It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s quite a bit of pressure. The DCU has already officially launched with the debut of Creature Commandoes. The show was a huge critical success. So, in a way the DCU has began with a great start. But many are waiting for Superman to have a grander start to the new universe. The film has many looking forward to it…but at the same time is making people hold their breath. Ever since it was revealed a new actor will dawn the red cape, the film has been on a constant fight to claim near unanimous praise. With each new piece of the film being reveled it has been fighting. This is a movie that a lot is riding on. Similar to what Iron Man faced back in 2008. In a sense, this is the first part of the DCU that a more public audience will experience. Because of that and it’s the first part of a relaunched universe, the reputation and curiosity for the DCU is reliant on this movie. Due to a lot of debate and perhaps some mistrust, this movie could fall short. If that were to happen, how will the DCU pivot?
As of right now, the film is fighting an uphill battle. One reason why is because of the debates fans are having about the film. But there is another reason that is unseen because…there is nothing to see. What helped Marvel gain momentum for their biggest films is that the hype was built a year or two before the films’ release. This hype began at Comic Con San Diego. The cast and director of those films are brought onto stage, talk about the film as much as they can, and show a piece of footage. Fans are crazy for that type of content. It is the proper place and time to start excitement for a huge movie. James Gunn decided to skip out on last year’s Comic Con. Obviously, no news about Superman was shared. At a time where the movie – and the DCU – was still under wraps, Gunn refused to start the hype train. That left fans in the dark for a few more months. For a movie as important as Superman, this was the perfect time to showcase something. But again, that was denied. Not only hype was denied, but an opportunity for interest was also denied. Another time for films to get word out is a TV Spot during the Super Bowl. This is a prime and competitive spot to get attention to a product. It’s always a wonder among fans what film will be having a TV Spot. Just another chance to build momentum. But again, nothing for Superman. With so many eyes fixated on the biggest sporting event in the country, not a single one saw Superman. Skipping out on both those times, was not a good start for the film.
If that does impact Superman and plays a hand in the film coming up short, what will happen? First of fall, DC will take a reputable hit. Marvel has been the one that reigns high while DC is the one playing catch up. While Marvel has had mild to monumental success, DC has had a few films that have made an impact. Of late, it was The Batman. Creature Commandoes and The Penguin have kept the DC momentum going but not enough to take some magic away from Marvel. Even though Marvel has lost some luster, Marvel still claims that top spot. Because DC has had projects that have not lived up to expectations and not a clear sense of direction, it’s easy for audiences to stay clear from DC. It has been an unfortunate cycle. Particularly when movies are released one after another that underperform, audiences take note. It creates his reputation that DC films cannot exceed expectations. It’s a looming shadow. Then trust and hype for a movie can’t get started because audiences see it as dead-on arrival. If the movie that is meant to get DC films back on track underperforms, it puts DC further down a hole.
This will also put the DCU under pressure as well. If Superman does not set up the momentum for the DCU, the relaunched universe could see some set backs from the get-go. Unfortunately, DC is no stranger to this. DC wanted to begin another universe with Green Lantern. When that movie failed, DC had to wait to reboot. DC cannot afford that again. But if it does, it puts the DCU in an awkward spot. Many projects have already been announced and are already being worked on. So even though the first chapter fails, DCU has no choice other than to trudge on. But that’s not to say things could be put on the back burner. Some projects have been delayed already. If Superman underperforms, this could be a strategy that could be taken. Things may have to be shifted to course correct. Force things to be out of order just to get some order back. Potentially, some projects may have to get cancelled to get back on track. Or to get some reputation back. If Superman fails, the DCU is forced to limp down a path it carved itself already. Won’t be a good start.
Other projects may have to take priority. Superman is obviously a huge icon in the DC universe, which is perhaps why another universe is starting with him. He has more than enough prowess to set up the momentum. However, if this movie does not meet expectations even with such a huge iconic character, the DCU may have to rely on other heroes than could hold the torch. Batman obviously comes to mind. If any other character could match the popularity of Superman, it’s the Dark Knight. In order to get things back on track and to retain some credibility, a character like Batman may have to show up a lot sooner than people running the DCU may want. If Batman is the course correction that leads to another problem; Batman Fatigue. Batman seems to be the king of DC which is why he appears in lot of events and seems to be at the center of them. However, DC has a rich set of characters that deserve to be front and center as well. Superman is one of them. But if Superman does not succeed, Batman may be a viable option. It may not be the direction that the DCU or even fans may want to go. But with so much potential and stories to be told, the DCU will need an instant and successful turnaround if, and only if, Superman comes short. To the disdain of a few, Batman may be a backup option. Not the only option of course, but a major character that could rival Superman’s status may come up to the plate a lot sooner.
No doubt, there’s pressure on Superman. The film needs to succeed to have confidence in not only going forward with the DCU but expanding it and trusting it. Due to the reputation surrounding DC, the lack of promotion for the film, and the instant divide among fans, the film is facing a tough road already. A failure is something that must be avoided but it is in play, given the factors. If it does happen, expect the DCU to shuffle some ideas to get back on track.
