James Gunn has revealed the pecking order at the heart of his DC universe, calling Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman the DCU’s “diamond characters” while naming three smaller names he hopes to elevate to the same status. The James Gunn DCU diamond characters reveal came in a Threads post defending his eight-to-ten-year roadmap for DC Studios.
James Gunn (Credits: Variety)
Gunn was responding to a now-deleted post questioning the direction of the DCU, and he pointed critics back to what he said when the universe launched in January 2023. Some stories, he explained, are standalone in the way the Guardians of the Galaxy films were, which is what Clayface is, while others form part of a larger narrative structure, like the Superman Saga. Either way, he insisted, each piece should work on its own whether or not audiences have seen everything else.
James Gunn DCU Diamond Characters: The Trinity at the Centre
Gunn clarified that the often-cited eight-to-ten-year roadmap was never just a list of story points. It was also a plan for DC as a whole, including a focus on diamond characters, Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, alongside smaller characters the studio could turn into diamonds. The term is not new: at the January 2023 slate reveal, Gunn described using the biggest heroes to prop up lesser-known characters, with co-head Peter Safran adding that the goal was to build those properties into the diamonds of tomorrow.
The clarification is reassuring for fans who have noticed the Trinity’s uneven presence so far. Superman has led the charge on screen, while Batman has barely appeared beyond a silhouette in the animated Creature Commandos, and Wonder Woman remains without a project of her own, though a film is in development with Supergirl writer Ana Nogueira penning the script.
Krypto, John Stewart and Peacemaker Could Turn Into Diamonds
The three names Gunn flagged as potential future diamonds are Krypto the Superdog, John Stewart and Peacemaker. Krypto has already become a scene-stealer across the Superman Saga, appearing in both Superman and Supergirl, and has inspired a new animated kids’ show. Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart co-led the HBO series Lanterns alongside Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan and is confirmed for a part in the DC crossover Man of Tomorrow. John Cena’s Peacemaker, one of the few heroes carried over from the old DCEU, has led two seasons of his own HBO Max show, with the season two finale opening plenty of doors.
Gunn also stressed that the roadmap covers filmmaker freedom and multiple tones and ratings, citing the influences of Star Wars and George R. R. Martin. He closed by saying it is exciting seeing things start to come together, and that it makes him even more excited for what is in store in Man of Tomorrow.
Also Read: James Gunn Claps Back at Critics of Continuity in His DCU | Matthew Lillard Calls His Mystery Superman 2 Character a Very James Gunn Moment Ahead of Man of Tomorrow
Source: Variety — read the full story there.
