James Gunn’s Recent Comments About a Difficult DCU Movie Have Us Scared He’s Going to Remove It From the Slate

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James Gunn’s upcoming DCU films are set to be a major make-or-break moment for DC’s filmography. With the previous DCEU films having struggled to establish themselves against the MCU, as well as the polarizing and mixed reception that Zack Snyder’s brand of storytelling brought to DC’s iconic heroes, the idea of DC clearing the table and starting over fresh has been met with both praise and criticism. For some, getting someone new behind the wheel can be the best way for DC to finally prove that it can release genre-defining superhero movies; for others, having weathered 2022’s Black Adam, 2023’s Shazam! Fury of the Gods and The Flash, the entire prospect is a giant waste of time.

Regardless of what some people may think about it, James Gunn’s new vision for DC’s films is bold, brave, and full of danger. While his Superman trailer has inspired hope in many, there are still questions surrounding the DCU’s other planned films. Chief among these planned films is The Authority, a movie based on the former WildStorm characters. The Authority may be one of Gunn’s toughest sells due to their relative obscurity amongst casual moviegoers, their extremely violent dispositions, and how they could possibly fit into the first phase of the new DCU. If he can pull it off, The Authority could be one of DC’s biggest surprise hits. Unfortunately, recent comments make it seem like The Authority isn’t the priority it was when it was announced.

They Rolled Their Sleeves Up and Got to Work

The Authority is a collective of superheroes that do whatever it takes to keep the world safe, even if it means killing the villains they fight. The original team of characters in The Authority were Jenny Sparks, a woman who could control and become electricity who also worked for StormWatch.

That team included herself along with Jack Hawksmoor, a man who was attuned to cities and could draw power from them; Swift, a woman with wings and talons who could fly; Shaman, a powerful magic user with the power of all the previous Shamans before him; Engineer, a woman infused with nanotechnology with potent technological powers; Midnighter, an expert combatant who could see his opponents future moves; and Apollo, a super powerful being energized by the sun.

The Authority was unique for its time because, unlike the Justice League or the Avengers, they had no qualms about killing their foes. The series was markedly mature and set to rock the established conventions of popular superhero comics. Another unique quality of The Authority was the fact that major characters could and did die, something not often seen in superhero comics. Jenny Sparks herself met a sudden and unfortunate end at the culmination of the first volume of stories. The Authority was the mature and cutting-edge Y2K answer to the tired superheroes of yesteryear, and it had no problems proving it.

WildStorm Was Formally Folded Into DC Continuity in 2011

The Authority was originally published in the pages of WildStorm, an imprint of Image Comics that was created by Jim Lee. As such, The Authority had no direct connections with DC Comics or any of their characters upon their initial release.

In 1998, Jim Lee sold WildStorm to DC Comics due to a mixture of personal and professional reasons, a move that ultimately turned out to be beneficial for both parties. For years, under the umbrella of DC Comics, WildStorm and all its respective characters existed independently from DC’s characters.

Over the years, characters such as Midnighter and Apollo have starred in their own series, further integrating The Authority into mainstream DC stories. The Authority have enjoyed their new home in DC alongside other former WildStorm characters like Grifter, Voodoo, and the WildC.A.T.S.

The 2021 event WarWorld Saga (by Philip Kennedy Johnson, Grant Morrison, Sami Basri, Adriana Melo, and Miguel Mendonca) was a very well-received series that starred The Authority as supporting characters for Superman. It’s been a long path since their turn-of-the-millennium debut, but The Authority are still here and are still fighting the good fight.

James Gunn Has Plans to Release a Full-Length Authority Film In His Upcoming DCU – Eventually

It’s a Wild Move, But It Could Work Well If Done Properly

It’s still a very strange decision for James Gunn to make in giving The Authority their own feature film. But if there’s ever been something that has defined Gunn’s MO in superhero filmmaking, it’s taking obscure characters and making them household names. For evidence, look no further than what he accomplished with The Guardians of the Galaxy, a Marvel team that had existed in moderate obscurity for years. Now, people have Baby Groot tattoos and a AAA PS5 video game that stars them front and center.

A big question that still floats around Gunn’s upcoming film is whether it’s still a priority for him. With the release of his new Superman trailer, all eyes and thoughts are on the Man of Steel. The reason for this is very simple: if Superman fails, there’s very little chance of the new DCU succeeding. Fans have already watched DC struggle and stumble for twelve years trying to create a cinematic universe; if DC’s flagship character can’t stick this new landing, Gunn will find himself in a very tight spot.

It would make sense for Gunn to shift his attention to Superman and the films that will follow it rather than a film that still hasn’t received an official release date. It’s especially concerning considering how many other top-tier DC characters he could have focused on for the first major phase of his brand-new cinematic universe, like Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and other JLA heavy hitters. These characters may have already been featured in the prior DCEU, but fans would love to see them done right.

But, as Gunn has recently stated, his plans for The Authority are currently on hold. This is not due to his desire to scrap the project but simply because he and Peter Safran, the DCU’s other studio head, want to “recalibrate” their production slate. This could mean that Gunn wants to ensure that whatever he includes in Superman will have a direct and meaningful impact and place in later films, or it could mean that there are larger issues to straighten out.

The MCU post-Endgame has been wobbly and directionless, so for Gunn and DC to take notes on how to best establish a cohesive cinematic universe is a top priority for them, especially as so much rests on their success. The Authority isn’t exactly the most famous of superhero teams, and as their story is so tonally different from the rest of DC, it’s understandable why Gunn would want to cool their jets a bit.

We Really Need To See Jenny Sparks on the Big Screen

James Gunn stated that The Authority will have ties to Superman, which will help introduce them into the new DCU. How exactly they will have a relationship with Superman remains to be seen. However, the presence of the Engineer in the film could tease that character’s eventual evolution into a heroic member of The Authority.

Gunn has stated that The Authority’s film is one of his “real passion projects,” which lends some optimism to the level of care he’ll give it. With the sheer amount of love and attention that seems to be going into the new DC films, with the amazing casting of Jason Mamoa as Lobo in the upcoming Supergirl movie as a prime example, there are certainly reasons to be excited and optimistic.

Late last year, Gunn announced that the script for The Authority was already in development, although there hasn’t been much information since it was moved to the back burner. It’s heartening to know that the DCU’s future projects are already being given such attention well in advance, but as they are tricky acts to pull off, it remains to be seen if they’ll be worth it in the end.

Gunn worked wonders with The Guardians of the Galaxy, The Suicide Squad, Peacemaker, and Creature Commandos. His ability to take characters from the wayside and reshape them into heavy-hitting A-listers is uncanny, so here’s hoping he gives The Authority the movie that they deserve.

“}]] The Authority could be the DCU’s biggest surprise smash hit, but recent reports have some fans questioning whether they will ever see it happen.  Read More