James Gunn says Batman and Wonder Woman have been central to the DC Universe plan from the start, even though neither has appeared in it yet. Gunn made the point in a Threads post this week, answering criticism of his approach. He wrote that the “8 to 10 year roadmap” he pitched covered more than story beats.
It also set out how DC Studios would build around what he called “diamond characters”: Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. The plan, he said, includes turning lesser-known heroes such as Krypto, John Stewart and Peacemaker into diamonds. He added that it covers creative freedom for filmmakers, a range of tones and ratings, and influences from “Star Wars” and George R.R. Martin.
The reassurance lands at an awkward point in the schedule. Superman arrived in 2025, “Lanterns” and “Clayface” followed this year, and “Superman: Man of Tomorrow” is due in 2027. Only the first and last of those center on one of the three diamonds. Skeptics, including fans who prefer the Snyder-era films, keep questioning whether Gunn is the right steward for the franchise.
Batman has a path on paper. A standalone film, reportedly titled “The Brave and the Bold,” is planned, though no production start has been set. Matt Reeves’s “The Batman: Part II,” which sits outside the DCU, has slipped to 2028 according to ComicBook.com. That delay could complicate when Gunn introduces his own version.
Wonder Woman has moved more quietly. Gunn said in 2025 that a film was being written and called the character a priority. HBO Max also has “Paradise Lost,” a series set on Themyscira, in development. In August 2025 he said he did not know whether Wonder Woman exists in the DCU yet, adding that she would eventually. Fan theory holds that Adria Arjona plays her in “Man of Tomorrow.” Arjona has not confirmed that, and the role could be a different character, such as Maxima. Gunn and Peter Safran scrapped Patty Jenkins’s planned “Wonder Woman 3” in 2022 when they reset the franchise.
