Lanterns DCU getting grief? James Gunn’s comeback is just 'Fancy That'
James Gunn neatly swatted a fan’s moan about his expanding DC Universe, dropping a brisk comeback that makes the complaint look daft.
Pour yourself a cuppa for this one — James Gunn is back on Threads, responding (with his usual dry wit) to complaints that his ever-growing DCU is all over the place in tone. Some reckon it's getting a bit daft trying to stitch together Lanterns, Superman and Creature Commandos as though they're singing from the same hymn sheet. Gunn, though, hasn't got much time for that argument.
Lanterns, Superman, Peacemaker, Supergirl, and Creature Commandos: all exist in the same DCU, and apparently that's 'a reminder' of inconsistency, according to a Threads user. Gunn, true to form, replied simply, 'Fancy that,' sharing a selection of classic DC comic covers that veer in tone from camp to downright gothic.
The gist here is, a fan posted up a rather pointed collage of posters for the main new DCU projects — Lanterns, Superman, Peacemaker, Supergirl, and Creature Commandos — suggesting all these wildly different aesthetics don't belong together. So, Gunn hit back by pointing out that's literally what the comics have always been: a right old mix. He shared covers featuring everything from 'Batman #227' to 'Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #98', plus oddities like 'Shade, the Changing Man', and iconic stuff like 'The Killing Joke' and 'The New 52 Justice League'. All miles apart in style — and all classic DC.
Fans in the replies absolutely loved it, naturally. Some called Gunn's answer 'perfect', while others quickly pivoted to wish-listing: if his comic picks are clues, maybe we'll eventually get a live-action Killing Joke or something equally ambitious. Amusingly, a couple of them even suspected Gunn was trying to sneakily assign required reading for the class. For now, though, it's just speculation.
What's Next for DCU?
Gunn's DCU is barely out of the starting blocks: Lanterns and Supergirl have only just dropped, and there’s a full slate on the way. The next film up is Clayface, with Tom Rhys Harries cast as the shapeshifting villain — that's due to hit cinemas 23rd October, 2026.
Clayface lands in UK cinemas 23 October 2026.
After that, David Corenswet will be back in the cape for the big Superman follow-up, Man of Tomorrow, which opens on 9th July 2027. Both films are part of this first DCU chapter, bizarrely titled 'Gods and Monsters'.
If television's more your speed, HBO Max is rolling out another series: The People v. Gorilla Grodd. It's a mockumentary (yes, really) and Skyler Gisondo returns as Jimmy Olsen — a holdover from Gunn's 2025 Superman. Add that to Lanterns, Creature Commandos, and Peacemaker, and the DCU's TV branch is, if nothing else, eclectic.