Warner Bros. made a significant attempt to recruit Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios, following the disappointing performance of the 2017 film Justice League. According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, after the film grossed approximately $660 million and received a mere 39% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the studio sought to persuade Feige to switch allegiances from Marvel to DC.
Despite the allure of the offer, discussions between Warner Bros. and Feige ultimately did not progress, leaving him firmly in charge of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Since then, the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) has faced its challenges, with subsequent films like Aquaman achieving notable success, becoming the only DCEU film to surpass $1 billion at the box office.
The DCEU struggled to maintain momentum after the lackluster reception of Justice League, leading Warner Bros. to announce a reboot of the franchise. In a strategic move, the studio enlisted James Gunn and producer Peter Safran to help reshape the universe. Gunn’s upcoming film, Superman, is set to release on March 15, 2024. This film, which follows Gunn’s work on The Suicide Squad, aims to reinvigorate the DC brand.
Initial reviews for Superman have been positive, with projections indicating a domestic opening exceeding $125 million. Competing for box office attention will be The Fantastic Four: First Steps, another project produced by Feige, which is scheduled to open on July 25.
Looking ahead, Peacemaker season 2 is the next project in line for the DC Universe, set to premiere on August 21, followed by Supergirl, expected in June 2026. The overarching goal for Gunn and Safran is to re-establish the iconic DC Trinity—Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman—and unite them in a new Justice League film.
As the DC Universe seeks to regain its footing in the competitive landscape of superhero cinema, the efforts of Gunn and Safran may represent a pivotal moment in revitalizing a franchise that has struggled since its past successes.
