The DC Universe created by James Gunn was meant to be a clean slate, a new beginning following the rocky years of the DCEU. Having established the groundwork of Gods and Monsters with ‘Superman’ (2025), the message appeared to be clear: this was not the Snyder era, and it was not attempting to be.
Yet as the next chapter takes shape, something curious is happening. Familiar creative fingerprints from the old regime are beginning to surface, and it’s sparking an unexpected sense of deja vu. This does not imply that the DCU is changing direction. However, it does imply that Gunn’s vision might be more selective and more self-conscious than fans might have thought.
‘Supergirl’ Resurfaces Familiar Creative DNA
One of the most eyebrow-raising developments surrounding ‘Supergirl’ is the return of composer Junkie XL, also known as Tom Holkenborg. His music could not be separated from the tone of Snyder’s DC films, ‘Batman v Superman’ and ‘ustice League’.
Those scores were not mere background music. They influenced the emotional gravity, intensity, and mythic sense of that time. It is not mere nostalgia to have Junkie XL in the DCU.
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It is a recognition that some things of Snyderverse were particularly successful, despite the larger scandal. Music can be a means of storing emotional memory, and the fact that Holkenborg is involved is an indication that Gunn has no qualms about reclaiming what worked, even though it has a controversial history.
The outcome may be an intriguing tonal mix. We could see a DCU that is more lightweight and character-driven on the surface. However, still grounded by epic, operatic undercurrents.
Jason Momoa’s DCU Return Adds Another Layer Of Continuity
Then there’s Jason Momoa. After playing the face of Aquaman and the final leading man of the DCEU, he is now back in ‘Supergirl’ as Lobo, a character that could not be more different in attitude or energy.
The casting is inspired, yet it also adds to the impression that the DCU is not sweeping the slate clean as much as it is rewriting it.
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Momoa’s appearance connects two periods of DC storytelling, although the characters may not intersect. To old-time fans, it is a reminder that the history of the franchise has not been forgotten; it is being reused.
The new DCU does not seem like a renaissance of the Snyderverse, but it is no longer acting kike that period never existed. And if that balance holds, DC might finally be on its way to something both new and confidently rooted.
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