has made live-action appearances in both the Arrowverse, as well as the Titans streaming series. But although DC teased Deathstroke for the DCEU in the theatrical cut of Justice League, with actor Joe Manganiello, we never saw him face DC’s biggest heroes. So, he should appear somewhere in Chapter 1 of James Gunn’s plans. Certainly, The Brave and the Bold makes the most sense, if only because we’d see him take on the Bat-Family, particularly Nightwing. We know Gunn doesn’t want to carry over many former DCEU actors. However, Joe Manganiello only appeared for a few seconds. That shouldn’t count. Let him play Deathstroke for real in the DCU.

Fire and Ice (Beatriz Da Costa and Tora Olafsdotter)

These powerful ladies started from humble beginnings in the pages of DC Comics, in the non-continuity Super Friends series. Back then, they were known as the fire-projecting “Green Flame” and the polar-powered “Icemaiden.” But in the ‘80s, DC reinvented the duo as Fire and Ice, members of the Justice League International. The Brazilian Fire (Beatriz Da Costa) was the hot-tempered firecracker of the team (naturally), while her best friend Tora Olafsdotter was the shy and even-tempered Ice. The two were the perfect counterparts to JLI’s Booster Gold and Blue Beetle. They currently star in their own DC Comics series, and we hope they pop up in the Booster Gold Max series too.

The post DC Comics Heroes We Hope to See in Chapter 1 of James Gunn’s DCU appeared first on Nerdist.

Margot Robbie nailed the role of Harley Quinn in the DCEU in her three outings as the character. But lately, she seems very ready to move on from the role. James Gunn is not necessarily done with Margot Robbie, however, after a great working relationship with her in The Suicide Squad. Much like fans want Jason Momoa to get a new role in Gunn’s DCU, probably Lobo, many want Margot Robbie to get a new role in the DCU as well. But playing which character? Actually, several DC heroines and villains would be a great fit for Margot Robbie. Here are our top picks.

Power Girl (Kara Zor-L)

We know there’s a movie coming up called Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. But we’re not talking about that version of Kara Zor-El. That Kara will likely be a teenager or early twenty-something. No, we think Margot Robbie is perfect for the other Kara Zor-L, a.k.a. Power Girl. Power Girl is a version of Superman’s Kryptonian cousin from another universe, who wound up in ours. With the same powers as Supergirl, she’s older and has way more attitude and self-assuredness. She’s one of DC’s most popular female heroes who has yet to make it into live-action in any form, and we think, if anyone can pull it off, it’s Margot Robbie.

Circe

Sure, Harley Quinn is technically a “villain,” but she’s more of an antihero. We’d love to see Margot Robbie take on the role of delicious true villainy—especially villainy that looks amazing in incredible couture outfits. So we think the role of Wonder Woman villain Circe is perfect for her. The sorceress of Greek myth has long been a thorn in the side of the Amazons, and one of Diana’s major adversaries. When DC introduces Wonder Woman into Gunn’s DCU, we feel the first villain she should face should be Circe. We’d love to see Margot Robbie chew the scenery as a borderline campy witch like Agatha Harkness in the MCU. We know she’d look amazing with purple hair too.

Black Canary (Dinah Lance)

When talking ladies in the Justice League, after Wonder Woman, the JLA’s most iconic member is the sonically powered Black Canary. Dinah Lance is an expert martial artist, and her mother was part of the WWII-era Justice Society. Plus, she had those nifty sonic scream powers. Eventually, Gunn’s DCU will have some kind of Justice League project. And we think this time, Canary needs to be a part of it. We know from her various action scenes in the DCEU as Harley that Margot can pull it off. Although she wouldn’t be originating the role in live-action (Katie Cassidy played her in Arrow, and Jurnee Smollett portrayed her in Birds of Prey), we think Margot could fill Dinah’s stylish boots very nicely.

Poison Ivy (Pamela Isley)

Everyone wants to see Harley and Ivy together. So when Margot Robbie was Harley, no one ever thought to dream of her as plant-controlling eco-terrorist Pamela Isley. But if she’s moving on from the role of Harleen, we say why not? We could see Margot Robbie looking very fetching in green, planting deadly kisses on her enemies. If Margot Robbie did play Poison Ivy in the DCU, she would likely pair up romantically with Harley Quinn eventually. That would make it extra wild to see Robbie snuggling with a character she brought to life before and now had handed off to someone else.

Saturn Girl (Imra Ardeen)

A member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the far-off future of the 31st century, Imra Ardeen was a telepath from the planet Titan. She was extremely skilled in mental powers, even for a race of people who all had them. So as a teenager, she became a founding member of the Legion. Although most comic book portrayals featured Saturn Girl as a teenager, there were versions where the Legionnaires grew into adulthood. The Legion of Super-Heroes is a team fit for James Gunn’s sensibilities. Thanks to Guardians of the Galaxy, he’s an expert at cosmic super teams. And if they do appear in the DCU, we can’t think of anyone better suited to be DC’s Jean Grey than Margot Robbie.

Barbara Gordon (Batgirl/Oracle)

We’re eternally miffed that Warner Bros. shelved its Batgirl movie starring Leslie Grace. But at some point, the DCU should introduce Barbara Gordon. It would be interesting to see a Barbara Gordon in the DCU who was Batgirl in her youth, but forced to retire due to an injury, allowing her to take on the cyber identity of Oracle. We think a more adult version of Barbara Gordon as Oracle would be an ideal part for Margot Robbie—even if we admit we’d also love to see her put on the cape and cowl too. Can we have both?

Artemis

She’s already been Harley Quinn, so why not Wonder Woman? Actually, we don’t mean the Princess Diana version of Wonder Woman we all know and love. We mean the Amazon warrior named Artemis, who once took over for Diana as Wonder Woman back in the ‘90s. Far more aggressive than Diana usually is, and sporting a truly wild ponytail, Artemis hailed from a band of militant Amazons who often clashed with Queen Hipppolyta’s tribe. She wasn’t Wonder Woman for long, but has remained a mainstay of the DC Universe ever since her introduction. We think that Margot Robbie would kill it in this role. Perhaps on the upcoming Paradise Lost series?

The post Characters We’d Love to See Margot Robbie Play in the DCU appeared first on Nerdist.

James Gunn has said the new DCU will make room for “Elseworlds” style stories. In other words, it will allow for DC Comics-based stories not tied to any overall continuity. Matt Reeves’ The Batman and the upcoming Penguin series as well as The Batman – Part II are part of this standalone approach. But the Max Arkham Asylum series, announced in 2022, and also produced by Reeves, won’t take place in that version of Gotham City. Instead, it will take place in the Gotham that exists in the new DCU. Via IGN, we learned Gunn was asked by Threads user if Reeves was “producing another Batverse project, other than The Batman 2, Penguin and Arkham?” This is how Gunn replied:

“Right now Matt is producing Arkham as a DCU series, so there’s just the two for now. We love Matt as a director and producer so he’ll be producing stories both within his The Batman universe and within the DCU.”

This is a pretty big change. Until now we only believed Matt Reeves’ involvement extended to one iteration of Gotham City and the Batman world. And we’re not sure this was always the case. Comments from Reeves previously about the Arkham series made it seem as if he tied it to The Batman world. So why the change? We can only guess as to why this is part of the DCU and not a totally separate thing. But we have a theory.

Given how realistic and grounded the Gotham City of The Batman is, maybe Reeves wanted something a little more sci-fi? Or maybe something leaning into the supernatural? Something that did not fit in with the world established in The Batman. This means we might see more bizarre villains from Batman’s rogues’ gallery, like Mr. Freeze, Clayface, Poison Ivy. Heck, why not Man-Bat? These villains will eventually battle whoever the eventual DCU Dark Knight may be. We think it’s long overdue that we see some of these iconic characters on the big screen.

The post Matt Reeves’ ARKHAM ASYLUM Series Will be Set in James Gunn’s DCU appeared first on Nerdist.

With the recent news via Deadline of Sean Gunn’s casting as billionaire Maxwell Lord in the DCU, comics fans may have started to see a potential plan form. Many know Max Lord as a Wonder Woman villain, a role DC gave him in the 2000s. It’s a role he also played in live-action in Wonder Woman 1984, as well as The CW Supergirl series. But when the character originated, he wasn’t evil at all. He was a smarmy business executive to be sure, but his intentions were ultimately noble. And he intended to form a new Justice League, one which would represent the whole world. A Justice League International.

A post about about Maxwell Lord from James Gunn’s Instagram (around the same time Gunn was mentioned for the role) seemed to confirm that he prefers the Justice League International version of the character, and not the modern villainous version. So this begs the question, with Max and other JLI characters already announced for the DCU, does this mean the world’s goofiest iteration of the Justice League is on the way for live-action? We don’t know, but it sure seems to be pointing in that direction. Before we explain how this could work, here’s a brief history of the Justice League International in the comics, and how Max Lord was tied to them.

The Justice League Reinvents Itself (Take One)

For the first quarter century of its existence, the Justice League of America consisted of DC’s biggest stars. Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman were almost always front and center. They were usually flanked by DC’s second tier of heroes, like Green Lantern, Aquaman, and the Flash. The roster expanded over the years, but the superstars were always at the core. But by 1984, sales dipped on JLA, and DC decided to take the Teen Titans/X-Men approach. Mix in new, younger heroes, with some classic old-school members. And thus, Justice League Detroit was born. Okay, so that was not their official name. But since their HQ was a bunker in Detroit, and not a satellite in space, the name stuck.

The DC trinity left the book, leaving stalwarts like Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, and Elongated Man in charge. But the focus was on new, younger members like Steel, Vixen, Vibe, and the unfortunately named Gypsy. All of these members visually evoked pop culture trends of the moment, like breakdancing or MTV pop stars like Cyndi Lauper and Tina Turner. Within a year or two, it was hopelessly dated. Fans rejected it. The new JLA series was a flop, and DC canceled it after only two years. But then they tried something new. And this time, the new take worked.

How Justice League of America Became Justice League International

After the Crisis on Infinite Earths reboot, the biggest DC icons were rebooted and re-energized. But there was no Justice League comic on the horizon. The editors of Superman, Wonder Woman, and Flash didn’t want their characters playing in someone else’s sandbox as they reestablished them, so they forbade them from joining any new Justice League series. DC editor Andy Helfer asked the Batman office to let them use the character, and they relented. Allegedly they felt bad that this new League had no stars. This new Justice League was simply “The Justice League.” No more “of America” in the title. They launched their own new #1 issue in the spring of 1987, from the creative team of writers Keith Giffen and J. M. DeMatteis, and artist Kevin Maguire. Those first issues sold like hotcakes, despite almost no big names in the group besides Batman.

Aside from longtime Leaguers like Batman, Martian Manhunter, and Black Canary, this League’s roster was largely newcomers. Not necessarily newcomers to comics, but to the team. They were known heroes, but with lesser degrees of fame. There was Captain Marvel/Shazam, as well as former JSA member Doctor Fate, two 1940s relics. New Gods characters like Mister Miracle also joined, and the team’s resident Green Lantern was not the well-respected Hal Jordan or John Stewart. It was blowhard Guy Gardner, who no one really liked. In fact, Batman sucker-punched him in the face once, to the visible delight of all his teammates.

A new character, a mysterious financier named Maxwell Lord elevated the League to a new status, as the United Nations’ first official superhero team. Like a sovereign country, they would have embassies all over the globe. By issue #7, DC Comics renamed the series Justice League International. Eventually, the story revealed that Lord encountered a supercomputer from New Genesis, home of the powerful New Gods. It programmed him to use his vast wealth and resources to fund a group of metahumans to replace the now-defunct Justice League of America, in order to protect the Earth from various threats.

Justice League International Mixed Comedy with Superheroics

From the start, JLI was different. Giffen and DeMatteis leaned heavily on comedy, in the middle of the dark and grimy age of comics. The series was genuinely laugh-out-loud funny, but it was also a great superhero adventure series. Guy Gardner was the JLI’s resident arrogant jerk, who rubbed everyone on the team the wrong way. Batman was the gruff uncle who occasionally visited, while Martian Manhunter was the always exasperated dad of the family.

Meanwhile, Blue Beetle and new member Booster Gold (who joined in issue #4) were the constant wisecracking “big brothers” of the team, while Captain Marvel was the dorky kid brother just happy to tag along. JLI became the home of known DC characters—ones often treated with disrespect or considered as jokes. JLI later brought in true D-list characters, like Fire and Ice, a duo who originated in some old Super Friends comics, or the Russian hero Rocket Red. JLI made the readers fall in love with them.

The comedic tone of the writing blended perfectly with Kevin Maguire’s detailed art. The artist had a knack for drawing hyper-realistic facial expressions, so the team’s constant laughter or shock always came through. The series was a big hit for DC, who then spun off several titles. The main JLI book became Justice League America, while its spinoff team was Justice League Europe. A Justice League Quarterly series appeared, and several crossover events took place between them all. Fans responded to the blend of comedy and action, with character interactions that, while mostly funny, could get downright serious. If there was any live-action superhero property these days that reflects the tone of JLI, it’s probably James Gunn’s own Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy.

Is James Gunn Bringing the Justice League International into the DCU?

With the addition of Max Lord to the DCU, one of the key pieces of the Justice League International team is in place. They’ve already cast Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), with Booster Gold officially announced as getting his own streaming series. The Blue Beetle film hinted heavily that Ted Kord is still out there. And if they absorb Beetle into Gunn’s new DCU, we assume that includes Ted too. Add in Batman (we know he’s coming) and Justice League Europe member Metamorpho, and the core of Justice League International is right there. But what form will it take in live-action?

At some point in the future, there will be a new Justice League movie. We doubt it will feature anything but DC’s biggest heroes in the lead. It’s hard to sell a $250 million movie on characters like Fire and Ice, or Mister Miracle. However, it would make sense for Gunn to develop two branches of the League. The “Big Guys” for the movie franchise, and the JLI for an ongoing TV series. Maxwell Lord could form a separate League for the United Nations, and we’d get to see a streaming series featuring them before we even see the famous icons get together to save the Earth.

Gunn perfected the comedic superhero team dynamic for Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. He could work similar magic for the JLI for the DCU. Maybe bigger characters like J’onn J’onzz the Martian Manhunter and Batman could be the liaisons between the All-Star League up in their orbiting watchtower, and the “little guys” on Earth. It would be truly wild if the first Justice League we see in Gunn’s DCU was the era when the roster mostly consisted of so-called “lovable losers.” But wouldn’t that be the most James Gunn move ever? If we suddenly hear casting announcements for characters like Fire, Ice, and Rocket Red, then we think it’s safe to say it’ll the Justice League International will be well on its way soon.

The post Is James Gunn Bringing the Justice League International Into the DCU? appeared first on Nerdist.

Dwayne Johnson was right when he said, “The hierarchy of power in the DC universe is about to change.” He was just wrong about who would end up on top. Power now rests in the hands of new co-heads of DC, James Gunn and Peter Safran. We’ve wondered what their ascension would mean for the superhero franchise since the moment they got hired. But we don’t have to wait any longer. Gunn has announced “Chapter 1” of projects in a unified DC universe, or what is known as the DCU.

Gunn shared the plan for the new DC Universe that he and Safran have devised for the first 8-10 years of their regime. That will include a space for other projects that don’t fall under the main DC Universe purview. Films like The Batman Part 2, Teen Titans Go, and Joker: Folie à Deux will fall under the DC Elseworlds banner, same as in DC comics.

Movies already in the works like Shazam: Fury of the Gods, The Flash, Blue Beetle, and Aquaman 2, will lead to Gunn and Safran’s new unified DC Universe. (Notably, Gunn said The Flash “resets the entire DC Universe.”) That singular universe will encompass film, television, and gaming. Gunn said characters will even move between animation and live-action, with the same actors playing the voices for the former.

But the biggest news from Gunn is the slate of new films and television shows DC is calling “Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters.” Below, we break down what we know about these DCU entries so far.

DC UNIVERSE CHAPTER ONE MOVIES

Superman: Legacy: The film side of the new DCU will kick off on July 11, 2025 with Superman: Legacy. Gunn is writing the script, which he says is “the true beginning” of this new unified era.

According to a release, the Superman movie will “focus on Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing.”

You can check out everything we know about Superman: Legacy here:

The Authority: Gunn’s “passion project” is a “big movie” that will introduce a very different group of superheroes. They believe the world is broken and needs saving. But they will also interact with all of the franchise’s other big characters.

A release shares more about this DC Universe movie, It notes “WildStorm characters will join the DCU as members of The Authority take matters into their own hands to do what they believe is right.”

The Brave and the Bold: Batman will come to the DCU in a story based on Grant Morrison’s comic series. It will feature Batman’s actual son, Damian Wayne, as Robin.

According to Gunn, “This is a story of Damian Wayne, who’s Batman’s actual son that he didn’t know existed for the first eight to ten years of his life. He was raised as a little murderer and assassin. He’s my favorite Robin.”

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow: Tom King (and Bilquis Evely)’s comic book series from last year is getting turned into “a big science fiction epic film.”

Gunn shares, “In our story, we have Superman, who was sent to Earth and raised by incredibly loving parents. Kara was on Krypton. She was on a piece of Krypton that drifted away from the planet, and she lived there for the first fourteen years of her life in a horrible situation where she watched everyone around her die. So, she’s a much harsher and more f*cked up Supergirl than you’ve been used to thus far.”

It was recently reported that Ana Nogueira will write the DCU’s Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow movie.

Swamp Thing: Though “tonally outside the rest of the DCU,” the origin story of Swamp Thing will still feed into the rest of the DC Universe’s stories.

DCU CHAPTER ONE TELEVISION SHOWS

Creature Commandos: The first project for the new DCU is an animated series based on characters first introduced in 1980.

A release shares that this show will be “a seven-episode animated show in which Amanda Waller creates a black ops team out of monstrous prisoners; Gunn wrote all the episodes of the first season.” Gunn further shares, that team will include, “Rick Flag, Sr. He’s going to show up in other stuff. Then Nina Mazursky. Doctor Phosphorus, a Batman villain. Frankenstein—Eric Frankenstein, specifically. The Bride of Frankenstein, who’s the lead. Finally, G.I. Robot and Weasel.”

Waller: The second series from Gunn and Safran is Waller, a live-action spinoff from Peacemaker. It will see Amanda Waller teaming up with members from the Peacemaker team.

Christal Henry (Watchmen) and Jeremy Carver (Supernatural) will write this entry in the DC Universe.

Lanterns: Gunn says Lanterns will be a big HBO series starring Hal Jordan and John Stewart. The “terrestrial-based” show will be akin to True Detective. The two will investigate a “terrifying mystery” that has huge ties to the entire franchise.

Paradise Lost: Paradise Lost will take place on Themyscira, home of Wonder Woman. Gunn says it has a lot in common with Game of Thrones. A release shares this entry into the DC Universe “focuses on the genesis and political intrigue of an island of all women.”

Booster Gold: Booster Gold might be DC’s most popular loser. He’s a hero who travels back in time with technology from the future that lets him be a superhero. That tech is also getting him his own show.

Even more exciting for DC fans? Gunn says these are just the stories he can tell us about right now. But this slate is enough to know the hierarchy in the DC universe really has changed.

Originally published on January 31, 2023.

The post James Gunn Announces First Slate of TV Shows and Movies for the DC Universe appeared first on Nerdist.

There has been much speculation about which characters from the old DCEU would make the transition to James Gunn’s new DCU. No one, including Gal Gadot, seems to know if she is coming back as Wonder Woman or not. Well, now we know three actors who are definitely coming back in this new DC Universe. They are John Cena as Peacemaker, Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, and Xolo Maridueña as Jaime Reyes, the Blue Beetle. This was all confirmed by Gunn on social media, via The Hollywood Reporter.

So does that make the previous Peacemaker series, or Gunn’s own Suicide Squad canon? What about the very recently released Blue Beetle? After all, the actor playing him is officially returning. Here’s what Gunn said in a post on Threads when a fan asked about the new DCU canon.

“Nothing is canon until Creature Commandos next year — a sort of apéritif to the DCU — & then a deeper dive into the universe with Superman: Legacy after that. It’s a very human drive to want to understand everything all the time, but I think its okay to be confused on what’s happening in the DCU since no one has seen anything from the DCU yet. And, yes, some actors will be playing characters they’ve played in other stories & some plot points might be consistent with plot points from the dozens of films, shows & animated projects that have come from DC in the past. But nothing is canon until Creature Comandos and Legacy.”

It will be fascinating to see if any other characters from the old canon make the transition. Margot Robbie is very liked as Harley, and is personal friends with Gunn, she seems like a sure thing. But what about Jason Momoa as Aquaman? That one seems very up in the air. Hopefully, as Superman: Legacy approaches, we start to see a clearer picture of who is, and who is not, making the transition to Gunn’s new DC Universe.

The post James Gunn Confirms 3 DCEU Actors Carrying Over to the New DCU appeared first on Nerdist.

DC Studios co-head James Gunn previously mentioned how he was already mapping out his DCU geography and realizing it to the same degree as Game of Thrones’ Westeros. Unlike Marvel, which mostly takes place in real-world locations, DC’s main locales are totally fictional cities, each with its own flavor. Gunn mentioned the obvious examples, like Metropolis and Gotham, but also Green Arrow’s Star City and Nightwing’s Bludhaven. But DC Comics has a metric ton of other cool fictional cities, ones we’d love to see on the big (and small) screens. Here are the fictional DC Comics cities that we’d love to see in the DCU.

Gateway City (First Appearance – Wonder Woman #101 (1995))

Superman famously has Metropolis. Batman has Gotham. And so on and so on. But the third member of the DC Trinity, Wonder Woman, didn’t get a cool fictional city of her own till the ‘90s. Sure, she had Themyscira, but she didn’t hang her lasso there Monday through Friday. Originally, she lived in Washington, D.C., and then post-Crisis reboot, in Boston. Yes, somehow DC Comics America has room for all these fictional cities and the real ones. It’s crowded. But in 1995, John Byrne moved Diana Prince to the fictional Gateway City. Intended as a stand-in for San Francisco, it was there Diana worked at an ancient history museum. Later, heroes like the Spectre and Mister Terrific would operate out of Gateway. When Diana finally appears, whoever she may be, we’d love to see her live in Gateway.

Opal City (First Appearance – Starman #0 (1994))

Opal City didn’t appear until the 1994 series Starman, written by James Robinson and illustrated by Tony Harris. It was the home of the Justice Society’s Starman of World War II, Ted Knight. He protected the city with the use of his stellar-powered cosmic rod. As he got older, he passed on his heroic mantle to his son David. But when he died, his other son, a slacker type named Jack, had to pick up the legacy. Opal was a city with much history in Starman, and home to supernatural beings like the immortal Shade. The history of Opal was a huge springboard for stories in this series. Artist Tony Harris designed Opal within an inch of its life, giving every building an Art déco flair. This is one of the most well-planned fictional cities in the DC universe, and it deserves to appear on screen at some point.

Gorilla City (First Appearance – The Flash #106 (1959))

You know what’s cooler than a talking gorilla? A whole city full of talking gorillas. Gorilla City, found in a secret location in the jungles of Equatorial Africa, is home to a highly advanced race of gorillas who were given artificially enhanced intelligence centuries ago. These apes were wise and benevolent. Their sovereign King Solovar ruled them. But one of their own, a gorilla named Grodd, went rogue. He eventually became a primary Flash villain. Like Atlantis and Themyscira, Gorilla City is one of the cooler high-tech hidden megalopolis from the comics. We saw a version of it in the Flash TV show, but we want something a little more like the comics. Basically, we want apes living in a Jetsons world. We believe James Gunn can deliver that.

Keystone and Central Cities (First Appearance – Flash Comics #1 (1940)Showcase #4 (1956))

We’ve already seen Central City, home of the second Flash Barry Allen, in both The Flash movies and TV shows. But in the comics, it is one of two twin cities in the Midwest along with Keystone City. Central City was supposed to be in Missouri with Keystone in Kansas. Both towns have a long history with speedster heroes. Keystone was home to the original Flash, Jay Garrick, during the 1940s and 1950s. Later, Barry Allen made its sister city Central his home. Fun fact: Both cities existed on different Earths, but when Earth-One and Earth-Two merged into one after Crisis on Infinite Earths, they became adjacent to each other. The third Flash, Wally West, then became the protector of both. Seeing twin cities with one hero protector would be a fun approach for the DCU.

Dakota City (First Appearance – Hardware #1 (1993))

The Milestone Comics heroes arrived in the early ‘90s to add some much-needed African-American representation to DC’s heroic ranks. And like any good DC heroes, they reside in their own fictional American city. Much like Metropolis is a fictional version of New York City, they designed Dakota to be a fictional variation of Detroit, Michigan. It’s home to heroes like Static, Icon, Hardware, the Blood Syndicate, and more. Originally, the Milestone heroes were part of their own separate continuity, but it then merged into the mainline DC Earth in 2008. If we ever see the Milestone heroes come to life, like in the long-rumored Static Shock live-action project, then Dakota is a must.

Coast City (First Appearance – Showcase #22 (1959))

In many ways, Coast City has had the wildest publishing history of any DC Comics city. DC introduced it as a stand-in for a Southern California city like L.A. or San Diego in the early ‘60s Green Lantern comics. This was at the height of the period when California was the number one location for the aviation industry. And since Green Lantern Hal Jordan was a test pilot, it made sense to have Coast City as his home base. Hal Jordan worked out of Coast City for years, until the Reign of the Superman story in the ‘90s, when the alien Mongul destroyed it, killing millions. Later, they rebuilt the city in record time, because comics. Still, it’s a fun idealized version of mid-century California, and we’d love to see it on screen.

The post The Fictional DC Comics Cities We Want to See in the DCU appeared first on Nerdist.

Blue Beetle came in at a record-low weekend box office opening for DC, despite wonderful critic and user reviews. And it just cemented something we’ve all known for a long time. As far as films are concerned, to the general audience, the DC cinematic brand is broken. Yes, Marvel can get comic C-list titles like Ant-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy and turn them into box office gold. But Warner Brothers has struggled for a decade to make anything click that’s not Batman, or Batman-related like Joker. Sure, Wonder Woman and Aquaman made a lot of money, but those are the exceptions and not the rule.

The DC Movie Stigma Is a Hard One to Overcome

We can get into the why of it all, but the “why” is a matter of opinion. Some folks believe the initial Synder tone of Man of Steel, BvS, and Justice League was too much of a turn-off to many in the general audience. Certainly, a vocal bunch of folks think turning away from Snyder was the problem. Whatever you think it is, the box office numbers don’t lie. The audience is just not here for the DCEU as we know it in large numbers. As for as this iteration of a cinematic DC universe goes, it was long past time to put a fork in it. DCEU, R.I.P., 2013-2023.

So what do DC Studios co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran do? They’ve already laid out their initial slate of films and streaming series. They’ve titled DCU Chapter 1 as “Gods and Monsters.” Some say their announcement of the new DCU killed any enthusiasm for whatever DC films were left after the fact. While they might already have their approach in mind, at this critical moment, when the DC brand in movies has the stink of failed promise and struggles to lure in moviegoers, it’s time to look towards the past. Because DC has been in this exact place before. DC Comics, that is.

In the Early ’80s, DC Comics’ Biggest Challenge Was Marvel

From the ‘40s all the way through to the ‘60s, DC Comics was the brand to beat in terms of comic book sales. Nothing could touch them. Then, in the ‘60s, upstart publisher Marvel Comics changed the game, and by the end of that decade, DC seemed like your grandpa’s comics. Marvel continued to grow and grow in popularity. By the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, Marvel left DC in the dust, sales-wise. By 1984, Marvel titles like Hercules and Dazzler and even ROM were easily outselling DC’s pop culture icons like Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and the Justice League. Only DC’s New Teen Titans, and to a lesser extent, Legion of Super-Heroes, sold in numbers comparable to Marvel. And in many ways, they were the most Marvel-esque books, focusing on the interpersonal melodrama of attractive young heroes.

DC Comics Rebooted Their Entire Universe with Crisis on Infinite Earths

So DC Comics did what they had to do, and took drastic measures. They blew it all up. With Crisis on Infinite Earths, they destroyed their previous multiverse, and five decades of continuity, and started fresh with their biggest icons in a newly rebooted world. In 1986, Superman got a massive reimagining, jettisoning years of clutter around the Superman mythos, under the guidance of former X-Men creator John Byrne. Wonder Woman received an even bigger transformation, under the guidance of writer/artist George Perez. The stalwart Justice League of America became the action-sitcom Justice League International. And Flash became the first true legacy hero series, about a young ex-sidekick taking on a huge heroic legacy.

And then, of course, there was Batman. Frank Miller reinvigorated the Dark Knight’s mythos and brought him back to his 1939 roots with Batman: Year One. From there, it was off to the races. The fog that surrounded Bruce Wayne’s reputation ever since the Batman ’66 series suddenly lifted, and he was a big player again. And we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention DC taking a gamble on old forgotten titles like Animal Man and Sandman, titles that changed how the mainstream perceived comics. All of these things happened within a span of just a couple of years. But DC’s gambit worked. Their newly rebooted universe didn’t dethrone Marvel, but gone were the days of DC doing time at the bottom of the top 100. DC was finally a contender again.

The Rebooted DC Universe Led to a Sales Renaissance

According to the comic book sales history website Comichron, the difference between where DC Comics were selling pre-Crisis and post-Crisis is significant. Superman, which in 1984 was in the #76 and #80 positions in the Top 100, was the #1 monthly comic from June-October of 1986, and sold well in the years after that. Justice League, which was in the bottom 50 in 1984, was a consistently top 10/top 20 series by 1987. Flash and Wonder Woman were also selling in numbers they hadn’t in decades. And Batman? Well, by early 1989, Batman was neck-and-neck with Marvel’s X-Men. All of these things would have been unheard of just a few years before.

James Gunn needs to look at this era, especially for inspiration. Although DC rebooted its universe, giving tweaked updates to the hero’s origins, it was a universe with some history behind it. And a history that was more or less familiar. Superman, Batman and the Justice League had been around, we just learned that their histories became altered. Only Wonder Woman was presented as a fresh new heroine on the scene. A version of the DC history as we’d known it played out. However, DC writers were allowed to pick and choose what aspects to use. Sometimes this created big continuity messes. But mostly, it worked and truly gave these long-running characters a new lease on life.

It seems that already Gunn might be taking this approach. He’s said that his Superman: Legacy won’t be an origin story. And clearly, with the addition of many well-known DC heroes to that film, this will be a universe with history behind it. An older Dark Knight in Batman: The Brave and the Bold suggests the same thing. But while retaining a sense of history is important, much like DC Comics did, Gunn and Safran can’t be afraid to go nuts. Post-Crisis Superman changed many aspects of Kal-El’s lore for a new generation. Things like how Krypton was presented, and Lex Luthor’s role in his life. DC wasn’t afraid to jettison key parts of Wonder Woman’s mythos, either. Gone were things like her secret identity or her invisible plane, in order to update the concept. DC Comics was not afraid to take big swings. And DC Studios shouldn’t either.

Always Look to the Comics

We should note, that while DC Comics really re-jiggered their biggest icons, the successful series that pre-dated the reboot did continue intact. So, a big seller like New Teen Titans could go on as is, and it mostly worked. Gunn also seems to use this approach with Peacemaker, which existed, albeit tangentially at best, in the old DCEU. With something as successful, and as off to the side from DC’s “Big Guns” as Peacemaker and Blue Beetle, there’s no reason not to include them. The signal to the general audience that this will be a “new universe” will be in recasting their biggest most iconic characters. Not removing ones like Peacemaker or Blue Beetle.

Without a doubt, Gunn and Safran have their work cut out for them. The DC brand on film lies shattered on the movie theater floor. And they’re going to have to do a lot of work behind the scenes in front of the public to convince people that this new DCU is something different. But as history proves, DC Comics did it all before. DC Comics turned it all around, so here’s hoping DC Studios pulls the same trick. Really, in the end, the comics should be the source of inspiration for every live-action superhero movie property. No matter which studio it’s coming from.

The post James Gunn Should Look to DC Comics’ ’80s Renaissance for His DCU appeared first on Nerdist.

The DCU is coming our way, and many fans wonder how it will compare to the all-mighty MCU. Well, according to James Gunn, there will be some significant differences between the DCU and its Marvel counterpart. The co-CEO of DC Studios dove into the topic with Inside of You podcast to give fans more insight. (Thanks to IGN for putting this on our radar.) On the podcast, Gunn shares the DCU will lean heavily on secret identities and fantasy settings, which is certainly not like the MCU.

“If you look at the MCU, there are very few traditional superheroes,” Gunn affirms. “There was never a guy with a secret identity until Spider-Man in the MCU. Their Cap was turned into a soldier even though he wears a mask. Iron Man outed himself at the end of the first Iron Man because they don’t want to deal with the whole secret identity stuff.”

He goes on to explain that the DCU is also more fantasy based than the MCU because many of its heroes, like Superman, are larger than life. To him, Clark Kent and Superman are very much two different characters. And the DCU will find a way to deal with both of them in its world. Speaking of its world, Gunn is excited to explore fictional places like Gotham City. DC’s settings create a much different feeling than putting heroes in our real-life cities as the MCU tends to do. 

“One of the things that I love about DC, that excites me about DC, is that in a way it’s another alternate history,” he notes. “It is Gotham City and Metropolis and Star City and Bludhaven, and all these different places in this other reality, and it makes it a little bit like Westeros in some ways.” And, in fact, Gunn even noted on Threads that he is even planning “an incredibly detailed world map” for his DCU that we can’t wait to see take shape.

The ways that the DCU will be different from the MCU make a lot of sense and will give fans a fresh approach to DC’s roster. In the meantime, we will be (not so) patiently waiting for Superman: Legacy to fly our way in 2025.

Originally published on June 14, 2023.

The post Here’s How James Gunn’s DCU Will Be Different From the MCU appeared first on Nerdist.

Last December, director Patty Jenkins revealed she was no longer developing a third Wonder Woman movie for DC Studios. That was just one of the many big changes to take place under new co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran. They’re overseeing the franchise’s transition from the DCEU to the DCU. That switch will include new actors in some major roles, including for both Superman and Batman. But in news that will delight fans of the previous Diana Prince, it looks like they might be keeping her around. Gal Gadot says Gunn and Safran informed her they’re developing a Wonder Woman 3 movie starring her as Themyscira’s greatest hero.

Gadot shared the news while speaking to ComicBook.com‘s Chris Killian about her new Netflix film Heart of Stone. (The interview took place prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike.) Gadot’s announcement could have huge ramifications for the DCU. She said, “I love portraying Wonder Woman. It’s so close to and dear to my heart.” That’s not news, but what came next certainly is. Gadot added, “From what I heard from James and from Peter is that we’re gonna develop a Wonder Woman 3 together.”

Obviously “hearing” something about a possible Wonder Woman 3 movie is far from a guarantee the film will happen. Still, Gadot went into a little more detail in an interview with Flaunt. She said, “I was invited to a meeting with James Gunn and Peter Safran [co-chairperson and CEO of DC alongside Gunn] and what they told me, and I’m quoting: ‘You’re in the best hands. We’re going to develop Wonder Woman 3 with you. [We] love you as Wonder Woman— you’ve got nothing to worry about.’ So time will tell.”

However, sources with knowledge of the situation have told both Collider and Variety that Wonder Woman 3 is not in development. Sources said Gunn and Safran don’t have any plans for any kind of Wonder Woman project in the new DCU aside from already announced Paradise Lost series.

Will Gadot’s Wonder Woman ultimately join him in the DCU? We don’t know and she probably doesn’t either. Gunn and Safran themselves might not either. As Gadot said, time will tell.

Originally published on August 2, 2023.

The post Gal Gadot Thinks WONDER WOMAN 3 Could Happen, Sources Say Otherwise appeared first on Nerdist.

We love Groot. We especially love when Groot dances. Luckily each Guardians of the Galaxy movie has given us a wonderful scene of Groot letting go. Writer and director James Gunn has provided the motion capture performance for Groot dancing in the past, and that tradition continued with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. In an interview with The New York Times in May, Gunn said he once again performed motion capture for Groot dancing at the end of the film. Thanks to the below VFX breakdown (spotted on Polygon) from Framestore we get to see Gunn doing those sweet Groot moves.

At the end of the emotional movie, our heroes let loose on Knowhere and dance to Florence + the Machine’s “Dog Days Are Over.” It’s this beautiful scene of release after an intense journey—you just kind of sink into it. You’re dancing in your heart with all of them. And from what Gunn said about filming, it sounds like that part was equally impactful. He told the Times:

Yeah, and it was a high point in my life, really. My brother Sean is dancing for Rocket, and in the moment we were shooting the wide shot and dancing toward each other, it was surreal and beautiful and wonderful. We’ve been goofing around and playing with Fisher-Price characters since we were kids in our parents’ basement, and now we’re on the biggest set I’ve ever been on with gigantic Tinker Toys instead of smaller ones, but with that same purity and imagination we had as kids. Everybody was crying as it was happening. It was a really powerful moment.

James and Sean Gunn both dancing their hearts out as the Guardians trilogy comes to end? My heart cannot. When we talked to Sean Gunn in May, he described that moment as the culmination of everything. “That was very emotional for me, but it was also very cathartic, because it wasn’t some heart-wrenching stuff. We had already gone through the ringer with Rocket’s story, and digging in—we’d already done the digging. So in that moment at the end he’s really just letting loose, and I was able to do the same thing. It’s pretty cool,” he said.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is streaming on Disney+ now. Have tissues at the ready.

Originally published on May 12, 2023.

The post See James Gunn Dance as Groot in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 appeared first on Nerdist.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 had plenty of unexpected moments. But one truly shocking comment wasn’t quite what it seemed. Groot didn’t actually expand his vocabulary and speak new words in English in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. How can that be when we heard him say something other than “I am Groot?” The understated response of his fellow Guardians reveals what was really going on during their emotional goodbye. James Gunn’s final entry in the franchise lets us hear Groot the way his friends do.

“I love you guys.” Before the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the only words MCU fans ever heard any Groot say were “I am Groot” and “We are Groot.” (The latter was used in countless trailers as a reminder of the original Groot’s ultimate sacrifice.) That seemingly limited vocabulary never stopped his friends from understanding him, though. There’s something about the Groot language—severely limited though it may be in terms of total words—that makes it easier to comprehend the more you hear it. The alternate 2014 Gamora initially accused the Guardians of just “making up” stuff when Groot repeated the same three word phrase. She thought he was simply telling her his name again and again. But by the end of Vol. 3 she didn’t need a translator to understand the way Groot speaks.

We always needed one, including during their last scene together. Without specific translations from other characters, we never knew exactly what Groot was saying when he spoke. The best we could do was make an educated guess based on his inflection and body language. Sometimes that was easy, like when teenage Groot was obviously being a sarcastic a-hole. Other times our lack of comprehension denied us the full emotional weight of Groot’s words. How many fans know his last spoken “I am Groot” before turning to dust in Infinity War was him calling out “dad” to Rocket?

That wasn’t a problem. It was an effective and entertaining way to establish his character and role in the group. Groot’s simple vocabulary reflected his sweet, childlike nature without limiting his inherent complexity and full range of emotions. James Gunn also used those necessary translations effectively for both comedic and dramatic purposes. Sometimes he even pulled off both simultaneously, like in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 when Rocket told a soon-to-die Yondu that Groot had said, “Welcome to the frickin’ Guardians of the Galaxy. Only he didn’t say frickin.”

It was only at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 for the first—and likely only—time ever, we didn’t need anyone to tell us what Groot actually said. Gunn let viewers experience what it was like for the sentient tree’s loved ones to hear Groot speak. It might not have seemed that way initially because it was so jarring to hear Groot clearly say, “I love you guys.”

But the fact Groot’s other Guardians of the Galaxy weren’t as shocked as we were is the key to understanding the significance of that moment. It didn’t impact them because that was a normal moment for the Guardians; they always understood Groot when he spoke. Groot didn’t actually speak new words to them. He physically said, “I am Groot,” only, like them, we heard the true meaning behind those words. It was like having a galactic translator in our ears that let us hear from Groot directly.

It was only fitting we got to experience that moment, which Gunn has confirmed is exactly what we thought it was. The alternate Gamora only spent one movie with him before she understood him. We’ve been listening to Groots talk for way longer, and we’ve always loved those guys, too.

Originally published on May 4, 2023.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Twitter at  @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

The post GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3’s Groot Speaking New Words, Explained appeared first on Nerdist.

The Guardians of the Galaxy had plenty of familiar faces join them for their last ride. The group’s third and final film featured a bevy of returning co-stars from the franchise. It also included some new characters played by some pretty famous stars. Did you catch them all? Or did some fly over your head like a rocket flying into the forever? Don’t worry if you missed any. Here’s every major supporting role and all the cameos—including those we knew were coming, ones we expected, and those we didn’t see coming—we spotted in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Cameos We Knew About in Advance

Linda Cardellini, Mikaela Hoover, and Asim Chaudhry as Lylla, Floor, and Teefs

Linda Cardellini, Mikaela Hoover, and Asim Chaudhry’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 cameos as Lylla the otter, Floor the rabbit, and Teefs the walrus were among the best.

Batch 89 will forever remain in our hearts.

Sylvester Stallone as Stakar Ogord

Sylvester Stallone once again played Yondu’s former Ravager mentor Stakar Ogord. Only this time he had a new member in his clan. The 2014 Gamora had joined the Ravagers following her departure from Earth in Avengers: Endgame. Stakar helped facilitate Gamora’s (not ultimately) paid mission with the Guardians to break into the Orgoscope. He then warmly welcomed her back to the Ravagers at the end of Vol. 3. It was fun to see this Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 cameo in action, even though we already knew it was coming.

Nathan Fillion as Orgoscope Guard Master Karja

When he wasn’t busy dealing with his idiot employee, Nathan Fillion’s easily annoyed Master Karja and his organic orgosentry uniform were trying to capture the Guardians on the Orgoscope. Karja was a good shot, but even he couldn’t fire in zero gravity.

Tara Strong as Mainframe

In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Tara Strong, Loki‘s Miss Minutes herself, replaced Miley Cyrus as the voice of the Ravager Mainframe for one of the more sneaky cameos. The floating mechanical artificial intelligence head first appeared in Vol. 2.

Michael Rosenbaum as Martinex T’Naga

Stakar’s first officer Martinex T’Naga, played by Michael Rosenbaum, also returned in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The crystal-headed Ravager was glad to have Gamora in the clan.

Elizabeth Debicki as Ayesha

Elizabeth Debicki’s Golden High Priestess of the Sovereign was not the powerful figure we first met in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Her peoples’ creator, the High Evolutionary, had her under his thumb (thanks to a box that let him lord over her). She was determined to have her own creation, Adam, capture Rocket for the High Evolutionary to earn the Sovereign his favor. But Ayesha died when the High Evolutionary destroyed Counter-Earth.

Jennifer Holland as Orgoscope Administrator Kwol

James Gunn truly made the film a family affair by bringing his wife and Peacemaker standout Jennifer Holland to the MCU. In Holland’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 cameo, she played Orgoscope administrator Kwol who Gamora shot in the leg. Kwol was also shocked by Adam Warlock’s fatal misunderstanding of how to intimidate a witness.

Daniela Melchior as Orgoscope Employee Ura

Holland wasn’t the only DC alum Gunn brought into the Guardians franchise. The Suicide Squad director also found a role for Ratcatcher 2, Daniela Melchior, in the MCU movie. She played the kidnapped Orgoscope employee Ura, who may or may not have found Star-Lord charming.

Krugarr

Another former member of Stakar’s clan, first seen in Vol. 2, was back working with his old leader in Vol. 3. The silent-but-funny sorcerer Krugarr opened the portals his fellow Ravagers used to board the Guardians ship near the Orgoscope.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Surprise Cameos That Weren’t Surprising

Seth Green as Howard the Duck

Just as he had in the previous two Guardians of the Galaxy movies, Howard the Duck made a cameo in Vol. 3. He was seen playing poker on Knowhere.

Christopher Fairbank as the Broker

Also spotted at that poker game was Christopher Fairbank’s Broker. This cameo was more than just an Easter egg from the first film. It revealed not every citizen of Xander died during Thanos’ attack when the Mad Titan stole the Power Stone.

Rhett Miller as Bzermikitokolok

The Old 97’s Rhett Miller was still rocking out on Knowhere as Bzermikitokolok, the leader singer and guitarist of the band that performed original Christmas songs during The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. He was also in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3‘s cameo-filled poker game.

Gregg Henry as Grandpa Quill

Gregg Henry made it three-for-three in the Guardians trilogy as he once again played Quill’s grandfather. The two had an emotional reunion and appeared together during the film’s second and final post-credits scene.

Stephen Blackehart as Steemie

Knowhere’s dispatcher Steemie, played by Stephen Blackehart, was still on the job inside the dead Celestial’s skull in Vol. 3, just as he had been in the original movie and in the group’s Holiday Special. The Guardians relied on him to help them during the evacuation of the High Evolutionary’s ship. That was a far cry from when Drax put a knife to his throat years ago.

Actual Surprise Cameos in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Michael Rooker as Yondu

James Gunn kept to his word and didn’t undo Yondu’s death. But that didn’t stop him from finding a way to bring back Michael Rooker and his blue “angel” for one last cameo in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. He appeared as a vision to Kraglin, as Yondu told his old friend to use his heart to guide his whistle arrow.

James Gunn as Lambshank, The Definitely Not Scary, Really Cool Looking Amorphous Blob

Blink and you would have missed one of the film’s strangest creatures. But that was impossible thanks to Mantis’s totally real compliment. It brought attention to Lambshank, the weird little blob voiced by James Gunn himself.

Pete Davidson as Phlektik

Another alum from The Suidice Squad made their way into the MCU with a secret cameo. Pete Davidson played Phlektik. And he was really on set to film the role even though it was impossible to know he was really there.

Judy Greer as War Pig

Judy Greer, for reasons we’ll never understand, was not in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. But she did become a two-time MCU member in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. She voiced the High Evolutionary’s War Pig, the bioengineered muscle who lost its head to Adam Warlock while trying to kidnap Rocket.

We didn’t like War Pig initially, but we can’t hate anyone played by Judy Greer.

Originally published May 17, 2023.

The post Every Cameo and Guest Star in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 appeared first on Nerdist.

A big shock to longtime DC Comics fans has been the news that James Gunn’s Superman: Legacy isn’t going to showcase the Man of Steel as its only superhero. Recently, they announced that DC heroes like Hawkgirl, Green Lantern Guy Gardner, Mister Terrific, and Metamorpho would all appear in the film as well. Suddenly, this movie takes on a whole new light. As the first film in the new DCU, it will seemingly introduce a universe where superheroes are already everywhere. And that might even include an already formed Justice League. And this approach would show that Gunn is bucking the trend started by the MCU, and later, the DCEU.

Superman: Legacy Might Skip Building Up a Superhero Cinematic Universe

Slowly building up to a big superhero team-up film had been the go-to approach since the MCU began in earnest with 2008’s Iron Man. When Marvel Studios started their big experiment, the strategy was to carefully establish their individual heroes before teaming them all up. There were four years between Iron Man and Avengers. With the introductions of Captain America and Thor in solo films taking place in between. This plan worked, and Avengers became an enormous hit. And some might say the true start of the MCU.

Meanwhile, Warner Bros. wanted some of the superhero cheddar (outside of Batman, who always delivered). They introduced their new Superman, Henry Cavill, in Man of Steel. That was essentially meant to be their Iron Man. The other big DC heroes would, presumably, slowly roll out their own films before teaming up as the Justice League. But things didn’t quite work out that way. Man of Steel met with a lukewarm response. So its sequel, Batman v Superman, not only had the task of introducing the DCEU Batman, but also Wonder Woman. And in cameos, Aquaman and the Flash. It took four years between Man of Steel and Justice League. Yet their kitchen-sink approach to Batman v Superman made the whole thing feel rushed and unearned.

James Gunn Might Introduce a DC Universe Already Populated by Superheroes

Yet as different as the MCU and DCEU were in their execution, the approach was basically the same. Introduce one big hero as “the first,” then introduce others before the team up. But maybe James Gunn’s new DCU is just throwing that formula out the window. Gunn’s Superman: Legacy will introduce a Kal-El early in his career. And judging by all the other heroes in the film, there might already be a superteam in this universe. And although Superman is famously the first superhero in the real world, in the pages of DC Comics, there’s plenty of precedent for his not being the first superhero in-universe.

In the post-Crisis on Infinite Earths DC Universe, there was a long legacy of superheroes before Superman arrived on the scene. The World War II era had the heroes of the Justice Society of America, punching mobsters and Nazis alike. Decades passed, and then the arrival of Superman ushered in a new era, which led to a Silver Age of heroes, and to the formation of the Justice League. But in modern comics, Superman definitely arrived into a world where superheroes were known. It seems James Gunn’s DCU might take the same tactic.

Will Superman: Legacy Feature an Already Existing Justice League?

With Hawkgirl, Green Lantern Guy Gardner, Mister Terrific, and Metamorpho in the film, we think they probably exist as a team of superheroes. While Mister Terrific and Metamorpho have been members of the team the Terrifics together, it’s more likely that this grouping is some form of the Justice League. Especially as Hawkgirl and Green Lantern Guy Gardner are iconic stalwart members of the team in the comics. Maybe we see them trying to recruit Superman into their ranks in the film. Possibly, the big guy just isn’t ready or interested. At least not yet.

Will James Gunn’s DCU Have a Long Superheroic History Behind It?

Pure speculation, but we could see James Gunn introducing a DCU with a significant history behind it already. There could have been a Justice Society of America during the ‘40s and ‘50s, one which gets casually mentioned perhaps (but might be the subject of some future project). That JSA could have eventually inspired a Justice League, just as in the comics. The “build-up” to the DCU Justice League might not be the organization just existing, it just might be a build-up to how the team gained its most iconic lineup in a world-ending event, which would include Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman.

This approach would also allow for other projects using the name brand of Justice League before we see DC’s Big Guns together in a film. With Guy Gardner and Metamorpho around, and soon Booster Gold, why not a Max adaptation of the iconic and hilarious Justice League International comics? Or an animated series about whichever modern-day iteration of the League we might meet in Superman: Legacy? The sky is the limit in terms of potential if this cinematic universe is already teaming with heroes.

Between long-running animated shows like Justice League Unlimited and Young Justice, the audience that grew up with them, now mostly adults, are well aware of the DC heroes and their various teams. And older audiences are familiar with shows like Super Friends from their youth. We don’t need to see how the Justice League formed, or risk audience confusion. The world is different now. We can accept there’s a universe where all of these things are already in place. If all of this pans out, James Gunn’s Superman film might be even more ambitious than originally thought. And we’re even more here for it than before.

The post Will James Gunn’s New DCU Have a Justice League Already In It? appeared first on Nerdist.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3 has arrived, introducing MCU fans to Peacemaker’s Chukwudi Iwuji as the film’s main villain, the High Evolutionary. But just who is Marvel’s maddest scientist? What are the High Evolutionary’s powers? Get ready to get cosmic, as we’re here to answer all your burning High Evolutionary questions, from Marvel Comics to MCU. 

Who Is the High Evolutionary in Marvel Comics? 

1966’s Thor #133 marks the first reference to the High Evolutionary in Marvel Comics. He would make his debut on the page in the very next issue, which also included a cameo of the mutant twins who would become such a key part of the High Evolutionary’s comic book lore. With Galactus planning deep space destruction as always, Thor is looking for Jane Foster. It’s on his search that he comes across Mount Wundagore, the High Evolutionary, and his New Men. Marvel’s Pietro and Wanda are going to Mount Wundagore to seek answers about their waning mutant powers.

It wouldn’t be until years later that readers learned who the High Evolutionary truly was, thanks to backup stories in The Evolutionary War event. In the Marvel universe, the High Evolutionary’s human name was Herbert Edgar Wyndham, and he had once been a successful academic scientist. As a child, Herbert became obsessed with genetics and the possibility of “evolving” creatures. But it wasn’t until an encounter with a strange man—later revealed to be a rogue Inhuman—who enlightened him on how to “crack the genetic code” that Herbert made his dreams a reality. His experiments made him an outcast in the scientific field, and he moved to Mount Wundagore with his research partner, Jonathan Drew, father of Spider-Woman, Jessica Drew. There he built his futuristic home. The High Evolutionary began to evolve animals, creating a series of humanoid beasts known as the New Men.

The High Evolutionary’s Powers and Abilities

The High Evolutionary’s powers are always in a state of flux. When he exposed himself to his Evolutionary Accelerator machine and its unstable Isotope E, it caused him to switch from evolved super being to someone with caveman intelligence levels. But usually, the High Evolutionary has a certain baseline of abilities. These include an artificially evolved human brain, making him one of the smartest beings on Earth. The High Evolutionary also has the powers of superhuman strength, durability, and a healing factor similar to Wolverine’s. Additionally, he can communicate telepathically and shield his mind from other psychics.

Some other powers the High Evolutionary has demonstrated over the years include the ability to levitate, although not outright fly. Body mass manipulation allows him to change his physical size and density at will. Wyndham also has the ability to create force fields, and shoot deadly concussive blasts from his body. He can even evolve or devolve other beings through a form of forced artificial evolution. And thanks to all his evolutionary tampering, the High Evolutionary has effectively achieved immortality, perhaps his greatest power of all.

How Is the High Evolutionary Connected to the Scarlet Witch? 

Herbert’s first appearance alluded to a connection to the Maximoffs. A flashback in 1974’s Giant-Size Avengers #1 teased a vital Mount Wundagore backstory around the twins’ birth. Finally, in 1979’s Avengers #185-187, Herbert’s full impact on the twins’ lives came to light. It was during this iconic arc that readers learned their “true history.” Their mother sought refuge on Mount Wundagore after their father gained powers and went mad, “raving with a desire to rule the world.” The High Evolutionary’s cow creature known as Bova delivered the twins, and soon their mother left the children with the bovine midwife. While Bova tried to give the twins to the hero known as the Whizzer, he chose to run away. Eventually, the Maximoffs came and adopted the twins.

What does all this have to do with Wanda’s powers? Chthon “marked” her at her birth. We learn this as Chthon possesses Wanda. Speaking through Wanda, Chthon tells the Avengers that Mount Wundagore was created to imprison him and the Darkhold. Inevitably, someone used the Darkhold, and Chthon was freed when this knowledge fell into the hands of the wrong person. Eventually, the demon is defeated. But at that moment, Chthon decides to imbue baby Wanda, who was just born thanks to the High Evolutionary’s creation, with his magic, thus arguably creating the most famous origin of the Scarlet Witch. Whether the MCU’s High Evolutionary and Scarlet Witch have any ties at all in the MCU, we must wait to find out.

How Is the High Evolutionary Connected to Adam Warlock? 

In the comics, Adam Warlock and the High Evolutionary are deeply connected. Remember how we first met Adam Warlock in the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 stinger? Adam was in a giant cocoon, looked after by the High Priestess of the Sovereign, Ayesha. Ayesha calls her creation “Him” (as in Adam’s first appearance in the Fantastic Four) before deciding to name him Adam.

1972’s Marvel Premiere #1 brought the story of Adam Warlock to life, and the issue dug deep into his past. Created by scientists on Earth, the High Evolutionary later found Adam’s body floating in a cocoon in space. In the comics, Herbert adopts Adam, names him Warlock, and places an emerald upon his forehead. The comics would later reveal the emerald as the Soul Gem. In the MCU, Adam’s creators, the Sovereign, are creations of the High Evolutionary. It’s more of an indirect line, but still a line.

The MCU High Evolutionary in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the MCU’s High Evolutionary does not seem to originate from Earth. He was only referred to ever as the High Evolutionary. The MCU made no reference to the High Evolutionary’s Marvel Comics human name of Herbert Wyndham. On Counter-Earth, he mentioned that he visited Earth once and admired it. The High Evolutionary based his new MCU world on his memories, further suggesting his origins are alien. Of course, he might have taken the name Herbert Wyndham while living on Earth, but it’s not mentioned in the film at all.

Additionally, Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3 portrays the High Evolutionary as one of the most sadistic villains the MCU has ever seen, torturing animals to further his own experiments in perfection. And he’s worshipped as a god among many alien species, suggesting Guardians of the Galaxy‘s High Evolutionary is far older than his Marvel Comics counterpart.

Although the High Evolutionary appeared to die at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, he actually lived. James Gunn confirmed as much on Twitter. Not only did Rocket save the High Evolutionary’s life at the climax of the film, he’s now actually imprisoned in Knowhere.

Gunn notes, “Yes! It’s the whole culmination of Rocket’s journey. His shift comes in that he doesn’t kill him – he goes from being the least empathetic to the most empathetic Guardian. It seems silly & hollow that he’d refuse to kill him [the High Evolutionary] & then leave him on an exploding ship. And, yes, there is a deleted scene. It’s really great actually, but it messed up the pacing of the end. But you’ll see it in the extras eventually.”

And, indeed, the deleted scene revealing the High Evolutionary’s fate is included in the home release of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. It is titled, “Knowhere After the Battle,”

So yes, it’s very possible we may see the High Evolutionary return again in the MCU and its multiverse. Now that Ms. Marvel established the mutant gene in the MCU, it feels very intentional to introduce a famed geneticist. As to whether the High Evolutionary ever visits Mount Wundagore or creates Bova… well, we can dream.

Originally published on July 27, 2022.

Original reporting by Rosie Knight. Additional reporting by Eric Diaz.

The post Who Is GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY’s High Evolutionary? His Marvel Comics Origins and Powers, Explained appeared first on Nerdist.

Superman: Legacy is going to have a few more superheroes in it than just the Man of Steel. After the recent news that David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan have been cast as Clark Kent and Lois Lane, respectively, Vanity Fair has revealed that new actors have joined the cast as prominent members of DC’s Justice League. It appears that this opening episode of James Gunn’s DCU Chapter 1 is going to set up a lot more than just happenings in Metropolis. Gunn has also confirmed that these newly cast actors will definitely continue to play the characters throughout the DCU. Let us break down each addition to the cast:

Isabela Merced Will Play Hawkgirl in Superman: Legacy

First, Isabela Merced, whose credits include Sicario: Day of the Soldado and the title character in Dora and the Lost City of Gold, will play Hawkgirl. The Winged Wonder is going solo, without her paramour Hawkman (Last seen in Black Adam). There have been several versions of Hawkgirl in the comics. There’s the reincarnated Egyptian princess Shiera Hall from DC’s Justice Society. Then, the alien warrior from Thanagar from the Justice League. In recent years, another Hawkgirl, Kendra Saunders, has taken up the name. The Hawkgirl known to most general audiences was the alien version, who was a prominent member of the animated Justice League series.

Edi Gathegi Will Be Playing Mister Terrific in Superman: Legacy

James Gunn has been teasing Mister Terrific since he took over DC Studios with Peter Safran. And now we know why. Actor Edi Gathegi, perhaps best known for the Twilight films, will play Mister Terrific in Superman: Legacy. In the comics, Michael Holt was known as “the third smartest man in the world,” right behind Lex Luthor and Bruce Wayne. On the verge of ending his own life after several personal tragedies, the Spectre intervened and showed Holt what he could do with his intellect and wealth to help others.

Holt used his genius to become the new Mister Terrific, naming himself after an old-time hero. He created all kinds of badass high-tech weapons, like his multi-purpose T-Spheres. Gathegi once played another hero, the mutant Darwin, in X-Men: First Class. But his character was ridiculously killed off, something that is memed to this day. Hopefully, Mister Terrific has a longer life on screen than poor Darwin. He deserved better.

Nathan Fillion Will Play Green Lantern Guy Gardner in Superman: Legacy

Longtime James Gunn collaborator and friend Nathan Fillion, who has appeared in Gunn projects like Slither, The Suicide Squad, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, will play Green Lantern, Guy Gardner. The loud-mouthed, egotistical Gardner is one of several Earth-based Green Lanterns, and was a prominent member of the Justice League International. He’s a big jerk, and most of the other superheroes in the DC Universe can’t stand him. Particularly Batman, who once punched him in the face. He’s not the main Lantern for Sector 2814, those duties fall on Hal Jordan and John Stewart. Both of whom will be in the new DCU in the series Lanterns. Gunn has also promised we’ll see Nathan Fillion rock Guy Gardner’s Green Lantern bowl cut in the DCU. That’s a lot to look forward to.

Anthony Carrigan Will Play Metamorpho the Element Man in Superman: Legacy

Barry actor Anthony Carrigan also joins the cast as off-the-wall 1960s hero Metamorpho, the Element Man. Metamorpho sports one of the weirdest design aesthetics in all of comics, and has been around since 1965. In reality, he’s Rex Mason, a soldier of fortune. Rex was cursed by the Orb of Ra in an Egyptian tomb, and gained the ability to shapeshift and change his body into any element or combination of elements. Metamorpho had his own series in the sixties, which spawned a very groovy vinyl record with a catchy theme song. Over the years, he’s been a member of teams like the Justice League, Batman’s Outsiders, the Doom Patrol, and most recently the Terrifics, Mister Terrific’s own team.

Originally published on July 11, 2023.

The post SUPERMAN Announces Casting for 4 Major DC Characters appeared first on Nerdist.

We officially have our new Superman and Lois Lane. According to Deadline, and confirmed by James Gunn, David Corenswet has been cast as Superman, a.k.a Clark Kent, in the DCU’s upcoming Superman: Legacy. Rachel Brosnahan will play the journalist Lois Lane, who is also Superman’s romantic interest in the DC Comics universe.

Superman: Legacy is the first in a slate of new DC movies that will be a part of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DCU. Gunn and Safran hope to bring a new, unified perspective to the DC cinematic world. And all eyes will be on Superman to lead the charge. So, of course, the question of casting Superman: Legacy was a major one for fans.

Who Has Been Cast as Superman and Lois Lane in Superman: Legacy?

Since the announcement of the Superman: Legacy movie, there has been a lot of intense speculation on who might be cast to don the red cloak. Rumors swirled intently as to who would be the next Superman, but Gunn and Safran cautioned patience as they went through a thorough casting and audition process. And ultimately, our new DCU Superman is a bit of an unknown. Clark Kent will be played by David Corenswet in Superman: Legacy. Corenswet has acted in Pearl, The Politician, and We Own This City, but it seems Superman: Legacy will be his first leading role in a major studio movie. Honestly, that feels like a fitting origin for Superman.

Rachel Brosnahan, meanwhile, starred in Prime Video’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel for a number of years. Many have cheered her on for the role of Lois Lane. And, marvelously, it happened. Other actresses in the running were Phoebe Dynevor and Emma Mackey. But it is Brosnahan who has ultimately been cast as our favorite intrepid reporter in Superman: Legacy.

What Roles Will Clark Kent and Lois Lane Play in Superman: Legacy?

Superman: Legacy will not be a Superman origin story, but instead, it will “[tell] the story of Superman’s journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas.” Gunn once described his ideal DCU Superman as someone who was huggable. And honestly, looking at the casting of David Corenswet as Superman, it feels like Gunn achieved exactly that. Warner Bros. additionally shared of our Man of Steel that, “[Superman] is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.” We can totally envision Corenswet embodying this kind of Superman.

As for Lois Lane—Rachel Brosnahan’s casting is actually the first indicative piece of information we have about the character. None of Superman: Legacy‘s descriptions to date mention Lois Lane’s role in the DCU’s world. But we hope to learn more soon.

One way or another, thanks to this exciting Superman: Legacy casting news, we can imagine how our new DCU world will look just a little more clearly. And so far, we like what we’re seeing of Gunn and Safran’s vision.

The post SUPERMAN: LEGACY Casts Leads David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan as DCU Clark Kent and Lois Lane appeared first on Nerdist.

Not too long ago, James Gunn dropped a number of bombs with regard to the brand new, revamped DCU. (First, it’s no longer the DCEU) Among the things he said were movies like Matt Reeves’ The Batman sequel and Joker: Folie a Deux will get a clear “Elseworlds” label to let people know—much like in the comics—that they are not connected to the overarching DCU. Gunn also gave us a huge list of movies and shows coming to our screens. One of those will be the DCU’s new Batman, a feature film titled The Brave and the Bold. And this Batman movie will have a familiar director at the helm.

The Flash‘s Andy Muschietti Will Direct the DCU’s Batman Movie

Speaking to Variety, James Gunn revealed that Andy Muschietti will direct the DCU’s The Brave and the Bold Batman movie. Gunn noted:

We saw The Flash; even before taking the reins at DC Studios, and knew we were in the hands of not only a visionary director but a massive DC fan. It’s a magnificent film – funny, emotional, thrilling – and Andy’s affinity and passion for these characters and this world just resonates through every frame. So, when it came time to find a director for The Brave and the Bold, there was really only one choice. Luckily, Andy said yes. Barbara signed on to produce with us and we were on our way. They’re an extraordinary team, and we couldn’t have better or more inspiring partners as we embark on this thrilling new adventure in the DCU.

Of course, Muschietti already directed Batman or two in The Flash, Michael Keaton’s Batman and Ben Affleck’s Batman, to be specific. But there’s no telling yet how similar or different the DCU’s Batman will be when he arrives. Still, experience is never a bad thing.

The Brave and the Bold in DC Comics

Traditionally, The Brave and the Bold at DC Comics pointed to any number of team-ups, usually involving heroes who wouldn’t normally work together. The Silver Age was the big heyday for this title. Beginning in issue #59 the title shifted to almost exclusively a Caped Crusader book, owing to the popularity of the Adam West Batman TV series. While the movie Gunn announced will feature Batman and Robin, it won’t be the familiar dynamic duo most fans know.

The movie will adapt Grant Morrison’s run of Batman comics from the mid-2000s. Morrison took Batman all over the place, killed him off, sent him through time, and then franchised him across the globe. But in specific, Gunn said The Brave and the Bold will focus on Bruce Wayne’s Batman and perhaps Morrison and artist Andy Kubert’s most important contribution to Bat Family canon, his adolescent son Damian Wayne. Damian is Batman’s son with Talia al Ghul, whom Talia and Ra’s al Ghul raised as an assassin.

As Gunn says, the movie will follow Batman’s journey to take the violent nightmare child Damian under his (bat)wing and teach him how to be Robin. While Morrison’s run proved incredibly dark, with new villains like the terrifying Professor Pyg, it was also quite funny.

DC films have long shied away from the idea of Robin, entirely because of the campiness of the Schumacher films. However, Robin is a huge part of the Batman lore. Perhaps using Damian, a darker version, will be a good gateway for people. And Gunn said it will introduce the “Bat Family,” so we might even see a grown up Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, and Barbara Gordon in the film too.

No word yet on casting, but we are, as with all of these announcements, we are jazzed to all heck.

Originally published on January 31, 2023.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

The post THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD Movie Will Bring Batman and Damian Wayne to New DCU appeared first on Nerdist.

The DCEU is coming to an end. Warner Bros. hired James Gunn and Pete Safran as co-CEOs to lead the superhero franchise into a new, more unified DCU. While that will soon mean an entirely different Superman, the two aren’t starting over entirely from scratch. The Flash‘s time travel adventure is a bridge between the two eras, with Barry Allen’s foray into the past changing the present and future forever.

Ultimately, The Flash didn’t deliver the definitive hard reset some expected. It certainly changed things in a big way, but rather than establish the DCU outright, The Flash instead provided the blueprint for how it might happen eventually.

How Does Time Travel Work in The Flash?

As Michael Keaton’s Bruce Wayne explained, time is not linear in the world of The Flash. If you go back to a specific point in the past and change what happened you don’t merely change the events that follow that moment—you also change what happened before it. In this superhero franchise, there’s no clean split from the timeline into an alternate one.

Back to the Future, which The Flash vaguely referenced with its spaghetti scene, would be fundamentally different if it had the same rules of time travel as The Flash. It would mean when Biff gets the Sports Almanac in the original 1955 timeline, the original timeline no longer exists. The new one would simply share a single point with the old one the moment Biff got the almanac.

That’s why Barry’s time travel resulted in the world getting an entirely different, much older Bruce Wayne than the one he knew. When Barry saved his mom it altered the future along with everything that happened long before that day. In that alternate reality Bruce Wayne was born much earlier. Just as Kal-El was not the Kryptonian who safely made his way to Earth, a place without Aquaman or Wonder Woman.

The results of Barry’s actions didn’t just change history and even people. It nearly doomed the entire world.

How Did Barry Allen Fix the Timeline in The Flash?

Once Barry understood his mother had to die to save the world, he went back to the moment he saved her. (That was the single cross point between the original timeline and the new one he created.) Once there, he removed the can of tomatoes he’d previously placed in her shopping cart. Her death was the only way to save the world from General Zod and restore things as they were. It was tragic for Barry, but also necessary. He’d seen firsthand from Dark Barry, who’d spent countless lifetimes futilely trying to keep their mom alive without destroying the planet, that some things simply cannot be changed

Only, the original Barry couldn’t help but alter one thing in the past. And while it didn’t lead to the end of the world, it did lead to the beginning of the end for the old DCEU.

Why Did George Clooney Replace Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne?

Barry’s goal in the present was to exonerate his father Henry (Ron Livingston). Barry thought he finally had evidence to prove his dad didn’t kill his wife, but it was insufficient. Henry had been shopping during his wife’s murder, and Bruce Wayne used his technology to clean up the previously useless corrupted store security footage. Only Henry never looked up high enough for the camera to capture his face. Without that clear shot to establish his alibi he’d be doomed to a life behind bars.

So instead, moments after removing the life-saving/world-destroying can of tomatoes from his mother’s cart, Barry rearranged all the cans. He made it so the specific variety his father needed would be on the top shelf. That meant Henry would look up high enough so that camera could capture his face. He did, resulting in him going free in the present.

Henry Allen walked out of court a free man. And outside that court Barry Allen discovered what else he’d done by moving those tomato cans. His friend (played by Ben Affleck) had once again been replaced as Bruce Wayne. Instead of the Caped Crusader who helped Barry get his dad out of jail, the Flash found a different, quite dapper Bruce Wayne instead. “Who the f***” was it? It was George Clooney, who originally played the role in 1997’s much maligned Batman & Robin.

Why The Flash Did Not Fully Establish the DCU

The Batfleck is (seemingly) gone, but Jason Momoa’s Aquaman is not. Barry explained to his very drunk fellow Justice League member about what he’d done to the timeline and to Bruce in the film’s only post-credits scene. (Which established both that Barry didn’t undo his tomato can switch and that no one else in this new timeline remembers the old Bruce.)

Clearly the franchise is not the same one it was before The Flash started. But there’s probably a zero percent chance 62-year-old George Clooney is going to be the DCU’s new Bruce Wayne either, so clearly the movie did not end with a total reset.

Something else (or elses) is going to lead to whomever ends up as Batman in the DCU eventually. That means Momoa’s presence only confirms he’s still Aquaman for now. (He does have a sequel coming after all.) Clearly lots more will change eventually, we just don’t know when they will. We just know how they might.

How The Flash Paved the Way for the DCU

The DCEU/DCU is a place of countless dimensions and timelines. Multiple Supermans and Batmans all exist at the same time on many parallel worlds. And Barry Allen can change or destroy all of them by going back in time. He could seemingly even make it so he’s a totally different human in his own timeline, just as he changed Bruce Wayne.

So while The Flash didn’t entirely bid farewell to its old franchise anymore than it said hello to its new one, whenever James Gunn and Peter Safran decide to fully establish their new superhero era they have a very fast way to do it.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Twitter at  @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

The post How THE FLASH Resets the DCEU Without Establishing the DCU appeared first on Nerdist.

Guardians of the Galaxy 3 arrived a cool six years after the second installment. So it’s certainly been a while since their last solo journey and a lot has happened. The Blip was still just a looming threat… remember those pre-Infinity War days? Neither do I. When we reunite with the crew—post Infinity War and Endgame—there will be plenty to unpack. Among the highlights: Gamora’s death, most of the team vanished for five years in the Blip, a younger version of Gamora is also rolling with the crew, and they’re finally back together. So there’s plenty to speculate about.

Here’s everything we know about Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

Title

The third installment in the beloved series is simply Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

Guardian of the Galaxy Vol. 3’s Plot

We don’t know much about the film’s plot yet, beyond that it takes place after the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. Additionally, James Gunn did confirm that this is the final act for this particular rendition of the Guardians. Gunn told Deadline‘s Hero Nation podcast, “This is the end for us, the last time people will see this team of Guardians.” So we can only imagine this iteration of Guardians will go out with quite a bang.

You can see the latest trailer for the movie below:

One thing we do know, though, is that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is going to spend a lot of time with Rocket. Recently, James Gunn spoke to EW and shared just how much the grumpy raccoon plays into the third GOTG movie.

According to Gunn, one of the reasons he came back for Vol. 3 included needing to tell Rocket’s story and feeling very connected to the character. He says, “I feel like nobody would be able to tell his full story if it wasn’t me.”

Additionally, Gunn offers:

To me, Rocket has always been the secret protagonist of the Guardians movies… From the beginning, it has been rooted in who he is as a character. I think he exemplifies a lot of the traits of all the Guardians. They’ve had all these traumas, and it brings them together. I just think that his is more extreme than others… He was just fine being an animal, and he was transformed into something else he didn’t want to be. I think that transformation itself was extremely painful, but I also think it made him feel incredibly alienated from everyone else. In Vol. 3, we learn a lot about his past — where he came from, who he is, and what he’s been through. It’s been a difficult road for the little animal.

We can’t wait to get the Rocket backstory we all want and deserve.

For now, we have our first clips from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. In the latest clip released, we get hit with a powerful punch of emotions. This look at the movie features a taste of Rocket’s backstory, and it’s very sad. The High Evolutionary, we assume, has been experimenting on animals, and the result is a whole gaggle of cute, sentient beings in a lot of pain. We have Rocket, of course, who gets his name in the below clip. In addition, we meet his best friends, Lylla the otter (voiced by Linda Cardellini), Floor the rabbit (voiced by Mikaela Hoover), and Teefs the walrus (voiced by Asim Chaudhry). Cardellini and Hoover both return for their second MCU role.

Ultimately, these creatures just want to see the great big sky together in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. We hope their friendship lasts and that they all get happy endings. Although we must say, things are not looking good for Rocket.

Additional clips revealed more aspects of the movie. In the first, Quill and Nebula butt heads spectacularly over a rather annoying door. There’s even a bleep involved. But that bleep will actually become the MCU’s first-ever F-Bomb.

According to James Gunn, this bleep will not be censored in the movie proper.

We also love the second released clip from Vol 3. It brings us right into the world of the Guardians. Everything hits the right note of humor—but below the surface, there’s more than a little pain and drama.

Finally, the latest Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 clip gives us our best look yet at Adam Warlock. This powerful hero clashes with Nebula, and the two are off to a rocky start. We’ll have to see what becomes of this hero, but one thing is for sure. He does not lack power.

Behind the Scenes

After a long, tumultuous road, James Gunn is back in the director’s chair for the final installment. He’s also, once again, writing the script. Frequent Gunn collaborator Fred Raskin is back as editing, alongside Craig Wood. The Suicide Squad‘s composer John Murphy is scoring the film.

Guardian of the Galaxy Vol. 3’s Cast

As this is a GOTG film, it sees all our usual suspects returning for more—with a slight caveat. As such, Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Pom Klementieff, Karen Gillan, and Sean Gunn are back. However, Saldaña’s playing an earlier version of Gamora, as the one we’ve met over the course of the franchise died at the hands of Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War. However, in Avengers: Endgame the younger version of the character traveled to present-day MCU and is now part of the crew. Additionally, Michael Rosenbaum has revealed that he will return as Martinex, the crystal Ravager

New additions include Sylvester Stallone, who will play Stakar Ogord and Will Poulter as Adam Warlock. Peacemaker‘s Chukwudi Iwuji is also reuniting with Gunn for the project. San Diego Comic-Con 2022 confirmed Iwuji will play the film’s villain, the High Evolutionary. The Suicide Squad star Daniela Melchior and The Bubble‘s Maria Bakalova will also appear, with Gunn confirming both actors’ appearances. Crazy Rich Asians and Superstore actor Nico Santos has also been cast. Their roles are still under wraps.

James Gunn also revealed that returning MCU vet Linda Cardellini will play Lylla the otter. A second returning MCU actor will voice Floor the rabbit. And Asim Chaudhry will play Teefs the walrus. All these sentient animals feature in Rocket’s past. In flashbacks, young Rocket will be voiced by Sean Gunn for the first time; the actor does the motion capture work for Rocket.

James Gunn also gave us a look at Nathan Fillion’s character from the movie, Master Karja. This new MCU character is donning an orgosentry uniform, which Gunn shares is “in the film, an organic suit genetically designed.” We can’t wait to see it in action.

Guardian of the Galaxy Vol. 3‘s Release Date

The film is slated for a May 5, 2023 release.

We’ll keep you posted on any new details—and potential mixtape bangers—as we learn them.

The post Everything We Know About GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 appeared first on Nerdist.

We’ve been looking forward to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 for a very long time, and for several reasons. The first, of course, is to see the end of the journey for this iteration of the Guardians. Writer-director James Gunn has promised a tear-jerker of a finale. Rocket’s going to break our hearts, gosh darning. But moreover, we want to hear the third volume of needle drops to score the action and drama. And now the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 soundtrack is finally here and our ears are ready. James Gunn revealed the official mixtape, which includes all the music from all the films and the Christmas special.

Interesting to note, the Vol. 3 tracks include a mix of both the ’70s music we got in the first two volumes, plus a smattering of ’80s and ’90s hits. What can this mean?!?!

Only a James Gunn mix would start with Radiohead’s “Creep (Acoustic)” and go straight into Heart’s “Crazy On You.” Other fun standouts include Spacehog’s “In the Meantime,” The Flaming Lips’ “Do You Realize??” and “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” by the Beastie Boys. Vol. 3 has a really fascinating soundtrack, because you have Rainbow and Earth, Wind & Fire, but also stuff like Faith No More and X. Perhaps Peter Quill is diversifying his musical tastes this time around. Even Florence + The Machine makes an appearance. And judging by Florence Welch’s response to the musical cue in the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 soundtrack, we’ll all be sobbing soon.

We truly can’t wait to see how Gunn incorporates each of these tracks into the action. Between these movies and The Suicide Squad, Gunn might be in the pantheon of Quentin Tarantino and Edgar Wright as purveyors of merging great existing music with movie action.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (and its soundtrack) is now in theaters.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

Originally published on April 3, 2023.

The post Listen to the GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 Soundtrack Right Now appeared first on Nerdist.

In the pre-release hype for Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3, MCU fans were convinced that one or more of the team were going to shuffle off this mortal coil. After all, Avengers: Endgame ended with the deaths of Black Widow and Iron Man. For this final installment of the Guardians trilogy, we’d have to lose at least one of the team, right? Everyone was betting heavily on Rocket or Drax biting the dust, although there was some chatter that Star-Lord himself might go. Gamora already died once, so she seemed safe. But the rest? Take your pick. They were fair game. Well, not so fast.

Reports of the Guardian’s Deaths Were Greatly Exaggerated

In Vol. 3, both Rocket and Peter Quill almost die. Heck, Rocket technically does die. He gets an afterlife moment and everything. But in traditional comic book style, Rocket very quickly got better. There was also a “psych!” moment with Peter Quill where he seemingly passed on, but he too was rescued from the jaws of oblivion by one Adam Warlock. To the shock of many, none of our beloved Guardians bit the dust. Instead, Peter returns home to Earth to finally connect with his grandfather, and Rocket leads a new Guardians team, with Groot by his side. Gamora rejoins the Ravagers, and Drax and Nebula become the caretakers of Knowhere. Mantis leaves for parts unknown.

James Gunn surprised us all, by not killing off a single main member of the Guardians. Did the man who claimed that Vol. 3 would definitely end this iteration of the Guardians of the Galaxy prank us all? No, not even a little. The third Guardians film absolutely ended the sentence with a very definitive period. This version of our beloved space misfits is over. We’ve been so conditioned by pop culture that climaxes of stories must have big character deaths, that we now think that’s the only kind of ending that works. But life just isn’t like that. Major life endings happen all the time without a death.

Death Is Not the Only Way to End a Story Dramatically

When we’re in high school or college, we form a tight-knit group of friends we see every day. Then, you graduate, and that iteration of the friend group is over. Oh, you may all still be friends. That happens of course. But the “in the trenches” bond of being together every day is now over. It is an ending. The same goes for friends you make in certain jobs, or in the military, or in any other similar situation. When the circumstances that brought the group together change, and people go in separate directions, that’s an ending. Nobody needs to die for those endings to happen.

James Gunn completely understands this. The end of Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3 is bittersweet, and we know a lot of folks out there who were watching it cried buckets. And you didn’t need anyone to die to elicit that emotion. Just knowing that this found family was going their separate ways was enough to know that this was the end of an era, and even if there is another movie with the name Guardians of the Galaxy, it won’t be these guys again. Besides, Gunn probably realized the Avengers saga ended with two major deaths and a big funeral for its main hero, Tony Stark. If Guardians of the Galaxy ended with the exact same tone, it could have felt like a huge ripoff.

Star Trek: Picard’s Ending Had Similar Vibes

Guardians Vol. 3 came quickly on the heels of another well-received ending where fans were convinced someone was going to die. We’re talking about Star Trek: Picard’s third season, which saw the reuniting of the Star Trek: The Next Generation crew for one more adventure. Most watching fretted on social media that Picard, Worf, or one of the other Enterprise-D crew members would die heroically, giving the series a bittersweet ending. But instead, all of our main characters survived, and they close out the show playing a round of poker together. It’s still bittersweet, because we know when that game is over and that they will all return to their separate lives. Their days as the crew of the Enterprise are over. It delivered emotions without having to kill a single character.

Of course, sometimes you so need big deaths in a narrative. We can’t imagine a version of Return of the Jedi where Luke and his dad get to live happily ever after like nothing ever happened. And say what you want about Game of Thrones, but it would have felt really weird for that show to end without some major character deaths. And originally, Dexter ended with our titular serial killer getting away with it, and it just felt wrong. They needed to reboot the show to fix that much-hated mistake. But while sometimes the narrative calls for death, it simply isn’t always necessary. With Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3, James Gunn proved that you don’t need a funeral finale to have an emotional and cathartic ending. There’s more than one way to say “The End.”

The post GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 Proves Death Is Not the Only Ending appeared first on Nerdist.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was the final ride for the MCU’s unlikely group of heroes. But what did the movie mean for the individual characters’ stories? Did some of them bid the ultimate farewell like we expected? Are any of them going to appear in the franchise again? Or was this chapter-ending MCU movie truly goodbye for all of Guardians of the Galaxy‘s heroes? Really what we’re asking is, what happened to all our favorite Guardians of the Galaxy at the end of their franchise?

Well, let’s find out. Here’s the ultimate fate of every member of the team after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

Star-Lord Peter Quill Will Return to the MCU

At the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Peter Quill abdicated his title as captain of the Guardians of the Galaxy and left his friends behind on Knowhere so he could return home to Earth and his grandfather. There he quickly established a normal domestic family life full of mundane activities and gossip-mongering. It’s not the exciting existence he knew as a former Ravager, half-god, and Guardian, but it’s the life and ending Peter Quill needed for now. It was time for him to “learn to swim,” and that meant settling down and facing his childhood trauma.

While his love story with (any) Gamora also came to an end, his MCU story isn’t done yet. The film’s final post-credits scene with him and his grandfather revealed “the legendary Star-Lord will return” in the MCU’s future. Exactly how or when he will is unknown. But Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill will eventually be called upon to help save the day once more.

Nebula Will Oversee Knowhere, Fulfilling a Wish

The violent, heartless Nebula we originally met in Vol. 1 was gone by the end of Vol. 3. Gamora’s angry cyborg sister finally revealed the hidden vulnerable side of herself. For a person who once couldn’t even return her sister’s hug, it was quite a change to see Nebula cry in front of others. That newfound softness also led Nebula to leave the Guardians and a life of fighting behind, in the end. Instead, she’ll oversee Knowhere, which suddenly found itself inundated with the High Evolutionary’s orphan children and animals.

By taking on the responsibility of protecting those kids, Nebula also fulfilled a wish the original Gamora had for her sister. At the end of Vol. 2, Gamora told Nebula the galaxy had lots of vulnerable little girls who needed protection the way they once needed someone to protect them from Thanos. Nebula walked away from that responsibility only to fully embrace it on Knowhere, which isn’t a terrible ending for this now former Guardians of the Galaxy member.

Drax the Dad Comes Full Circle in His Guardians of the Galaxy Ending

Nebula isn’t exactly a naturally maternal person, so she knew she needed help raising those kids on Knowhere. She asked for it from a fellow now-retired Guardian, one she had previously called useless. Nebula realized Drax is not a “destroyer,” but a dad. His acceptance, patience, and unquestioned love for others is why he was able to calm those scared children down earlier. It’s also what had made him an important member of a group that too often found fault with one another.

Drax’s own story in the franchise began with him seeking vengeance against the people responsible for the murder of his wife and daughter. It ended by coming full circle, with him becoming a father once more.

Mantis’ Ending Takes Her Into the Unknown

Mantis and her empathy proved to be the missing piece of the Guardians’ puzzle. She saw only the good in her fellow members and in the people and creatures they fought. Because she did, she was able to provide an understanding and compassion the group often lacked.

In the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, though, Mantis also realized her whole life had been in service to others. First, it was Ego, then it was the Guardians. After trying so desperately to get the other Guardians to listen to her, it was only when they did that she decided it was time to go out into the galaxy on her own. She bid the group farewell on Knowhere and headed off into the unknown with three giant Abilisks.

Rocket Raccoon Becomes the Leader of the New Guardians of the Galaxy

After surviving his brush with death and defeating the High Evolutionary, Rocket returned home to Knowhere with his fellow Guardians. There he was dismayed to learn multiple members were leaving the group. That wasn’t the end of the MCU’s Guardians of the Galaxy, though. Quill said the galaxy still needed the group, and Rocket would lead a new iteration as captain.

During the movie’s first post-credits scene, we saw Captain Rocket Raccoon leading his new squad. Joining him on a mission were former members Groot, Kraglin, and Cosmo. Rounding out the group were newcomers Adam Warlock and young Phyla-Vell, the girl we saw the High Evolutionary testing on a treadmill earlier in the film. All of the new Guardians hang on Rocket’s “word.”

Groot Transforms Into His Marvel Comics Self

In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Baby Groot could barely follow basic instructions. While his intelligence improved as he grew, he still wasn’t the sharpest tree in the forest as recently as the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. But he seemed to make a big leap by Vol. 3, where he seemed far more intelligent than even the original Groot had been at an older age.

Swoll Groot also ended up being a lot bigger than his dad, too. When we saw him as a member of Rocket’s new Guardians, he had matured to a naturally giant size (not one he has to grow into like when he went “kaiju.”) His body also had a more cedar-like color. In the end, he resembled his original Marvel Comics’ look more than any MCU version of Groot ever had.

Whether or not Groot actually learned how to say real words by the end of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, though, isn’t clear. During his goodbye with the old Guardians, he said, “I love you guys.” But since none of them reacted to what should have been a shocking moment, that might have been James Gunn’s way of letting the audience hear Groot themselves rather than through a translation.

Kraglin Joins the New Guardians

During the Guardians’ greatest moment of need, Kraglin finally mastered Yondu’s arrow. He managed to successfully control the weapon after a vision of his late captain appeared to him during the High Evolutionary’s attack on Knowhere. Yondu told Kraglin to use his heart before the image of the dead Ravager disappeared.

During Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3‘s first post-credits scene, we learned Kraglin, who did not initially join the team on their mission to save Rocket, was a core member of Rocket’s new Guardians. He was a confident one, too. He offered to stop a massive herd of rampaging animals by himself. Kraglin’s big breakthrough with his deadly whistle arrow was a permanent one.

Cosmo the Spacedog Is a Good Dog and Part of the Team

From saving Kraglin’s life to holding the connection between Knowhere and the High Evolutionary’s ship during the grand escape and rescue, Cosmo proved she was a very good dog. So good that she also joined the new lineup of Guardians under Rocket’s leadership. With her incredible telekinetic powers, she’s a valuable—and adorable—member to have.

Gamora’s Guardians of the Galaxy Ending Brings a New Family

The alternate Gamora from 2014 never formally joined the Guardians of the Galaxy, but she did help them save Rocket and defeat the High Evolutionary. However, that wasn’t enough to make her give up the new family she had found since Thanos’ defeat in Avengers: Endgame. Instead of sticking around Knowhere or pursuing a romance with “Quinn,” Gamora returned to the Ravagers. She had joined them since the last time we saw her on Earth.

She wasn’t the same Gamora we knew and loved, but in the end, she proved to still be a good person. And she got a happy ending of her own in the Guardians of the Galaxy world. She managed to find a family for herself; it was just a different one than the old Gamora had.

No Main Characters Died in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Vol. 3 might have been the final film in the original Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, but we didn’t have to actually say goodbye to any of them, in death or otherwise. All the original Guardians of the Galaxy found their endings. But they’re all still out there—be it mowing lawns, flying with the Ravagers, raising a bunch of kids in the middle of Knowhere, or still saving the galaxy. And because they’re out there, who knows when the MCU will need any or all of them to return?

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Twitter at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings

The post What Happens to the Guardians of the Galaxy in VOL. 3? Their Fates, Revealed appeared first on Nerdist.

Great characters don’t need origin stories to make them compelling. If they’re already great we obviously have what we need to be fully invested in them and their journey. That’s why giving extra backstory about a captivating character—whether in the form of flashbacks or prequels—often falls flat or worse. Origin stories often taint the special sauce that went into making a character so interesting in the first place. It’s like a chef ruining an already delicious dish by adding a bunch of extra ingredients no one asked for. But this difficult task is exactly what writer-director James Gunn opted to undertake take in his Marvel swan song, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Rocket’s creation and tragic past serve as the anchor of the franchise’s last film, both in terms of plot and emotional weight.

And it works. It absolutely works. Gunn has taken one of the MCU’s most interesting, most entertaining, most heartbreaking characters and made him even better by showing us why Rocket’s always been so angry and afraid. It will change how you view everything you’ve seen previously from the MCU’s foul-mouthed, angry, genetically-engineered raccoon. More importantly, though, Rocket’s origin story helped Gunn deliver a moving, darker, more mature action-packed farewell to the Guardians of the Galaxy, with a film that loves its characters as much as its viewers loves them.

If you know the Guardians you know what you’re getting from this film and you get a lot of everything. There are plenty of big, well-done set pieces. This movie does not lack for action. There are also lots of visually interesting locales. Those who have found Marvel’s recent CGI effects lacking won’t have much of anything to complain about this time.

And there’s also lots of humor, lots of bickering, lots of feeling, and lots of pain. This found family’s members all still carry the scars of their pasts with them. They’re still, and always will be, a group of losers. They’ve all lost stuff, and just as it has since Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1, those losses shape who they are and how they interact with one another.

Gunn’s script never forgets that, which is a big reason the movie is so successful. There are so many moments of true pathos you never go long without feeling something real and meaningful. Whether it’s Nebula calling out Drax for his obvious shortcomings, or alternate Gamora brutally recognizing why “Quinn” is so broken, this film knows who these characters are at their core. It’s the type of deep recognition you frequently can only explore this late in a story. Gunn recognizes and takes full advantage of that luxury. And he does so because of how much he adores and respects these characters. This movie feels like a love letter to the Guardians as much as it does a farewell.

In the end that love prevents the movie from going to some interesting places it seemed to be heading towards. Gunn pulls some punches he could have thrown, opting instead for body jabs rather than knockout blows. (Minus one choice that feels right even though it might not be what some wanted to see happen.) That doesn’t undo everything that came before it, though. The journey is far greater than the destination, which feels a little rushed and and not entirely earned.

Fortunately the destination is not an entirely unwelcome place. It’s easy to understand why Gunn ends this trilogy+ way the way he does. And on a micro level, even individual moments you absolutely know are coming land because of how the movie (and the franchise as a whole) builds to them. There are a lot of wholly satisfying payoffs.

The film isn’t entirely perfect before the ending, either, but its other issues pale in comparison to everything it does well. That includes how its soundtrack doesn’t live up to previous installments. This tracklist isn’t as coherent as its predecessors. Some songs also don’t resonate the way we’ve come to expect from every Guardians needle drop. And yet, there are still some great numbers employed at perfect times, so it is a mixed bag rather than a constant shortcoming.

Another issue is that while Will Poulter’s Adam Warlock is a logical (if surprising) part of the plot, some will think he’s underutilized while others will think he’s entirely superfluous. I’m with the former because I wanted way more of “the Warlock” in this movie. Poulter more than justifies his casting as one of the few remaining major Marvel Comics characters not already in the MCU. His comedic sensibilities make him a perfect choice for this iteration of the character. He answers a question I didn’t know I wanted someone to ask but am now very happy they did: “What if a literal baby was also one of the most powerful figures in the universe?”

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is also a little too relentless. It’s not that it has pacing issues. It’s that the movie is high throttle from start to finish and would have benefitted from a few more quiet moments. It needed a chance to breathe every once in awhile. That will likely be less of an issue on repeated viewings, though, just as it has been with repeat viewings of the equally high-tempo Avengers: Endgame.

What you won’t need multiple viewings to appreciate, though, is the main cast. Every member of the Guardians brings their A-game for the team’s final film. Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Sean Gunn, and Pom Klementieff all shine when the spotlight is on them. (Mantis especially continues to be the best.) And if you don’t absolutely fall in love with Maria Bakalova’s Cosmo the Dog, then you should see a doctor. A really good doctor. However, if you don’t love Linda Cardellini’s soft-spoken, warm, loving otter Lylla, Rocket’s first best friend in life, don’t bother speaking with anyone ever again. Not for your sake, but for theirs.

However, even in a movie this well-acted, Thanos’ daughters stand out. Zoe Saldana is incredible as the alternate Gamora who was never a member of the Guardians. You won’t have any problem remembering this is a different version of the character than the one we knew and loved.

You also won’t have any problem remembering why Zoe Saldana is constantly a big part of huge successful movies. She’s simply a powerhouse in the role of an rage-filled Gamora who finds herself literally out of time and being pushed to live someone else’s life.

Meanwhile, Karen Gillan’s Nebula gets to complete one of the MCU’s best arcs with scenes that let us see a side of the angry blue cyborg we never have. The violent villain of the first Guardians film is a huge part of the heart and soul of this film, the Guardians, and the MCU. Gillan’s performance makes that possible and authentic. She conveys so much of her character’s pain with sincerity, whether she’s doing so in small or big ways.

You can’t talk about Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 without talking about its main character and his ultimate enemy, the duo whose story drives the entire film. Vol. 3 wouldn’t be such an entertaining and moving conclusion to the Guardians story without the tale of Rocket and his creator, the fantastic Chukwudi Iwuji’s High Evolutionary. The monster with a god complex genetically engineered Rocket, both his greatest success and most frustrating failure, as part of his effort to create a “perfect society.”

The surgical torture that created Rocket—only hinted in previous films—was merely the start of how the High Evolutionary hurt Rocket, who is truly a special being. The film then slowly reveals the rest of their story to great effect. In doing so it delivers a great villain while making a great character even better.

It also shows why Gunn’s decision to cast handsome leading man Bradley Cooper as the voice of a talking trash panda was one of the best decisions in MCU history. He delivers a performance (alongside Sean Gunn who voices the youngest version of Rocket) that is really special and powerful.

Rocket didn’t need a backstory to be great. But fans of the Guardians of the Galaxy who really love these characters will be happy Vol. 3 gave him one. It’s how James Gunn gave the MCU’s best losers a winning farewell.

⭐ (4 of 5)

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Twitter at  @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

The post GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 Delivers an Emotional Farewell by Exploring Rocket’s Past appeared first on Nerdist.

If you’re a superhero movie fan you’ve imagined what it would be like seeing Marvel’s Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America share the same screen with DC’s Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. The characters have done that in the pages of comic books. Daydreaming of a live-action version is part of the fun of being a fan. However, when you’re a fan who’s in charge of one of those studios you can do more than just fantasize about such a crossover. Especially when you previously a prominent part of the other. James Gunn has done more than just think about bringing the DCU and MCU together. He discussed it. But don’t start camping out for tickets just yet. If ever.

Gunn spoke to Empire about his final MCU project, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. During the interview the new co-head of the revamped DCU talked about combining his former superhero franchise with his new one. That’s usually a conversation you hear tired people waiting in a long line at Comic-Con talk about to kill time. Only, Gunn said he’s “certain that’s more likely now” that he’s in charge of DC’s creative side. More importantly, it’s an idea he said he’s actually “discussed,” though he pointed out those discussions were “very, very light and fun.” (So in that way it’s exactly like those fan conversations.)

Even knowing the person atop DC is thinking about such a possibility is fun. But Gunn also said that if such a crossover were to ever happen it would still be many years away. Recently he told Deadline, “It would look like something that would be happening in about ten years. Not today.” He believes he needs to establish the new DCU before he can think about working with Marvel. But he did add that a DCU/MCU crossover, “could be cool.”

That’s fine with us. We’ll need time to figure out exactly what we’d want to see from a DCU/MCU crossover event. We’ve spent so much time dreaming about that without ever thinking it could actually happen.

The post James Gunn Has ‘Discussed’ a DCU-MCU Crossover, But Don’t Take it Seriously Anytime Soon appeared first on Nerdist.

In cinematic terms, the Guardians of the Galaxy are Jame Gunn’s “babies.” Essentially, Gunn wrote the book on them for the MCU in the first two Guardians movies. But with these children, the writer/director had joint custody in a way, for two whole films. The entire Guardians team appeared in both Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, directed by the Russo brothers, not Gunn. And he recently revealed there were some things they did with those characters he did not necessarily agree with. Especially when it came to Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord and his decision in Infinity War leading to Thanos’ infamous snap.

Gunn revealed his misgivings in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter (via Gizmodo). He said “They did some things that I wouldn’t have wanted.” He says Star-Lord would have killed Gamora as she asked him to, as a way of stopping Thanos. And Gunn does not believe that a grieving Peter Quill would have punched Thanos at a critical moment and doomed the universe. It sounds like that’s a creative decision he would not have made for Star-Lord. Read the full context below:

The Guardians will undoubtedly continue as a property after Gunn completes the transition to DC, and the new film hints at a future, albeit with a different lineup of Guardians. Gunn is enthusiastic about a handoff, though protective. When the characters appeared in the Avengers two-part epic directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, Gunn saw disconnects with certain storylines. “They did some things that I wouldn’t have wanted,” says Gunn of the films. (Yes, he says, Star-Lord would have killed Gamora if she asked him to; no, he would not have punched Thanos and doomed the universe.)

The Guardians of the Galaxy characters remain intimately tied to James Gunn’s vision. So much so, that some of them even called him while shooting the back-to-back Avengers films in 2017. Mantis actress Pom Klementieff called Gunn while on the set of one of the Avengers films. She asked him if her character would say or do the things written for her.

The Guardians cast see James Gunn as the real authority when it comes to their characters. Whatever future lies ahead for the Guardians, it’s clear that without James Gunn, it won’t ever really quite be the same.

The post James Gunn Says Star-Lord Would Not Have Punched Thanos appeared first on Nerdist.

The Guardians of the Galaxy are getting together for one last ride. As always with that group of unlikely heroes we expect Vol. 3 to be funny, exciting, and touching. Unfortunately, we also know not everyone will make it out alive. The original Groot sacrificed himself in the first film. Yondu did the same in the second. Thanos traded the original Gamora’s life for the Soul Stone in Infinity War. And they collectively killed Kevin Bacon’s icy heart in their holiday special. But we think their third and final solo film will be their saddest entry yet.

Who is most likely to say goodbye to the MCU for good and who will continue on in the franchise? We’ve given odds for each of them about who will die in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

Rocket Raccoon – 100%

“What the hell,” said Rocket in the original film, “I don’t got that long a lifespan, anyway.” He’s right, and that life will come to a sad end in Vol. 3, a movie that will explore Rocket’s painful past. We thought that before seeing a single trailer for the movie. Now that every promo keeps teasing an emotional end for the beloved wiseass we’re convinced of it. It’s gonna freaking kill us. Only we didn’t mean to say “freaking.”

Drax the Destroyer – 100%

Rocket’s not the only one who all but told us how his story would end way back in Vol. 1. That’s when Drax said he would fight alongside his friends and see his wife and daughter again in the end. Dave Bautista might be ready for his character to bid the ultimate farewell to the MCU, but we’re not prepared. We doubt we will be even though we believe it’s definitely going to happen.

Nebula – 70%

Thanos’ other surviving daughter has had one of the most fascinating arcs in the entire franchise. She went from a terrifying villain to a slightly-less terrifying hero who dances. We don’t want to say goodbye to Nebula, but it would be fitting for her to go out in a blaze of glory. We’re also sure Karen Gillan wouldn’t mind saying goodbye to all those many hours in the makeup chair.

Kraglin – 50%

Kraglin might be a newer member of the Guardians, but Sean Gunn has been a major part of the group since day one. He physically plays Rocket. (Bradley Cooper voices the trash panda.) Kraglin is a sad character. He lost his best friend and captain and is still struggling to control Yondu’s arrow. It would seem cruel for him to die right when he’s likely to finally have a big breakthrough with his new family. However, writer-director James Gunn (now in charge of DC Studios) might also want to give his real-life brother an iconic death as they both say goodbye to the MCU. That’s why we think Kraglin’s fate is a total coin flip.

Peter Quill – 40%

The leader of the ragtag bunch nearly doomed half the universe to extinction in Infinity War when he couldn’t control his anger and grief at Thanos. If anyone owes the galaxy the ultimate sacrifice, it’s him. With this iteration of the group ending, it would also be fitting for Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord to say goodbye to the MCU, too. So we won’t be surprised if he dies, but if we had to pick, we’ll guess he lives and retires as a hero. At least he’ll retire until Marvel brings Peter Quill back.

Swoll Groot – 25%

We already had to watch one beloved Groot sacrifice himself. His death was powerful, of course, but it’s still painful. Are we really going to have to see his son, affectionately known as Swoll Groot, also die? After we watched him grow from a baby to a thicc tree!? We don’t think so. We certainly hope not. But we wouldn’t put it past Gunn either.

2014 Gamora – 10%

We can’t wait to see how Gamora and Peter’s story ends, specifically because this is not the Gamora he fell in love with. This is 2014 Gamora, who was never a member of the Guardians. That’s exactly why we doubt Zoe Saldana’s character will die a second time in the MCU. Not only would that be weird and unearned, it would diminish the impact of the original character’s own sad end. Gamora is dead. Long live Gamora!

Mantis – 5%

If we’re being honest, 5% is probably too high. Mantis is the best, an indisputable fact after Pom Klementieff’s star turn in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. It feels like Mantis just truly got here despite this being the character’s fifth MCU movie/special. She’s too good to kill off now. The franchise needs more Mantis! If anyone else wrote this film we’d have her odds of dying at negative percent.*

(*What does a negative percent of dying even mean? Uh…it’s the same as saying there’s a positive percent chance the character gets a clone? Becomes an immortal god? Look, we’re not sure, just have some fun and don’t take things so seriously.**)

(**Unless Mantis dies. Then we have a very serious problem on our hands.)

Cosmo the Spacedog – 0.01%

Speaking of taking things too seriously, if anything happens to Cosmo we’re going to be so angry online they’ll have to shutdown the internet for at least a day. Maybe two. Wouldn’t even rule out three.

We know not every Guardian will survive Vol. 3, but the very good Spacedog better. There’s only so many characters we can handle dying.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Twitter at @burgermike, and also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

The post Odds for Which GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY Will Die in VOL. 3 appeared first on Nerdist.

James Gunn, co-CEO of DC Studios, recently announced the major changes to the DC Comics film universe. Known as the DCU, the eight to 10 year plan will begin with a chapter Gunn and fellow CEO Peter Safran are calling “Gods and Monsters.” Though the first chapter will begin with two television projects (Creature Commandos and Waller), the new DCU film slate will begin with Gunn’s Superman movie, titled Superman: Legacy. And this movie is now officially in pre-production.

Gunn shared the above image while talking about Superman: Legacy in the announcement. It’s from the cover of All-Star Superman by writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely. He didn’t share any plot details, but he called it “the true beginning of the DCU.” Gunn shared the release date, too. Superman: Legacy will fly into theaters on July 11, 2025.

Gunn once again confirmed this date via Twitter recently, along with the news that he will direct the film.

And we know officially know that Superman: Legacy is in pre-production. Additionally, its full script is written.

Responding to a fan who asked, “Have you written the whole script or just that page so far?” Gunn answered, “The whole script.” However, Gunn notes “It is not” safe to assume that casting annoucements will arrive at any minute.

Superman: Legacy‘s Plot and Casting

We don’t know who will play Superman, or the plot, or anything yet. When Gunn previously mentioned his Superman movie in December 2022, he said it would focus on “an earlier part of Superman’s life.” Hence the reason Henry Cavill is not returning as the superhero. Gunn also clarified it would not be an origin story, so we’ll see Clark Kent already donning the Superman mantle. If we look at the 12-issue All-Star Superman for clues, it could fit. Morrison wanted to tell a timeless Superman story with these comics. However, the comic book series didn’t make our list of ideas for Gunn’s Superman movie. It leans more towards Superman’s death than his early days.

Then again, just because Gunn shared an image from All-Star Superman to go with his announcement doesn’t indicate anything about the story. Maybe he really just likes the art, and it’s part of an overall inspiration board?

Ultimately, all we know is from a Warner Bros. release that notes, “Superman: Legacy tells the story of Superman’s journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.”

Whatever the case, know that we’ll bring you more Superman: Legacy news as soon as we learn it.

Originally published on January 31, 2023.

The post James Gunn Will Direct SUPERMAN: LEGACY appeared first on Nerdist.

Even though Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3 is the third and final chapter in James Gunn’s epic space saga, it does not mean it’s too late to introduce new characters for us to fall in love with. You might have noticed a new addition to the Guardians family in the most recent trailer. Say hello to Blurp, the fuzzy, razor-toothed alien. As Gunn joked to Empire Magazine, “Probably the most important character to the Marvel Universe going forward is Blurp.”

Blurp, it turns out, is not from the pages of Marvel Comics. No, not even from one random panel from 50 years ago, like Bill Murray’s character in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. But he was in the very first Guardians of the Galaxy movie, almost a decade ago. Look, he probably won’t be the new Groot. But maybe he’ll be the new Babu Frik? Here’s what Gunn had to say about the weird-looking furry little guy.

“Blurp begins as a pet of one of the Ravagers in the movie. He carries him around. Blurp is what’s known as a furry F’saki. In the very first movie, if you remember, there was that Orloni table that they were betting on, with that beast that was eating the animals. The bigger thing was eating the smaller things. That thing was a non-furry F’saki. Blurp is a furry F’saki. So that’s what he is. He’s a pet.”

For all we know, Blurp is barely in the movie. What we saw in the trailers might be about what we see of him in the actual movie. But we already like Blurp for three reasons. For starters, that’s an adorably silly name that our inner five-year-old responds to. Second, he kind of looks like one of the Loth-cats from Star Wars: Rebels. Finally, he gives us Snarf from Thundercats vibes. And we just love all those weird critters. Although, we’re pretty sure we don’t want them as pets. The same goes for Blurp.

Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 will drop on May 5.

The post James Gunn Names GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: VOLUME 3’s New Alien Critter appeared first on Nerdist.

Even after all these many years, movies, and TV shows, my favorite scene in the MCU is still when the Guardians of the Galaxy became a group. That’s when Peter Quill convinced his fellow “losers” to stand up to Ronan, in a sequence that is equal parts hilarious and beautiful. That one scene perfectly encapsulates everything I love about those characters. But with their time together coming to an end in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3., a “bunch of jackasses standing in a circle” is taking on new meaning. Because the Guardians’ “first” scene paved the way for an emotional farewell that will see some members make good on their promise to fight to the death for their friends.

There are lots of reasons to think Drax and Rocket will die in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Writer-director James Gunn has essentially promised not every member will live. We also know Dave Bautista is moving on from the MCU. And the film’s trailers continue to tease a poignant conclusion for Rocket’s own sad story, as the movie will explore his painful past and his ultimate search for peace. But we don’t need to know any of that to know how this iteration of the Guardians tale would end. They’ve always known and they told us how.

Fittingly, the Guardians only unified after a lot of bickering. It began on Yondu’s ship with Quill pleading with his fellow “folks who have lost stuff” to help him stop Ronan. He told them life was finally giving them something instead of taking from them. They had a chance “to give a shit.” But Rocket, who believed stopping Ronan was impossible, told Quill what he was really asking of them. “You’re asking us to die,” he said.

“Yeah, I guess I am,” said a suddenly muted Star-Lord because Rocket was right. They all knew he was, and for a brief moment Quill seemed to give up on trying to convince them. But rather than run from annihilation and responsibility to others, each member found strength in one another and embraced their fate. It began with Gamora, who said, “I have lived most my life surrounded by my enemies. I will be grateful to die among my friends.”

Drax rose next, telling the “honorable” Quill, “I will fight beside you. And in the end, I will see my wife and daughter again.” Groot was next to pledge himself to his new friends.

Then, with all eyes turned toward him, Rocket stood up, too. “What the hell,” he said, “I don’t got that long a lifespan, anyway.’

Every one of them accepted what it would mean to truly give a shit for the first time in their life. They simply didn’t care. It was more important to stand with their friends, and in doing so, protect others, than it was to protect themselves.

That’s how a bunch of individual misfit losers who had never served anyone besides themselves became great heroes. They found strength they didn’t know they had by finding strength in one another.

It didn’t take long for their fears to come true, though. They paid the ultimate price to be a part of something bigger than themselves. The original Groot happily sacrificed himself to save his friends, because as he so beautifully said, “We are Groot.”

Death has followed the Guardians ever since. Yondu gave up his life in Vol. 2 to save Peter. They then lost the original Gamora in Infinity War because they wouldn’t run away from an even more dangerous enemy. And now Drax and Rocket’s acknowledgement of their imminent death during the group’s founding hang over their final film.

That’s why their likely deaths will be even more emotional than if they (and us) never saw them coming. They went into this friendship with their eyes wide open. They knew the price from the very beginning, they have always just been happy to pay it. And with good reason.

Drax found a new family in his fellow Guardians. It’s not sad he’s always known it would all end with him seeing his wife and daughter again. That makes it more beautiful. Just as Rocket’s eventual death will have more resonance because he has always seen it coming. What mattered was that his friends gave him a reason to live in the first place, a reason much bigger than himself. The Guardians gave him love where he had only known pain. And with their love he has done incredible things.

Not every member of the Guardians of the Galaxy will survive their third and final installment. Just like they knew what fate always awaited them, we have as well, even if we didn’t realize it. No matter if its Drax, Rocket, or any other Guardian who dies in Vol 3., their death will be a sacrifice. They’ve always been ready to sacrifice their life for their friends. And that’s what will make the end of their story even more powerful. It will have a greater meaning, one that began at the start of their friendship.

But don’t only cry tears of sadness because they’re gone. Cry tears of joy they had a reason to live in the first place. That reason was a love in one another powerful enough to save the entire galaxy.

Featured Image: Marvel Studios

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Twitter at  @burgermike, and also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

The post How the GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY’s ‘First’ Scene Paved the Way for an Emotional Farewell appeared first on Nerdist.

Recently, James Gunn and Peter Safran caused quite an uproar when they announced a slew of projects that would make up the new, unified DC Universe. Chapter 1 of the DCU, which Gunn and Safran refer to as “Gods and Monsters,” is actually just getting started, though. So don’t put those speculation hats away yet. Even though Gunn and Safran announced 10 projects in their first DCU reveal, that’s apparently less than half of what we can expect from Chapter 1.

Less than half! So if your favorite DC projects weren’t mentioned, chances look pretty good for them still appearing. And, as we saw in the first (less than) half of the movies and TV shows announced for DCU’s Chapter 1, Gunn and Safran love to throw in a deep, deep cut with the rest of the more expected fare. That’s a pretty long chapter, though, if we’re comparing it to a Marvel phase; almost twice the size. The MCU phases usually have around 11-13 projects.

Of course, the timing of the announcements is one thing, but the timing of the projects themselves is something else altogether. Even if we do get more DCU Chapter 1 titles soon, they probably won’t release for a while yet. Still, who doesn’t love to get excited about the future?

We can’t wait to see what the new and sprawling DC Universe has in store for us.

The post We Still Don’t Know Over Half of the DCU’s Chapter 1 Projects appeared first on Nerdist.

New DC Studios co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran are now focusing on making a unified DC Universe across film, television, and gaming. But they have said there is still room for stories outside the shared continuity. Movies like The Batman: Part II, and Joker: Folie à Deux. These projects would have their own branding based on DC Comics — Elseworlds.

In fact, James Gunn recently mentioned on Twitter that some upcoming animated projects will be Elseworlds tales. Over the next few years, there are some much-wanted DC Comics adaptations that fit perfectly into the Elseworlds brand, based on stories from the comics. Here are some key Elseworlds tales we hope to see come to life over the next several years.

Batman Beyond

As of right now, there are going to be two big-screen Batmans, with the DCU’s Batman in The Brave and the Bold, and Matt Reeves’ Dark Knight in The Batman: Part II. But what about Michael Keaton’s Batman, who is showing up soon in Flash? We don’t want just a “one and done” for him. Well, we have a solution. For years fans have been asking Warner Bros. to make a Batman Beyond movie, especially one with Keaton as “Old Man Bruce.” This would be based on the classic animated show. One which later became a comic set in its own universe apart from the main DC timeline. So, it is an Elseworlds of a sort.

True, right now might not be the time for this, what with two cinematic Caped Crusaders already. But we really want to see a film set in a Blade Runner-style future where young Terry McGinnis becomes the new Dark Knight, trained by the elder Bruce. This teenage Batman is part Spider-Man, with all the high school drama, part Iron Man, with the advanced armor, but mashed up with Gotham City mythology. Maybe this would be best served as an HBO Max series? All we know is that we’re dying to see it.

Superman: Red Son

While Batman has many great Elseworlds stories, Superman has about half as many. But there is one that stands above the rest, and that’s Mark Millar’s Superman: Red Son. The story imagines a world where baby Kal-El landed in the Soviet Union instead of Kansas. In Russia, he becomes the symbol, and ultimate weapon, of the totalitarian state. Krypton had a red sun, Superman is now the “red son” of the USSR. Clever, Mr. Millar.

The story also features other DC characters, given a Cold War-era makeover. An animated adaptation came out a few years back. However, it didn’t have the running time to do the original graphic novel justice. We probably won’t see an alt-Superman until our Clark Kent one is firmly established. Yet at some point down the line, a Russian Man of Steel seems like a no-brainer as an Elseworlds story.

Wonder Woman: Amazonia

Right now, aside from the prequel series Paradise Lost, there doesn’t seem to be any plans for Wonder Woman in the “Gods and Monsters” chapter. We still don’t even know if Gal Gadot is going to play Diana Prince when we see her next, or if it will be someone new. But while they figure out what the heck to do with the primary DCU Wonder Woman, maybe an Elseworlds tale could be squeezed in?

The 1998 graphic novel Amazonia by William Messner Loebs and Phil Winslade, imagined Diana in the Victorian era. We see her fighting against an era of systemic sexism, oppression, and uncomfortable corsets. Heck, if Gal Gadot doesn’t return as the DCU Wonder Woman, her swan song could always be this excellent Elseworlds tale. We’re in it just for the costumes alone.

DC: The New Frontier

We are clearly several years away from a new Justice League forming in this DCU. Gunn isn’t going to make the same mistakes the previous regime did, and rush a team-up film before it is ready. Having said that, a TV series adapting Darwyn Cooke’s epic series DC: The New Frontier could scratch that JLA itch until the eventual main DCU version arrives. The New Frontier is about the era of superheroes during the late ‘50s Atomic Age, coming out of McCarthyism and into the Space Race.

This story is set on an Earth still in the late ’50s/early ’60s. In it, Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman are the “old guard,” the last heroes still fighting the good fight post-WWII. They find themselves dealing with a new generation of Space Age heroes like the Flash, Martian Manhunter, and Green Lantern, who represent the idealism of the JFK/Camelot era. Eventually, an apocalyptic threat unites them all. Cooke’s series explored American history through a superhero lens, and would make for a great HBO Max series.

The Crime Syndicate of America

This entry is a bit of a cheat, as there’s not one specific Elseworlds comic based on the Crime Syndicate to adapt. However, they are alternate versions of iconic DC heroes. And they do live on the parallel world of Earth-3, so we say they count as an Elseworlds. The Crime Syndicate are twisted, criminal versions of the Justice League. Powerhouses who are brutal crime lords and dictators on their Earth. However, they are not exact analouges for the League. Ultraman isn’t an alien like Superman, Owlman isn’t an evil Bruce Wayne, etc.

The best stories featuring these characters are the animated film Justice League: Worlds Collide, and the Grant Morrison graphic novel, JLA: Earth 2. (And we know James Gunn loves Morrison’s work). This would probably work best as an HBO Max series, since it would definitely be pretty dark and violent. There are a lot of “evil Justice Leagues” in media these days, like the Seven on The Boys. But the Crime Syndicate did it first, and arguably best. Let this be their time to shine.

Kingdom Come

You probably guessed this one was coming. Mark Waid and Alex Ross’ 1996 mini-series Kingdom Come is the granddaddy of DC Elseworlds stories, seen as the “final chapter” of the DC Universe. It’s set in the not-too-distant future, one where violent superheroes become the norm. “Heroes” who spend more time fighting each other than saving lives. After a personal tragedy, Superman retires, leaving these unruly characters to run amok. But after a terrible incident that costs millions of lives proves the world needs Superman, he returns. And the League follows him. But as you might guess, things do not go smoothly.

We’ve made the case before that this story would be the perfect final chapter for the Snyderverse heroes. It would be a fitting farewell to their versions of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman as played by Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, and Gal Gadot. Right now, it seems James Gunn wants to focus on the future, and not tie up loose threads from the past. But maybe five or so years from now? Maybe then it will be time to do Kingdom Come. And if you wait some time, those actors will have aged into their roles naturally. Hey, in the meantime, an animated adaptation might work.

The post The Best DC Comics Stories for Future Elseworlds Projects appeared first on Nerdist.

As expected, James Gunn set the nerd entertainment world ablaze with the announcement of the first slate of DC Comics films and TV shows that will appear in the brand new DCU. We were immediately jazzed. And we’ve speculated, and hoped, for what versions of these characters and stories might hit the screens. But merely a couple days later, Gunn himself, as he is wont to do, has given fans a much more concrete idea of which DC Comics arcs will be integral to the upcoming relaunch. And go figure—they’re good.

As Gunn explains, they aren’t going to directly adapt all of these books, just “the feel, the look, or the tone of them are touchstones for our team.” Even so, it’s very interesting to see these are the tonal basis for the DCU. Notice, not a Frank Miller book in the bunch! For way too long if you ask me, the people making DC films have relied on only the hard-edged work of Miller when adapting comics to the big screen. As though only The Dark Knight Returns and Batman: Year One were the only comics that exist.

At any rate, all of these tomes are worth checking out. To give you a primer, let’s look at each of them and what we might glean for the style and attitude they could bring.

All-Star Superman

The first of two books from writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely, All-Star Superman might seem an odd choice for the DCU’s first outing with the Man of Steel. It deals with Superman, at the end of his life after too much sun exposure makes him terminally ill. With the limited time he has left, he tries to right as many of Earth’s wrongs as he can. These become “The Twelve Labors of Superman.” Morrison wanted to tell a “timeless” Superman story that wasn’t an origin story .

Though it deals with the end of Superman, it also gets to the heart of what it means to be Superman, and what Superman means to the world. Morrison is one of the writers who really gets the heart of the character, and more importantly, the team gets what humanity thinks of him. It’s not, as some films have focused on, that he’s an unknowable god, to be worshipped and feared. It’s more that he’s the best of Earth, doing the best he can for the most people. It’s a great place for the beacon of hope to be in Superman: Legacy in DCU Chapter 1.

All-Star Superman by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely ran for 12 issues from 2005-2008 and is in one volume.

Batman by Grant Morrison Omnibus Vol. 1

Here’s the second Grant Morrison book on this list. Morrison had written the Dark Knight before, most famously in the one-off graphic novel Arkham Asylum in 1989. But in 2006, Morrison took over writing Batman full time, along with artist Andy Kubert. In these issues, Morrison pretty much reestablished and shifted the very lore of Batman. They introduced Damian Wayne, Bruce Wayne’s son with Talia al Ghul. Damian was raised as an assassin in the League of Shadows. After years of training other young people, as surrogate father and mentor, Batman has to contend with his own flesh and blood, who loves killing. It’s dark, but excellent.

Additionally, this first omnibus volume gave us the rebirth of Ra’s al Ghul, which seems reasonable, followed by an arc which “killed” Bruce Wayne seemingly for good. This led to material collected in the second omnibus, which Morrison wrote with artist Frank Quitely, where Dick Grayson had to take over as Batman and work with Damian’s Robin. That further led to Bruce’s rebirth and a franchising of the Batman IP to other big cities worldwide, collected in Morrison omnibus three. The image that Gunn shared along with the The Brave and the Bold announcement is actually from the second omnibus.

All three omnibuses are hefty tomes, best to start with one and go from there, but we imagine all of Grant’s vision for DC Comics will show up in the DCU in some way. Gunn and Morrison are friends and all.

The Authority Omnibus

This is a pretty interesting one, since it didn’t actually start as a DC Comics title. It was part of Jim Lee’s Wildstorm comics imprint at Image Comics. As with a lot of hero teams in the Image Comics days, the Authority were a harder-edged take on DC and Marvel-style heroes. These ones were specifically a Justice League-esque team of super-powered folks who took the law into their own hands. Two of them, Apollo and Midnighter, were in a committed gay relationship and mirrored, powers-wise, Superman and Batman. We wouldn’t have later dark superhero riffs like The Boys without the Authority.

This omnibus collects the whole of the team’s antics prior to DC acquiring Wildstorm and its characters. Writer Warren Ellis and artist Bryan Hitch wrote first appearance of the characters, while others like writers Mark Millar (Swamp Thing) and Tom Peyer (Legion of Super-Heroes) and artists Paul Neary (The Ultimates), Frank Quitely (Batman and Robin), and Dustin Nguyen (Detective Comics) wrote from there.

This contains The Authority #1-29, Planetary/The Authority: Ruling the World, Authority Annual 2000, Jenny Sparks: The Secret History of the Authority #1-5, stories from Wildstorm Summer Special and a story from Wildstorm: A Celebration of 25 Years. Unfortunately it’s no longer in print, but the smaller volumes still are.

The Saga of the Swamp Thing by Alan Moore and Various Artists

Batman and Superman have had hundreds of different interpretations from different writers and artists over the years. Even the Authority have had several different teams of creatives in their most important run. When it comes to Swamp Thing, no offense to other teams, but Alan Moore’s 44-issue tenure in the 1980s is the definitive take on the character. I have love for the original Len Wein/Bernie Wrightson series, but that was 10 issues with the pair together. Alan Moore not only made Swamp Thing his own, he redefined the character’s entire being, introduced a million wild concepts and characters, and made a genuinely moving Gothic romance in the process.

It’s no wonder Gunn and company will look to this run for the big screen Swamp Thing. Despite being beloved to comics fans, only the short-lived 2019 Swamp Thing DC Universe series took the time to approach any of the themes Moore gave the marshy monster man. This run is scary, horny, trippy, sad, and triumphant all at the same time. If anything, we’re mad it’s the last of the projects to come out.

DC has collected this run in several different permutations. The pictured one is volume one of the three volume Absolute hardback edition. It collects The Saga of the Swamp Thing #20-34 and Swamp Thing Annual #2 (Moore’s first 15 issues). Even if you only read this, you’ll get a great sense for the tone and heart the DCU’s Swamp Thing will convey.

And that’s a damn fine mix of comic books right there. Get to reading, people; we only have a couple of years before the DCU properly begins.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

The post James Gunn Explains Which Comics Inspired the DCU appeared first on Nerdist.

DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn gave us a lot to be excited about in his opening announcement slate for his regime. From both a new Superman and a new Batman movie, to (finally) a Green Lantern show, Gunn promised some heavy hitters. But for me, the one project that made me literally cheer at my desk was the last one. A new, big screen Swamp Thing movie. You really can’t do “Gods and Monsters” as chapter 1 without including perhaps DC continuity’s biggest, most important monster. And with Swamp Thing could come a whole universe of DC horror begging to hit big screens.

Gunn said in the Swamp Thing portion his announcement video:

“…a very dark horror story and the origins of the monster who is Swamp Thing. And although it’s tonally outside of the rest of the DCU, it will still feed into the rest of the stories.”

This is a pretty exciting idea. A dark horror story that feeds into the DC movie and TV universe but which has a completely different tone. This is as it should be. Right from his beginning, Swamp Thing was an outsider, in some ways both a god and a monster. Over time, Swampy has intersected with major portions of the greater DC Comics universe and even joined the Justice League…Dark.

Swamp Thing began in a single issue of DC’s House of Secrets anthology. Writer Len Wein and artist Berni Wrightson delivered a one-off story about a man in the early 20th Century who became a swamp creature in a chemical explosion and longed to reunite with his lost love. It’s got a Gothic horror vibe oozing throughout the short page count. The 1971 comic issue weirdly intersected with, but never copied from, Marvel’s Man-Thing. It’s a whole wild story. But, that issued proved popular enough that Wein and Wrightson returned for a full ongoing comic in 1972. Wrightson drew the first 10 issues; Nestor Redondo drew a further 13 issues, the last issue being drawn by Fred Carrillo. Wein, meanwhile, wrote the first 13 issues with David Michelinie and Gerry Conway finishing up.

This version of Swamp Thing was Dr. Alec Holland, a brilliant scientist who had developed a new plant growth formula in the bayous of Louisiana. Unfortunately, rivals killed his wife and would have killed him too, were it not for his body melding with the formula and turning him into a giant mucky man. Swamp Thing fought against all sorts of mad scientists and monsters, most notable his archenemy Dr. Anton Arcane and his Un-Men mutations. At the same time, Holland grew closer to Abigail Arcane, Anton’s niece, and federal agent Matthew Cable who had originally assumed Swamp Thing had killed Alec Holland. The story continued on for the rest of the 24 issues, but ended unceremoniously.

And that could have been it. One very ’70s comic from 1972 to 1976. But in 1982, an up-and-coming grindhouse horror filmmaker named Wes Craven was making a movie based on the Swamp Thing. That movie is dumb and bad, but it did lead DC to relaunch the comic series. The Saga of the Swamp Thing under writer Martin Pasko and artist Tom Yeates sadly did not live up to sales hopes either. Pasko brought back Abigail and Cable in the hopes to rekindle interest, but after 19 issues, he left the title.

In a last-ditch effort, editor Len Wein and DC handed the reigns of the series to a young British writer named Alan Moore. Moore had written for 2000AD and Marvel UK to some acclaim, but had yet to pen his famous later works. They gave Moore complete creative control to revamp the series in any way he wished. Along with artists Stephen Bissette and Jon Totleben, and later Rick Veitch, Moore’s 44-issue run turned Swamp Thing into something much more than a man-turned-monster.

Right away, Moore established that Swamp Thing was not actually Alec Holland. Instead he was an ancient, powerful entity in the swamp who merely thought it was Alec Holland following Holland’s death. Moore would later reveal, in an attempt to connect back to the original one-off Swamp Thing story from House of Secrets, that there had been dozens, perhaps hundreds, of Swamp Things since the dawn of humanity. All versions of the creature were designated defenders of the Parliament of Trees, an elemental community also known as “the Green” that connects all plant life on Earth. And later, on other planets. Wild stuff.

But more than that, Moore made The Saga of the Swamp Thing a metaphysical, spiritual treatise on existence and love. He had Abigail and Swamp Thing’s romance remain, even though he was no longer even tangentially human. We even get a psychedelic plant-sex scene amid the Gothic Beauty and the Beast-esque drama. At one point, vile racist hicks (a favorite villain group in Moore’s run) tried to put Abigail on trial for her “unholy” union with Swamp Thing, a direct allegory to the attacks on interracial and homosexual relationships at the time. Eventually, Swamp Thing took over Gotham City to protest Abigail’s treatment and Batman himself would side with the green defender. After all, Superman’s not human; he has a human girlfriend. Got ’em, Batman!

And while dozens of great writers and artists have worked on Swamp Thing titles in the years since, it seems almost assured that it’ll be a mix of Wein/Wrightson and Moore/Bissette/Tutleben that will end up in the DCU’s Swamp Thing movie. These are the most popular runs, but also the ones that best fit the horror inherent to the character. A man—or not a man—becomes a monster and then learns what it means to be human while fighting off other terrors both scientific and demonic.

Gunn mentioned the Swamp Thing movie will tie in with other DCU titles and characters. This happened all the time in the comics! Swamp Thing interacts with Superman and Batman; fights Hawkman and Hawkgirl; teams up with Etrigan the Demon, the Phantom Stranger, and Deadman; goes into the spirit realm and meets the Spectre; and even introduced the character of John Constantine. All of these—and indeed many, many more—such characters can and possibly will get their own movies or TV shows.

This could even, finally(!), give us the Justice League Dark movie we’ve been wanting for years. The team consists of magic, mystical, and monstrous DC characters like Constantine, Zatanna, Deadman, Man-Bat, Doctor Fate, Madame Xanadu, and of course Swamp Thing. At one point Guillermo del Toro was in talks to make such a film. We’d still love to see that, but in any permutation, a dark and magical team is a great way to distinguish the DCU from the MCU.

The DCU has a real opportunity to prove that horror can exist alongside more mainstream superhero fair. Gunn and Peter Safran are smart to recognize Swamp Thing as not merely a monster character but one of the most popular and fascinating DC characters in the whole canon. There’s a reason he’s had movies and TV shows before—as recently as 2019. Announcing Swamp Thing right away allows for more horror to influence the continuity. Vampires, werewolves, and zombies all exist, via Swamp Thing. We may finally get big screen Clayface, Solomon Grundy, Blue Devil, Floronic Man, and more! Hence my cheers. DC Comics does horror very well, and I’m jazzed to see where it goes.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

The post How SWAMP THING Promises to Bring Horror to the DCU appeared first on Nerdist.

James Gunn’s big DCU announcement slate was a mix of iconic characters like Superman and Green Lantern, mixed with deep cuts like The Authority. But among the deepest cuts was the news that a Gunn-written animated series based on the Creature Commandos was already in production. If you’ve never heard of the Creature Commandos, you’re hardly alone. This was a very short-lived DC group from the early ‘80s. It’s had one or two revivals in the decades since. Although largely, they’ve remained forgotten. So what’s the story when it comes to these kooky monsters? It all goes back to something that largely doesn’t exist anymore—war comics.

The Classic Universal Monsters, Only as Soldiers

Back in the ‘40s through ‘70s, war comics were a staple of the industry. Baby Boomer kids read dozens of titles about World War II exploits. Comics with titles like All-American Men of War, Our Army at War, and many more filled comic book spinner racks. Even Marvel got in on the action, with Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos. But by the late ‘70s, superheroes dominated. Together with the anti-war movement, exploitation of real-life bloody conflicts no longer seemed cool, and sales dropped. One of the few titles still limping along by the early ‘80s was Weird War Tales, which survived by mixing horror and sci-fi with military combat stories.

In 1980, writer J. M. DeMatteis, famous for his work on Amazing Spider-Man, and later, Justice League International, went to editor Len Wein with a concept of classic monsters fighting in World War II, called the Creature Commandos. The basic idea behind Creature Commandos was actually a pretty great one. Get the classic Universal Monsters, or public domain versions of them, and turn them into an elite group of soldiers. According to DeMatteis, Wein said, “‘That’s so silly that it will work. Let’s do it.’ And we did it and it was silly and nothing came of it and the book died anyway.”

Still, it didn’t die right away, and the book continued for two more years, until DC did away with all their war books for good.

Welcome to Project M

The monsters known as the Creature Commandos came from Project M, a top-secret government organization created during the second world war. They specialized in “experimental biotechnology and necromancy.” Project M (M for Monster, naturally) recruited Warren Griffith (a werewolf), Sgt. Vincent Velcro (a vampire), Pvt. Elliot “Lucky” Taylor (a Frankenstein-style monster), and Dr. Myrna Rhodes (a gorgon). They later added another weird WWII hero, the G.I. Robot, another creation of Project M. Once his own adventures ended, DC folded him in with the Commandos. Robots could be scary too, right?

For a couple of years in Weird War Tales, the Creature Commandos tore apart Nazi soldiers and fought dinosaurs in the South Pacific. Who wouldn’t want to read about that? After Weird War Tales ended, the Creature Commandos were spotted with the legions of characters fighting in Crisis on Infinite Earths. And then, they largely disappeared from comics for 15 years. In the grim n’ gritty ‘80s and ‘90s era of comics, DC perhaps considered them too silly. But by the early 2000s, writers like Grant Morrison made it okay to embrace wackier concepts at DC again. They gave the Creature Commandos another shot—this time, at last, in their own title.

21st Century Monsters

In 2000, writer Timothy Truman and artist Scot Eaton brought the team back from the grave (so to speak), in an eight-part mini-series. They upgraded the group for the 21st century. Luckily, as monsters and robots, the Creature Commandos were pretty much immortal. Except for their poor human leader, who they replaced with another regular Joe, Captain Lucius Hunter. They went by the name M-Team Alpha, and were a special ops unit. They added new members, analogues of other classic movie monsters. Aten was a living mummy, and Bogman was a riff on the Creature from the Black Lagoon. Aside from their mini-series, they only appeared here and there, like as unwitting agents of Maxwell Lord in a Justice League story.

In the New 52 line-wide reboot of the DC Universe, the Creature Commandos returned as agents of the secret organization SHADE. This time, the Frankenstein-like member was actually Frankenstein’s monster. His Bride also joined him. It’s unclear if they are still a part of the DC Universe, but since much of the old continuity was recently restored, we imagine the originals are still out there somewhere. About a decade ago, they even got their own animated shorts for DC Nation on Cartoon Network, which you can view above. The Creature Commandos also popped up in the animated kid’s show, Batman: The Brave and the Bold. But these were brief, under-the-radar appearances.

The Creature Commandos’ DCU Future

Regardless of their lack of any big comic book or cartoon success, the concept is ripe for exploitation in other media, and seems right in James Gunn’s wheelhouse. His seven-episode HBO Max animated series will feature Rick Flag, Sr., as well as Batman villain Doctor Phosphorus. Weasel from Suicide Squad is part of the group, as is Nina Mazursky, a Project M scientist from the comics. But the leads will be Eric Frankenstein and his Bride—no werewolves or vampires yet. Maybe Gunn thinks they’re played out, and wants less of a classic monsters vibe.

If anyone can make the Creature Commandos into household names, we bet it’s the guy who did the same for a talking tree and wise guy raccoon.

The post Who Are the Creature Commandos? DC Comics’ Monster Soldiers, Explained appeared first on Nerdist.