The DC Universe has a unique opportunity ahead of it with the reboot of the franchise under new leadership, helmed by James Gunn and Peter Safran. The previous iteration, the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), had a mixed reception, with some entries being good and others not so good. The DCEU’s biggest wasted opportunity is the cancelation of the already-completed Batgirl movie, starring Leslie Grace, which was pulled due to poor reception and creative shakeups.
The DCU can learn from the DCEU’s mistakes and take a more accurate approach to the DC mythos and characters. One way to do this is by giving Barbara Gordon, aka Batgirl, the focus she deserves. While the DCEU version of Barbara Gordon will likely never make it onscreen, the DCU can still introduce her in a future story.
Another area where the DCU can improve is by utilizing the Robins, unlike the DCEU. The upcoming film The Brave and The Bold will feature Damian Wayne alongside his father, and an animated Robin spinoff and Teen Titans film are also in the works. This gives the DCU the chance to set things right by giving Nightwing and all of the Robins a chance to shine.
Darkseid, one of the most threatening villains in DC, was underwhelming in the DCEU. If the DCU reuses him, they might take notes from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and introduce him as a looming threat. The DCU can avoid the pitfall of the DCEU by taking its time and planting seeds for Darkseid’s arrival.
The DC Universe is one of the biggest comic book franchises, competing with Marvel. With a new creative team at the helm, the DCU has the chance to redeem some of the missteps of the DCEU and create a more accurate and engaging franchise.