David Zaslav confirms what we suspected about the DCU all along

While the DCU (DC Universe) kicked off in December 2024 with Creature Commandos, it was with last week's Superman that the new cinematic universe passed with flying colors. Now, WBD CEO David Zaslav sat down for an interview with Deadline in which he confirmed that James Gunn's first movie in this new universe is the stepping stone rather than a solo adventure.

Zaslav said,

"Superman is just the first step. Over the next year alone, DC Studios will introduce the films Supergirl and Clayface in theaters and the series Lanterns on HBO Max, all part of a bold ten-year plan."

This is something we have known since day one when James Gunn announced the "Chapter One" of the DCU, titled Gods and Monsters. Now, considering Superman is performing well and Peacemaker Season 2 is gearing up for release, plans for Gods and Monsters are getting solidified.

What did David Zaslav say about the DCU's future?

As mentioned before, Deadline published an interview with David Zaslav on July 14, 2025. In that interview, Zaslav went into the history of what went behind the scenes in creating the DCU. It must be noted that, as Gunn and Peter Safran were hired as the CEOs of DC Studios in October 2022, the DC brand was low, to put it mildly, because of critically panned projects and Ezra Miller's off-screen reputation.

Thus, upon Gunn and Safran's hiring, people were relieved to learn that the uneven DCEU, established in 2013's Man of Steel, was being scrapped in favor of an entirely new continuity, which ended up being the DCU. Appreciating Gunn and Safran's role in carefully steering the DC brand, Zaslav said:

“Three years ago, I hired James Gunn and Peter Safran to reimagine and unify the creative direction of DC under one leadership team, by breathing new life and excitement into one of the most iconic storytelling franchises in the world. James and Peter’s commitment to honoring the legacy of the DC Universe while forging something new and enthralling is inspired.

He continued by saying,

I remember my first meeting with James three years ago. He spoke about growing up in Missouri and how the characters of the DC Universe weren’t just stories to him, they were like his family. His personal bond with these DC heroes was powerful and I knew then that James was the right person to bring them to life. His love for the DC world runs deep, and it shines in every frame of his work."

Then, teasing what we can expect from the DCU in the future, the WBD CEO said:

“This weekend, we watched Superman soar as James Gunn’s passion and vision came to life on the big screen. Superman is just the first step. Over the next year alone, DC Studios will introduce the films Supergirl and Clayface in theaters and the series Lanterns on HBO Max, all part of a bold ten-year plan. The DC vision is clear, the momentum is real, and I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead.”

This means that as Superman continues to perform well at the box office, both across the US and internationally, we can expect more announcements of long-awaited DC Universe projects like Wonder Woman and The Brave and the Bold.