DCU Endgame-like "culmination movie" being planned

[BluBonnet]

The "larger story" of the DCU is headed towards a "culmination movie" that will be similar in scope to Marvel's Avengers: Endgame, according to Peter Safran, but it could take up to 6 years to get there:

Said Safran, “We’ve laid out internally a plan but we’re happy to pivot as we discover things in the making of Superman or Supergirl or scripts being written. There’s a flexibility built into it even thoough we know where the larger story is headed.”

And while Gunn and Safran didn’t elaborate, they did say they had a six-year plan that would include an Avengers: Endgame-style culmination — a reference to Marvel Studios’ 2019 climactic movie, which Gunn worked on as an executive producer thanks to his role as director of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies.

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[mwynn]

Sounds like a Crisis.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by mwynn

Sounds like a Crisis.

Yeah, I hope it's the film version of Crisis on Multiple Earths. That could be such an amazing movie, especially with Gunn directing.

Are there any other things that could make for a good DC "culmination movie"?

[mwynn]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

Yeah, I hope it's the film version of Crisis on Multiple Earths. That could be such an amazing movie, especially with Gunn directing.

Are there any other things that could make for a good DC "culmination movie"?

Not really since he said culmination. So would that mean wiped the universe and it is over. Or would that mean get ready for a reboot.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by mwynn

Not really since he said culmination. So would that mean wiped the universe and it is over. Or would that mean get ready for a reboot.

Do you think Gunn could deviate from the comics and come up with something original that's suitable that would rival Avengers Endgame in scope?

[mwynn]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

Do you think Gunn could deviate from the comics and come up with something original that's suitable that would rival Avengers Endgame in scope?

It is possible. I guess it could be a Darkseid war. I just cannot think of anything that has not been done in comics, or in animation.

[John1701D]

But but I thought the DC movies were just going to focus on telling good standalone stories without all that shared universe nonsense.

/Sarcasm

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by mwynn

I just cannot think of anything that has not been done in comics, or in animation.

I have a hunch they might - just might - try to come up with an entirely original story, because they'll be working with the specific characters that have been introduced in the DCU up until that point.

And if the "DCU culmination movie" goes as well as expected, then they'll be thinking about a follow-up movie, which would benefit from having new characters added in the mix.

Anyway, whatever it is that they're planning, it's going to be big, and definitely will include Superman and Supergirl. I'm just worried that Wonder Woman might not be in the mix, because they haven't announced anything about a new Wonder Woman in the DCU, at least not up to now.

[joshsquash729]

I would imagine it's more an arc culmination than a culmination of the whole DCU, sorta like the first Avengers movie was a culmination of the individual heroes coming together to stop a previously established villain. Especially after all the hubbub around this full reboot, I don't think they're looking to fully reboot things again that soon after. So it sounds to me more like the end of whatever this first over-arcing story is, and then perhaps a soft reboot in the sense that the threat level resets to something smaller, and maaaaybe they may recast some actors who are getting older/want out, but it's still the same story/continuity.

I could see it being their version of the Avengers, and that's when they do the Justice League movie, except this time, we've already met all the members beforehand, so their inclusion feels more natural.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by John1701D

But but I thought the DC movies were just going to focus on telling good standalone stories without all that shared universe nonsense.

/Sarcasm

From the same interview:

The company aims to work in multiple genres and sizes of projects. “We don’t serve one kind of audience, so why make one kind of movie?” Safran said, adding, “Working in a multitude of genres, it affords us the opportunity to allocate resources where they can make the biggest impact. We budget according to the demands of the story, and the revenue expectations of each title.”

And while there will be connectivity between movies and shows to give that “universe” feel, the duo don’t want each entry to feel like a chapter to a larger story.

“We remain steadfast that each of these projects work as a standalone project,” said Gunn. “So you can see Superman, you can watch Lanterns, without having to see both of them. Although if you can, there will be special things in there for people who have seen both.”

[Star Lord]

Thought DC fans disliked shared universe crap? Gunn playing with fire!

[mwynn]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

I have a hunch they might - just might - try to come up with an entirely original story, because they'll be working with the specific characters that have been introduced in the DCU up until that point.

And if the "DCU culmination movie" goes as well as expected, then they'll be thinking about a follow-up movie, which would benefit from having new characters added in the mix.

Anyway, whatever it is that they're planning, it's going to be big, and definitely will include Superman and Supergirl. I'm just worried that Wonder Woman might not be in the mix, because they haven't announced anything about a new Wonder Woman in the DCU, at least not up to now.

They have six years to include her and others.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by Star Lord

Thought DC fans disliked shared universe crap? Gunn playing with fire!

They're saying now that it is a universe, alright, but that the films and shows should also work perfectly well as stand-alone projects.

I mean, good luck with that, sincerely.

[mwynn]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

From the same interview:

Will be interested to see what outside threads Clayface will have. Superman and Supergirl have quite a few of them.

[DR Herbert West]

Neat.

[mwynn]

More from the article.

“We’ve taken a couple of cracks at it but still haven’t been able land,” Safran says about Waller, a Peacemaker/Suicide Squad spinoff that was to star Viola Davis. “Waller has been a bumpy road.”

A series on time traveling hero Booster Gold was waiting for a showrunner to make time for it but “maybe he fell out of love, maybe he got busy,” he says, “but we had to pivot.”

The Authority, a superhero group created in the late 1990s, had a script that “has had a harder time coming along,” notes Gunn. “It hasn’t been much a priority.”

Additionally, James Mangold’s take on horror hero Swamp Thing also seems to have cooled. “We talk about it occasionally,” Gunn said.

And then there’s the Batman problem. Or several.

Despite strong efforts, any new movie featuring the Dark Knight seems years away. It’s been three years since Matt Reeves’ The Batman introduced Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne in March 2022, making over $772 million during the pandemic no less, but a sequel seems no closer than before.

“He is yet to turn in a full script but what we have read so far is incredibly encouraging,” Safran said.

DC Studios is also concurrently developing The Brave and the Bold, centered on Batman and his son, Damian Wayne. But although it was announced in 2023 that Andy Muschietti would direct the feature and be a producer on it, the filmmaker behind The Flash and It movies seems to be at arms length from the project.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by mwynn

Will be interested to see what outside threads Clayface will have. Superman and Supergirl have quite a few of them.

Have Clayface and Plastic Man ever fought in the comics? I think that could be... quite an interesting match.

[mwynn]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

Have Clayface and Plastic Man ever fought in the comics? I think that could be... quite an interesting match.

Not that I know of. I found some fan art. Yet nothing on them facing off in the comics.

[dyne]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

but it could take up to 6 years to get there:

This is a comment towards films in general but they'll release what, maybe 3-4 films in a six year period?

[Zivouhr]

Are they saying the DC movies will build to a final battle confrontation? Nothing new, but hopefully each film will link together well and be intricately interconnected so if you miss one film, you miss some big events to the story. Like any TV series that is progressing towards a finale'. Like Dragon Ball the series for example, where kid Goku eventually faces his enemies and learns the giant monkey power.