DC's Riskiest Universe Could Return In A Completely Unexpected Way

14 hours ago 4

Patrik Walker is an Emmy Award–winning writer who covers all things Comics & Superheroes. His work can also be found at the Dallas Cowboys, The Sporting News, and CBS Sports, among other outlets. One of the most respected names in his field, he is also a diehard enthusiast of all things comics, anime, gaming and movies — thriving in spaces where discussions involving those or similar topics reign supreme.

The Snyderverse is ... back? Well, maybe one day, but not in the same way Zack Snyder has his most adoring fans envisioning. From his strategic placement of digital breadcrumbs via social media posts that often include not-so-subtle (read: passive-aggressive) messaging, it's not hard to see what Snyder wants: Warner Bros. to reinstate some sort of continuity to the DCEU so that he can have "many more stories together" with his followers.

Is it possible Snyder gets his wish? Yes. Will it be some sort of magical resumption of the now-defunct cinematic DCEU? The answer to that question is as close to "not a chance" as it could possibly get without crossing the dreaded line that Snyder's famed cinematographer himself won't even cross:

"Never say never."

Let's do a temperature check on that cadaver, though. For one, no, Netflix doesn't plan on ousting James Gunn and Peter Safran — having not only stated they won't make changes but, to double down on that promise, it's reported that Gunn and Safran have actually signed a contract extension to continue the DCU plans.

That's a calendar of events headlined by the upcoming Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, the sequel to 2025's Superman, namely, Superman: Man of Tomorrow, the Lanterns series and the Clayface movie; and then there's the Elseworlds universe overseen by Gunn, where Matt Reeves is working his magic for The Batman Part II where, hell, they've even convinced a Star Wars mastermind to sign on, and development on Season 2 of The Penguin for HBO Max has now officially begun.

Yup, that body's still cold, but maybe the Snyderverse should stop trying to resuscitate that corpse and, instead, focus on the living, breathing possibility staring them directly in the face.

An Animated Snyderverse Is the Answer

Geez, having chosen to use that panel as the image for this subheader (oops, a fourth-wall break!), only stokes the fires to see what a Snyderverse (Zack) Justice League continuum would look like. It's truly the only path to be taken here because, as stated, Netflix is out on the live-action version of Zack Snyder's DCEU and, should Paramount's hostile bid of $108 billion actually work, you could probably then go ahead and say the forbidden word regarding its chances: "never".

But for as well-known as DC Comics is in the animated realm, arguably having always had a leg up on Marvel Comics in that arena, Zack Snyder could truly cook with comic books, graphic novels and/or animated series for HBO Max. With Gunn having poached Jason Momoa for the DCU (he will bring Lobo to life for audiences), Gal Gadot and her Wonder Woman director focused on moving forward, like Ben Affleck, outside the superhero realm, Ezra Miller and Amber Heard are both still marred by personal controversies and Henry Cavill, well, he'd probably just as well spit on Warner Bros. than to let them humiliate him again — the DCEU as we all know it is dead and gone.

So maybe it's time to usher in the DCEU we now deserve, and let Snyder continue telling his stories without starting some sort of unnecessary civil war with Gunn. Fans deserve both. Fans deserve it all.