Why The DC Universe Chapter 1 Doesn’t Include Justice League

James Gunn’s vision for the DCU does not seem to prioritize the Justice League. With the merger of Warner Bros and Discovery and the establishment of DC Studios, James Gunn and Peter Safran are now responsible for shaping the future of the DCU, which is starting fresh.

Their plan encompasses movies, TV, video games, and animation, with the first part titled “Gods and Monsters”. Although the projects for “Gods and Monsters” include movies and shows featuring characters related to the Justice League, there are no Justice League projects among Gunn’s announcements.

Previously, Zack Snyder’s plans put Superman and the Justice League at the center of the DCU, but the journey to the team’s formation was plagued by problems. The 2017 Justice League movie and its subsequent “Snyder Cut” are both memorable, but have also made the Justice League a sensitive issue for DC on film. With the new DC Studios creating its own universe, any new Justice League movie will face comparisons with Zack Snyder’s Justice League. By leaving the League out of their plans, Gunn and Safran are likely trying to create some space between Snyder’s League and any new version they may create. Although Gunn’s plans do not currently include the Justice League, the picture of DC Studios’ plans is not yet complete. While this could mean that the Justice League is being saved for the very end of Chapter One, even if the team does not form until later, the League is likely to be seen in Gunn’s DCU eventually.