I truly did hope it would be different this time.
Hope. It’s what underpinned Director/Producer/Writer/Needle-Dropper/Co-CEO James Gunn’s vision for the DC Universe: A universe that boasted consistency amongst its film and TV entries, and even within its gaming branches (how that level of integration was ever achievable, is anyone’s guess), but with the release of Supergirl (2026) and amidst constant project cancellations, hope may have now left the building at Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.
In fairness to Gunn, a lot of damage was already done before he even entered the building. The PR disaster that was Ezra Miller left The Flash dead in the water. Yet Gunn went out of his way to call it his a film that he “love[d]“, in his opening address to the public.
This meant only one of two things could be true: either Gunn is a liar, or he has poor taste. Neither of those options bode well. Particularly the former option, as it means that the rest of the positive things espoused, like ‘we are only gonna produce movies that have good scripts ready’, now comes under scrutiny.
Yet, the biggest concern at the beginning of Gunn’s tenure was that of him being a one trick pony, with every product becoming some form of Guardians of the Galaxy flick. And don’t look now, but even in scripts (allegedly) written by others, it seems those fears hold merit.
Supergirl, which sports many elements reminiscent of GOTG, flopped. Badly. Insiders blame a dysfunctional relationship between director and producers, and a script doomed from the beginning… so much for only producing well-written scripts. Even Superman (2025), which I enjoyed, does have many of those same Guardians-esque components, validating the concerns of early naysayers.
With the imminent Clayface (2026) too niche to move the needle, and Lanterns getting lukewarm reviews, eyes turn to Man of Tomorrow (2027) to right the ship… But this cinematic titanic-of-a-universe stands no chance, ultimately headed by a man whose best movie was yesterday.
My words to James Gunn would be the same as those in Supergirl’s marketing tagline: Look out. And, just for the record, I take no pleasure saying it.
Till the next DCU reset…
Jordey Petersen 
Tyler James 
Debbie Choo