Last year, the new James Gunn DC Universe officially launched with the film Superman (2025), featuring David Corenswet in the lead role. The movie premiered worldwide, earning $624.3 million against its $225 million budget, and received generally favorable responses from both critics and audiences. This development marked the start of a major reboot for DC films and television under the fresh creative direction of DC Studios’ co-CEO James Gunn.
The Emerging Landscape of the New DC Universe in Film and Television
Superman (2025) heralded a fresh chapter in interconnected storytelling for the DC Universe across both cinematic and small-screen projects. This initiative is poised to continue later this year with Supergirl (2026), starring Milly Alcock in the titular role. Additional films slated for future release include Clayface (2026), Superman: Man of Tomorrow (2027), and a reboot of Batman under the title The Brave and the Bold, which currently has no confirmed release date.
On television, the James Gunn DC Universe is expanding through projects such as Peacemaker Season 2 and the animated Creature Commandos, which are broadening the scope of this shared universe beyond theatrical releases.
The Transition from the DCEU to the New DCU
The current DC Universe replaces the previous DC Extended Universe (DCEU), which began with Man of Steel in 2013 and concluded with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom in 2023. Although some characters and narrative elements have carried over—like John Cena’s Peacemaker, Viola Davis’s Amanda Waller, and Xolo Maridueña’s Blue Beetle—the original DCEU is now officially retired.
This retirement also includes the so-called Snyderverse, the trilogy directed by Zack Snyder consisting of Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and the 2021 Zack Snyder’s Justice League. Many fans consider the Snyderverse a distinct pocket universe separate from the broader DCEU timeline.
Despite the official end of the Snyderverse films, fan campaigns and speculation have persisted about a possible revival or continuation of Snyder’s distinct interpretation of the DC characters.
Speculation Surrounding Henry Cavill’s Future as Superman
In the wake of these changes, Zack Snyder fueled excitement among fans by sharing a photo of Henry Cavill dressed as Superman on his Instagram last year. He followed up with images of other Justice League cast members, including Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Gal Gadot as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman, Joe Manganiello as Slade Wilson/Deathstroke, and Jared Leto as the Joker.
The caption under the Superman photo, stating simply “Henry Cavill is Superman,” ignited widespread rumors that Cavill might return to the role despite the launch of the new DCU under James Gunn’s leadership. These rumors were intensified by speculation about Gunn’s possible departure from DC Studios and reports of Netflix initially securing a deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery assets.
However, it later became clear that Snyder was primarily showcasing his photography work through his Instagram rather than confirming any official returns.
Zack Snyder Addresses the Future of His Snyderverse Amidst the James Gunn DC Universe
During a recent appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast commemorating the ten-year anniversary of Batman v Superman, Zack Snyder was questioned about whether his Snyderverse might continue alongside the expanding DCU guided by James Gunn and Peter Safran.
Snyder expressed openness to multiple versions of iconic characters such as Superman and Batman coexisting, stating,
“Other people will take them and other people will take them after that, and that’s how it should be,”
making clear his acceptance of creative diversity within the universe.
He further praised the new Superman (2025) film and James Gunn’s work:
“James is cool. I wish them all the best. It is what it is. That three-movie trilogy [Man of Steel, BvS, Justice League] is a weed that just won’t die. It grows on its own. It has its own life. It’s not concerned with James’ Superman, which is amazing and all the best to them. I can’t wait to see the next movie. It’s awesome. To me, it’s just not the same thing. It’s just like a different thing.” – Zack Snyder, Director
Snyder recognizes that while his films continue to have a devoted fanbase, their narrative exists independently of the James Gunn DC Universe.
When asked if the Snyderverse might be continued, Snyder responded cautiously yet optimistically:
“I would never say that there’s no way,”
also reflecting on the difficult journey of getting Zack Snyder’s Justice League completed. He noted the unlikely circumstances under which his vision finally reached audiences despite overwhelming odds:
“I was on the ride that created Justice League, and if you were in my shoes there were numerous times, dark times, when there was no chance that there will ever be my version of it. It will never exist. It can’t… cost, politics, everything stood against. And yet it exists. The fans should never forget they did that. They also raised a ton of money for suicide prevention. They did a lot of good. They catch a lot of flak for being toxic or whatever, but they literally saved human lives.” – Zack Snyder, Director
The Complex History of Justice League and its Lasting Legacy
In 2016, tragedy struck during the production of Justice League when Snyder had to step down following the death of his daughter. Joss Whedon then took over, overseeing significant rewrites and reshoots, which altered the film’s tone and story. The theatrical release in 2017 received harsh criticism from fans and critics alike, sparking the #RestoreTheSnyderCut campaign online.
This fan movement succeeded when the director’s cut of the film was released on HBO Max in 2021, receiving critical acclaim and vindicating Snyder’s original vision. This version is now widely regarded as the definitive conclusion of the Snyderverse trilogy. However, plans for subsequent Justice League films under Snyder’s direction were never realized, leaving fans wondering if his story might continue alternatively alongside the new DCU.
Future of the Snyderverse: Potential in Comics and Animation
Host Josh Horowitz asked Snyder whether his ideas for Justice League 2 and 3 could be adapted into other formats such as comic books or animated features. Snyder responded:
“We absolutely talked about it quite a bit. We live in a world where all that is possible. Whatever form it would take, that would be amazing.” – Zack Snyder, Director
This suggests that while new live-action Snyderverse films might be unlikely in the near term—especially as the James Gunn DC Universe expands—the Snyderverse could survive creatively in other media. Such adaptations are not unprecedented; DC previously extended the Burtonverse through Batman ’89 comics that continued the storyline of Tim Burton’s Batman films.
Uncertainty Surrounding Warner Bros. Discovery and Its Impact on DC Studios
In December, Netflix unexpectedly pulled out of its bidding war to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery’s studio and streaming assets, leaving Paramount Skydance as the leading contender in the acquisition valued at approximately $111 billion.
While the sale could result in significant shifts within Warner Bros. and DC Studios, no formal announcements have yet been made regarding changes to creative leadership or direction at DC Studios. This indicates that the current slate of DCU projects, including the upcoming Harry Potter television reboot, will proceed as planned for the time being. Any restructuring or strategic changes are expected to take place only after the conclusion of the transaction.
As the landscape around Warner Bros. remains unsettled, fans and industry watchers are left to speculate on how these shifts might influence the coexistence of the Snyderverse with James Gunn’s DC Universe, whether through film, television, or other storytelling formats.
