DC Studios, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery, has been struggling to create a successful superhero franchise. Several films have failed to perform well at the box office, and the studio is now trying to create its own shared universe involving iconic characters like Batman and Superman. However, their previous attempts at tying their characters together through multiple films and shows have failed. The solution to their problems is to create character-specific franchises that adhere to one filmmaker’s vision, not a TV-style writers room. DC should let its heroes fly solo.
The Success of Solo Hero Films
DC has had success with solo hero films in the past. Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy was a well-reviewed box office juggernaut. Additionally, 2017’s “Wonder Woman” and 2018’s “Aquaman” focused mainly on their title characters and achieved significant financial success. Todd Phillips’ “Joker” and Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” were both financial and critical successes. Neither movie is connected to an extended universe.
DC’s Superhero-Saturated Moviegoing Audience
DC’s cinematic universe has been all over the place, and “The Flash” might be the most intense comic book movie pop quiz. It’s jam-packed with cameos from past DC movies and shows. Even the most dedicated fan would struggle to keep up with everything that’s going on. To understand all the gags, you have to be really into the DC universe, and that’s not a sustainable strategy.
Even the Marvel Cinematic Universe model has tripped up at times. Disney CEO Bob Iger himself has suggested that the studio was going to the well too often with certain characters, after the fourth Thor film and third Ant-Man installment underwhelmed at the box office.
DC’s Future
DC needs to rethink its strategy and focus on creating character-specific franchises that adhere to one filmmaker’s vision. DC needs to let its heroes fly solo, as they have done successfully in the past. DC should learn from Marvel’s mistakes and avoid overwhelming its audience with too much interconnected content.
James Gunn, DC Studios co-CEO, is the right person to lead DC towards a successful future. Gunn has already worked with DC, directing “The Suicide Squad” and its companion series, “Peacemaker.” Gunn is set to direct “Superman: Legacy” due in 2025, which is intended to usher in the new DC shared universe. However, there is still time for him to reconsider his approach and let the Man of Steel – and all the other DC heroes – be super on their own.
DC’s strategy needs to change if it wants to create a successful superhero franchise. The studio needs to focus on creating character-specific franchises that adhere to one filmmaker’s vision. It’s time for DC to let its heroes fly solo and learn from Marvel’s mistakes. James Gunn is the right person to lead DC towards a successful future, but he needs to reconsider his approach and let the Man of Steel – and all the other DC heroes – be super on their own.
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