James Gunn Reveals 3 Stars Who Are Keeping Their Roles in the New DC Universe

Now that the writer’s strike has officially ended, filmmakers, studio bosses, and more will be able to speak a lot more freely and enthusiastically about upcoming projects. (Negotiations to end the actor’s strike will resume on October 2.) One of those individuals who was ready to give some updates on future projects was James Gunn, the co-chief of DC Studios, who is currently in pre-production in Superman: Legacy, the first big film to be released under the new DC Universe banner he and co-chief Peter Safran have unveiled.

Gunn gave some much-wanted updates and clarifications on Threads on Wednesday to fans eager to know more about the new DCU. Some of these questions were about which actors from DC projects of the past would be keeping their roles in the new DCU.

Gunn clarified that the first project that will officially fall under the DCU banner is Creature Commandos, an animated series that will air on Max that tracks a group of military superhumans made up of a human leader, Frankenstein’s monster, the Bride of Frankenstein, a werewolf, and more.

“Nothing is canon until Creature Commandos next year — a sort of aperitif to the DCU — & then a deeper dive into the universe with Superman: Legacy after that,” Gunn answered on Threads. “It’s a very human drive to want to understand everything all the time, but I think its okay to be confused on what’s happening in the DCU since no one has seen anything from the DCU yet.”

Gunn then added an important caveat about who will be playing whom in the DCU. “And, yes, some actors will be playing characters they’ve played in other stories & some plot points might be consistent with plot points from the dozens of films, shows & animated projects that have come from DC in the past. But nothing is canon until CC and Legacy.”

One of those performers from the former DC who will be keeping their roles is Viola Davis, who will continue to play Amanda Waller, both in Creature Commandos and in her own upcoming live-action series Waller. Davis is joined in Creature Commandos by David Harbour (Frankenstein’s monster), Frank Grillo (Rick Flag Sr.), Maria Bakalova (Ilana Rostovic), Alan Tudyk (Doctor Phosphorus), Zoe Chao (Nina Mazursky), and more.

A Blue Beetle fan wanted to know if the film, which starred Xolo Maridueña as a recent college grad who comes into contact with an alien scarab and becomes the titular superhero, would be a part of Gunn’s DCU. “Xolo Maridueña will continue playing Blue Beetle in the DCU, as Viola Davis will Amanda Waller, and John Cena will Peacemaker,” Gunn replied. 

So, there’s a bit of clarity on how the DCU is shaping up in the near term. We still have one more project from the pre-Gunn and Safran era of DC Studios coming our way, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, which premieres on December 20.

For more on all things DC Studios, check out these stories:

First “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” Teaser Reveals Black Manta’s Revenge Plan

“Blue Beetle”: A Superhero Odyssey Infused With Latinx Culture and Family Bonds

James Gunn Clarifies What “Superman: Legacy” Will Be

Featured image: HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 15: James Gunn, Co-Chairman & CEO, DC Studios, attends the Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Studios “Blue Beetle” Los Angeles Special Screening at TCL Chinese Theatre on August 15, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Warner Bros and DC Films)