Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: dc studios

  • James Gunn Explains Why One of DC Studios’ Original Gods and Monsters Projects Won’t Be Made Anytime Soon

    James Gunn Explains Why One of DC Studios’ Original Gods and Monsters Projects Won’t Be Made Anytime Soon

    When DC Studios’ co-chairs James Gunn and Peter Safran rolled out the initial slate for their new company, The Authority was one of a few non-traditional, non-household projects that caught fans’ attention.

    Through Matthew Vaughn was reported to be attached to the project, it never gained enough traction at the studio and was eventually discarded. Now, Gunn has taken to social media so address one particular rumor about The Authority and why it never made it to the screen.

    “I would have never had time to do this, and although I know this is a popular theory online, I never had an intention of writing or directing The Authority,” Gunn revealed on Threads. “The script wasn’t quite there, but more importantly, it didn’t work in terms of the larger DCU, both in terms of the story and practical concerns. Maybe someday. Not soon.”

    As usual, Gunn’s very matter-of-fact approach to the explanation of why the project was shelved leaves little room for further questioning. As intriguing an idea as it was, The Authority was perhaps too big of an idea to bring to the DCU in its current state.

  • The Future of the DCU — James Gunn Updates a Pair of Projects Thought to Have Been Scrapped

    The Future of the DCU — James Gunn Updates a Pair of Projects Thought to Have Been Scrapped

    The architect of the DCU has spoken, and he’s clearing the air on two projects  from the original Gods and Monsters slate that were believed to have been scrapped. Taking to social media, James Gunn took a moment to address the production status of Booster Gold and the Wonder Woman prequel series, Paradise Lost.

    While fans have been worried about the radio silence surrounding these titles, Gunn’s update suggests that things are moving at two very different speeds.

    Booster Gold: Still in the Lab

    Regarding the time-traveling showman Michael Jon Carter, Gunn confirmed that Booster Gold remains in active development.

    Described in 2022 by DC Studios’ co-chair Peter 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 isn’t one of DC Studios household names but has been a character Gunn has been locked in on since putting together DC Studios Chapter One: Gods and Monsters slate. Though there had been rumors that Kumail Nanjiani had landed the role of Carter, no official word has ever come on the matter.

    In July 2025, Deadline reported that David Jenkins (Our Flag Means Death) had taken over duties on cracking the code on a pilot and, potentially, taking over as showrunner if Gunn and Safran were pleased.

    Paradise Lost: “Extreme Development”

    The bigger surprise came when Gunn described Paradise Lost as being in “extreme development” (no, I don’t know what that means, either).

    Set on the island nation of Themyscira before the birth of Wonder Woman, Paradise Lost was described as 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.

    Gunn isn’t rushing. By putting Paradise Lost into “extreme development,” he’s signaling that the prequel isn’t just a spin-off—it’s a prestige epic designed to redefine the Amazons. Meanwhile, keeping Booster Gold “in development” shows he’s willing to wait for the perfect creative team rather than hitting a release date for the sake of it. Above all else, the news reveals that the DCU–or at least Gunn’s plans for it–will live on into the late 2020s despite concerns to the contrary.

  • ‘Clayface’: James Gunn Confirms New Film’s Place on the DCU Timeline

    ‘Clayface’: James Gunn Confirms New Film’s Place on the DCU Timeline

    Following the release of the teaser trailer for DC Studios’ Clayface, fans expressed some confusion about if the film’s titular monster was the same character that debuted in Season 1 of Creature Commandos. It’s a fair question given that the title of Clayface has belonged to more than half a dozen characters in the pages of DC Comics and also because in it’s short history, the DCU’s timeline has expanded chronologically…until now.

    While responding to a fan’s question about when Clayface takes place within the DCU, DC Studios’ co-chair James Gunn revealed that the events of the new film are set before Superman, making it “the first DCU film out of chronological order.”

    Set in Gotham and inspired by Batman the Animated Series, Clayface will tell Matt Hagen’s origins as the muddy menace. With it being set an undisclosed period of time before Superman, it leaves plenty of room for DC Studios to either explain how Hagen continues on as the character or pass the mantle to another character.

    Clayface will “center on an ascending actor whose face is disfigured by a gangster. As a last resort, the actor turns to a fringe Elizabeth Holmes-style scientist for help. At first, the experiment is a successful but … well, it wouldn’t be a horror movie if the story ended right there, would it?”

  • ‘Clayface’ Trailer Reveals a Terrifying Body Horror Vision for the DCU

    Look fear in the face—or what’s left of it. DC Studios has officially dropped the first trailer for Clayface, and it is a stark departure from the traditional superhero aesthetic.

    Written by horror maestro Mike Flanagan and directed by James Watkins (Speak No Evil), the film stars Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen, an actor whose face is destroyed in a brutal attack. The footage shows Hagen in a hospital bed, bandaged and bloody, before shifting into The Fly territory as his cells begin to liquefy. We get a shadowy glimpse of Hagen transforming his arm into a spiked mace, but the horror remains grounded in the tragedy of his lost identity.

    This is a full-blown body horror movie that just so happens to me set in the DCU. The trailer concludes with Hagen in a bathtub literally wiping his own face away with his hand. If you want the dark, tragic side of Gotham without the Bat-Signal, this is your movie.

  • ‘Clayface’ Trailer Rumored for Today; “Regenerative Medicine” Teased

    DC Studios has been quietly dropping breadcrumbs for their Clayface movie and now they’re about to introduce the DCU’s first true monster movie. Following a week of viral teasers focused on actor Matt Hagen’s “fading looks,” the first trailer for Clayface is expected to drop later today.

    After launching anInstagram account for the film which serves as a viral marketing tool, a new teaser for Gotham Medical magazine features a headline about “The New Face of Regenerative Medicine.” Reports suggest the first trailer is dropping today.

    The viral campaign has focused on a fictional publication called Gotham Medical, highlighting Dr. Caitlin Bates’ (Naomi Ackie) breakthrough in regenerative medicine. The “tragedy” of the film reportedly stems from Hagen using this untested tech to restore his face after a disfiguring accident, only to have his cellular structure become permanently unstable.

    Clyafacs is shaping up as a movie monster tragedy. The marketing is framing Hagen’s transformation as a failed experimental treatment to save his acting career, rather than a simple accident. Descriptions of footage from the film shown at CinemaCon suggest a film that is part The Fly and part Phantom of the Opera. It’s a grounded, heartbreaking look at a man who can become anyone but can no longer remain himself.

  • First ‘Man of Tomorrow’ Set Photo Reveals Logo, Teases Classic Luthor/Superman Battle

    First ‘Man of Tomorrow’ Set Photo Reveals Logo, Teases Classic Luthor/Superman Battle

    Production has begun on DC Studios Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow, and director James Gunn has wasted no time in teasing the film’s core dynamic and revealing a sneaky look at the film’s logo.

    In a photo shared by Gunn on social media, a chess board sits front and center near a badge that confirms Nicholas Hoult‘s Lex Luthor will still be in Van Kull prison when the film begins. Fans of the comics will likely recall that Luthor is a bit of a chess master and has played the game against both Clark and Jonathan Kent while they visited him in prison.

    While it’s intentionally a little tougher to see, a logo that combines the crest of the House of El with the iconic three-dot Brainiac can be seen on the clapboard at the top of the photo.

    In Man of Tomorrow, Brainiac, played by Lars Eldinger, will pose a threat so great that Superman and Luthor will team up to stop him.

  • A King for the Court? — Charles Dance Joins ‘The Batman-Part II’ in Key Role

    A King for the Court? — Charles Dance Joins ‘The Batman-Part II’ in Key Role

    Matt Reeves is adding some serious gravitas to the Epic Crime Saga. According to a breaking report from Deadline, legendary screen icon Charles Dance (Game of Thrones, Godzilla: King of the Monsters) has officially joined the cast of The Batman – Part II.

    While his specific character is being kept under a shroud of secrecy typical of a Reeves production, the casting of a man known for playing calculating, high-society power players has sent the rumor mill into overdrive.

    Deadline mentioms that Dance is believed to be playing Charles Dent, father of Harvey; however, if the sequel is indeed introducing the Court of Owls, Dance is the quintessential choice to play a member of the High Court.

    The report confirms that Dance will join Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, and Jeffrey Wright when filming kicks off in London this August.

    Source: Deadline

  • Sydney Chandler Reportedly Cast in Upcoming DC Studios Animated Project

    The roster of Task Force M is officially getting a major power upgrade—and a brand new voice. According to the latest casting updates for Creature Commandos Season 2, Sydney Chandler (Alien: Earth, Don’t Worry Darling) has been officially cast as Nosferata after reading for a key role in Man of Tomorrow.

    The character, who was teased in the Season 1 finale as a new recruit for the team, is set to be a series regular in the upcoming season as the DCU explores the more supernatural corners of its mythology. Unlike the hulking monsters we’ve seen so far, Nosferata brings a different kind of  undead energy to the team.

    In the pages of DC Comics, Nosferata is a vampire created during the 1940s experiments of Project Moreau.

    In the DCU, after spending decades as an inmate at Belle Reve, she was recruited by Amanda Waller to join the new iteration of the Creature Commandos led by The Bride.
    She was first seen playing ping-pong with Doctor Phosphorus in the Season 1 finale. In Season 2, she’ll be a core member of the squad, filling the void left by the death of Nina Mazursky.

    Per James Gunn’s rule for the DCU, Sydney Chandler will provide the voice for the animated series and is expected to play the character in any future live-action appearances. Chandler joins an already stacked voice cast, including Indira Varma (The Bride), Alan Tudyk (Doctor Phosphorus), Sean Gunn (G.I. Robot/Weasel), and David Harbour (Eric Frankenstein).

    Season 2 is currently in active production, with Gunn confirming that animation is underway. While a release date hasn’t been locked, the show is expected to return to Max in late 2026 or early 2027, picking up after the events of Peacemaker Season 2.

    Source: The Insneider

  • ‘Supergirl’ CinemaCon Footage Teases a Brutal Sci-Fi Western

    ‘Supergirl’ CinemaCon Footage Teases a Brutal Sci-Fi Western

    The worst kept secret in DC history is finally out. During the Warner Bros. CinemaCon presentation, Jason Momoa made a grand entrance on a practical Spacehog to confirm he has officially transitioned from King of Atlantis to the DCU’s ultimate bounty hunter, Lobo.

    Attendees were treated to a sequence from Supergirl that reportedly “shocked” the room with its grit. The scene features a battle-worn Kara (Milly Alcock) in a seedy alien tavern. Just as she’s about to be overwhelmed, Lobo crashes through the wall to claim a bounty on the same target. The chemistry between the hardened Kara and the chaotic Lobo is reportedly the heart of the film’s first act.

    This confirms James Gunn is staying true to the Tom King source material. Supergirl isn’t a Girl of Steel here; she’s a survivor in a lawless galaxy. By pairing her with Momoa’s Lobo, DC is creating a Lethal Weapon in Space dynamic that sets a completely new bar for the franchise.

    Momoa was born to play Lobo, and seeing Alcock stand her ground against his 6’4” frame proves she was the right choice. If this footage leaks, the DCU skeptics are going to have a very hard time finding things to complain about.

  • THR Reveals Real ‘Superman’ Sequel Contenders After James Gunn Debunk Dunk

    THR Reveals Real ‘Superman’ Sequel Contenders After James Gunn Debunk Dunk

    Don’t believe everything you hear on the gossip circuit—unless James Gunn gives it the thumbs up. After the DC Studios co-CEO took to social media to debunk earlier reports involving Ella Purnell and Adria Arjona, The Hollywood Reporter has swooped in with a new shortlist for the Empress of Almerac.

    According to the report, the search for Maxima in the seque, Man of Tomorrow, has narrowed down to three powerhouse finalists.

    According to THR’s Aaron Couch, Adria Arjona, Eva De Dominici, Sydney Chandler and Grace Van Patten tested for the role of Maxima this week in Atlanta. And according to Gunn’s own comments, the studio only has one role left to cast for the film, so things should come to a conclusion relatively quickly.

    A member of the Royal Family of the planet Almerac, Maxima’s primary motivation is the survival and evolution of her bloodline. Considered the ultimate genetic prize of her species because of the unique structure of her DNA, she spent years traveling the cosmos in search of a “suitable” mate—someone whose power could match her own and produce an heir capable of ruling Almerac. And that quest led her to Earth where Kal-El’s Kryptonian heritage caught her attention.

    A composite powerhouse with a wide array of super powers, Maxima first appeared in an antagonistic role before transitioning into an ally of Superman and, eventually, a member of the Justice League. Her appearance in the film might indicate Gunn has adapted the 1992 Superman crossover event, “Panic in the Sky,” that featured Maxima teaming up with Brainiac.