Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Gods and Monsters

  • DC Studios Latest Streaming Project Brings the Legion of Doom One Step Closer to the DCU

    DC Studios Latest Streaming Project Brings the Legion of Doom One Step Closer to the DCU

    As the all-new, all-different DCU continues to add projects to its upcoming lineup, fans continue to search for clues as to the nature of whatever large-scale crossover project its first chapter, Gods and Monsters, is building toward. Originally intended to be comprised of at least 10 projects, all of which DC Studios’ co-chairs James Gunn and Peter Safran had hoped to release by the end of 2027. While nothing is impossible, with many of those projects facing developmental delays, it’s likely the goal posts have moved. And so has the composition of the slate.

    With projects such as The Brave and the Bold, Paradise Lost and Waller coming together slowly, other projects have jumped them in the queue. Though the DCU’s Batman has yet to be cast, director James Watkins‘ Clayface looks to be tasked with introducing the DCU’s Gotham and, perhaps, its villains. And the latest project to be announced, the Superman spinoff DC Crime, will also serve as a way to introduce additional DC supervillains into the DCU.

    According to prior reports, DC Crime–which will feature Skyler Gisando‘s Jimmy Olsen–will be an anthology that would feature the character as he investigates supervillains for the Daily Planet. The first season of the fictional true crime series, written by Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault, will reportedly feature Gorilla Grodd, a classic Flash baddie but also a key member of a group of villains that might just show up down the road.

    First introduced in ABC’s Challenge of the Superfriends in 1978, the Legion of Doom has since appeared across multiple mediums and become a staple of supervillainy for DC. Originally assembled by Lex Luthor, the Legion consisted of 13 baddies from the rogues galleries of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash and Green Lantern. Gorilla Grodd is indeed counted as one of the original 13 and is the third member of the Legion set to pop up in the DCU, joining Luthor and Green Lantern villain Sinestro, who will be played by Ulrich Thomsen in Lanterns.

    With Gunn’s next film in the Superman Saga, Man of Tomorrow, seemingly set to introduce Brainiac and theories that Superman‘s secondary villain, Ultraman, might return to the DCU as a Bizzaro-ized Supes dupe, the number of LoD members could climb quickly. Thinking out loud, additional members such as Toyman, Scarecrow, Riddler and Captain Cold could easily be introduced in future seasons of DC Crime, leaving just a few characters such as Black Manta, Giganta, Cheetah and Solomon Grundy for other projects (looking at you, Waller).

    Given what we know about Gunn‘s sensibilities, it seems reasonable to wonder if he was a fan of Challenge of the Superfriends; if so, it’s possible he’s planning to continue to find ways to work the characters into the DCU ahead of what could be an incredible big screen crossover featuring the Justice League and the Legion of Doom, complete with a Hall of Doom hidden in Slaughter Swamp. It wouldn’t be the weirdest choice…

  • James Gunn Addresses the Status of DC Studios ‘Swamp Thing’

    James Gunn Addresses the Status of DC Studios ‘Swamp Thing’

    When James Gunn and Peter Safran pulled back the curtain to reveal their initial plans for DCU Chapter One: Gods and Monsters in January 2023, there were plenty of surprises. While the DC Studios’ co-chairs intended to–and in fact did–launch the new connected universe with one of comic’s greatest characters, Superman (originally titled Superman: Legacy), the slate also included projects featuring some DC Comics characters that aren’t necessarily household names.

    One such project announced to be in development was a Swamp Thing feature film with James Mangold attached to direct. Described by Safran as a horror film intended to “investigate the dark origins” of the character, the film was said to be “tonally different” than other DCU fare while still being “interconnected” to the rest of the slate.

    That slate has changed considerably, however, since being announced, leaving fans to wonder if many projects, Swamp Thing among them, are still being developed. In an interview with Josh. Horowitz, Gunn was asked to update the status of Swamp Thing and revealed that for the time being, the project is still being worked on.

    “We talked to James (Mangold) the other day. No, he hasn’t delivered a script. He’s been distracted with his billion of movies,” said Gunn. “We’re talking about it again.”

    One of those films distracting Mangold may be his Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi movie which was recently said to have been coming together relatively quickly and moved ahead of the Daisy Ridley-led Star Wars: New Jedi Order project. If that’s the case, it’s highly unlikely that Swamp Thing finds its way into theaters at any point within the next two years which was the original plan for the first ten projects revealed in 2023. However, with a Wonder Woman film gathering momentum at the studio, it seems the focus has somewhat shifted toward getting DC’s Trinity and other heavy hitters to the screen sooner than expected, while still leaving room for other projects such as Clayface or Sgt. Rock.

    Source: Happy Sad Confused

  • 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

  • Peter Safran and James Gunn Detail Their New Slate’s Timeline

    Peter Safran and James Gunn Detail Their New Slate’s Timeline

    Peter Safran and James Gunn revealed the first half of the first chapter of the new DCU, titled DCU Chapter One: Gods and Monsters, at a press event in Los Angeles. The new slate is comprised of five movies and five streaming series but as of release, only one project from the new slate, Superman: Legacy, was given a release date. Safran and Gunn took the time to explain just why that is.

    According to Variety, the DC Studios co-chairs are “adamant that films and series will not go into production until scripts are finished.” With Gunn working on the script for Superman: Legacy, he must feel comfortable enough with the progress he’s made to believe the film can go into production in the Summer of 2024.

    As for the rest of the projects revealed, Gunn and Safran hope to eventually roll out two films and two streaming series per year. The animated series Creature Commandoes and the live-action series Waller will stream before the theatrical release of Superman: Legacy and the plan, according to the co-chairs, is to have all 10 projects announced at the event to be released by the end of 2027. Where the DCU goes from there and what the interconnected storyline of it will remain to be seen.

    Source: Variety