What will James Gunn and Peter Safran, newly installed co-CEOs of DC Studios, do with their upcoming slate of superhero features? Rumors are swirling that we will find out the first step in the DC Universe process on Tuesday when WB is supposedly going to reveal the beginning stages of the new DC Studios slate. However, until then, why not listen to Dave Bautista, a frequent collaborator and close friend of Gunn, as he explains what to expect? Namely, a full-on DC Universe reboot.
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Speaking to Insider, while promoting his new film, “Knock at the Cabin,” Dave Bautista explained that he has spoken to James Gunn about the new DC Studios and the plan for DC superhero films. Obviously, Bautista is interested in keeping his relationship with Gunn intact after working together on the “Guardians of the Galaxy” franchise, but he’s not sure the filmmaker will have an immediate opening for him in the new DC Universe. Why is that? Well, Gunn told him that there is a reboot afoot.
“I have had conversations with James about that, but I think the direction he’s leaning in, completely rebooting that whole universe, he’s starting from scratch and starting younger and fresher and I think you need to do that,” said Bautista.
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He added, “I think for the DC Universe to be revived, you need to start from scratch, and I think you need to start with younger actors. You need to start to plan for the next 15 years, and I just don’t think you can do that with me. And I understand that. And, also, I have to say that I appreciate that because I don’t want to play a character that I can’t bring justice to it. I don’t think at this point in my career that I can bring justice to Bane anymore. I just don’t know if I could handle the physical part, and I don’t think I would have the longevity to plan ahead for films. So, I just don’t know if I’d be that guy.”
Now, just because Bautista doesn’t think he can play a character like Bane right now, that doesn’t mean there won’t be a role for him in the future. Gunn has already teased that, while he is expecting to cast a lot of new faces, his previous actors might have a spot in the new DC Universe. So, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Bautista show up, perhaps in a one-shot villain role or something of that nature.
However, outside of Bautista, this is the first true confirmation of a full-on reboot of the DC film universe. Previously, with the tease of a new “Superman” film written by Gunn, it was clear that at least a partial reboot was likely. But it does really seem as if Gunn and Safran are looking to start from scratch and craft their own DC continuity moving forward.
And if they do announce something tomorrow and confirm the reboot, that does leave the 2023 slate of films in a weird position, right? Why would fans care what happens in “Shazam: Fury of the Gods,” “The Flash,” “Blue Beetle,” and “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” if they know none of it “counts?” Maybe, just maybe, “The Flash” will actually usher in a new universe, as is rumored. If that’s the case, at least the previous continuity isn’t completely forgotten.
Again, we’ll just have to wait and see.