James Gunn’s latest DC Universe comments have seemingly pointed towards the franchise’s first Batman and Superman movie being the polar opposite of the DCEU’s. As Chapter One of the DC Universe gets underway, teases about the future of the brand’s biggest characters are already being found. Of course, July 2025 will see the release of James Gunn’s Superman movie, with Easter eggs from Creature Commandos and a whole teaser trailer hinting at the future of Metropolis in the fledgling franchise.
Where Batman is concerned, the character had his first official DCU appearance in Creature Commandos episode 6’s ending. Although vague in nature, Batman’s first appearance confirmed his DCU history with a character like Doctor Phosphorous and led James Gunn to comment about the future of the Caped Crusader. Not only do Gunn’s DCU Batman comments raise excitement about the character’s first official debut, but they may also have hinted that the franchise’s first crossover between the Son of Krypton and The Dark Knight could be a complete reversal of the DCEU’s.
James Gunn Has Already Hinted At A Batman & Superman Crossover Two Times
A Batman & Superman Crossover Is Surely More Like Than Not
Firstly, it is worth exploring the recent comments from Gunn – as well as those from some time ago – that hint a Batman and Superman crossover in the DCU may come sooner rather than later. After the Batman Easter egg in Creature Commandos episode 6, Gunn took to the internet to explore the first official appearance of Bruce Wayne in the franchise. Gunn appeared on Rotten Tomatoes TV and was asked at length about the DCU’s Batman, from whether the cameo was intentionally vague to what the future looks like for The Dark Knight.
Gunn remained expectedly coy about the character, stating that he did not commit to any design choices during Creature Commandos on purpose. However, Gunn goes on to explain how much he loves the character of Batman and how he cannot wait for audiences to see him and Superman in the DCU’s future. Gunn then makes an interesting comment that he similarly cannot wait for fans to see Batman and Superman together, teasing that a team-up between the two is more than possible.
This comes a few months after another tease of this possibility by Gunn. In September 2024, Gunn posted an Instagram image of Batman, Superman, and Robin to celebrate Labor Day, which reads “Have the World’s Finest Labor Day!” When asked in the comments about what a Batman and Superman team-up movie would be called in the DCU, Gunn wasted no time in responding bluntly with “World’s Finest.” This began the chatter of such a movie happening in the DCU, with Gunn’s recent comments after Batman’s debut adding fuel to the rumor-based fire.
A DCU Batman & Superman Team-Up Looks Set To Be The Exact Opposite Of The DCEU’s FirstCrossover Story
The DCU Will Reverse What The DCEU Did With Batman & Superman
The possibility of a Batman and Superman team-up in the DCU naturally calls to mind the same situation in the DCEU from 2016. Interestingly though, Gunn’s previous teases prove that should a DCU crossover between the two icons happen, it will be very different from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. For one, the hint at a “World’s Finest” movie, taken from an iconic run of DC Comics in which Batman and Superman teamed up against all kinds of threats, proves that the DCU’s first crossover would not feature the characters fighting against one another.
A “World’s Finest” movie would be different from BvS as it will likely capitalize on the DCU’s notion that superheroes already exist…
The DCEU’s first depiction of the relationship between Batman and Superman was one of antagonism, yet it seems the DCU will reverse this. Secondly, a “World’s Finest” movie would be different from BvS as it will likely capitalize on the DCU’s notion that superheroes already exist. The DCEU stumbled at this hurdle by wasting unnecessary time setting up heroes like Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg, and The Flash for a Justice League movie. Where the DCU is concerned, these heroes are likely to already exist, just like Batman, Superman, Hawkgirl, Mr. Terrific, and the Green Lanterns do, to name a few.
A “World’s Finest” Movie Would Emphasize Two Big Advantages Of The DCU
Beyond the benefit of having Batman and Superman be friends rather than enemies from the off, a “World’s Finest” movie would emphasize two other big benefits of the DCU as a franchise. The first is that this relationship between Superman and Batman will better convey the sense of hope and optimism that Gunn is crafting around both the DCU as a whole and the upcoming Superman movie. Rather than leaning into the dour nature of a fight between the heroes, the DCU’s advantageous optimism will be highlighted via upcoming movies depicting their alliance instead.
The second advantage of the DCU that will be highlighted in a “World’s Finest” movie has already been somewhat alluded to: the interconnectivity of the franchise. This interconnectivity that the DCU promises to have is a direct result of James Gunn’s singular vision as the head of DC Studios. The DCEU suffered with multiple creatives and studio heads trying to enact their vision after Snyder departed from the franchise, meaning a core relationship of the universe – Batman and Superman – was barely focused on in 10 years. Via a “World’s Finest” movie in the DCU, the new franchise can rectify this.
Upcoming DC Movie Releases
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Superman
- Release Date
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July 11, 2025
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Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow
- Release Date
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June 26, 2026
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The Batman Part II
- Release Date
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October 1, 2027
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