James Gunn Gives Update On DC Studios Movies & TV Shows To Explain 1 Key Detail After Fan Confusion: "We Didn't Think It Was Fair"

James Gunn clarifies the status of the Elseworlds brand under DC Studios now that the DC Universe has kicked off. 2025 is a big year for the DCU’s Chapter 1: “Gods and Monsters” movies and TV shows slate, but DC Studios is also still looking at raising properties based on DC outside of the main timeline. While there has been little official movement regarding these new Elseworlds projects, that doesn’t mean DC Studios isn’t actively working on how they are going to market that brand.

Gunn was asked over the weekend for some clarification on non-DCU projects like The Penguin TV show and the animated Harley Quinn series, which are now under the DC Studios umbrella. When specifically asked why there is no DC Studios fanfare connected to those shows, Gunn revealed the following:

James Gunn On Elseworlds Projects Outside The DC Universe

Gunn explained that since DC Studios “had a small hand in developing” The Penguin, it had “a different DC studios anim at the end” – and as Harley Quinn was something they inherited when DC Studios was launched, “we didn’t think it was fair to put the DC Studio fanfare on there.” James Gunn also revealed a separate Elseworlds opening is being worked on for future films and series. At the time of this story’s publication, what non-DCU property will first debut the Elseworlds opening hasn’t been clarified.

What James Gunn’s Elseworlds Update Means For DC Studios

Prior to the launch of DC Studios with Gunn and Peter Safran as the co-CEOs, the Elseworlds concept had technically been an unofficial element for Warner Bros. Discovery for several years. For the longest time, the Arrowverse franchise, animated shows like Young Justice, as well as DC films in animation, could be considered Elseworlds next to the DCEU movie timeline. However, Warner Bros. Discovery never streamlined the Elseworlds banner, which is about to change now that DC Studios is operating.

From Gunn’s latest comments, there is a big priority on making sure that general audience members will know what is part of the DCU timeline and what is officially Elseworlds. Since it can definitely be confusing for some viewers to know what is and isn’t part of the main DCU franchise, having separate openings for both the main timeline and the Elseworlds banner will help marketing a lot more for years to come. It also shows that DC Studios wants to capitalize more on the Elseworlds name, as it has been a popular part of DC Comics for several decades.

Our Take On James Gunn’s Elseworlds Update

Robert Pattinson's Bruce Wayne looking forlorn in The Batman

As Gunn and DC Studios are actively working on the Elseworlds opening, it will be exciting to see how it looks in comparison to the DCU fanfare that has been seen so far. It also remains to be seen what other Elseworlds properties are being worked on at DC Studios outside of Matt Reeves’ The Batman universe. Hopefully, more Elseworlds movies and TV shows will be announced sooner rather than later while the DCU continues to get fleshed out.