The Mess that is the DC movieverse

First of all, I want to be completely honest: I am a huge DC fan. Batman is my favorite character of them all. But I can also step back and admit when things are off.

James Gunn and Peter Safran had a plan. Whether that plan was working or not is a matter of opinion, but, to be fair, there was at least a plan. The beginning was a bit abrupt and strange, especially with the whole Henry Cavill returning as Superman... and then not returning. There was the recasting of characters from the previous iteration, the last Aquaman becoming the new Lobo, and several other decisions that perhaps could have been handled more smoothly.

But I appreciated that Gunn at least kept some of the outliers and gave them an appropriate place within the DC Universe: DC Elseworlds.

And now... what?

There was at least some sort of plan being set in motion. We had an idea of what could be ahead of us: a planned continuation of the Superman story, a Batman and Robin project, Swamp Thing—which, if it was going to take its own individual approach similar to what was done with Clayface, could have been something special—The Batman Part II as an Elseworlds film, and more.

Now, we are seemingly being told that Gunn and Safran are out and Latchan is in—a guy who apparently wants to make sure his grandma is on board with the superhero films he makes. 1

I can't help but say it: I might just stick with what has already been done and rewatch those movies... or stay with Marvel for now. Because DC, under that kind of leadership, seems to be completely forgetting that its unique touch comes from its rawness, its darkness, and its gritty potential.

It just feels like the Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount/Skydance merger is not going to be what the people behind this monopoly were selling us. But, to be fair, who was expecting complete honesty from them?

As a DC and Batman fan, I am disappointed—and honestly, not very hopeful.

Maybe Marvel will continue doing what it has been doing and keep exploring the grittier and darker side of the superhero genre, something it has already shown itself capable of. I'm looking at you, Logan, the Deadpool films, Blade, and even some of the more balanced films that understood superheroes aren't always rainbows and butterflies, such as Thunderbolts, Civil War, and Infinity War.

Or maybe I'll continue looking outside the Big Two. There has been some great work there as well: The Crow (the original film from the '90s)—Chronicle, Kick-Ass, Brightburn (basically a horror version of Superman), Hellboy, Kingsman, Spawn, and more.

I wanted more from DC, and I was hopeful that it was in the cards. But now, I might just leave superhero films to Marvel and the outsiders.

Maybe The Batman Part II will still come our way, and hopefully, it will get the chance to close out its storyline. Because, honestly, I don't know if someone's grandmother would appreciate just how dark this Batman can get.

But I did.

Then again, I'm not some big executive looking for approval in all the wrong places.