When James Gunn officially stepped into his role as co-CEO of DC Studios alongside Peter Safran, fans knew change was coming. The DC Universe needed a bold new direction after years of inconsistency under the previous regime.
Unsurprisingly, Gunn’s vision has quickly begun to shape what many are calling a “true fresh start.” With ‘Superman’ ushering in Chapter 1: “Gods and Monsters,” audiences finally got their first taste of this reimagined world. Now, Gunn is setting the record straight, and he has made a huge promise about how future DCU movies will handle digital releases.
James Gunn Promises Longer Theatrical Runs For Future DCU Films
While ‘Superman’ itself was largely celebrated, one unusual decision sparked plenty of conversation online: its early digital release. Arriving on Video-on-Demand (VOD) just 35 days after hitting theaters, the film broke from the industry’s more traditional release window. Some fans welcomed the early access, while others argued that a movie intended to launch an expansive universe deserved a longer theatrical run.
Related: James Gunn’s ‘Superman 2’ Has The Perfect Opportunity To Finally Bring Brainiac To The Big Screen
During his recent appearance on the I Think You’re Overthinking It podcast, Gunn openly addressed the controversy around ‘Superman’s early home release. While many assumed the choice was financially motivated, Gunn revealed that it was actually tied to one specific project: ‘Peacemaker’ season 2. “Next time, it’s gonna be longer,” Gunn clarified. “I don’t want people to get used to it. It’s purely because of Peacemaker that I let it come out at this time.”
The reasoning makes sense when looking at the broader DCU rollout. Several characters introduced in ‘Superman‘ are set to appear in ‘Peacemaker’ season 2. So, an early digital release gave fans an opportunity to catch up before the series premiere. In many ways, Gunn’s film didn’t just serve as a solo ‘Superman’ story; it also acted as the starting point for the interconnected franchise.
However, Gunn was equally clear that audiences shouldn’t expect this to become the norm. Upcoming films like ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow’ will stick to a more traditional release strategy. Since that movie doesn’t lead directly into a TV series the following month, DC Studios sees no reason to shorten its theatrical window. In other words, ‘Superman’ may remain a rare exception, not the rule.
Is The Green Arrow Coming To DCU?
As Gunn continues to shape the early phases of his DC Universe, fans want to know where some of the characters are placed, especially the Green Arrow. Oliver Queen has long been a staple of DC Comics and a beloved member of the Justice League. While characters like Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman inevitably steal the spotlight, Green Arrow has earned his place among DC’s heavy-hitters thanks to decades of comics.
In case you missed it: James Gunn Has Big Plans For David Corenswet’s ‘Superman’ Future
More recently, his mainstream breakthrough in The CW’s ‘Arrow’ also launched an entire shared universe of shows. However, despite that popularity, the DCEU never gave Green Arrow his big-screen moment. With the DCU now starting fresh, fans are eager to see whether Gunn will finally give Oliver Queen the justice he deserves.
On Peacemaker: The Official Podcast, Gunn addressed the speculation directly. “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.” This suggests that while Gunn and Safran may not have immediate plans for Green Arrow, they’re not ruling him out either.
