Ahead of the premiere of the animated series Creature Commandos, James Gunn has clarified that his rebooted DC Universe (DCU) currently has no Justice League—at least not yet.
This revelation raises questions about how Gunn plans to shape the future of the DCU, especially with iconic heroes like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman all being reintroduced individually.
Justice League Absent in Gunn’s DCU
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Gunn reiterated that Peacemaker Season 1 is canon in the DCU, except for a scene involving the former DCEU Justice League (featuring Jason Momoa and Ezra Miller).
“They don’t exist yet,” Gunn said, referring to the Justice League in his DCU. “But the rule is: if we mention [something from the past] in one of the new DCU shows [and movies], then it happened. So that’s the way we’re dealing with it.”
This approach suggests Gunn is prioritizing individual character arcs and world-building over immediate team-ups, allowing the DCU to grow organically, similar to Marvel’s early approach with the MCU.
What About Justice League International?
Gunn revealing there is no Justice League in the DCU is pretty interesting. It’s known he is not going to show origins for most of the characters. It seems as if his DCU has been around for decades. It’s also known Hal Jordan has been Green Lantern for years, according to the official synopsis for the Lanterns series.
With there being no DCU Justice League, that could mean the characters haven’t met. David Corenswet’s Superman may not have yet met with whoever will be playing James Gunn’s Batman in Brave and the Bold. Likewise with Wonder Woman and whoever Gunn eventually decides to form the DCU Justice League.
With no Justice League, that may also mean there is no Justice League International as some fans have theorized some of the characters making up the large parge of the Superman movie cast are a part of the JLI. However, with no JLI, theories the characters might be a part of a team from Sean Gunn’s Maxwell Lord may be correct.
Superman Leads the DCU Charge
Superman gets released July 11, 2025 and also stars Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor.
Also featured in the film includes Isabela Merced takes flight as Hawkgirl, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner’s Green Lantern, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, María Gabriela de Faría as The Engineer, and Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho.
What Does This Mean for the DCU?
Gunn’s decision to delay the Justice League suggests a long-term vision for the DCU. By focusing on solo films like Superman and creating detailed backstories for each character, Gunn is laying the foundation for future team-ups.
Fans may need to wait for a Justice League, but in the meantime, Gunn’s approach promises a rich, interconnected universe that prioritizes storytelling over spectacle.
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