James Gunn Delivers the News DCU Fans Didn’t Want: No Aquaman or Flash for Now
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
After a thrilling start with Superman soaring at the box office and exciting projects like Wonder Woman and Batman on the horizon, DC Studios is clearly rebooting the DC Universe with gusto. Yet fans hoping to see familiar faces like Aquaman and The Flash back on the big screen anytime soon might need to temper their expectations.
In a candid conversation on the Happy Sad Confused podcast with Josh Horowitz, DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn addressed the future of the DCU. While the cinematic universe’s foundation looks solid, Gunn revealed that Aquaman and The Flash—two iconic Justice League founding members—won’t be making a big-screen return in the near future. “We’re not planning on bringing those characters back for at least a couple of years,” Gunn said, underscoring a deliberate pause on revisiting heroes who remain fresh in audiences’ minds due to recent films.
This cautious approach isn’t surprising given the rocky reception of the 2023 releases The Flash and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Ezra Miller’s The Flash earned mixed reviews and suffered amid personal controversies surrounding Miller, dampening its box office prospects despite some critical appreciation of director Andy Muschietti’s vision. Meanwhile, Jason Momoa’s Aquaman sequel, though expected to be a safe bet following the massive $1.15 billion haul of the original film, grossed just $440 million worldwide—a significant drop that reflected waning audience enthusiasm.
While the recent films’ underperformance explains DC’s reluctance, Momoa remains a fan favorite, and his move to portray Lobo in the upcoming Supergirl film suggests a strategic shift rather than a farewell. This makes sense for the studio to give Aquaman time before reintroducing the character anew in the revamped universe.
The Flash’s situation is more complex. Interestingly, the DCU recently teased a different version of the Scarlet Speedster—Wally West—in the HBO Max animated series Creature Commandos, set in a post-apocalyptic world where many heroes have fallen. This Wally West glimpse could hint at a fresh direction for the character, possibly aligning with the upcoming Teen Titans movie penned by Supergirl writer Ana Nogueira.
For now, fans can look forward to a DCU focused on building around other iconic heroes while allowing Aquaman and The Flash’s legacies to rest before a reboot. Gunn’s transparency offers clarity amidst rumors and hopes, reaffirming that the studio is carefully crafting its future lineup—prioritizing quality and timing over rushing fan favorites back to the screen.
In the evolving landscape of the DC Universe, patience might be the best superpower fans can wield