Arrowverse co-creator Marc Guggenheim is upset about not being involved with the new DC Universe from DC Studios’ James Gunn and Peter Safran.
arrowverse Co-creator Marc Guggenheim is upset about not being involved with the new DC Universe. As the DCEU has a few installments left, a new DC Universe is on its way from James Gunn and Peter Safran. Following the launch of DC Studios in November 2022, Gunn and Safran presented the first half of Chapter 1, “Gods and Monsters,” back in January of this year. With several movies and TV shows in the works, DC Studios is attempting to create a more cohesive universe. Various writers have been tapped for the new franchise as they help Gunn and Safran craft out the DC Universe for the next 8-10 years.
One of the creators behind The CW’s Arrowverse, however, recently commented on the rise of the new DC Universe. arrows and Legends of Tomorrow co-creator Guggenheim opened up about his disappointment that he didn’t get as much as a meeting with DC Studios. Guggenheim was also a huge creative force behind the annual crossovers, especially Crisis on Infinite Earths, While Guggenheim wasn’t asking for a job, the Arrowverse EP was hoping to be at least considered for a chat with Gunn and Safran. At the time of this story’s publication, there has been no comment from Gunn, Safran, or other DC Studios representatives.
Why am I saying this now? Well, this week, James Gunn announced that he assembled a “writers room” to help chart out what the new “DC Universe” under his and James Safran’s leadership is going to be. Suffice it to say, I am not among that group. I’m not particularly surprised. In fact, I assumed that they would assemble some kind of brain trust to help facilitate what I assumed— expected — would be a vision as ambitious as the DC Universe deserves. But I’ll be honest: I would have liked to have gotten at least a meeting. Not a job, mind you. A meeting. A conversation. A small recognition of what I’d try to contribute to the grand tapestry that is the DC Universe. I’d only spent nine years toiling in that vineyard, after all. (Not including many more years co-writing the Green Lantern movie Green Lantern streaming series, and comic books like Batman Confidential, Adventures of Supermanand Justice Society of America,
And then there was some other stuff which basically boiled down to me lamenting that although working for DC had been creatively fulfilling, it involved a lot of adversity, challenges, and personal sacrifices — none of which seem to have accrued to any professional benefit. Simply put, the Arrowverse hasn’t led to any other gigs, so it feels — at least on a career level — that I really wasted my time.
What’s Happening To The Arrowverse On The CW
As the DC Universe is on its way, the Arrowverse is actually on its last legs over at The CW. Currently, The Flash season 9 is airing weekly, with only nine episodes left before the show reaches its end. The Flash will also mark the end of the Earth-Prime side in the Arrowverse while also becoming the longest-running one. The only other Arrowverse show airing this year is Superman & Lois season 3, despite the show taking place on an alternate Earth.
The Superman & Lois The season 2 finale revealed that despite being envisioned as part of Earth-Prime, it’s in a different reality. If Superman & Lois doesn’t get renewed for season 4, that would mark the complete end of Greg Berlanti’s Arrowverse on The CW. Despite being a DC TV show from Berlanti, the upcoming Gotham Knights The series has no ties to the Arrowverse at all. Given the state of The CW’s new regime, superhero properties are slowly being phased out of the network. Time will tell whether or not Superman & Lois and Gotham Knights will make it past this season.
Even though the DC Universe is Warner Bros. Discovery’s new focus, the Arrowverse, was instrumental for the studio for years. Since 2012, the franchise has been one of The CW’s flagship properties, bringing numerous DC characters to life. The Arrowverse has also been one of the most successful shared superhero universes, especially for television. While the end is near, the arrowverse will always be remembered as a game-changing franchise for DC.
Source: Marc Guggenheim