James Gunn's plans for crossovers within the DC Universe are vastly different from how Marvel Studios built the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and they could be a game-changer. Gunn and Peter Safran took over DC Studios in 2022, and since then, they've quickly cleared out much of the DCEU and begun developing a new DC Universe. With a fresh start and their experience with both the Marvel and DC Cinematic Universes, Gunn and Safran have the freedom to experiment with their DC Universe, and they've already made some radical decisions.
Marvel Studios gradually introduced crossovers into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starting with solo projects featuring heroes like Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America, which took place in the same universe and were sometimes connected by post-credits scenes. It took five films before Marvel Studios released a full-fledged crossover in 2012's The Avengers, which united the stories of each of its heroes into a single team.
James Gunn did something completely different when launching the DC Universe, making the first project, Superman 2025, a crossover from the start. Superman was primarily focused on introducing David Corenswet as the Man of Steel, but it also included appearances by Hawkgirl, Green Lantern (Guy Gardner), Mister Terrific, and Supergirl, some of whom were crucial to the plot. The intent was clear: the new DC Universe wasn't going to wait to create crossovers.
DC Studios' strategy still bears some similarities to Marvel Studios'. Solo projects have been commissioned, such as those featuring Supergirl and Green Lantern (in the "Lanterns" series), but the difference is that these projects also explicitly suggest crossovers with the wider DC Universe, rather than being limited to post-credits hints.
Supergirl returns Millie Alcock as Kara Zor-El, Superman's cousin who briefly appeared at the end of Superman. Superman reciprocates her affections in Supergirl, with Corenswet appearing as his DC Universe counterpart, further cementing Supergirl as a DCEU film. Supergirl will also likely set the stage for Kara's future appearances in the DC Universe, as Variety reports that Alcock is set to return as Supergirl in the next major DC crossover film, Man of Tomorrow.
Next up is the HBO Max series "Lanterns," which introduces viewers to the Green Lanterns, Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and John Stewart (Aaron Pierre). While the series primarily focuses on the relationship between the pair, it also features Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner, the Green Lantern from Superman's Justice Gang, linking the two projects.
Additionally, Aaron Pierre is confirmed to return for Man of Tomorrow, making Lanterns another must-see film to learn about the hero's origins before his big appearance in the DC Universe crossover.
Even a project like Peacemaker, originally created within the DC Cinematic Universe and transitioning to the DC Universe with its second season, plays a significant role in DC Studios' crossover plans. John Cena's character briefly appeared in the Superman film last year, after which Justice Gang members Hawkgirl and Guy Gardner were featured in the second season of the HBO series. Moreover, the plot of Peacemaker's second season is crucial for the future of the DC Universe, particularly with the revelation of the secret of Salvation, the metahuman prison.
Everything is moving toward one thing: "Man of Tomorrow." While technically a sequel to "Superman," "Man of Tomorrow" is increasingly resembling a Justice League film, with confirmed appearances from Superman, Supergirl, Green Lantern, and the Justice League team. It will be the first major crossover in the DC Universe, bringing together heroes introduced in separate projects, like John Stewart and Kara Zor-El, and it's all happening much faster than in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
While it took Marvel Studios five years and five projects to create a major crossover in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the DC Universe is moving much faster. Gunn ensures a balance between solo and crossover projects, but even those focused on a single hero maintain a clear connection to the larger story being told by the DC Universe.
For now, the only question mark remains: Clayface, the DCEU film focusing on the infamous Batman villain. It's unclear whether and how the film, set for release in October 2026, will be connected to the wider DC Universe, but even if not, it's still an important move for DC Studios, as it demonstrates that the new studio can create strong, standalone projects that exist alongside those integral to building the superhero universe.
The interconnectedness of the DC Universe changes things dramatically.
While Marvel Studios is known for crossovers with its heroes in projects beyond the Avengers films, such as Captain America: Civil War and Marvel, it doesn't do so as often and certainly not as quickly as the DCEU. Significant crossovers or team-ups outside of the Avengers films only appeared in Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, while the DCEU is only doing so in its fourth feature film.
James Gunn worked on the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so he has firsthand experience with what it's like to work in a cinematic universe, including its pros and cons. So now, when it comes to creating his own DC Universe, one of the key takeaways seems to be a desire to make each project more interconnected, rather than waiting for significant crossovers like the Justice League film.
One advantage is that this makes every DCEU project a must-see. While some viewers may want to skip a particular project, the establishment of various storylines or the inclusion of certain characters makes each story an integral part of the DCEU. However, this is a double-edged sword, as viewers may feel like watching each project is homework and end up overwhelmed—a common feeling in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
«"Man of Tomorrow" will be a serious test of the effectiveness of the DC Universe's strategy. Given how many heroes are united from various interconnected projects, it will be interesting to see how audiences react to "Man of Tomorrow," especially with several DC Universe projects already underway. "Man of Tomorrow" could attract more attention thanks to its crossover elements, or it could disappoint viewers who already feel the DC Universe is overly "homework-heavy.".