James Gunn Clarifies Which DCEU Events Will Remain Canon in the New DC Universe

Main Points

Gunn’s revamped DC Universe (DCU) marks a fresh beginning for the DC film and television sector, although elements from Snyder’s DC Extended Universe (DCEU) may still hold significance.
The reboot of the DCU incorporates elements from Gunn’s The Suicide Squad.
Events from the DCEU will be considered canon in the DCU if referenced in upcoming projects like Creature Commandos.

James Gunn’s DC Universe represents a new direction for the DC film and television legacy, yet the head of DC Studios has provided critical clarity regarding which aspects of Zack Snyder’s DCEU remain relevant.

This reboot signifies a transformative change from the DCEU, which began with Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel in 2013 and concluded with The Flash featuring Ezra Miller. Confusion arose among fans when they discovered that characters from Gunn’s The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker, both associated with the earlier DCEU, were reappearing in the new DCU projects like Creature Commandos and the second season of Peacemaker. This confusion intensified when Gunn indicated that the first season of Peacemaker was not considered canon, while the upcoming season would be. Recently, Gunn has provided clarity on how fans can determine the continuity of DCEU events as they transition into the new DCU.

At the 2024 New York Comic-Con, Gunn showcased the animated series Creature Commandos, the inaugural project for the DCU, although he has noted that his Superman film will serve as the true starting point for this new cinematic universe. During the panel (as reported by DCU Brief), he indicated that past DCEU events could become canonical within the DCU if mentioned in new franchise productions. “There are references to some other things that have happened in the past [in Creature Commandos], and those references then become canon in the DCU because we mention them,”stated Gunn. He pointed out that Creature Commandos includes nods to the demise of Rick Flagg Sr.’s son, Rick Flagg Jr., portrayed by Joel Kinnaman, along with other prior DC events.

James Gunn on DCEU’s relevance to the DCU: "We learn that other things that have happened in the past in other media have still happened." pic.twitter.com/9PNn2kHdoU — DCU Brief (@DCUBrief) October 19, 2024

In addition, Gunn spoke about the visual style of the DCU. Whereas both the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the earlier DCEU often shared a unified tone, despite elements of genre variation (for instance, Captain America: The Winter Soldier being likened to political thrillers and Wonder Woman 1984 moving away from Snyder’s darker tone), fans questioned whether all DCU directors and showrunners would follow a similar visual aesthetic. Gunn firmly dispelled this idea, stating, “Every single project that comes out of DC studios is going to be its own thing. It’s a connected universe, but we’re not imposing any overall aesthetic.”

The essence of Gunn’s statements implies that any DCEU occurrence mentioned in a DCU film or series will retain its canonical status. Events from Snyder’s DCEU that are not referenced may potentially be recognized later, but will not be deemed official until acknowledged within a DCU project. Certain non-canonical occurrences or characters seem understood by default. For example, David Corenswet’s Superman in the DCU will feature new actors portraying key supporting roles, suggesting that storylines involving Henry Cavill’s iteration of Superman are unlikely to be considered part of the new canon. Enthusiasts will need to stay tuned to see how the DCU incorporates elements from prior DC content, likely customizing selections to best fit Gunn’s narrative vision.

Source: DC Brief

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