Can Superman and the Creature Commandos save the DC Universe? Image source: Warner Bros. / DC
Late last year, the long-awaited first trailer for the film that carries all the hopes of the DC Universe finally debuted. In July 2025, Superman is set to make a big-screen comeback with a bang, breathing new life into the DCU. Following box office disappointments like Black Adam, The Flash, and Blue Beetle, the pressure on the founding father of superheroes is Immense.
The man who has taken on this responsibility is none other than James Gunn. Two years ago, he, along with producer Peter Safran, took over as co-heads of DC Studios. Having previously directed Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and The Suicide Squad, Gunn is now aiming to usher in a new era for the DCU.
Too Much Kaboom – Too Little Story
A major reason James Gunn has committed to bringing fresh energy to the DCU is the growing superhero fatigue among fans. Every year, countless movies and shows about various superhero universes hit the screens, often recycling the same tired tropes.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Gunn analyzed the issue:
"I think there is such a thing as superhero fatigue. I think it doesn’t have anything to do with superheroes."
A superhero is more than just muscles and superpowers. Image source: Warner Bros. / DC
According to Gunn, it’s not the superheroes themselves that people are tired of, but the way their stories are being told.
"We love Superman. We love Batman. We love Iron Man. Because they’re these incredible characters that we have in our hearts. And if it becomes just a bunch of nonsense onscreen, it gets really boring."
Even the most visually spectacular battles are meaningless without a solid story to back them up. Gunn admitted that he himself has felt fatigued by the current state of superhero storytelling.
The reception of the new animated series Creature Commandos supports his perspective. The show, which premiered late last year, has already won over a significant number of fans.
Guardians of the Galaxy Meets Suicide Squad: A Team of Misfits With A Mission
In December, Creature Commandos premiered on the U.S. streaming platform Max and garnered impressive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. The series achieved a remarkable 95% from critics, while fans pushed the audience score to a solid 80%. These reviews validate what Gunn had predicted last year.
The reviews consistently praise the compelling characters, their deep backstories, and the well-crafted storytelling. Gunn’s approach to working with lesser-known characters is widely seen as refreshing by fans.
"From the very first episode, the show grabs you with its sharp humor, emotional depth, and jaw-dropping action. Think Guardians of the Galaxy meets The Suicide Squad, but animated and with a much darker edge. Gunn proves once again he’s a master at making us care about characters we’ve never heard of—yes, even the weird ones." – Robert C on Rotten Tomatoes.
Renowned news outlets have shown consistent enthusiasm for the series. Collider, for instance, writes:
"Those who love Gunn’s past work for both Marvel and DC will feel right at home with Creature Commandos. The new series has all the laughs, emotion, and memorable characters that have already established Gunn as one of the biggest and most reliable names in the genre. If this series is any indication, the future of the DC Universe is in very good hands."
But what is it actually about? The newest DC series follows a very special group of superheroes who are sent on a top-secret mission following the events of Suicide Squad and the first season of Peacemaker.
Under the leadership of Amanda Waller (voiced by Viola Davis), the so-called Task Force M
– M for Monsters – must thwart an attack on the nation of Pokolistan by the sorceress Circe (Anya Chalotra). But why monsters, you might ask? Well, Congress has shut down the Task Force X program after too many lives were put at risk. So, monsters from the Belle Reve Penitentiary are enlisted instead. Each episode of the series delves into the backstory of one of the members of the Creature Commandos: the Bride (Indira Varma), Doctor Phosphorus (Alan Tudyk), G.I. Robot (Sean Gunn), Weasel (also Sean Gunn), and Nina Mazursky (Zoe Chao).
In terms of series, the new DC Universe has made a strong start. The question remains, however, whether cinema will be able to keep up.
The Plans For The DCU
On July 10, 2025, Superman will hit theaters. Clark Kent (David Corenswet) dons the spandex suit once again, while also juggling his daily life as a journalist. The film focuses on his childhood with his adoptive family, as he grows up on Earth. However, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows, as the Man of Steel faces off against his eternal nemesis, Lex Luthor (Nicholas Holt).
In the trailer, Gunn's new approach is already evident. At the beginning, we see a bleeding Superman lying on the ground – yes, I didn’t believe it either. Fortunately, good boy Krypto steps in and rescues his master from the dire situation. The focus in this reboot shifts away from the invincible superman and towards the vulnerable side of the mighty hero.
But Superman isn't the only one on Gunn's to-do list. In the coming years, more reboots and sequels are planned.
In August, Peacemaker will return for its second season after a two-year break. The series is set chronologically after the Superman movie. Gunn has already revealed that Frank Grillo, who plays Rick Flag Sr., will also appear in the new Superman and he was also previously seen in Creature Commandos. This underscores a key element of Gunn's strategy: creating a cohesive and interconnected universe where characters and storylines are consistently portrayed across different media.
In 2026, a new Supergirl movie titled Woman of Tomorrow will be released. The movie aims to take a darker approach, as unlike her cousin Clark Kent, Kara Zor-El (Milly Alcock) has witnessed the destruction of her home on Krypton firsthand. On Earth, she lives in the shadow of her famous relative and embarks on a quest for revenge, returning to space. Also returning for this movie is a familiar DC face: Jason Momoa, however, won’t be reprising his role as Aquaman but will instead step into the shoes of the intergalactic bounty hunter Lobo – a role that seems tailor-made for him.
Additionally, Lanterns, a new series, is set to launch. This eight-episode HBO series will tell the story of two Green Lanterns: veteran Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and rookie John Stewart (Aaron Pierre), as they dive into a crime story set on Earth. However, the exact release date for the series is yet to be confirmed.
The battle plan is set. Let’s hope that James Gunn is the right man to save DC’s superheroes this time.