The DC Universe is once again a hive of rumors and excitement. James Gunn , Co-CEO of DC Studios and the mastermind behind this new era, revealed a few months ago the existence of a secret project that never appeared in the famous Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters announcement . At the time, he preferred to remain silent because he feared a rival studio would steal his idea. Now, little by little, the fog is clearing, and we're beginning to glimpse what could be the most surprising DCU film to date.
The interesting thing is that this is no small project. From the outset, Gunn defined it as one of the pillars of his pitch to David Zaslav , CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery. In his own words: “There was one thing I knew from the beginning, which was when I pitched the DCU to David Zaslav, I included it, but we didn't announce it in that first meeting because I felt it was too easy for another company to copy. And that's one of the main things .” A statement that only served to spark the imagination of fans, convinced that this was something big.
Gunn himself has just updated the status of this DCU film.
During his appearance on Peacemaker: The Official Podcast , he dropped a bombshell that reignited theories. “I just met with the writer and director of an upcoming secret DCU project we’re working on, and they were asking me how much the visual effects cost, how many CGI characters we could have, and they were talking about the superheroes in the story. So I said, ‘The only thing you have to be careful about is the superhero suits, because they’re really hard to make, hard to make look good, and they usually cost a lot more money than creating a CGI character.’”
This statement is pure gold. Not only does it confirm that the DCU film already has a defined creative team and that Gunn won't be directing, but it also points to an ambitious visual approach. If we're talking about multiple computer-generated characters, we could be looking at a cosmic story, populated by impossible creatures and heroes from another dimension, something that would fit with the epic scale DC Studios is aiming to achieve.
Fans were quick to put the pieces together.
Many remember that Gunn has repeatedly mentioned his fascination with Jack Kirby and the New Gods, a galactic mythology that would fit perfectly with the massive use of CGI. Others believe it could be a "Crisis"-style version that blends different universes and brings back characters from the old DCEU, giving Warner Bros. the opportunity to play with cameos and big returns. Whatever the case, what's clear is that this isn't a conventional, grounded adventure.
Context also helps explain the magnitude of the mystery. Following the premiere of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, projects such as the Lanterns series, the Clayface movie, and the Superman-centric Man of Tomorrow have already been confirmed. Adding to the list are The Brave and the Bold, Swamp Thing, Waller, Booster Gold, an animated Blue Beetle series, and Paradise Lost. All of them have a role to play, but none seem to fit with the clues Gunn has dropped about this DCU film that is being kept under wraps.
What differentiates this new DC universe from the Marvel model is that there won't be a strict obligation to connect each piece in a single path toward a grand ensemble film. Gunn explained this clearly: each project will be able to function independently, even if they all contribute pieces to the overall puzzle. This creative freedom allows for risky ventures, like this CGI-heavy production, which would have been difficult to fit into a more rigid structure.
The timing is also intriguing.
The official reveal could come at New York Comic Con, which kicks off in October, or even at the upcoming Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders meeting, scheduled for November. These are two perfect showcases for an announcement that could change the perception of the DCU. Expectations are high, and the hype, as fans would say, is sky-high.
And if we're talking about hype, we also have to mention the way Gunn handles these controlled leaks. He's an expert at dropping just the right amount of information to maintain interest without giving away the full surprise. He did it with The Suicide Squad, he did it with Peacemaker, and now he's doing it again with this DCU film, which promises to be the most enigmatic to date.
It will be interesting to find out what they are planning.
For now, the only thing certain is that the combination of secrets, CGI, and a mysterious writer/director has achieved what every great marketing campaign strives for: getting fans speculating, theorizing, and keeping the conversation going on social media. Will it be a journey to the farthest reaches of the cosmos with the New Gods? Or a Crisis on Infinite Earths-style crossover between dimensions? No one knows for sure, but everyone wants to find out.
Meanwhile, the DCU's immediate future continues to be built, piece by piece, with each announcement stirring new passions. And, amidst that panorama, this secret film is emerging as the ace up the sleeve that could make the difference between an interesting reboot and a true cinematic revolution.
The only thing we can see for sure is that James Gunn knows how to maintain suspense and that the DCU isn't just banking on real-life heroes, but also on a digital expansion that could take the franchise into previously unseen territory. And that, my friends, is the kind of mystery that makes it worthwhile to keep an eye on Warner and DC Studios' every move.