Marvel has very clearly set the bar to what goes into quality superhero films and what an interconnected cinematic universe can be. The MCU has balanced solo movies and ensemble films to set up a rich and layered universe with well-known characters and others that needed an extra push to get to that level. Other franchises have tried and have varied in their success. Yet, none have been able to get even close to Marvel’s success. Not even their friendly rival, DC. Granted, DC did attempt to follow in Marvel’s footsteps, beginning with Man of Steel and finishing with Aquaman: The Lost Kingdom. The universe, within that plan, never got its feet under them. Inconsistent tones, lack of overarching narratives, different creative outlooks, and a tug-of-war about who should be the center of the franchise were all ingredients that took power away from a universe that could have rivaled the MCU. That universe came and went. The dawn of its evolution is on the horizon. With a proven director and storytellers at the helm, the DCU has all the factors to push against the MCU and, perhaps, take the throne. To do that, the DCU needs to copy some plays from Marvel’s playbook as well as do things a bit differently.
So, what the DCU is already planning to do is connect their films, television/streaming projects, and video games. Only the movies had the connected tissue in the MCU’s early days. Then, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. attempted to fill in the gaps between films but took on a life of their own and hit with a lukewarm response. The Netflix shows had some lines of dialogue that connected them to the MCU films but nothing tangible. It wasn’t until late in the game that the shows and movies had more connection with the Disney+ content. Yet, the DCU has started its own journey with the upfront relationship between shows and films. The voice cast from Creature Commandoes is expected to reprise their roles if those characters make the leap to live action. Paradise Island will have arcs that will bleed into the film. And so on. As of yet, no video games have been announced to be a part of this interconnected universe. Which will be brand new, something Marvel hasn’t done. That alone will be groundbreaking since fans can make a mark in the universe. Their actions will lead to further stories. This unique web of connections has already put the DCU in a distinctive position over the MCU.
One aspect the DCU is borrowing from the MCU is a diverse, wide range of characters. In the MCU’s first phase, they had a billion-dollar man who used intellect to build a one-man-army suit, the next was a monster fueled by rage, the one after was a scrawny man who was turned into a super soldier, and lastly, there was a god a part of the Norse pantheon. Those characters laid the groundwork for another diverse set of characters, such as the Guardians of the Galaxy, Black Panther, Antman, Doctor Strange, Scarlett Witch, and so on. Marvel didn’t settle for the more iconic characters they had at the time; they gambled with unknown characters that paid off immensely. The DCU is doing something similar. The first film to come out in the new era is one with Superman, and Batman is in the early line-up as well. A Green Lantern project is also on the way. What the DCU is doing with Wonder Woman is a sign that James Gunn and the company are honoring their classic heroes but putting unique twists to their stories to make them feel different. On top of their classic heroes, some other ones from further down the roster are also getting their time. From Creature Commandoes to Swamp Thing to Booster Gold, the DCU is finding a balance between known characters and other characters that die-hard fans know and love.
Yet, the most important and vital strategy the DCU needs to execute is to make each project vastly different from the previous and next film or series. Many of the films were very similar at the beginning of the MCU’s run. Although some had their own subgenre thrown in there, each film had similar tones, story, outcome, and personalities for characters and had very similar quirks, such as the same style of humor. In these films, the heroes won nine times out of ten. Each movie was color and explosions. Each movie has a larger-than-life feel to it, meaning everything about the movie is big and global. The DCU needs to avoid this. Heroes should stick to their traits. Superman is the Boy Scout, Batman is brooding, Booster Gold is humorous, Swamp Thing is bitter and straight to the point, and Wonder Woman is a warrior with a soft touch. No other character should adopt these traits from the other. Superman and the Lanterns should worry about global and universal threats. Batman worries about streel level to state-wide threats. Maybe ventures into global threats. Wonder Woman worries about threats that want to disrupt the peace between mankind and the Gods. Superman should have a hopeful tone. Batman and Swamp Thing has a darker one, with Swamp Thing leaning to horror. Booster Gold is the one that should be the comedy. Lanterns is the one that should have a sci-fi feel. With the brief synopsis of the show, it could lead a bit into sci-fi horror. And with Paradise Lost’s description, it could be bloody and violent. So, obviously, the DCU knows what it wants from these films and their tones. However, it is vital for them to keep each project separate from the other’s tone. That was one of the keys to the MCU’s rise to power, but as of late, it’s becoming a factor in their downfall. The DCU needs to be varied in their tones to survive.
The DCU is slowly approaching. Supergirl has just been cast, and any new looks for Creature Commandoes and Superman: Legacy will add more hype to its arrival. Needless to say, the DCU will, without a doubt, emulate a few things that the MCU has done. If a franchise wants to build an interconnected cinematic universe, they have to get a few plays from the MCU. But the DCU has the chance to do things differently to make their stories stand out. They could observe what made the MCU successful but, at the same time, look at some avenues the MCU did not take to make themselves better. The DCU needs to carefully balance their emulations as well as their originality to take the throne from the MCU.
