The DCEU struggled to take off, and a big part of why it failed likely comes down to one issue that was highlighted by David S. Goyer, the screenwriter for Man of Steel. Now, as the DCU begins to take shape, it’s worth looking back at what went right, and what went wrong for the DCEU. Following the incredible success and growth of the MCU between 2008 and 2013, Warner Bros. and DC were anxious to get in on the superhero hype.

However, the DCEU was riddled with flaws, and the disorganized approach to storytelling eventually saw the entire house of cards fall down. However, while the DCEU managed to eke out 16 movies from 2013 to 2023, the foundations that this universe was built on were never properly set in place. And this appears to be the point that Goyer was making when he talked about how the DCEU should approach storytelling, specifically with their central hero, Superman.

Man Of Steel’s Sequel Was A Hoped For DCEU Project That Never Ended Up Happening

Man Of Steel 2 Never Made It Out Of Development Hell

In 2013, Henry Cavill’s Superman made huge waves and audiences went crazy for Cavill as the Man of Tomorrow. In addition, the approach of the DCEU was much darker, more gritty, and clearly distinct from what was on offer in other cinematic universes at the time. While Man of Steel wasn’t an enormous box office hit, it did prove that there was an appeтιтe for the DC Comics characters to share a universe on the big screen.

And following the debut of Superman, the DCEU was eager to keep expanding and pushing the universe into new directions, including creating a Man of Steel sequel starring Cavill. However, due to the studios’ eager approach, they ended up fast tracking their crossover movie, and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was released as the next movie in the lineup in 2016. Unfortunately, this production and many other delays and issues behind the scenes delayed the project until it ultimately evaporated.

Looking Back Now, I Think David S. Goyer Was Right About Wanting To “Hold On” & Take A Methodical Approach With The DCEU

The DCEU Had More Potential Than Sense

However, David S. Goyer clearly understood that there was an alternative path to building the DCEU that didn’t require rushing. While DC was a few steps behind the MCU, the desire to compete became an overwhelming burden that pushed them to try to expand too quickly, without a proper foundation, and a lack of depth and development for the characters. As Goyer stated in an interview on the Happy Sad Confused Podcast:

“I remember at one point the person that was running Warner Bros. at the time had this release they had pitched like, ‘It’s 20 movies over the next 10 years!’ But none of them had been written yet! It was just so crazy how much architecture was being built on air. For me, some of that stuff that was going on at that time, it was like, this is not how you build a house.”

In reality, they did end up getting pretty close with 16 movies in 10 years, but the lack of thought infected the entire DCEU. Instead of having a carefully designed universe, the DCEU felt aimless, with delays, pushbacks, and a lack of coherency behind stories. Of course, some of these issues came through uncontrollable forces, but without any concrete plan in the first place, the DCEU never really stood a chance at success.

How A Man Of Steel 2 Movie Could Have Helped The DCEU Better Than Batman V Superman Happening As Early As It Did

The Structure Of The DCEU Was All Wrong

While the DCEU and MCU are two entirely different worlds, there were some things that the MCU got right from the start that the DCEU should have paid attention to. Before bringing heroes together in The Avengers in 2012, the MCU spent four years exploring the universe and its heroes. This also included introducing three core heroes, and two movies about Tony Stark. While the DCEU would undoubtedly have benefited from a similar approach, even just including a Man of Steel sequel could have mᴀssively improved the storytelling and progression throughout the DCEU.

Man of Steel 2 could have seen Superman deal with the grief of losing his father, being forced to kill Zod, and becoming a public-facing hero. Meanwhile, it could have showcased how his journey as a hero progresses, and if he was able to become a symbol of hope and humanity despite his alien origins. Man of Steel 2 would have been a huge step forward for the DCEU, and a much better sequel than Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Upcoming DC Movie Releases

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  Superman

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  The Batman Part II

  
  
  
  

  
  

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