James Gunn’s DCU reboot shows how impressive the MCU is as a franchise. While comparisons between Marvel and DC have existed for decades, the success of the MCU right as DC concluded Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy sparked a different level of comparison now regarding the movies. Marvel had already completed the MCU’s Phase 1 with The Avengers by the time Man of Steel premiered, meaning that the DCEU began “behind” Marvel. However, even when the DCEU’s first decade is compared to Marvel’s first 10 years only, the MCU still has a significant advantage when it comes to the number of releases and box office total.
Comparisons between Marvel and the DCEU were common in the last decade, yet the differences between the two franchises can now be perceived in a different context as the DCEU as established with Man of Steel is coming to an end. Though James Gunn has yet to use the term “reboot”, the cancelation of Wonder Woman 3 and the news that Henry Cavill will not return a Superman spells that the current DCEU is indeed ending. With the DCEU ending after 10 years while the MCU continues past the Infinity Saga, Marvel Studios’ franchise feat becomes even more unique.
The DCEU Will End With Aquaman 2
The DCEU will essentially end with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. While James Gunn and Peter Safran are already developing the next decade of DC movies and shows, 2023 will see the release of four DC films that were already in development prior to Gunn and Safran. Those are The Flash, which has been on the DCEU’s slate since 2016, Shazam: Fury of the Gods, Blue Beetle, and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. As of now, it’s difficult to say whether Blue Beetle has any major connections with the previous DCEU or if the film could be integrated into James Gunn’s DCU plans.
It is also important to remember that a complete DCU reboot hasn’t been confirmed but everything points to a significant reboot before James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DCU begins. Just the fact that the new Superman movie will be a reboot already tells that the DCEU as audiences have known it since 2013’s Man of Steel is about to end. Wonder Woman 3 isn’t happening, and Jason Momoa is reportedly being considered to play Lobo following what could be his final movie as Aquaman (via THR). It will be interesting to see if any of DC’s 2023 films will feel like a definite ending to their respective titular characters.
The Old DCEU Lasted 10 Years
Whether it’s a complete reboot or not, James Gunn’s DCU will be a new franchise. As such, the old DCEU that began with Man of Steel will have lasted 10 years and a few months by the time Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom premieres. Given how Snyder’s Man of Steel was not even supposed to be the beginning of a shared universe but rather the first entry in what would have become a Superman trilogy in the molds of the Dark Knight trilogy, the DCEU as a shared universe only really began in 2016 with Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Batman v Superman was followed by Suicide Squad, which had several connections to Batman v Superman and saw the return of Ben Affleck as Batman. Wonder Woman then premiered to better reviews than Suicide Squad and Batman v Superman, suggesting that the DCEU had a solid future ahead of it. However, after the Justice League failure, the DCEU was never able to find a new beginning despite still having hits like Aquaman. As of now, Aquaman is DC's only non-Dark Knight billion-dollar film. By the end of 2023, the DCEU will have released of 16 movies, with Zack Snyder’s Justice League and Blue Beetle considered, as well as one TV show.
Marvel’s First 10 Years Led To Infinity War
As a comparison, the MCU’s first ten years began with Iron Man and ended with Avengers: Infinity War. In that first decade, Marvel released 21 movies, six of which crossed the billion-dollar mark at the box office, with Infinity War grossing more than $2 billion The MCU’s first 10 years saw three Avengers receiving complete trilogies – Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor. Marvel also saw the release of three Avengers movies in its first decade, with Avengers: Infinity War ending on a cliffhanger leading up to 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. The Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange, Ant-Man, Black Panther, and Spider-Man also received solo films in those 10 years.
The DCEU, on the other hand, will not have completed any superhero trilogy in its first decade. Though Man of Steel, Batman v Superman, and Justice League can be considered three chapters of Superman’s story, a proper Man of Steel sequel never happened. In fact, only Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Shazam, and the Suicide Squad will have received two DCEU movies, with The Suicide Squad being more a soft reboot than a sequel. In terms of Justice League films, which were supposed to be the highlight of a DC movie universe, the 2017 film remains the only theatrical Justice League movie.
Why The DCEU Couldn’t Replicate Marvel’s Success
While the DCEU has its merits for keeping a relatively successful movie franchise for 10 years, a comparison with the MCU shows that Marvel was far more effective when it comes to exploring the potential of its characters. Marvel Studios did not even have the rights to some of Marvel’s most famous characters for most of the Infinity Saga, which includes Spider-Man, the X-Men, and the Fantastic Four. The DCEU, on the other hand, had all DC heroes and villains at its disposal. The problem, however, is that DC tried to catch up with Marvel right away instead of slowly building up a universe.
The Dark Knight Rises, the billion-dollar conclusion to Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, came out just a few months after The Avengers. DC was therefore just starting its transition into a post-Nolan’s Batman era, meaning that it was still too soon to rush into a shared universe. While the most logical next step for Batman was to interact with fantastical elements like Superman and the Justice League, going from a Superman solo movie into a massive crossover film like Batman v Superman in just three years was too much. Batman v Superman was very convoluted as it had to set up the Justice League, not to mention divisive choices like Superman killing Zod in Man of Steel.
Will The DCU Ever Catch Up With Marvel?
James Gunn’s DCU reboot means that DC has the chance of building a new universe from scratch. DC can apply the lessons learned from the old DCEU mistakes, such as not rushing things and focusing on interconnectivity. Gunn’s DCU can also have a more consistent plan than the DCEU, as what the studio wanted for the DC movie franchise was clearly different from what Snyder was envisioning for his five-movie arc. The new DCU can also focus on the beginning of the Justice League heroes’ career, thus allowing the franchise to continue for many years. If it works, then DC will have a chance of catching up with the MCU.
