In the world of comic books and superheroes, Marvel and DC have been long-standing rivals since the inception of Marvel Comics in the early 1960s. Every move made by one was met with a countermove from the other, creating a continuous cycle of competition.
It comes as no surprise, then, that David Zaslav, the newly-appointed head of Warner Bros, would seek to replicate the success of Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Numerous studios have attempted to establish their own cinematic universes, with varying degrees of triumph.
While some, like The Conjuring franchise, have thrived, others, such as the ill-fated Dark Universe, have faltered under the spotlight. Unfortunately, WB’s endeavors to construct a shared universe based on Zack Snyder’s films, including “Man of Steel” and “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” commonly referred to as the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), fell into the latter category.
The critical and financial failure of 2017’s “Justice League” effectively put an end to the SnyderVerse, aside from a non-canon version released on HBO Max in 2021. Additionally, unrelated projects like “The Batman” and “Joker” hinted at a departure from the shared universe concept altogether.
However, during a meeting addressing the surprising cancellation of “Batgirl,” Zaslav openly expressed WB’s intention to model their future DC movies after the MCU. Speaking to investors, he announced a reset and a restructuring of the business, with a dedicated team focused solely on DC and armed with a ten-year plan. While Zaslav refrained from revealing specific details about WB’s approach, he drew parallels to the successful structure established by former Disney Studios Chairperson Alan Horn, former Disney CEO Bob Iger, and Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige. Zaslav believes that WB can cultivate a stronger and more sustainable growth business by following a similar path.
Although DC has the potential to improve its position outside of comic books, it remains to be seen whether the company can realistically challenge Marvel on the big screen. Under Feige’s leadership, Marvel meticulously crafted a cinematic universe starting with “Iron Man,” a film centered around a relatively lesser-known hero. This strategic approach allowed Marvel to introduce new characters gradually and then spin them off into their own standalone films. It propelled Marvel to become the most popular and successful movie franchise in history. With Phase 4 nearing completion and plans already in motion for Phases 5 and 6, DC faces an arduous task if it hopes to catch up and deliver a narrative arc as grand as the MCU’s “Infinity War” and “Multiverse Sagas.”
Moreover, DC must address the perplexing state of its characters in the public consciousness. While audiences can distinguish between different portrayals of Superman and Batman by Christopher Reeve, Michael Keaton, Henry Cavill, and Ben Affleck, recent movies and TV shows have presented multiple iterations of these iconic characters concurrently. The Flash, the Joker, and others have also experienced a similar phenomenon. Additionally, DC’s association with Zack Snyder’s somber and extravagant style, which has its dedicated fan base, has polarized moviegoers due to its distinctiveness.
Zaslav’s “reset” aims to eliminate this confusion and establish a clear and cohesive brand over the next decade. To achieve this goal, he has enlisted the expertise of Alan Horn as a consultant and is actively seeking someone to fulfill the role of Kevin Feige within the DCEU. However, decisions like the cancellation of an eagerly anticipated and nearly finished film indicate a level of chaos rather than control.
Time will tell whether Zaslav can effectively navigate DC’s crisis and create a new and captivating universe. The outcome of these endeavors is likely to become apparent sooner rather than later.
