Murphy's Multiverse

Category: Features

  • The Skinny on The DCU’s ‘Swamp Thing’

    The Skinny on The DCU’s ‘Swamp Thing’

    James Gunn and Peter Safran have revealed the first half of the first chapter of the new DCU. In total, 10 projects are expected to be rolled out by the end of 2027, with 5 films and 5 streaming series adding to the interconnected Gods and Monsters story of the DCU. With so much to take in, it can be a bit overwhelming. To make it easier, here’s the skinny on Swamp Thing.

    Gunn and Safran have expressed their commitment to making sure that the DCU is full of diverse projects and Swamp Thing, which is being developed as a theatrical release, fits the bill. “Each set of filmmakers bring their own aesthetic to these films, and the fun is seeing how these tonally different works mash-up in the future,” said Safran of the DC Studios slate of projects, adding that Swamp Thing will be “tonally different” but “interconnected” to the rest of the slate.

    Set to be a horror film, Safran says that Swamp Thing will “investigate the dark origins” of the titular character and is among a handful of surprising projects in development, according to Gunn.

    Sources: DC, Variety

  • The Skinny on The DCU’s ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow‘

    The Skinny on The DCU’s ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow‘

    James Gunn and Peter Safran have revealed the first half of the first chapter of the new DCU. In total, 10 projects are expected to be rolled out by the end of 2027, with 5 films and 5 streaming series adding to the interconnected Gods and Monsters story of the DCU. With so much to take in, it can be a bit overwhelming. To make it easier, here’s the skinny on Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.

    Tom King‘s 2021 comic will be adapted to a film of the same name in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. One of the most prolific and successful comic book authors of the last decade, King played an integral part in helping Gunn and Safran develop their Gods and Monsters slate. “Tom has been one of the architects of this entire situation,” said Gunn of King. “He’s been one of the guys in the room with us, along with four or five other writers. I love his take on these characters. He just turns them slightly to be something very unique.“

    Don’t expect the film to be a one-to-one adaptation of the book, however. Gunn describes the character as “much more hardcore” than the one from King’s comic book.

    In our story, we have Superman who was sent to Earth and raised by incredibly loving parents. Kara was on Krypton. She was on a piece of Krypton that drifted away from the planet and she lived there for the first fourteen years of her life in a horrible situation where she watched everyone around her die. So, she’s a much harsher and more fucked up Supergirl than you’ve been used to thus far.

    James Gunn

    It sounds like the DCU will feature a Kara Zor-El who has a wildly different outlook on things than her good guy cousin, Kal-El. The contrast could make for some interesting twists when the film hits theaters.

  • The Skinny on The DCU’s ‘Booster Gold’

    The Skinny on The DCU’s ‘Booster Gold’

    James Gunn and Peter Safran have revealed the first half of the first chapter of the new DCU. In total, 10 projects are expected to be rolled out by the end of 2027, with 5 films and 5 streaming series adding to the interconnected Gods and Monsters story of the DCU. With so much to take in, it can be a bit overwhelming. To make it easier, here’s the skinny on Booster Gold.

    Described by Safran as “a loser from the future who uses his basic future technology to come back to today to pretend to be a superhero“, Michael Jon Carter will make his DCU debut in the HBO Max streaming series Booster Gold. The series was described as an “outright comedy” by Variety and Gunn described the story of the time-displaced 25th Century hero as “imposter syndrome as a superhero.”

    “How do you deal with that?”, asked Gunn, who added that the series will focus on how Carter “tries to use this future technology to be loved by the people of today and what is really at the base of that.” Gunn also mentioned that DC Studios is already in talks with an actor for the role and given his stated desire to continue to work with the cast of Guardians of the Galaxy films, it wouldn’t be surprising if Chris Pratt were that actor.

    Sources: DC, Collider, Variety

  • The Skinny on The DCU’s ‘The Brave and The Bold’

    The Skinny on The DCU’s ‘The Brave and The Bold’

    James Gunn and Peter Safran have revealed the first half of the first chapter of the new DCU. In total, 10 projects are expected to be rolled out by the end of 2027, with 5 films and 5 streaming series adding to the interconnected Gods and Monsters story of the DCU. With so much to take in, it can be a bit overwhelming. To make it easier, here’s the skinny on The Brave and The Bold.

    While Robert Pattinson will continue to serve as Batman in the DC Elseworlds The Batman: Part II and its related projects, the DCU will have a Batman of its own and fans will meet him–and his son, Damian–in a theatrical release titled The Brave and The Bold. The film will be based on Grant Morrison’s Batman and Son arc from his epic run on Batman that began in 2006 which Gunn called one of his “favorite Batman runs.” Gunn called Morrison “exceptionally influential” on the DCU slate which could hint at some other possible arcs that could be explored in other projects.

    The Brave and The Bold is “a story of Damian Wayne, who’s Batman’s actual son that he didn’t know existed for the first eight to ten years of his life. He was raised as a little murderer and assassin,” explained Gunn, who also called Damian his “favorite Robin.” The film will mark the first time a Robin has appeared in a live-action film since 1997’s Batman and Robin and it sounds like Damian may not be the only one to appear. “This is going to feature other members of the extended Bat-Family.” said Safran, adding “just because we feel like they’ve been left out of the Batman stories in the theater for far too long.“

    The focus of the film, however, will be the relationship between Bruce and Damian. “It’s a very strange sort of father-son story about the two of them,” said Gunn of The Brave and The Bold, who added that fans should expect Damian to be “a little son of a bitch.” It sounds like Gunn’s got Damian pegged. No release date or creative team was announced for the project.

    Sources: DC, Collider, Variety

  • The Skinny on The DCU’s ‘Paradise Lost’

    The Skinny on The DCU’s ‘Paradise Lost’

    James Gunn and Peter Safran have revealed the first half of the first chapter of the new DCU. In total, 10 projects are expected to be rolled out by the end of 2027, with 5 films and 5 streaming series adding to the interconnected Gods and Monsters story of the DCU. With so much to take in, it can be a bit overwhelming. To make it easier, here’s the skinny on Paradise Lost.

    Set on the island nation of Themyscira before the birth of Wonder Woman, Paradise Lost is a “Game of Thrones’-ish story” that will explore “the political intrigue behind a society of all women,” according to Safran. Gunn expanded on Safran’s comments about the series, which he said will examine the “beautiful” and “ugly truths” behind Paradise Island.

    It’s an origin story of how this society of women came about. What does it mean? What are their politics like? What are their rules? Who’s in charge? What are the games that they play with each other to get to the top? I think it’s really exciting.

    James Gunn

    The series is being developed for HBO Max and will serve as an origin story for the Amazons, though it’s not clear what role they will have in the larger DCU narrative.

    Sources: DC, Collider, Variety

  • The Skinny on The DCU’s ‘The Authority

    The Skinny on The DCU’s ‘The Authority

    James Gunn and Peter Safran have revealed the first half of the first chapter of the new DCU. In total, 10 projects are expected to be rolled out by the end of 2027, with 5 films and 5 streaming series adding to the interconnected Gods and Monsters story of the DCU. With so much to take in, it can be a bit overwhelming. To make it easier, here’s the skinny on The Authority.

    The second film in the first half of the Gods and Monsters slate is The Authority, which Gunn calls a “very different kind of superhero story” and a “passion project.” The film is probably the most unlikely on the list given the history of the team of heroes it involves. The Authority was created as part of Jim Lee’s WildStorm universe which was eventually purchased by DC comics and, during the New 52 publishing initiative, integrated into the mainstream continuity. Fans may not be quite familiar with the team, which Safran compared to Jack Nicholson’s Colonel Jessup in A Few Good Men saying, “they know that you want them on the wall, or at least they believe that.” Gunn gave a little more detail of what to expect from this win-at-all-costs group.

    They are basically good-intentioned, but they think that the world is completely broken and the only way to fix it is to take things into their own hands, whether that means killing people, destroying heads of state, changing governments—basically, whatever they want to do to make the world better. We’ll see how that journey goes for them. There are morally gray characters (in our DCU), of which these are.

    James Gunn

    The film is currently being written, though Gunn did not reveal who was penning the project though he indicated he’s helped outline the story.

    I only have seven days in the week, all of which are used in the service of DC storytelling. I’m working all the time. I can only do what I can do. So we’re going to have to make a decision at some point. Whether or not, you know, is it better for me to, you know, I can write more. I already wrote all of that. I’ve written a lot of that. I’ve worked a lot on the outline for The Authority myself.

    James Gunn

    No release date has been slated for The Authority, though if DC Studios plans to put a second movie out in 2025, this project could potentially make that date.

    Sources: DC, Collider, Variety

  • The Skinny on The DCU’s ‘Lanterns’

    The Skinny on The DCU’s ‘Lanterns’

    James Gunn and Peter Safran have revealed the first half of the first chapter of the new DCU. In total, 10 projects are expected to be rolled out by the end of 2027, with 5 films and 5 streaming series adding to the interconnected Gods and Monsters story of the DCU. With so much to take in, it can be a bit overwhelming. To make it easier, here’s the skinny on Lanterns.

    A Green Lantern Corps streaming series had been in development at HBO for years but with the announcement of Lanterns, it is clear that series is dead and has been replaced by one that will feature iconic Corps members Hal Jordan and John Stewart. The previous series which was being developed by Greg Berlanti was described by Safran as a “space opera” while the new series will have a very different tone. “Our vision is much more True Detective,” explained Safran, who went on to describe it as a “terrestrial-based investigation story.“

    The mystery at the center of the HBO Max series will be part of a story that “is going to weave back and forth between the films and the television shows,” according to Safran, who adds that Lanterns “plays a really big role leading us into the main story” of Chapter One of the DCU. Gunn added that the series will see the Lanterns “find this ancient horror on Earth, and these guys are basically supercops on “Precinct Earth.”

    No information was provided on the creative team behind the project or when it’s expected to stream on HBO Max.

    Sources: DC, Collider, Variety

  • The Skinny on The DCU’s ‘Superman: Legacy’

    The Skinny on The DCU’s ‘Superman: Legacy’

    James Gunn and Peter Safran have revealed the first half of the first chapter of the new DCU. In total, 10 projects are expected to be rolled out by the end of 2027, with 5 films and 5 streaming series adding to the interconnected Gods and Monsters story of the DCU. With so much to take in, it can be a bit overwhelming. To make it easier, here’s the skinny on Superman: Legacy.

    Written and potentially directed by Gunn, Superman: Legacy will be the first theatrical release of DC Studios Gods and Monsters chapter and is expected to be in theaters on July 11, 2025. According to Safran, the film, which will be rated PG-13, “is really the launch of the DCU.” Given the audience’s familiarity with the character, Superman: Legacy won’t be an origin story. Safran explained that the new fill will focus “on Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing.” The co-chair added, “Superman represents truth, justice and the American way. He is kindness in a world that thinks of kindness as old fashioned.”

    While Gunn didn’t give away the details of the script he’s working on, he reaffirmed Safran’s comments about the character saying “Superman is for everyone. That’s a four-quadrant film that should speak to everyone in the world.” And while Gunn’s Superman sounds like he’ll fit the bill of the Big Blue Boy Scout, don’t expect the villain to be outright evil but maybe a little more complex.

    With our stories, we want to take it away from good guy vs. bad guy. There are really good—almost saintly—people and Superman is among them. There are really terrible villains like Gorilla Grodd or the Joker. And then there’s everybody in between them, so there are all these shades of gray which allow us to tell complex stories.

    James Gunn

    With Gunn still working on a script and deciding whether or not he will direct it, Superman: Legacy likely won’t go into production until the mid-2024.

  • The Skinny on The DCU’s ‘Waller’

    The Skinny on The DCU’s ‘Waller’

    James Gunn and Peter Safran have revealed the first half of the first chapter of the new DCU. In total, 10 projects are expected to be rolled out by the end of 2027, with 5 films and 5 streaming series adding to the interconnected Gods and Monsters story of the DCU. With so much to take in, it can be a bit overwhelming. To make it easier, here’s the skinny on Waller.

    A streaming series that was green-lit well before Gunn and Safran took the big jobs,Waller will see the return on Viola Davis to the titular role that she first filled in 2016’s Suicide Squad. Waller was featured in 2022’s Peacemaker and, according to Safran, Waller will be set between Seasons 1 and 2 of that series and feature some of its cast.

    The series is already in the early stages with Christal Henry (Watchmen) and Jeremy Carver (Supernatural, Doom Patrol) putting together the story which Gunn said “is really fantastic and HBO loves it.” The series, which will stream on HBO Max, has no release date as of yet.

    Sources: DC and Collider

  • The Skinny on The DCU’s ‘Creature Commandos’

    The Skinny on The DCU’s ‘Creature Commandos’

    James Gunn and Peter Safran have revealed the first half of the first chapter of the new DCU. In total, 10 projects are expected to be rolled out by the end of 2027, with 5 films and 5 streaming series adding to the interconnected Gods and Monsters story of the DCU. With so much to take in, it can be a bit overwhelming. To make it easier, here’s the skinny on Creature Commandos.

    Creature Commandos is a seven-episode animated series slated to be released on HBO Max. The first project to be given the green light by co-chairs Safran and Gunn, Creature Commandos is already in production working off scripts by Gunn. Safran stated that he was “staggered at the caliber of the scripts” adding “we’ll see how everything else comes, but the screenplays are amazing.“

    The series is based on a comic book team that included a gorgon, a werewolf and Frankenstein’s monster going to battle in World War II. Gunn’s version, which he revealed during a press event in Los Angeles, will have a little different makeup than the team from the comics and will be brought together by Viola Davis‘ Amanda Waller.

    The Team

    The Bride of Frankenstein

    According to Gunn, the main character of Creature Commandos will be the Bride of Frankenstein. In the comics, The Bride worked for a top-secret U.S. Government institution known as S.H.A.D.E. who work to take on metahuman threats.

    Weasel

    A familiar face on the team will be Weasel, voiced by Sean Gunn. Weasel appeared in The Suicide Squad and his return here reinforces James Gunn’s comment that actors from films will voice their animated counterparts.

    Rick Flag, Sr.

    The father of Suicide Squad now deceased leader Rick Flag, Rick Flag Sr. was a WWII veteran who led the Suicide Squad of his time. According to Gunn, he’ll show up in other projects as well.

    Nina Mazursky

    A doctor who turned herself into an amphibious human-fish hybrid, Nina Mazursky was responsible for creating the first members of the Creature Commandos.

    Doctor Phosphorous

    A supervillain more well-known for working with the Secret Society of Supervillains, Doctor Phosphorous may be a good bet to betray the team as he did in the post-Flashpoint comics.

    Eric Frankenstein

    DC’s take on Frankenstein’s monster, Eric is a one-man army with ties to S.H.A.D.E. and, as you might imagine, the Bride.

    G.I. Robot

    G.I. Robot is just what it sounds like. Developed during WWII, a series of robots, some going by the designation J.A.K.E. (Jungle Automatic Killer – Experimental and then a number).

    Gunn and Safran indicated that casting is ongoing for the project. Though it has no release date, it is expected to be the first release of the Gods and Monsters slate.

    Source: DC