DC Comics and Marvel may be edging closer to their first live-action crossover, driven by renewed cooperation between creators and the power of the multiverse. Decades after Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man thrilled fans in the 1970s, the two publishing giants appear to be laying the groundwork for something even bigger.
New one-shot comicbook issues, including DC/Marvel: Batman/Deadpool and Marvel/DC: Spider-Man/Superman, are reigniting talk of a shared cinematic future. With upcoming comic drops on April 22, 2026, following a wave of beloved fan-favorite crossovers like JLA/Avengers and Uncanny X-Men and The New Teen Titans. Each issue brings together iconic heroes such as Batman and Deadpool, Superman and Spider-Man, Static and Ms. Marvel, and Green Arrow and Daredevil. Writers Mark Waid and artists like Dan Mora are leading this renewed collaboration that many see as a major test before the studios move beyond print.
DC’s live-action universe, still fresh under co-CEO James Gunn, has already teased multiverse travel in Peacemaker Season 2, where interdimensional doors played a role in the storyline. Gunn told Variety he wanted Deadpool to appear briefly, saying, “I wanted them to open the door and see Deadpool in a room. I talked to Ryan Reynolds about it. He wanted to do it.”
Marvel, meanwhile, continues to build its multiverse saga through Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. The strategy brings back Fox’s X-Men and opens the door for new connections. After years of declining box office numbers since Avengers: Endgame, a crossover could restore momentum and recapture fan excitement. Last year, Superman earned more tickets than Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, signaling a noticeable shift in audience attention.
Gunn seems open to the idea. Speaking with Empire in 2023, he said, “I’m certain that’s more likely now that I’m in charge. Who knows? That’s many years away, though. I think we have to establish what we’re doing first.” Even with no formal plans, the idea carries real weight inside both studios. For Disney’s Kevin Feige, a large-scale event involving the Justice League and the Avengers might be the boldest move left on the table.
In the 1990s, DC vs. Marvel comic books temporarily revived a struggling industry. Today, a film version could do much the same for franchises competing for control of the modern entertainment market. With Tom Holland’s Spider-Man and David Corenswet’s Superman leading their respective franchises, the timing seems perfect. Crossovers have always been fan fantasies. Now, that fantasy looks less like wishful thinking and more like a business inevitability.
Whether it happens soon or years from now, a DC/Marvel crossover would reshape Hollywood’s superhero landscapes. Both studios need a win, and fans are ready for a new kind of shared universe. What once felt impossible may be only one multiversal doorway away.
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