According to the Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. Discovery reported a quarterly streaming profit on Friday and its CEO, David Zaslav, expressed excitement about the studio’s improving outlook during an earnings conference call with analysts revealing that he is optimistic on DC Studios.
“We got James Gunn and Peter (Safran) working very hard on DC, which is going to be a very big growth driver for this company. We are very bullish on DC,” Zavlav said.
Zaslav added: “The Superman script first draft is done. Gunn is on a mission from god. It is a really good moment to prove out on DC what we got and how strong it is globally for long-term sustainable growth.”
Zaslav also expresses confidence in the slate with the upcoming releases of Barbie and the highly anticipated The Flash.
Zaslav said: “We got some more movies that are better; we have been working hard on fixing them and enhancing them and investing. We said no movie before its time. And with Barbie and Flash we have two very good movies. I think the slate coming up now will make a big difference. We have lost a lot of money in the motion picture business, and making that turn is important.”
Based on the reactions from CinemaCon, DC Universe fans can rest assured that The Flash was worth the wait. The early reactions to The Flash have praised Ezra Miller’s performance as well as the movie’s ability to balance humor and heart.
The Flash is set to be a time-traveling adventure that will see Ezra Miller’s Barry Allen team up with several other DC Comics icons like Batman and Supergirl. The movie is also introducing audiences to a new multiverse within the DC Universe.
The Flash’s DC Universe future
Warner Bros. Discovery already has a script for a potential sequel to The Flash, written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, the man behind the two Aquaman movies starring Jason Momoa. However, James Gunn and Peter Safran did not discuss the Flash sequel during their DC Universe presentation.
Directed by Andy Muschietti from a script written by Birds of Prey scribe Christina Hodson, The Flash is inspired by the Flashpoint comic book storyline, which followed Barry Allen as he navigated an altered DC Universe. Written by Geoff Johns and penciled by Andy Kuber, Flashpoint radically altered the status of the DC Comics universe and led to the launch of the New 52 titles.
In addition to Ezra Miller, The Flash also features Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck as two separate versions of Batman, Ron Livingston as Henry Allen, Maribel Verdú as Nora Allen, Kiersey Clemons as Iris West, Michael Shannon as General Zod, Antje Traue as Faora-Ul and Sasha Calle as Supergirl. Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Rudy Mancuso and Luke Brandon Field are also on board in undisclosed roles.
Superman’s DC Universe Future
Superman: Legacy is a much-anticipated project, given that Clark Kent has been an integral part of the DC Universe for over 80 years, with various iterations and adaptations across different media. The movie promises to explore the character’s origins and his struggles to balance his dual identities as Clark and Superman while fighting off villains and saving the world. The choice to focus on the early years of his career is a bold move that could potentially breathe new life into the character and appeal to a younger generation of fans.
The Flash opens in theaters on June 16. Superman: Legacy will open on July 11, 2025 with casting currently underway for the new Man of Steel.
