Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos offered an early hint at how the company may handle DC content after the WBD deal closes — and it didn’t include James Gunn, the DCU, or any of Gunn’s shows.
Sarandos told investors they should “think about ways that you can explore all these IP universes beyond that of just making tentpole movies,” pointing to The Penguin as the model: “Examples would be some of the earlier moves from the DC universe for things like Penguin has turned into great television.”
No Mention of Gunn’s DCU Projects
Notably absent from Sarandos’ comments:
- Gunn
- The DCU
- Creature Commandos
- Peacemaker
It’s a noticeable omission given Gunn has positioned his DCU as the future of the brand. But Netflix’s CEO chose to highlight a Matt Reeves–adjacent series instead, not anything from Gunn’s slate.
It also likely explains that PR puff piece released by Bloomberg where Gunn and Safran sound like they are trying to save their jobs.
Weak Performance Undercuts Gunn’s Shows
Creature Commandos failed to land on the Nielsen charts. Peacemaker Season 2 only charted with its finale — despite fan backlash — and the viewership dropped nearly 40%, with the series effectively canceled.
Despite what Gunn tries to spin to his fanbase, if Peacemaker was a success, there would have been a Season 3.
Netflix spotlighting Penguin over Gunn’s work signals where the streamer may see real value in DC: established, grounded projects tied to proven filmmakers, not Gunn’s struggling DCU.
