James Gunn Gives New Update On What Is & Is Not DCU Canon From The DCEU

James Gunn gives a new clarification on what is regarded as canon to the DC Universe from the old DCEU franchise. Now that Gunn’s DCU franchise is finally underway, DC Studios is rebooting the majority of characters who were featured in the DCEU timeline. However, with various elements still carrying over from the DCEU era, some fans are curious about how much of the DCU is regarded as a reboot.

With the completion of Creature Commandos season 1, there have been some reveals that indicate what the DC Universe is and isn’t changing from the DCEU timeline. While this will continue to be explored with Superman and Peacemaker season 2, Gunn has offered some more clarity on how the DCEU and DCU connect.

Short answer: Only Creature Commandos forward is pure canon. For instance, Rick Flag Jr was killed because we heard Rick Flag Sr talking about it in Creature Commandos, not because we saw it in The Suicide Squad. (1/2)
— James Gunn (@jamesgunn.bsky.social) 2025-01-20T17:41:49.971Z

A fan asked Gunn recently on Bluesky if The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker season 1 are fully DCU canon “because most plot points in them were either referenced or followed up on in CC?” Gunn gave two explanations for this, with his “short answer” being that: “Only Creature Commandos forward is pure canon. For instance, Rick Flag Jr was killed because we heard Rick Flag Sr talking about it in Creature Commandos, not because we saw it in The Suicide Squad.”

Long answer: Only CC forward is pure canon; Peacemaker is almost entirely consistent with that canon other than the Justice League; The Suicide Squad has a lot of consistencies but I think of it as an imperfect memory. (2/2)
— James Gunn (@jamesgunn.bsky.social) 2025-01-20T17:42:03.366Z

Gunn also gave a “long answer” by declaring that while Creature Commandos “forward is pure canon,” the Peacemaker TV show “is almost entirely consistent with that canon other than the Justice League.” The DC Studios co-CEO also stressed that “The Suicide Squad has a lot of consistencies but I think of it as an imperfect memory.”

What James Gunn’s DCU Canon Comments Mean For The New Franchise

Based on Gunn’s latest DCU canon explanation, it’s worth looking at this new franchise and the DCEU from a multiverse standpoint, with these operating as two unique Earths. As established in other DC live-action properties, many universes sometimes play out in the same way but with some significant differences, while other Earths are flipped on their heads altogether. While the major players like the Justice League are getting completely reimagined, properties like Creature Commandos, Peacemaker season 2, and the animated Blue Beetle TV show fit perfectly with the doppelgänger concept.

In the DCU’s Earth, Rick Flag Jr. can have also killed by Peacemaker, but perhaps not under the exact same circumstances as he was in The Suicide Squad. While his DCEU doppelgänger died facing Peacemaker, the new season of the Max show may reveal that his death played out differently in this reality. Ultimately, the points where the DCEU movie timeline mirrors the DCU should be easy to spot, as they will seemingly be explicitly addressed – and certain tweaks may be made as the DC Universe discusses these plot points.

Our Take On James Gunn’s DCU Canon Comments

From everything Gunn has revealed thus far about the DCU canon, it will be fascinating to follow whatever new changes are being implemented into this universe, especially with the arrival of Peacemaker season 2. It’s also possible that upcoming spinoff shows like Waller – with Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller being another DCEU player who came over to the DC Universe in Creature Commandos season 1 – will showcase how the DCU tackles bringing characters and their stories from one universe to another. But for now, the world will have to wait and see how the DCU will differ from the DCEU timeline.