Last week, the long wait for news about what James Gunn and Peter Safran had up their sleeves with the new DC Studios film and TV slate was over, as the duo presented a total of 10 projects that will bring to life a new era of the DCU. Characters like Superman, Batman, Supergirl, and the Green Lanterns are all expected to factor heavily into the plans moving forward, but is that enough to compete with the likes of Marvel Studios, and more importantly, is it enough to turn the tides of a failing superhero brand? That’s what we discuss in this new episode of The Playlist Podcast.
The new DC Studios slate is chock full of recognizable names, with films focused on Superman, Batman and Robin, and Supergirl, combined with series featuring Wonder Woman’s ancestors as well as the Green Lanterns. But the slate also includes some real James Gunn-esque deep cuts like “Creature Commandos” and “Swamp Thing.” It’s an eclectic grouping of projects that, on paper at least, don’t seem to fit together immediately in a clear way. But there is a plan, and the co-CEOs are hoping this is enough to establish that DC Studios is just as important to the industry and culture as the already-massive Marvel Cinematic Universe.
But is it enough? Is there room in the marketplace for two superhero behemoths? If not, is Warner Bros. Discovery going to be pleased with having decent films that still don’t crack a billion dollars? Basically, is James Gunn’s best not even close to good enough in the eyes of investors and the executives at WBD? We’ll just have to wait and see.
You can hear our full discussion below:
The Playlist Podcast is part of The Playlist Podcast Network, which includes Bingeworthy, Be Reel, Deep Focus, The Fourth Wall, and The Discourse. We can be heard on iTunes, AnchorFM, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, and most places where podcasts are found. You can stream the podcast via the Spotify embed within the article or click on the lead image at the top page. Follow us on iTunes, and you’ll get this podcast and our other shows regularly. Be sure to subscribe and drop us a comment or a rating, as we greatly appreciate it. Thank you for listening.