With Superman finally in theaters, Warner Bros. is putting serious weight behind its rebooted DC Universe. A new report from The Wall Street Journal pulls back the curtain on what’s been happening behind the scenes—both the fresh strategy guiding the franchise forward and the awkward missteps that came before it.
First off, the studio’s expectations are clear. Executives want Superman to cross the $500 million mark globally. That’s a more grounded target than the previously rumored $700 million, and not unreasonable considering the film’s $225 million budget. That modest spend was partly due to casting mostly lesser-known actors, including David Corenswet as Clark Kent. Early projections suggest a domestic opening of over $125 million, a strong sign that audiences are on board.
The Wall Street Journal piece also sheds light on James Gunn’s broader plans. Along with co-CEO Peter Safran, Gunn is considering expanding the DCU through spinoff series for characters like Mister Terrific and Jimmy Olsen. These would help flesh out the world they’re building, similar to how Marvel has used Disney+ to give supporting characters their moment.
But for every forward-facing plan, there’s a reminder of what didn’t work. After the crash of 2017’s Justice League, Warner Bros. made a surprising move: they reportedly met with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige to discuss him jumping ship. That conversation fizzled out quickly, but it shows how lost WB felt at the time.
One of the more frustrating moments in recent DC history comes with the Ta-Nehisi Coates and J.J. Abrams Black Superman project. Announced in 2021, the film was set to focus on a version of Superman during the civil rights era. But by 2022, new leadership under David Zaslav reportedly dismissed the script as “too woke.” The project never announced a lead actor or director and now sits in limbo. Gunn has said the story could still be told as an Elseworlds tale, like Joker or The Batman, which sit outside the main DCU continuity.
As it stands, the next few years are packed. Here’s what’s on the slate:
- Peacemaker Season 2 hits HBO Max in August 2025, bringing back John Cena and introducing Frank Grillo’s Rick Flag, Sr.
- Supergirl, starring House of the Dragon’s Milly Alcock, is slated for June 2026.
- Gunn and Safran are aiming for two live-action movies and one animated project each year, in addition to ongoing TV shows on Max.
Also in the works? A new Justice League film. Gunn has already hinted that some version of the team-up is coming. With the reset in motion, the hope is this time it’ll stick.
The DCU is far from settled, but Superman is the studio’s clean slate. Whether this reboot becomes a foundation or another footnote depends on what comes next—but for now, it feels like DC has a real shot.
Sources:
Wall Street Journal
gfpods.com 
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