The DCU’s Brutal Death Twist Has Made Me Even More Hopeful For My Favorite DC Team & Hero’s Debut

The new DC Universe has already started, and the franchise’s first project makes my dreams of seeing Nightwing come to the universe closer to happening. I did not enjoy all DCEU movies, but the franchise did have a few exciting entries. Among my favorites were James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker. As such, I am looking forward to what Gunn can now do as not only the writer and director of projects, but also DC Studios’ overall creative chief. All of the DCU Chapter One projects look interesting, with major heroes and obscure characters as part of the lineup.

The first movie in the DCU is going to be David Corenswet’s Superman. I’ve wanted the actor to take over as the next Man of Steel ever since I watched Corenswet in Netflix’s The Politician back in 2019. Before then, the DCU has already started, thanks to Creature Commandos. The TV-MA animated series is doing a lot of firsts for DC and its new franchise, serving as the perfect project to start the DCU’s world-building efforts. Aside from introducing a new team in the form of its title monster squad, the DCU series teases that superhero squads should be coming.

A Teen Titans Movie Is Reportedly In The Works

Multiple Superhero Teams Are Likely For The DCU

The Justice League is DC’s most famous superhero team. However, it is far from the comic book giant’s only superhero squad, and after the DCEU messed up its introduction of the Justice League, the team could do with a bit of a hiatus before returning to the big screen. While fans wait to see who will play major JLA heroes like Batman, Wonder Woman, and the Flash, other superhero teams could rise in the DCU to bridge the gap. It seems like the first of them has already been revealed, though not officially.

In March, The Hollywood Reporter claimed that a Teen Titans movie was in development at DC Studios. So far, James Gunn nor DC have officially confirmed that the project is in the works. That might look negative to some, as Gunn is normally vocal on social media about the DCU’s movies and series; however, the director might simply not want to confirm the film is happening before it is in a concrete state. Gunn could have debunked the news already. The report claimed that Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow writer Ana Nogueira is penning the Teen Titans movie script.

A Teen Titans Member Is In The DCU’s First Project

The Team’s DCU Debut Gets An Exciting New Tease

While Gunn has yet to comment on the Teen Titans movie’s status, the team has recently received a positive update through the confirmation that one of its most popular members will be part of the franchise. Starfire has been confirmed as one of the DCU’s canon characters through the shared universe’s first project. The reveal came when a new Creature Commandos trailer featured Starfire and Superman’s DCU debuts. The heroes have yet to appear in James Gunn’s new animated series. However, a trailer for the remaining five episodes of Creature Commandos season 1 showed Starfire, Superman, Peacemaker, and more.

In the brief footage, it appears that the Wonder Woman villain Circe — voiced by The Witcher‘s Anya Chalotra — is showing someone a vision of a dark future. The sequence features many dead characters, with David Corenswet’s Superman on a cross, Teen Titans’ Starfire impaled, and John Cena’s Peacemaker lying dead on the floor. Other characters appear in the background, though it is hard to make out who they might be, something the full version of the sequence could make more clear. As Starfire is in Creature Commandos, I’m convinced that the Teen Titans are coming to the DCU soon.

Starfire’s DCU debut is not the only sign that points to the Teen Titans movie reports being true. Another project that has not been confirmed by Gunn, and the director even dodged commenting about when asked recently, was a reported Deathstroke and Bane movie. While the latter is not connected to the superhero team, Deathstroke happens to be the Teen Titans’ biggest villain. Gunn did previously confirm that he has plans for Slade Wilson in the DCU, which ups the chances of the villain duo appearing in a movie soon. Deathstroke would be the perfect Teen Titans movie villain.

The DCU’s Batman Corner Is Shaping Up To Be Extensive

Based on a few DCU updates, I feel positive that my favorite DC character, Nightwing, will be part of Gunn’s new DC Universe. The director had previously liked a comment on Twitter about Nightwing and Red Hood coming to the DCU, though we now have more substantial teases that Dick Grayson could appear. The new live-action Batman will debut in The Brave and the Bold. While Nightwing has yet to be confirmed for the movie, Gunn revealed that Bat-Family characters will appear. Since the film co-stars Damian Wayne, DC’s fourth male Robin, Dick Grayson should exist in the DCU.

Starfire’s confirmed DCU role is another positive nod towards Nightwing. Koriand’r is one of Grayson’s biggest love interests, and the heroes have famously been on the Teen Titans together. With the team reportedly in the DCU and Starfire already confirmed, I feel like Nightwing must have some sort of role in the Teen Titans movie. However, I don’t think he will lead the team. If Batman is on his fourth Robin, that means Bruce is likely older, and so should be Dick. That said, if Damian or Tim Drake led the Titans, Dick’s chances of appearing would still be good.

How The DCU Can Do Justice By Nightwing In Live-Action

The Hero Has Not Had The Best Time In The Medium

Nightwing is a character who desperately needs to be done right in live-action. I think both recent versions of the character in the medium faced issues. 1997’s Batman & Robin is one of the worst superhero movies of all time. It was completely unlike how the Dark Knight should be presented, and having Dick, who went by Robin but wore a Nightwing suit, in it was bad for his reputation. Then came Titans. I love Brenton Thwaites’ casting as Dick Grayson, and he was the show’s best character, but Nightwing was notably darker and more violent than he should be.

I want to see a truly light-hearted, hopeful, leader version of Nightwing in the DCU. When you add up the characters’ latest portrayals and how they should be, I see a lot of what the DCU is doing for Superman in what Nightwing needs. After the DCEU’s darker take on the Man of Steel, David Corenswet’s Superman will be more of a classic version of the hero. The Superman movie’s set videos have me excited about the character’s potential in the DCU. I hope Nightwing is treated with the same level of care and comes about as inspiring as Superman.

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