Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: dcu

  • ‘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.

  • Krypto in the Crosshairs — New ‘Supergirl’ Trailer Goes Full Space-Western

    Krypto in the Crosshairs — New ‘Supergirl’ Trailer Goes Full Space-Western

    If the first teaser was a Blondie-fueled introduction to Milly Alcock’s wild-child Kara, the second trailer for Supergirl is the emotional gut-punch that reminds us that this isn’t her cousin’s movie, even if he does make an appearance.

    Set to the haunting 1966 soul ballad “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” by Jimmy Ruffin, the new footage pivots from the 23rd birthday party to the high-stakes mission at the center of the film: a desperate race to save Krypto.

    The trailer finally confirms the inciting incident of the film, pulling directly from the Tom King/Bilquis Evely source material. Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts) has poisoned Krypto with a lethal toxin, leaving Kara and the young Ruthye (Eve Ridley) with only three days to find him and the antidote.

    Director Craig Gillespie is leaning heavily into the Space Western aesthetic. The vast, dusty alien landscapes and the focus on Kara’s isolation make this feel like True Grit meets John Wick…as he said.

    With Supergirl hitting theaters on June 26, 2026, the marketing is successfully positioning Kara not just as a hero, but as a survivor who is finally finding something worth fighting for.

  • True Crime in Metropolis — DC Studios Taps ‘American Vandal’ Creators for Jimmy Olsen/Gorilla Grodd Spinoff

    True Crime in Metropolis — DC Studios Taps ‘American Vandal’ Creators for Jimmy Olsen/Gorilla Grodd Spinoff

    The DCU is about to get the mockumentary treatment. In a report first shared by Variety, DC Studios is officially developing a prestige true crime docuseries centered on Superman’s pal, Jimmy Olsen.

    Rumors of an anthology-style series that would see Jimmy investigating the Daily Planet’s most dangerous leads emerged in mid-2025 and now it seems as though the studio is ready to move forward with the project.

    Following his breakout performance in James Gunn’s Superman, Skyler Gisondo is set to reprise his role for the HBO Max original. But this isn’t your typical superhero spinoff—it’s an investigative deep-dive into the criminal underworld of the DC Universe.

    In what might be the most inspired creative pairing of Chapter 1, DC has tapped Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault—the minds behind the Peabody Award-winning American Vandal—to write, showrun, and executive produce. The show is described as a grounded, noir-inflected mystery that focuses on Daily Planet staff members as they navigate a world of institutional corruption and metahuman conspiracies

    The series is framed as a fictionalized true-crime investigation hosted by Jimmy. Season 1 will focus entirely on the criminal history of Gorilla Grodd. Reframing the iconic Flash foe as a subject for an investigative documentary allows the DCU to explore Grodd’s “layered psychological profile” and his path from scientific experiment to global threat through archival footage and “interviews”.

    By moving the American Vandal duo into the DCU, Gunn is doubling down on his promise to diversify the “tone, scale, and format” of the franchise. This isn’t just a spinoff; it’s an experiment in genre-bending that could change how we view comic book villains forever.

  • James Gunn Confirms the “Superman Saga” Timeline; How ‘Supergirl’ Bridges the Gap to 2027

    James Gunn Confirms the “Superman Saga” Timeline; How ‘Supergirl’ Bridges the Gap to 2027

    James Gunn is once again using his Threads account to do the heavy lifting for the DCU’s marketing department. With three major projects featuring Kryptonians now on the board, fans have been scrambling to figure out the chronological order of the “Gods and Monsters” era.

    Over the weekend, Gunn officially settled the debate. When asked where Milly Alcock’s Supergirl sits in relation to the two Superman films, Gunn kept it simple:

    In between Superman and Man of Tomorrow.

    -James Gunn on Supergirl’s place in the DCU Timeline

    This confirmation gives us a clear look at the structure Gunn is building and the key role that the Kryptonian cousins have in it.

    Though Gunn didn’t write or direct Supergirl, it seems reasonable to believe that Brainiac could be referenced or even show up in a minor role, perhaps a flashback, especially since the trailer confirmed scenes set in Kandor, the capital city of Krypton that was shrunken and kept in a bottle by Brainiac. If that does indeed happen, it makes Supergirl a key contributor to the lore of Gunn’s planned four-film Superman Saga.

  • Front Runner Reportedly Emerges for Key Role in ‘Man of Tomorrow’

    Front Runner Reportedly Emerges for Key Role in ‘Man of Tomorrow’

    The casting carousel for James Gunn’s Man of Tomorrow has begun spinning and is gaining momentum. Fresh on the heels of the confirmation that Aaron Pierre had joined the cast of the Superman sequel as John Stewart, a front-runner for the film’s secondary antagonist has emerged.

    In January, Nexus Point News revealed  that the “warrior-like” female role being cast was indeed Maxima and not Wonder Woman. With that revelation, the question shifted from who the character is to who is playing her. Today, a new name has surfaced in the rumor mill.

    According to several social media influencer types and scoopers, Eva De Dominici (The Cleaning Lady) is among those DC Studios’ top dog James Gunn is interested in for the role of the Warrior Queen.

    According to a report from TopNewsPrime that’s gaining traction across the trades, the Argentinian actress is currently in talks to take on the role of the Queen of Almerac. While it’s still firmly in the  rumor category, the timing aligns perfectly with the production schedule as Gunn prepares to head to Atlanta this April.

    Casting Maxima isn’t just about the Superman sequel. In the comics, the character eventually finds a home on the Justice League. By bringing in an actress like De Dominici now, Gunn is likely planting seeds for a future ensemble film, building out a roster of heavy hitters that can stand alongside David Corenswet‘s Kal-El, Aaron Pierre’s recently confirmed John Stewart and the rest of the DCU’s Justice Gang.

  • Aaron Pierre Officially Joins ‘Man of Tomorrow’

    Aaron Pierre Officially Joins ‘Man of Tomorrow’

    The “Lanterns” news cycle just shifted from small-screen detective work to full-blown cinematic event. While Aaron Pierre‘s John Stewart  has been rumored to be headed to the big screen, Jeff “The In” Sneider has confirmed that Pierre will officially reprise his role in James Gunn’s Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow.

    Reportedly, Pierre‘s role isn’t just a cameo; it’s the connective tissue the DCU has been promising since Chapter One: Gods and Monsters was first announced.

    Stewart’s inclusion makes enormous sense from a tactical standpoint. If Lars Eidinger’s Brainiac is the threat we think he is—a world-collector forcing an alliance between Superman and Lex—having an intergalactic lawman like John Stewart on the ground is a necessity, not a luxury. Stewart is a marine; he’s a man of order and protocol. Watching him navigate the ego of Nicholas Hoult’s Warsuit-clad Lex Luthor while trying to save Metropolis may well be a highlight of the sequel.

    By putting Pierre in Man of Tomorrow, Gunn is giving the general audience a reason to tune into the Lanterns series on HBO. It establishes Stewart as a major Justice League-caliber player before the team even officially exists.

    Man of Tomorrow is set for a July 9, 2027 release.

    Source: The Insneider

  • Is ‘Lanterns’ Actually a Prequel? Decoding the Hal Jordan Continuity Mystery

    Is ‘Lanterns’ Actually a Prequel? Decoding the Hal Jordan Continuity Mystery

    One single line from the first teaser for HBO’s Lanterns has sent the internet into a tailspin as the first cracks in the continuity of the all-new, all-different DCU could be showing.

    In a world where Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner is already an established, public-facing hero–as seen in last year’s Superman–why is Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan acting like he’s the only human to ever touch a power ring?

    The Line That Launched a Thousand Theories

    The moment in question occurs early in the teaser when Hal Jordan refers to himself as the only human Green Lantern in a conversation with new recruit John Stewart.

    For the casual viewer, it’s a line that establishes Hal’s veteran status. For the die-hards who just watched Guy Gardner trade quips with David Corenswet’s Superman, it’s a massive continuity red flag. As seen in Superman, Guy Gardner is not just a Lantern; he’s a celebrity. So, did Marvel’s “Quality over Quantity” rival just make its first major continuity blunder?

    Probably not. Knowing James Gunn, the answer is either a very specific character trait or, more likely, a shift in the timeline.

    The Case for the Prequel

    The leading theory—and truly the more interesting one—is that Lanterns is a prequel set years before the events of Superman.

    The official synopsis for the show repeatedly refers to John Stewart as a “new recruit.” If the show were set in the current DCU timeline (late 2025/early 2026), John would be joining a world already populated by Guy Gardner and potentially other Earth-based heroes.

    As has been widely discussed since the teaser debuted, Hal’s gear looks ancient. It’s weathered, tactical, and looks like it belongs in a world where the Justice Gang doesn’t exist yet. Setting the show in the early 2010s or 2020s would allow the “Earth-based mystery” to feel isolated and high-stakes without the interference of other caped icons.

    While Nathan Fillion is confirmed to appear in the series, his role has been described as “smug and devious.” Fillion himself recently teased in Gizmodo that “Guy Gardner is no longer comfortable” by the end of the show. Could this suggest that  Lanterns may also be Guy’s origin story—perhaps a moment where the ring chooses him after Hal’s era comes to an end?

    The “Hal is a Jerk” Alternative

    Of course, there is a second, much more “Green Lantern” explanation: Hal Jordan is just being Hal Jordan.

    In the comics, Hal’s relationship with Guy Gardner is defined by mutual loathing. Hal famously views himself as the True Lantern of Earth. It’s entirely possible that Lanterns takes place in the present day, and Hal simply refuses to acknowledge Guy Gardner as a legit Lantern. To Hal, a loudmouth like Guy is a glitch in the system, not a partner.

    However, this doesn’t explain why John Stewart—a man who presumably watches the news—wouldn’t mention the flying ginger with the bowl cut who just helped save Metropolis.

    3 CENTURIES AGO, the first superpowered beings, known as METAHUMANS, appeared on earth, ushering in a new era of GODS AND MONSTERS.

    3 DECADES AGO, an extraterrestrial baby was sent in a spacecraft to Earth, and adopted by Kansas farmers.

    3 YEARS AGO, the baby, now grown, announced himself as SUPERMAN, the most powerful metahuman of all.

    3 WEEKS AGO, Superman stopped the country of BORAVIA from invading JARHANPUR, sparking controversy around the world.

    3 HOURS AGO, a metahuman called THE HAMMER OF BORAVIA attacked Superman in the city of METROPOLIS.

    3 MINUTES AGO, Superman lost a battle for the first time.

    From a production standpoint, the prequel angle is the smartest play for HBO. The key to prestige TV is making the story feel standalone, and setting Lanterns before Superman–especially when it’s been established that metahumans have been known for some time–opens some intriguing doors.

    By setting Lanterns in the past, Gunn, Chris Mundy, and Tom King can deliver a True Detective style thriller that isn’t burdened by the “Where was Superman during this?” question. It allows the Hal/John dynamic to be the center of the universe, building the foundation of the Green Lantern Corps lore before we see them fully integrated into the larger DCU battles of 2027 and beyond.

    And then it leaves plenty of room to ask questions about why neither Hal nor John are present in Superman. Do Hal and John  get wrapped up in something that takes them both into space to investigate further? Or maybe just John?

    Whether it’s a prequel or just a case of selective memory from a jaded Hal Jordan, the mystery is officially part of the marketing and the human Lantern discrepancy is likely the first breadcrumb in a trail that leads directly to the ancient horror at the heart of the series.

  • ‘LANTERNS’ Trailer Leaks Early, Revealing Premiere Month and a Controversial New Look

    Well, so much for the big Thursday reveal. In a move that probably has the DC Studios security team looking for new jobs, the first full trailer for Lanterns leaked online today. While the official drop was slated for tomorrow, the cat is out of the bag, and it’s bringing a release window with it: August 2026.

    However, it’s not the revelation of th “late-summer” date that’s getting talked about online, it’s the tone—and a very specific color palette.

    True Detective with a Ring

    James Gunn and Chris Mundy made it clear early on that they were not interested in a Green Lantern project set in a bubble-gum-colored corner of the galaxy. Instead, the trailer reveals that this is every bit the grounded, atmospheric murder mystery it has always been made out to be.

    Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan is every bit the “grizzled vet” we expected, but the internet is currently losing its mind over the first look at the suits. Instead of the emerald-green glow fans of the comics and animated series have grown accustomed to, the trailer receals a tactical, almost “brownish-green” weathered uniform. It’s a choice congruent with what Nathan Fillion‘s Guy Gardner was sporting in Superman and that leans heavily into the utility aspect of the Corps—making them look like intergalactic peacekeepers who have been through the ringer a time or two.

    We also got a brief glimpse of the supporting cast, including Kelly Macdonald and Garret Dillahunt, who seem to be playing the local resistance to the Lanterns’ investigation. And yes, for those counting frames, there was a subtle nod to the larger DCU roadmap—specifically a hint that the murder in the American heartland isn’t just a local crime, but a thread that leads directly into Chapter One: Gods and Monsters.

    The early reaction is mixed at best–and I get it. Fans who were hoping for an immediate trip to Oa or a Sinestro Corps war tease are feeling a bit let down by the lack of massive constructs. Aside from a brief shot of Hal taking flight and a look at a very industrial-looking Power Battery, the trailer very much seems to be keeping its powder dry…but there’s really no guarantee that will change over the course of the series.

    Maybe, choosing to start slow is the right choice. Maybe by starting in the Nebraska mud and focusing on the friction between Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart and a reluctant Hal, they’re building a solid foundation. Maybe, by the time the  “ancient horror on Earth” is unveiled, the scale will come. For now, they’re selling us a story about two guys who have a job to do. DC is positioning Lanterns as the serious, adult-skewing prestige counter-programming.

    Is Hal’s tactical brown”l suit a mistake? Maybe. But if the mystery is as tight as Ozark or Watchmen, the color of the spandex won’t matter. Or maybe, it’ll be DC Studios’ Iron Fist.

  • 5 Things to Hunt for in Tomorrow’s ‘LANTERNS’ Teaser

    5 Things to Hunt for in Tomorrow’s ‘LANTERNS’ Teaser

    Tomorrow is the big day. We’ve been talking about the shift from space opera to “Earth-based mystery” for over a year, and now we finally get to see if James Gunn’s “Gods and Monsters” gamble pays off. But don’t let the Nebraska setting fool you—this show is intended to be the connective tissue for the entire DCU.

    As you’re watching the footage tomorrow, here is exactly what I’ll be looking for:

    1. The “Ancient Evil”

    James Gunn has been very specific about Hal and John finding an “ancient horror” on Earth. Rumors have been swirling about everything from The Centre (from New Frontier) to The Rot. Look for any imagery that feels Lovecraftian or out of place in a small-town murder mystery. If we see something that doesn’t look like a typical alien, it’s a sign that the DCU’s overarching big bad is closer than we think.

    2. The Suit (or Lack Thereof)

    There’s been a lot of internal chatter about whether the Lantern suits will be practical or CG. Given the leaked first look at Hal’s brown(?) suit, we may see much for of him and John them in plain clothes with the rings glowing, indicating that DC Studios is leaning into the Supercop grit rather than the superhero spectacle.

    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

    3. Ch’p and the Weirdness

    You can’t have a Tom King/James Gunn project without a dash of the weird. Reports have suggested that the fan-favorite squirrel Lantern, Ch’p, might get a name-drop or a brief cameo. If a talking rodent shows up in a gritty HBO procedural, you’ll know exactly whose fingerprints are on the script.

    4. The “Hal is a Jerk” Factor

    Showrunner Chris Mundy has described Hal Jordan as having a “Chuck Yeager vibe”—someone you’re not sure if you want to hug or punch. Keep an eye on the friction between Chandler’s Hal and Pierre’s John. If the teaser emphasizes their bickering over their heroics, it confirms the buddy-cop dynamic is the real heart of the show.

    5. Sinestro’s Shadow

    We know Ulrich Thomsen is in the mix as Sinestro, but will he be a friend or foe yet? Look for any purple-tinted shadows or a mention of the Yellow spectrum. If he’s still a Green Lantern in this teaser, it sets up a massive fall from grace arc for later in the series.