The DC Universe is just beginning to unfold under James Gunn and Peter Safran’s leadership at DC Studios. With ‘Superman’ officially kicking off Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters, audiences are naturally eager to know which heroes and villains will follow. While icons like Batman and Wonder Woman are already confirmed to be in development for their own projects, fans have been asking a different question: Where is Green Arrow?
Oliver Queen, the archer and longtime Justice League member, has been a mainstay of DC Comics for decades. Thanks to TV hits like ‘Smallville‘ and ‘Arrow’, he’s no stranger to live-action success either. Yet the character never made his way onto the big screen during the DCEU era. Now that the DCU has arrived, many assumed it was only a matter of time before Green Arrow was announced. James Gunn, however, has shut down those assumptions.
James Gunn Explains Green Arrow’s Status In The DCU

Speaking on ‘Peacemaker: The Official Podcast’, Gunn was asked point-blank if Green Arrow is canon in the new DCU. His answer was cryptic to say the least. “I don’t know, I’m not willing to say yet. We don’t really know. We don’t have Green Arrow as part of our system right now. So maybe he exists, maybe he doesn’t.” For longtime fans, that may feel like a frustrating non-answer.
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After all, Green Arrow is not some obscure hero; he’s a foundational member of the Justice League. However, Gunn’s reasoning is clear. The DCU is still in its infancy, and its first priority is establishing a strong foundation with its trinity: Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. It’s also worth noting that Gunn has been careful about not overloading audiences with too many characters right away.
The DCEU suffered from rushing to introduce its Justice League lineup without laying enough groundwork. This time, Gunn seems determined to avoid repeating that mistake. That doesn’t mean Oliver Queen is gone for good. Gunn’s comments suggest the door is still wide open, just not in the immediate future. “Maybe he exists, maybe he doesn’t” feels less like a denial and more like Gunn buying time.
James Gunn On Why ‘Superman’ Is Coming To Digital So Soon

While Green Arrow’s fate remains uncertain, James Gunn has been more straightforward about another major topic: the early digital release of ‘Superman‘. The film, which became a global hit with over half a billion dollars at the box office, is moving to VOD sooner than fans expected. Some were worried this could undercut its theatrical momentum. In an interview with SR, Gunn explained that the decision came down to one thing: timing with ‘Peacemaker’ season 2.
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“Well, it’s very complicated, but the truth is it is because of Peacemaker. I originally thought Peacemaker was going to be coming out next month. There were a lot of things that are beyond our control, so that Peacemaker is coming out now, and, at the end of the day, I wanted everyone to be able to see Superman that they wanted to, even those people who couldn’t get to a theater before Peacemaker. And that’s really the reason for it.”
This makes sense when looking at the bigger picture. ‘Peacemaker’ season 2 takes place only a month after the events of Superman. John Cena’s Christopher Smith even made a cameo in the film, bridging the worlds together. With familiar faces like Frank Grillo’s Rick Flag Sr. returning, Gunn wanted to ensure viewers had the full context of Superman’s story before diving into the next chapter. In other words, the early digital release isn’t about shortchanging theaters, it’s about narrative momentum.