Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: dcu

  • DC Studios Reportedly Reuniting ‘Challengers’ and ‘Queer’ Creatives for Upcoming Period Piece

    DC Studios Reportedly Reuniting ‘Challengers’ and ‘Queer’ Creatives for Upcoming Period Piece

    When DC Studios’ co-chairs James Gunn and Peter Safran revealed the first 10 projects of the DCU’s first chapter in its all-new shared narrative, they made it clear that there were plenty of other projects in the creative pipeline yet to be announced. Since then, a Teen Titans film was reported to be in the works with Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow writer Ana Nogueira developing the script. Now, it seems as though another new project is in the works, the identity of which is pretty surprising.

    Following a report by Jeff “The In” Sneider that Challengers and Queer director Luca Guadagnino was “being courted” by DC Studios for an unnamed project, a second report is filling in the blanks.

    According to Nexus Point News, Guadagnino will reunite with scribe Justin Kuritzkes, with whom he worked on Challengers and Queers, to create a Sgt. Rock film for DCU Studios. Additionally, the site claims the film will be a period piece set during World War II.

    Given the attention Gunn and Safran seem to be devoting to DC Comics heavy hitters, a Sgt. Rock project was probably not on a lot of folks’ bingo cards. However, the character has nearly been brought to the big screen multiple times before with talent such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis attached to star and Guy Ritchie once attached to direct.

    Originally reported to be in development by the DCU Leaks Reddit page, this is the first bit of news about the Sgt. Rock project in over six months. At the time, it was reported that an “A-list” director was interested in helming the project.

    Source: NPN

  • DC Studios Eyeing Primetime Emmy Award-Winning Director for ‘Lanterns’

    DC Studios Eyeing Primetime Emmy Award-Winning Director for ‘Lanterns’

    Co-chair James Gunn described DC Studios’ streaming series Lanterns as playing a “really big role leading us into the main story” of the DCU’s Chapter One: Gods and Monsters. And Gunn and Peter Safran have assembled an incredibly talented group of creators to put the project together. In May, Gunn announced the “crack team of writers” behind Lanterns: DC Comics writer Tom King, Ozark showrunner Chris Mundy and Lost and HBO’s Watchmen creator, Damon Lindelof. Having already put together a team of heavy hitters to create the show, the studio next set out to land some big talent to put in front of the camera, offering the role of Hal Jordan to Josh Brolin. Now, as they wait on Brolin’s decision and continue to prepare for production to kick off, they’ve also begun searching for directors for the series and, once again, have shot for the stars.

    This is a story of a couple of Green Lanterns John Stewart and Hal Jordan.
    We have a few other Lanterns peppered in there but this is really a terrestrial-based TV show which is almost like True Detective with a couple of Green Lanterns who are space cops watching over Precinct Earth in it they discover a terrifying mystery that ties into our largest story of the DCU.

    -James Gunn on Lanterns
    According to Jeff “The In” Sneider, DC Studios has contacted Prime Time Emmy Award-winning director Stephen Williams about directing the pilot episode of Lanterns.

    Williams checks all the boxes as an excellent choice for Lanterns having directed two episodes each of HBO’s Watchmen and Westworld as well as multiple episodes of Ray Donovan, The Walking Dead, and, of course, twenty-six episodes of Lost. A frequent collaborator with Lindelof, Williams would be working from what Gunn described as “a wonderful pilot script and bible” from the creative team. At this time, no other directors have been mentioned for Lanterns, which was ordered straight to series at HBO earlier this year.

  • ‘Lanterns’: New Report Reveals More Stars on DC Studios’ Short List for Hal Jordan

    ‘Lanterns’: New Report Reveals More Stars on DC Studios’ Short List for Hal Jordan

    DC Studios’ Lanterns is shaping up as a major HBO prestige series. With a series “bible” created by a writers’ room loaded with talent, the studio is now targeting Prime Time Emmy Award-winning director Stephen Williams to helm the pilot and star Josh Brolin to fill the role of Hal Jordan, one of the series’ two leads. However, should he pass, it sounds as though DC Studios co-chairs James Gunn and Peter Safran have more big-time talent in mind to bring Jordan to the all-new, all-different DCU.

    Alright, Alright, Alright…

    According to Jeff “The In” Sneider, should Brolin turn down the role of Jordan, Matthew McConaughey is one of at least two big names DC Studios has interest in approaching. Though he has only recently dabbled in superhero fare as the voice of Cowboypool in Deadpool & Wolverine, McConaughey is no stranger to working with HBO on a prestige series. McConaughey’s role as Detective Rust Cohle in the first season of True Detective landed him ten award nominations, making him one of the series’ most recognized talents. McConaughey would be a bold choice for the role of Jordan and would certainly bring with him the requisite charisma and brashness of the former test pilot turned space cop.

    Hello There!

    If McConaughey‘s name appearing on a short list of actors for the role of Hal Jordan surprised you, Ewan McGregor would certainly do the same and then some. Alas, Sneider shared the news that Obi-Wan Kenobi is on DC Studios’ radar for the role of Jordan. McGregor most recently starred in the Hulu series A Gentleman in Moscow and also received rave reviews for his work on Fargo and won a Primetime Emmy for his role in the Netflix limited series Halston.

    While there’s been no official timeline provided by Gunn or Safran, with a casting search underway for the series’ leads, it would seem reasonable to assume that production on Lanterns could begin in early 2025.

  • DC Studios’ ‘Lanterns’ Series Targeting a Major MCU Star for the Role of Hal Jordan

    DC Studios’ ‘Lanterns’ Series Targeting a Major MCU Star for the Role of Hal Jordan

    After years of being remembered as one of the most maligned comic book movies of all time, DC’s Green Lantern IP is getting another shot at stardom…and so far it’s shaping up to be one hell of a comeback.

    First announced by DC Studios’ co-chairs James Gunn and Peter Safran in 2023, the HBO streaming series Lanterns will be the vehicle to bring the Green Lantern Corps to the DCU. Created by Ozark writer Chris Mundy, DC Comics ace Tom King and TV legend Damon Lindelof, Lanterns will focus on two of the corps‘ most well-known members, John Stewart and Hal Jordan. Having recently been ordered straight to series, Lanterns began casting for the two lead roles this summer and now a new report indicates that they have made an offer to a major Hollywood star to portray Jordan.

    According to Nexus Point News, DC Studios’ has extended an offer to Josh Brolin to fill the role of DC’s most well-known Lantern, Hal Jordan.

    Brolin, who was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the 2009 film Milk, is one of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars and would bring even more credibility to Lanterns already impressive roster of talent. No stranger to superhero fare, having portrayed Thanos in the MCU and Cable in Deadpool 2, Brolin also has a successful streaming series under his belt in Prime’s Outer Range.

    John Stewart and Hal Jordan are two of DC’s most compelling characters, and Lanterns brings them to life in an original detective story that is a foundational part of the unified DCU we’re launching next summer with Superman.

    -James Gunn and Peter Safran on Lanterns

    Previously described as a “terrestrial-based investigation story” that “plays a really big role leading us into the main story” in the DCU’s first chapter of stories, Lanterns will revolve around the central characters finding an “ancient horror on Earth.” Word is that Jordan will be a grizzled vet–which makes Brolin a great choice–and that Stewart will be a new member of the Corps working with him as “supercops on Precinct Earth.”

    Source: Nexus Point News

  • Episode Titles & Runtimes for the First Four Episodes of ‘The Penguin’ Have Leaked

    Episode Titles & Runtimes for the First Four Episodes of ‘The Penguin’ Have Leaked

    As DC Studios’ co-chairs James Gunn and Peter Safran continue putting the finishing touches on Creature Commandos, the first project of the all-new, all-different DCU era, one of the studio’s Elseworlds projects that survived that change in direction at the WBD is nearing its premiere. The Penguin–an interquel to Matt Reeves‘ The Batman and The Batman Part II–will debut on HBO and Max on Thursday, September 19th, with new episodes then debuting on Sunday nights beginning on September 29th.

    This thrilling crime drama follows Oswald “Oz” Cobb’s quest for control in Gotham City. With the city in peril following the seawall’s collapse, Oz (Oscar® nominee Colin Farrell) seeks to fill the power vacuum left by the death of Carmine Falcone and finally give his mother Francis (Deirdre O’Connell) the life he’s always promised. But first, Oz must confront his enemies, including Carmine’s children, Sofia Falcone (Cristin Milioti) and Alberto Falcone (Michael Zegen); the Maroni family, led by their imprisoned patriarch, Salvatore Maroni (Clancy Brown); and Oz’s own demoralizing reputation as “The Penguin.”

    -Official Synopsis for The Penguin

    Part of The Epic Batman Crime Saga, The Penguin is an eight-episode series that follows Colin Farrell‘s Oz through the immediate aftermath of the events of The Batman. With the series premiere just around the corner, members of the media have begun screening early episodes and, as a result, the titles and runtimes of the first four episodes of the series have leaked.

    Nothing about the episode titles for showrunner Lauren LeFranc’s series seems too spoilery; however, the episode lengths are fairly notable. Whereas Marvel Studios is often criticized by fans for rolling out streaming episodes that are too short, HBO is giving The Penguin the prestige treatment, with runtimes similar to series such as House of the Dragon or True Detective. As revealed by runtime go-to-guy Cryptic HD Quality, the first episode of The Penguin will eclipse the hour mark while each of the next three will come in just under it.

    With the follow-up to 2022’s The Batman set to enter into production next year and not expected in theaters until 2026, The Penguin looks to be serving up an impressive 8ish hours of content to bridge the gap!

    About The Penguin

    Starring Colin Farrell as Oz Cobb (aka The Penguin), the eight-episode HBO Original limited series from DC Studios continues the epic crime saga that filmmaker Matt Reeves began with the global blockbuster The Batman. The cast also includes Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, Michael Kelly, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Deirdre O’Connell, Clancy Brown, James Madio, Scott Cohen, Michael Zegen, Carmen Ejogo and Theo Rossi.

    Based on characters created for DC by Bob Kane with Bill Finger, The Penguin is produced by 6th & Idaho Productions and Dylan Clark Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. Executive producers, Matt Reeves, Dylan Clark, Colin Farrell, Lauren LeFranc, Craig Zobel, Bill Carraro, and Daniel Pipski; writer and showrunner, Lauren LeFranc.

  • A Major DC Studios’ Project Is Already Reportedly Facing Delays

    A Major DC Studios’ Project Is Already Reportedly Facing Delays

    Though the first project set in the all-new DCU does for several more months, there are plenty of good vibes about the shared universe being shepherded by DC Studios’ co-chairs James Gunn and Peter Safran. The animated series Creature Commandos will bat leadoff for the DCU with the studio’s biggest star, Superman, on deck for a 2025 release. Plenty of other projects have made news lately, including Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, which seemed to be coming together quickly. A new report indicates DC Studio has pumped the brakes a bit on the film.

    According to insider Daniel RPK, once on track to start production later this year, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow now won’t begin principal photography until January 2025.

    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 on Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow

    Ana Nogueira‘s screenplay for Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow will be based on the 2021 comic book run of the same name which was written by Tom King. “Tom has been one of the architects of this entire situation,” said Gunn of King’s involvement in creating the foundation of the DCU. “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.“

    Despite the slight delay in getting things up and running, there’s no indication that director Craig Gillespie‘s film won’t make its June 26, 2026 release date. It is expected that Kara Zor-El, played by Milly Alcock, will make her first DCU appearance in 2025’s Superman.

  • Meanwhile, at the Hall of Justice…’Superman’ Set to Shoot Scenes in Cincinnati (Photos)

    Meanwhile, at the Hall of Justice…’Superman’ Set to Shoot Scenes in Cincinnati (Photos)

    Principal photography on DC Studios Superman is nearing an end but after a revealing few weeks in Cleveland, it seems as though fans may yet be treated to more set photos before the film wraps.

    As filming in Cleveland was coming to an end, crews were spotted preparing for a shoot in Cincinnati at the city’s Union Terminal. After opening in 1933, Union Terminal was built as an Intercity railroad hub. The unique architecture of the building caught the eye of one of Hanna-Barbera’s background artists and served as the inspiration of the Hall of Justice which first appeared in 1973’s animated series Super Friends.

    While it hasn’t been made official quite yet, it certainly seems as though director James Gunn plans to use the exterior of Union Terminal, which remains and active train station as well as a museum, as the entrance to the DCU’s Hall of Justice.

    Prior photos from the set of Superman have revealed that heroes Mister Terrific (who was spotted on the Cincinnati set), Green Lantern Guy Gardner and Hawkgirl are working together, presumably as the Justice League sponsored by Maxwell Lord. With that dynamic in play, it wouldn’t be surprising for the team to have an HQ and given Gunn’s respect for each and every prior iteration of all things DC, it makes sense he’d go right to the source of inspiration for the Hall of Justice and make it canon in the new shared universe.

  • The Justice League Arrives in the Latest ‘Superman’ Set Photos

    The Justice League Arrives in the Latest ‘Superman’ Set Photos

    Recent set photos revealed Edi Gathegi‘s Mister Terrific sporting a Lordtech logo on his chest, driving speculation that he, Guy Gardner, Hawkgirl and Metamorpho would be members of a superhero team funded by Maxwell Lord. In that scenario, that team would likely be Justice League International and while confirmation of that hasn’t come from anyone at DC Studios just yet, new set photos do confirm other characters will be wearing gear with a Lordtech logo.

    Fresh from Cleveland come new set photos that provide the first look at Nathan Fillion as everyone’s least favorite Green Lantern, Guy Gardner, and Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl.

    Though there’s no good look at Merced’s costume, Fillion’s Gardner is definitely sporting the same Lordtech logo on his chest as was seen on Mister Terrific’s. Given how similar Hawkgirl’s costume looks to the others, it seems a safe bet the same logo can be found in her costume as well. It’s also possible that Metamorpho is taking place in the scene given the presence of an actor in a blue VFX suit.

    Updating…

  • ‘Superman’ Set Photo Teases the Luthor Family’s Ties to the Founding of Metropolis

    ‘Superman’ Set Photo Teases the Luthor Family’s Ties to the Founding of Metropolis

    DC Studios’ co-chair and Superman director James Gunn has been known to drop an Easter egg or dozen in his films. A decade after Guardians of the Galaxy debuted in theaters, Gunn still hasn’t publicly revealed an Easter egg he’s taunted fans with since the film’s release. Photos from the Cleveland set of Superman have indicated that the first DC Studios film will be no different as references to former Supermen, DC Comics creators and characters who may well exist in the DC have all been discovered as fans comb through hundreds of shots. Given what’s known about the film, it’s clear that while it’s the launch of the DCU, Superman takes place in a “lived-in” universe where metahumans are established. As Gunn and crew have tried to create a true-to-the-comics Metropolis, they’ve been sure to add plenty of details to give the City of Tomorrow a rich history as well and now, one that ties to the family of Superman’s archenemy has been spotted.

    Via a set photo by Michael Collier, a set prop for Metropolis’ Downtown District which tells the history of the fictional city has been shared online. The very comic-accurate history of Metropolis, including its founding by Dutchman Paul De Vries, includes a reference to the Luthor family.

    While it may seem like a reference to John Henry Irons at first glance, the sign indicates that Metropolis’ boom during the Industrial Revolution was due to a company called Steel Works. In the comics, that company was founded by Wallace Luthor, the great-grandfather of Lex Luthor. Lex Luthor will be played in Superman by Nicholas Hoult, who has also recently been spotted on set.

    Metropolis would prosper during the Industrial Revolution with the founding of the Steel Works.

    Obviously, it remains to be seen what impact, if any, this detail might have on the film; however, it’s incredible to see this level of reverence to the source material and the attention to detail in crafting the DCU’s Metropolis. The sign itself may ultimately not make it into a single frame of Superman but as Gunn and DC co-chair Peter Safran try to craft a massive shared universe, you never know what may or may not matter and there’s no harm in creating a fully fleshed out DCU bible.

    Superman hits theaters on July 11, 2025.

  • ‘Superman’ Set Photos Confirm the DCU’s First Super Team

    ‘Superman’ Set Photos Confirm the DCU’s First Super Team

    James Gunn loves social media. Whether as a tool to debunk rumors or share panels from comics that inspire his latest CBM, the DC Studios’ co-chair takes full advantage of the reach provided by various platforms. Now, eagle-eyed fans have spotted an interesting detail in a set photo that seems to confirm the presence of a DCU super team that Gunn teased months ago.

    Recent photos from the Cleveland set of Superman allowed for a closer look at the very comic accurate costume of Edi Gathegi‘s Mister Terrific. While his jacket rightfully caught the bulk of attention from fans when photos first circulated, it’s the logo he’s sporting on his chest that has generated a new level of excitement for Superman.

    Multiple fans across Twitter, Instagram and other social media platforms cleverly connected the dots between the logo on Mister Terrific’s chest and an otherwise insignificant prop from the Metropolis set. And, in doing so, have resuscitatied speculation there Justice League International will appear in Superman.

    When Sean Gunn was cast as the DCU’s Maxwell Lord in December 2023, there was plenty of buzz around the idea of the character being the driving force behind the formation of the DCU’s Justice League. Interestingly enough, Gunn took to Instagram to share artwork of the team just a couple of months later in February 2024. But, as is often the case, the buzz died down and the potential was forgotten…until now.

    A comparison of the logo on Terrific’s shirt with a storefront set prop clearly shows that the hero is sporting a Lordtech logo on his chest.

    Putting all the pieces together, it seems hard to dispute the notion that Lordtech is the corporate sponsor behind the DCU’s JLI or whatever name is given to the iteration of the team seen in Superman. The inclusion of Guy Gardner, Hawkwoman and Metamorpho in the project–all of whom were members of the JLI in the comics–only serves to further strengthen an already solid speculative foundation. Though none of those heroes have been captured in set yet, it seems likely they’ll all be sporting that logo somewhere as well!

    Superman leaps into theaters on July 11, 2025.