Hopefully We’re Wrong, but the First DC Project of 2025 Could Be the Best We Get This Year

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After a rocky past, the DC universe is set to hit that soft reboot. The company that brought audiences a series of the world’s mightiest heroes (Batman/Superman et al.) in a mediocre succession of films is ready to start all over again. And while this red-and-black clothed psychopath has been banished to the Elseworlds, Harley Quinn may well prove to be the best DC project of the year.

Debuting in 2019, Harley Quinn is the wild and irreverent adventure of the one and only Harley Quinn. Having broken up with the Joker, Harley sets out to discover herself through impassioned acts of mischief and mayhem. Because if she can’t be at the side of the world’s greatest villain, maybe she can be the greatest villain herself. Starring Kaley Cuoco, Alan Tudyk, and Lake Bell, Harley Quinn is a fun and twisted journey that celebrates the villainous deliverance of Harley Quinn.

A Battered DC Universe Looks to Begin Again

After 10 years and 15 films, DC’s franchise of cinematic superheroes came to a disastrous end after Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. What should have been a surprise, considering the movie was the sequel to DC Comics’ highest-grossing film, 2018’s Aquaman, instead had the heartbreaking angst of a mercy kill. How could a series that made over $7 billion at the box office while featuring fan-beloved characters and pop culture icons warrant a behind-the-barn shotgun end? By the time Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom premiered, DC films had managed to successfully move their fans from passionate to apathetic.

While there may be many reasons for this turn, the declining quality of the latter of DC’s films certainly played a part. From the heights of Aquaman, the following films tumbled (Wonder Woman 1984), stumbled (Black Adam), and leaped (The Flash) into obscurity and disdain. Each new project was born in the shadow of a previous film’s failure. To the fans still hanging around, the reboot proposed by James Gunn must have brought some relief.

The first film in the new DC Universe is set to premiere this year. A Superman film, starring a not Henry Cavill, is set to premiere in theaters this July. As talented as James Gunn is as a filmmaker, the writer/director will still have to overcome the great wall of skepticism of fans and the recent history of this tainted brand to convince the viewers to buy back in. This will be no easy feat. Fans who passionately embraced the actors, characters, and films of the (now) Extended Universe will surely be wary after their previous hope was so disappointed. And was then discarded. The future of the entire series may rest on Gunn’s ability for fans to buy into this ‘hope’ once again. And to do that, an ‘okay’ Superman may not be enough.

Harley’s Takeover in Elseworlds May Prove Too High for ‘Superman’ to Leap

With Gunn’s takeover of the DC Universe, the director sidelined any project that did not fit the direction of his new universe into “DC Elseworlds.” These projects are considered separate from the shared universe of the DCU. Although a little distance will allow Gunn to continue the direction of his vision without being distracted by unrelated projects, the success of the Harley Quinn series should give the director a second look.

Released in 2019, Harley Quinn has consistently received glowing reviews from critics and audiences. On Rotten Tomatoes, the black comedy series has a 96% critical review as well as an 84% review from audiences. Critics loved the madness, raunchy humor, as well as the series’ irreverent take on the superhero genre. “Harley Quinn is the ideal show to watch after a long, hard day, especially if you want to thoroughly unwind,” noted Zofia Wijaszka of The Film Nerdette. While Rendy Jones of Paste Magazine stated, “through great writing and well-paced storytelling, this animated Gotham has become more lovingly fleshed out than any depiction to date.”

The love fest has continued for Harley Quinn in its new fifth season. Its first episode premiered on January 16 and currently has 91% of critics’ reviews. With a possible new change of scenery that allows Harley to unleash her madness on a new population, the series has found a way to stay fresh and committed to Harley’s quest to discover just how evil she can be. The series glories in its wantonness. And, perhaps more importantly, with a far more recent track record of success, Harley Quinn has the best chance to steal away this year from the too-much-to-prove Superman. Harley Quinn is available to stream on Max.

“}]] The pressure is on for ‘Superman.’  Read More