James Gunn will be the main creative force behind the DC Universe, and that is great news for Henry Cavill’s Superman future. Following Black Adam’s post-credits scene and the shocking announcement that Henry Cavill has exited The Witcher, it seems like Henry Cavill’s Superman return will not be limited to a potential Superman vs. Black Adam fight. A Man of Steel 2, or any other Superman-centered project, has yet to be announced. However, as teased by Cavill himself, Black Adam’s Superman scene is just a tease of what is to come for Superman in the DC Universe.
Only a few days after Henry Cavill’s Superman return was made official with the premiere of Black Adam, it was officially announced that James Gunn and Peter Safran would oversee all upcoming DC shared universe movies in what is being referred to as DC Studios. Although Todd Philips’ Joker and Matt Reeves’ The Batman are in their own universes and are not expected to tie in with other DC movies, everything else will now be part of James Gunn’s vision for the DC Universe. As such, the DCEU as audiences know it is expected to be reworked, even if a reboot doesn't happen, which will benefit Henry Cavill’s new run as Superman following Superman's previously divisive appearances.
Will James Gunn Direct The New Superman Movie?
So far, no new Superman movie has been made official, nor has any director been attached to a Superman project. With James Gunn now having an executive role in DC Studios, which is a first in the industry considering that creators rarely take on executive roles that demanding, it is not very likely that the Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad director helms the DCEU's next Superman movie. That said, THR reported that James Gunn will continue to work on his own DC projects, such as Peacemaker season 2. The possibility that Gunn directs another DC movie or show is not ruled out. Even if James Gunn does not direct the long-awaited Man of Steel sequel, the next Superman movie will necessarily be part of Gunn’s vision for DC Studios.
How James Gunn’s Vision Can Help Craft A New Superman Movie
Although it is still too soon to say what James Gunn’s plans for the DC Universe are, just the fact that there will now be a cohesive vision behind the DC films is good news for the next Superman movie. Following Zack Snyder’s departure from Justice League and all the controversies surrounding that movie, the DCEU had avoided setting a new overarching, long-term plan for the franchise. Five years after Justice League, Henry Cavill’s Superman had been a no-show; Ben Affleck’s Batman was expected to return in The Flash and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, despite Michael Keaton also returning as Batman; Batgirl was canceled, and there has been no hint of Justice League 2 happening anytime soon.
No new DCEU movie for the next few years has been announced yet, meaning that after Aquaman 2, the future of DC’s shared universe remains a mystery. It is safe to say that as soon as James Gunn’s plans for the newly created DC Studios become more solid, new DC movies and shows will be announced. With a cohesive vision and an overarching story guiding the DC Universe, not only Henry Cavill’s Superman but all corners of the previous DCEU will have an exciting future. For example, a potential Justice League sequel could finally make the DC Universe feel as connected as it was originally supposed to be.
James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad Is What Man Of Steel 2 Should Be
Even before his DC Studios role, James Gunn had already shown what a Man of Steel 2 should be like with 2021's The Suicide Squad. That is not to say the next Superman movie should have the same tone and pace as The Suicide Squad, only that The Suicide Squad’s soft reboot can be used for a potential Man of Steel sequel. Even if the next Superman movie is supposed to be a new beginning for Henry Cavill’s Superman, completely ignoring Superman’s previous DCEU appearances would be a mistake. As divisive as Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice were, they defined Superman’s origins in the DCEU and established several of Superman’s supporting characters. For example, recasting Lois Lane for Man of Steel 2 would make the movie an actual reboot – and that is not what DC asks for now.
A soft reboot similar to what The Suicide Squad did is the best approach for the next Superman movie. The Suicide Squad was not a direct sequel to 2016’s Suicide Squad, meaning that it did not continue any specific storylines nor did it rely on the events of the first movie. Nothing in The Suicide Squad contradicts the first movie nor did the sequel recast any of the characters from Suicide Squad. The Suicide Squad is part of the same universe as Suicide Squad, yet it has a different vision and a different tone. Five years after his last major role in a DCEU movie, that is exactly what Superman needs.
Henry Cavill’s Superman Return Happened At The Perfect Time
While DC waited too long to bring Henry Cavill’s Superman back, to the point many believed Cavill would never play Superman again, Black Adam’s post-credits scene happened at the perfect time. Had Henry Cavill returned as Superman before there were plans for a DC Studios, the lack of a consistent vision and a clear plan for the DCEU could have once again played against Superman and other key DC characters. Henry Cavill’s Superman has only been at the center of three DC movies, which is shocking compared to how many appearances names like Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man or Chris Evans’ Captain America had in the same period. The MCU has proved several times how interconnectivity and returning characters can benefit a cinematic universe, which is why there must be a bigger plan for Superman in the DC Universe.
A DC Studios led by James Gunn means that all future DC movies, apart from Joker: Folie à Deux and The Batman’s sequels, will be connected on some level. The DCEU started by Man of Steel still has technically never ended. Yet, after Justice League, interconnectivity became increasingly rare throughout the franchise. Solo adventures and character-focused movies are important, but a DC cinematic universe can only go so far without a Justice League or a Superman. Henry Cavill’s Superman needs a consistent universe for it to work, just like the DC Universe needs Superman. Whatever James Gunn’s plans for DC Studios are, they sure must involve Superman on some level.
Black Adam’s Superman scene, as exciting as it was, needs to lead to more than just a Superman vs. Black Adam fight. The Rock has already confirmed that the long-awaited fight between Superman and Black Adam is “definitely not the next step” (via Twitter), meaning that Superman’s future in the DC Universe has yet to be revealed. Fortunately, new Superman or Justice League sequels are now more likely to happen than ever – not to mention the possibility of Superman appearing in other DC films.