Is Marvel and DC’s New Crossover The Big-Screen Pitch Hollywood Should Pay Attention To?
The age-old Marvel vs. DC debate is about to hit a whole new level, and for once, it’s not about who’s better. It’s about what happens when these two universes collide. For decades, fans have dreamed of a crossover event, and while Hollywood has never delivered, Marvel Comics and DC are stepping up in a way that should make Marvel Studios and DC Studios pay attention.
Starting this September, the ultimate team-up kicks off with Deadpool/Batman #1, published by Marvel, followed in November by DC’s Batman/Deadpool #1. You can’t get more high-profile than the Merc with a Mouth and the Dark Knight, and both one-shots come loaded with all-star creative talent. Zeb Wells and Greg Capullo headline the first issue, while DC returns fire with its own stacked lineup.
But the crossover doesn’t stop there. Backup stories bring even more iconic pairings together: Daredevil teams with Green Arrow in a story by Kevin Smith and Adam Kubert; Jeff the Land Shark meets Krypto courtesy of Kelly Thompson and Gurihiru; and perhaps the most symbolic matchup of all… Captain America and Wonder Woman, crafted by Chip Zdarsky and Terry Dodson.
Dodson even delivers a stunning cover featuring Cap and Diana side by side, a visual that screams cinematic potential.
And that’s the thing. Comics are giving fans what they’ve craved for decades, but why stop there? Hollywood is sitting on a goldmine. Marvel Studios is trying to regain its momentum after a rocky stretch, while James Gunn’s DC Universe is just getting started with Superman.
A crossover event on the big screen could be the ultimate box office play, injecting fresh energy into both franchises and breaking records along the way.
When previously talking about the idea Gunn said: “We’ve talked about it a billion times. That could easily happen, but simultaneous to that, I think it would be interesting. But I also think people are a little over it.”
Gunn then offers a smart outlook on things: “I think people wanna see good stories with their superheroes and that’s what matters. And they wanna see different types of stories with their superheroes. And people love superheroes. That’s obvious, but they need more variety, and they need just more quality storytelling.
“And just having Spider-Man and Superman team up isn’t gonna do it if it’s sh-t. So it’s gotta come from a real place, and it’s really hard to make that work.”
I 100% agree, and while it would be pretty awesome to see a Marvel and DC crossover on the big screen, it’s not going to happen for a very very long time… if ever.
It sure is fun, though, to imagine Wonder Woman and Captain America sharing the screen along with Batman and Deadpool bantering in live-action. It’s the kind of cinematic event fans, and box office analysts, dream about.
Variant covers tease even more jaw-dropping face-offs: Artgerm pits Magik against Catwoman, Steve McNiven unleashes Wolverine versus Batman, and Peach Momoko pairs Elektra with Batgirl. These aren’t just cool covers—they’re blueprints for billion-dollar matchups.
Do you think the studios should start jumping into this crossovers, or should they stay in their respective universes?
