In an effort to create an original DC Universe, James Gunn may discover that a more mature direction will help him differentiate himself.
Every cinematic universe needs a theme. Some are stuck in limbo getting too funny and playful with what used to be semi-serious subjects. One of the most important things for James Gunn to decide is what his DCU will look like now that he is making the new DCU. One of the best ideas yet is to be more mature than its MCU counterpart.
To many people, the concept of getting a newer, more mature movie universe from DC seems like a no-brainer. They’ve already tried. But Gunn may discover that attempts are no longer the name of the game. It’s time to stand up and make real decisions.
What we learned from Zack Snyder
Humans are quick to greet or destroy the so-called Snyderverse. Snyder has always had a dark sense of things, from the bronze tones of 300 to the rainy streets of Guardians. He’s a brooding, extreme ghost with beefy characters at the ready.
Zack Snyder took Superman from a red-and-blue-clad boy scout and turned him into a viciously protective husband with no concern for collateral damage. He took a grieving Batman and gave him enough PTSD to literally brand criminals. This is a director whose view of heroes is that they are above heroics and just plain beasts. That said, Snyder’s version of the DC heroes was more grounded. It was an insight into what life does to people. There was some humor, but that was Whedon’s fault. This image of the heroes set aside the Snyderverse from Marvel in large measure. Maybe he was onto something.
The distinction between mature and gloomy
Gunn should look to Snyder for the maturity of his work. This is the only piece that stands out in relation to the MCU. Tony Stark is a sarcastic playboy who finds purpose and joy in masquerading as Iron Man. Batman is a dark soul who poses as Bruce Wayne in an attempt to fit in. But, and this is where Snyder lost the thread, Batman doesn’t have to be horrifically extreme. He should be a cautionary tale of what happens when someone lets PTSD go unchecked. The thing about Batman is who he surrounds himself with. The point Snyder missed is that part of Batman’s maturity is who he associates with. Gunn can use this while staying true to the character.
The same goes for Superman. Essentially, he is very aware of who he is and how he stands out from those around him. However, his whole life is filled with love and emotion. He loves his adoptive parents, he’s madly in love with Lois Lane and he’ll do anything to protect them, but Snyder took it too far. He made Superman forget about everyone else. The character must be true to his origins. Superman is not disgusted with humanity. He has a deep love for the human race. At the very least, his main goal should be fewer human casualties.
Snyder showed us a version of Superman to fear, with raw, uncontrolled power. But Superman does the hero. He may struggle with this role, but when he’s at his most vulnerable, Lois is there. Or Wonder Woman, or even Batman with a cunning attempt to get his friend back on his feet.
These characters are human and have motivations. The reason they work is that they balance each other and have support systems. James Gunn can take the high road and show how an alien can be more human and a would-be psychopath consciously give himself a support structure. It’s what adults do.
The James Gunn Effect
When Gunn’s first attempt is to follow Snyder or Feige, he’s already dead in the water. But like Snyder, Gunn has his own family tree Burn bright and The suicide squad. These are his take on the superhero. They are a bit bloodier but never lose their charm. They are recognizable while being completely alien. We begin The suicide squad with Peacemaker as an asshole and end up with a show about that character that draws big numbers.
We love Spider-Man because he’s a screeching little teen in tights who has a blast swinging around New York. We are in a relationship because we all want to do that. But we relate to Batman because we all know how the violent death of two parents can have a terrible effect on someone. We understand that a person can push themselves too far. But that person is not a hero. That person is a vigilante who does just enough good to be left alone by cops and true heroes.
Where does Gunn go from here?
Gunn will make his universe look and feel the way he wants. The hope is that he can find like-minded directors to help. He needs writers who know the source material because you can be damn sure an adult audience will know. Maybe he’ll start with lesser characters and gradually involve the big three, Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, in an effort to build his world. Regardless of the order, it would be wise to look for originality and a different creative direction than its predecessors or rivals expect.