The younger Superman reboot for the new DCU puts upcoming films in an awkward position, and DC Studios is left with a difficult but necessary choice.
Superman’s recasting sparks concern for the recasting of the other Justice League characters in the new DCU. While Ben Affleck is still predicted to reprise his role of Batman in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom and The Flash Movie, the future recasting of the heroes for the new DCU is presumably likely. With a slate of films still on the horizon before the DCU reboot, it is difficult to ascertain which stories and heroes will crossover or connect to the new DCU continuity, if any.
Reboots and recasting are becoming more common, but that doesn’t make them any less disappointing when they happen unexpectedly. These sudden changes can potentially have a negative impact on the box office success of the films already in production with those characters/actors. Continuing to move forward with those projects puts DC Studios in an uncomfortable position, potentially marking DCU’s rebrand as a mistake.
Peter & I have a DC slate ready to go, which we couldn’t be more over-the-moon about; we’ll be able to share some exciting information about our first projects at the beginning of the new year. — James Gunn (@JamesGunn) December 15, 2022
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Aquaman 2 and The Flash Can’t Tie Into Future Films If A Full Reboot Is Coming
The speculation of a wide reboot puts Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom and The Flash Movie in the unfortunate position of possibly being the farewell films for actors Jason Momoa and Ezra Miller reprising the roles of the titular heroes, respectively. In addition, their stories will either have to be self-contained or risk setting up potential future plots that will not be produced with the same actors. While The Flash Movie reboot is still technically possible to use as a means of transitioning into a new DCU, it still opens the door for a DC multiverse that allows the “old DCU” characters/actors to reprise those roles in the future.
Whether DC Studios wants to open that door with a Flash reboot trick remains to be seen. If, however, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom and The Flash Movie are not meant to tie into the new DCU, then it leaves them dangling somewhat awkwardly in terms of world-building and setup. It’s unlikely that these films were written with Gunn and Safran’s particular vision in mind, so they’ll either have to undergo last-minute edits or reshoots or settle with unfulfilled franchise teases. Self-contained stories are good, but only when they’re planned that way from the start.
Why The DCU Needs A Full Reboot Despite A Talented Cast
Tongue-in-cheek references may work occasionally and even more so for short-lived roles by actors in shared universes, but recasting Superman for the DCU as being younger warrants a full DCU reboot. Salvaging some of the old DCU in the new DCU may seem like a safe middle ground, but it limits what can come next. Despite an overall great performance by the old DCU cast, their longevity in reprising those roles over the next ten years may be questionable. A new DCU and younger cast can leave behind the on and offscreen Synderverse drama for a fresh start.
DC Studios needs to commit to and execute on a clear direction for their cinematic universe with a cast that’s equally in it for the long haul. Therefore, a full reboot is a difficult but necessary solution to reinvigorate the franchise. A younger Superman gives the new DCU the time to reboot and rebuild the franchise in a way that it deserved to be built from the start.
Even if James Gunn’s DCU plan involves some Snyderverse actors crossing over into the new DCU as new characters or reprising roles from the old DCU, a distinction should be made clear of what to expect as being a part of the new DCU continuity. That being said, “[building] upon what has worked in DC so far” should not risk further complicating the new DCU by mixing the old and the new. The old had high points, but the new can and should be better.
