James Gunn Says His DCU Story Will Take About a Decade to Unfold
DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn is opening up about the long-term vision for the DCU and how the plan has evolved since he first took the reins.
Speaking on the 2 Bears, 1 Cave podcast, Gunn revealed that while the overall roadmap has shifted, the core story remains the same and will play out across roughly a decade.
"When we first took over, I had written up what the first shows were supposed to be, but where the story eventually went."
He noting that Warner Bros. Discovery boss David Zaslav, Warner Bros. Pictures co-chairs Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy, and HBO boss Casey Bloys were all made aware of this original plan.
"We had a basic plan, but then I hired a group of writers who I really respected, who came in, and we kind of worked out the whole story. Now, some things have changed since then, for various reasons. But the basic thrust of the big story is the same.
"That is what started in Superman, continues in Peacemaker, goes to the next Superman movie, and then will continue from the movie after that, and then after that.
“So there's the bigger plan that we came up with… It's like a decade, maybe a little less. It's very loose, too. You have to be careful, because there were certain projects that were a part of that plan – because my other rule is, I'm not gonna greenlight anything without having a screenplay that I love.
“And there were other things that haven't worked yet. You've gotta be able to have the big picture in mind, but then also be willing and be able to shift anytime you need to. So the pinpoints are the same, but some of the specifics have changed."
When Gunn and Peter Safran first unveiled DCU Chapter One: Gods and Monsters, they estimated the full plan would take around 8 to 10 years.
With Gunn now clarifying that it could take “like a decade” to tell the overarching story, it’s clear the team is sticking to that original timeframe. Still, as Gunn pointed out, flexibility is built into the process, which explains why the confirmed slate looks a little different from what was first announced.
What hasn’t changed is Gunn’s commitment to telling one big connected story across films and shows, and it all started with Superman. From there, the DCU will slowly grow piece by piece, weaving into that massive 10-year narrative Gunn and his team have carefully mapped out.