The DC Universe under James Gunn and Peter Safran was supposed to be the dawn of a new, structured era for DC films and television. However, some highly anticipated projects, ‘Waller’, ‘Booster Gold’, and ‘The Authority‘, have been stuck in development for longer than expected.
While some delays were understandable, such as those caused by the 2023 Hollywood strikes, recent reports suggest deeper complications.
‘Booster Gold’ And ‘Waller’ Face Creative Hurdles, While R-Rated ‘The Authority’ Becomes A Hard Sell
A well-known industry scooper, @MyTimeToShineH, recently shared insider information on why these projects are taking so long. Among the delayed projects, ‘Booster Gold’ has been in limbo despite being announced in early 2023. The project initially had Eastbound & Down star and creator Danny McBride in talks to be the showrunner.
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However, according to the insider, McBride has since walked away due to being too busy and losing interest. Warner Bros. and DC Studios are reportedly searching for a replacement. But with no official updates, it seems unlikely that anything is moving forward.
Meanwhile, ‘Waller’, the spinoff series centered on Viola Davis’s ruthless government agent Amanda Waller, has also faced roadblocks. Unlike ‘Booster Gold’, Waller has a showrunner, actors attached, and scripts ready to go. However, James Gunn himself isn’t satisfied with the scripts.
Additionally, the most complicated case is ‘The Authority’. The movie was announced as part of DCU’s “Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters.” However, recent reports indicate it has been put on “pause.” The main reason? Warner Bros. executives, including CEO David Zaslav, are reportedly hesitant to invest over $150 million in an R-rated film based on a relatively obscure IP.
It’s not hard to see why WB might be wary. Unlike Superman or Batman, ‘The Authority’. doesn’t have mainstream name recognition. However, the insider claimed that Warner Bros. is exploring alternative ways to bring ‘The Authority’ to life, including turning it into an animated film or reducing the budget to make it less of a financial gamble.
James Gunn Shares His Regrets For The New DCU
During a recent press event, James Gunn admitted that there were writers he regretted hiring for some DCU projects. While he didn’t name names, it’s easy to speculate that the struggles with ‘Booster Gold’ and ‘Waller’ could be part of what he was referring to. “We’re going to make mistakes,” Gunn stated.
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“I mean, life is complicated. There’s always little things. Like I wish I did that differently. I wish I asked David [Corenswet] to do that take differently, it’s just like little things. There’s writers that we put on projects that I wish we didn’t, but overall, I feel just so lucky,” he explained.
He acknowledged that not every decision has been perfect. He further emphasized that DC Studios is still a small operation with only 13 key people managing multiple projects. So, with such a small team and such a massive franchise to rebuild, it’s understandable that not everything would be smooth sailing. Moreover, despite these challenges, Gunn and Safran remain optimistic about DC Studios’ future.
