The DCU Is Already Setting Up One of DC Comics’ Strangest Teams

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The DCU is only one project, yet there’s a pretty good understanding of what DC Studios is trying to do with its franchise early on, compared to Marvel Studios’ early Marvel Cinematic Universe days. When the first Iron Man film came out, the post-credits scene teasing The Avengers was a major surprise for audiences because there was no successful superhero crossover film done before that point. Meanwhile, the DC franchise has been in Marvel’s shadow ever since, with the DC Extended Universe failing to find the consistent success the MCU has had for over a decade.

Now, Warner Bros. looks to take over the mantle of the most successful superhero franchise from Marvel Studios with the DCU. Unlike the MCU, DC Studios’ DCU is already under a microscope due to how much success Marvel Studios has had. Because of this, DC Studios is making some moves similar to Marvel Studios, and in other ways, it’s looking to set itself apart. Over the years, the MCU has introduced plenty of superhero teams, with the Thunderbolts and Fantastic Four set to be another with films out later this year. Marvel Studios didn’t release a team-up film until The Avengers, but the DCU began with one and has others in the works. Moreover, the DCU’s first film already appears to be setting up another superhero team, which could be one of the strangest to date.

Mister Terrific Will Play a Major Role in Superman

The Michael Holt version of Mister Terrific first appeared in Spectre #53, created by John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake.

Mister Terrific’s powers allow him to become invisible to technology. He also notably uses T-Spheres in the form of vehicles, weapons, and other pieces of advanced technology.

X-Men: First Class star Edi Gathegi played Mister Terrific in Superman.

James Gunn’s Superman will formally launch the DCU with the Man of Steel front and center, but he won’t be the only costume-wearing hero part of the film. In addition to Superman’s traditional supporting characters, the upcoming film will also feature the likes of Guy Gardner, Hawkgirl, Metamorpho, and Mister Terrific. Based on the looks at the film so far, it seems these heroes will make up a superhero team, which could very well be the Justice League International.

“I think it was just who I wanted to really, honestly. I love Mr. Terrific. These characters all get their moment in the sun. They all have their moments. They’re not just cameos, these are the characters. They’re supporting cast, but Mr. Terrific is the main character of those characters. He actually has a big part of the plot. And so that was fun.” — James Gunn on Mister Terrific’s role in Superman.

It’s widely theorized this superhero group will be under the control of Maxwell Lord and fall into a corporate structure similar to The Seven on The Boys. Out of the supporting DC superheroes in the film, Gunn has revealed that Mister Terrific will be the character with the most prominent role. Because of this, Superman could feature an arc for Mister Terrific that ends with him leaving the group he’s part of initially to then form another.

Who Are The Terrifics in DC Comics?

The DCU’s Superman may not explicitly feature The Terrifics or tease them, but it will already include two members of the team. Both Mister Terrific and Metamorpho are part of The Terrifics team. That means the DCU would only need to introduce Plastic Man and Phantom Girl to have the superhero foursome unite in a future project. In the comics, The Terrifics form after Mister Terrific uncovers Simon Stagg’s plan to use Metamorpho and open a portal into the Dark Multiverse. Mister Terrific enlists the help of Plastic Man to help him stop Stagg, but ultimately, the Dark Multiverse portal sucks all three heroes into it. This may not be exactly how the DCU sets up The Terrifics, but based on the first Superman teaser trailer, the film will feature Stagg Industries in some capacity.

In the Dark Multiverse, the trio of heroes cross paths with Phantom Girl, who eventually joins them to return to their Earth. While Gunn has stressed that Superman will stand on its own as a film, it’s still clear it will also build out the DCU’s world in a few major ways in the background. With three major players of The Terrifics story in play, it seems Superman is already setting up the arrival of the team in the franchise.

James Gunn Is No Stranger to Exploring Unique Teams

DC Studios already plans to introduce other superhero teams like The Authority and the Teen Titans to the DCU.

While Gunn may not helm a potential Terrifics project, it’s the type of property he’s had success with in the past and could spearhead its development.

The DCU introducing The Terrifics at some point would also be very on-brand for Gunn based on his past work. Of course, Gunn has had great success within the comic book adaptation space with properties like Guardians of the Galaxy, the Suicide Squad, and, most recently, the Creature Commandos. All these teams feature pretty obscure characters that have all worked really well in their respective mediums. The Terrifics would be no different with members like Plastic Man and Metamorpho. Not to mention their adventures in the Dark Multiverse really open up the doors for the DCU to tell a bizarre story.

In addition to starting up the DCU with Creature Commandos and continuing with another season, DC Studios plans on exploring even more superhero teams in the future. The Authority was part of DC Studios’ initial announcement, and while development is on the back burner, the studio still plans on introducing the team. The Teen Titans are another group of heroes that are pretty well-known thanks to live-action and animated shows over the years, with DC Studios plans on bringing them to the big screen. Instead of heading straight into the Justice League, DC Studios is clearly exploring a mix of well-known and obscure characters, and Gunn’s past work proves when lesser-known characters become part of a team-up project, it can lead to pretty satisfying results if the dynamic is strong enough.

The DCU’s world-building will play a huge part in the overall success of the franchise. So far, Creature Commandos laid out a ton of story threads that future projects will likely pick up. For instance, the animated series featured a very brief appearance from Sgt. Rock, who has his own film in development from Luca Guadagnino. Superman will be no different, with several heroes like Mister Terrific playing a role in the story. Since Mister Terrific’s role in the upcoming film will be prominent, it would be no surprise if his story continued. After all, DC Studios will continue with characters who are well received, and Mister Terrific could be a welcome surprise coming out of Superman, who audiences might want to see more from.

Based on the number of projects announced by DC Studios so far, the new franchise could head in many different directions and change based on reception. Based on the characters’ roles in Superman, it’s clear one of those directions could be a project centered on The Terrifics down the line. Mister Terrific and Metamorpho will be familiar characters to audiences after Superman hits theaters. Additionally,Plastic Man is well-known enough and is a character Warner Bros. has developed projects for in the past. If Superman is as successful as DC Studios hopes it will be, then a lot more could come out of the film outside the Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow film and a Superman sequel. Gunn may have a chance to turn another beloved superhero team into a beloved anchor of the universe, something the DCU could lean into to catch up to the MCU’s success.

“}]] The DCU is already doing a lot of world-building, and Superman appears to be paving the way for another superhero team to join the franchise.  Read More