DC co-creator James Gunn took to X recently to announce DC’s next big show, “The People Vs Gorilla Grodd.” The series will allegedly help bridge the gap between many of DC’s film projects, and the larger cinematic universe. Some fans are somewhat skeptical about the franchises’ future direction, but Gunn’s announcement indicates he has a clear plan in mind. That said, his role in DC could quicky change after Paramount’s merge with Warner Bros.
At this point, both Gunn and the future of the DCU remain up in the air. Many projects are in post-production, but it is ultimately up to Paramount if they ever reach audiences. Nevertheless, all eyes are on the DCU after Gunn’s latest True Crim announcement.
Gunn Is Taking the DCU in a Positive New Direction
Gunn explains in the post that “The People Vs Gorilla Grodd” will be the DCU’s first true crime show. This raises several questions, including what genre “Lanterns” is attributed, but is a necessary change for the cinematic universe. At this point, Marvel is leagues above DC when it comes to franchise variety, and Gunn is clearly trying to close that gap. Marvel has always been on top, when it comes to their respective cinematic franchises, but Gunn is clearly trying to diversify DC’s portfolio.
DC has historically been a powerhouse when it comes to animated projects. Yet, the studio has been notably all over the place when it comes to their live action projects. Gunn’s latest announcement is clearly meant to foster hype for the new project, while revealing the studio is willing to experiment with new things.
Marvel attempted the same with “Wonder Man”, but low viewership counts prevented them from testing any further. DC most likely plans to employ a similar strategy. The studio is willing to try “The People Vs Gorilla Grodd” so long as it finds success. However, DC likely won’t continue to provide life support, if the series doesn’t find an applicable audience.
A new direction could be exactly what the franchise needs to find success. 2025’s “Superman” was an incredible success. Yet, following film entries fell somewhat flat. “Supergirl” completely flopped in theatres, leaving many fans to wonder what’s next for the studio. This combined with Marvel’s recent success indicates DC is in big need of a major win.
Gunn’s Announcement Persists in the Face of Widespread Fan Scrutiny
Unfortunately, Gunn’s recent announcement comes at a time where DC is being met by widespread scrutiny. Several feel the creative team is working on the wrong projects and ignoring important figureheads like Wonder Woman and Batman. They feel this unorthodox approach to the DC Universe is engaging, but not enough to fuel a full scale cinematic universe akin to what Marvel has produced.
GettyDC movies are great, but they are no way as cohesive as Marvel’s tight knit franchise. Not every plot thread of the MCU led somewhere, but each film and show are connected to an incredible degree. If DC plans to replicate that success they need to stop bickering amongst themselves and choose a cohesive creative direction for their studio moving forward.
All in all, this announcement sparks incredibly good news for DC studios. It proves the company, and Gunn, are still willing to try new things despite facing widespread scrutiny. The DCU might never reach the same heights as the critically acclaimed Marvel Cinematic Universes, but Gunn is clearly ready to give it his all and provide audiences with what he believes is the most engaging part of the DC world.
