James Gunn Tells Fans the DCU Doesn’t Need Every Movie to Set Up the Next One
Shared universes have trained audiences to read every new release as a puzzle piece. A post-credits scene becomes a teaser, a background character becomes a clue, and a standalone story starts to feel incomplete if it doesn’t point toward a bigger event. That mindset has followed the DCU since James Gunn took over DC Studios.
The slate has also grown more varied than most superhero universes at this stage. It began with the animated series ‘Creature Commandos’ before moving to theaters with ‘Superman’, and ‘Peacemaker’, ‘Supergirl’ and ‘Lanterns’ have followed. The newest entry is a very different beast: ‘Clayface’, an R-rated body horror film with Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen.
That variety has sparked a familiar question among fans. After the film’s release, a wave of comments asked what the DCU is actually building toward, and Gunn addressed it directly on Threads. He agreed with a fan who argued that he doesn’t need to build toward anything if the individual projects work on their own, and that crossovers like the one expected in ‘Man of Tomorrow’ are a bonus.
Gunn’s core argument is that the DCU is simply an alternate universe where stories can begin at any place or time. He said he dislikes the idea that individual stories only matter if they lead somewhere else. He added that it strikes him as strange when people don’t see that.
To make his case, he pointed to ‘Star Wars’, which has told stories across movies, shows, games and books for roughly 50 years. Gunn noted that franchise has done this without the tonal variety the DCU is aiming for. That comparison frames the DCU less as a single rigid timeline and more as a world with many entry points.
Gunn was careful to say this does not mean the projects are unconnected. He explained that the Superman Saga begins with ‘Superman’, continues into ‘Man of Tomorrow’ and beyond, and includes many characters introduced in other stories. His point is that those other stories don’t exist solely to serve that saga.
The upcoming sequel shows how that works in practice. ‘Man of Tomorrow’ opens July 9, 2027, and wrapped filming in late August. Its cast includes Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner, Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart from ‘Lanterns’, and Milly Alcock’s Supergirl, so characters from several corners of the universe are converging.
The timing of the comments matters. Gunn said he would love for people to watch ‘Clayface’ because it is a great, fun horror movie unto itself, not because of where the character might appear 3 movies from now. Reports note this isn’t a confirmation either way, though it leaves room for Matt Hagen to return.
The movie is also performing respectably for a modest-budget horror release. It opened at No. 1 with an estimated $23 million to $25 million across 3,458 theaters, including a $10.5 million opening day with previews. Audiences gave it an A- CinemaScore, and it carries roughly a 75% critics score and a 93% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Its reported net production budget of $44 million is much lower than ‘Superman’ or ‘Supergirl’, which makes the opening easier to read as a profitable start. Not everyone is convinced, and some commenters still call the debut soft for a DC title. Still, the numbers back Gunn’s argument that a standalone film with a clear identity can find an audience.
Watch the first trailer for #Clayface. The new DC horror film is in theaters October 23. https://t.co/gqrrtJSou5
— Rotten Tomatoes 🍅 (@RottenTomatoes) April 22, 2026
The broader takeaway is a shift in expectations. After years of interconnected franchises demanding homework, Gunn is betting that viewers will show up for a good story first. That is a bold strategy for a universe that still has a major crossover on the horizon.
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