Summary
TheDCEU’s most commercially successful heroes are notably absent from the first twelve projects in James Gunn and Peter Safran’sDCUslate. Many heroes and villains were introduced throughoutthe DCEU’s fifteen movies, but only a few proved to be box office gold. Even though ambitious crossover events likeBatman v Superman: Dawn of JusticeandJustice Leagueseemed like the pinnacle of the DCEU’s plans at the beginning of the franchise, other movies ended up stealing the spotlight.
So far,the DCU’s"Gods and Monsters"chapter contains twelve confirmed projectscurrently in development, including movies such asJames Gunn’s upcomingSupermansolo movieandThe Brave and the Bold, as well as shows such asCreature CommandosandBooster Gold. The DCU will introduce DCEU icons like Superman and Batman early on, and it will also shine the spotlight on previously overlooked characters like the Green Lanterns, not to mention the return of established characters such as Peacemaker and Amanda Waller. However, two famous DC heroes are missing from all the DCU’s plans revealed so far.
Aquaman & Wonder Woman Were The DCEU’s Highest Solo Box Office Performers
Jason Momoa’s Aquaman And Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman Were The DCEU’s Breakout Stars
The DCEU had its ups and downs throughout its 10-year existence, but two of its most remarkable feats were undeniably Patty Jenkins’Wonder Womanand James Wan’sAquaman, which claimed the top spots in the list of highest-grossing DCEU solo movies, and the first and third spots on the list of highest grossing DCEU movies overall, beating films such asSuicide Squad, Man of Steel, andJustice League. Despite not having any previous big screen adaptations,Aquaman and Wonder Woman managed to bring more people to cinemas than Batman and Superman themselves. As reported byTheNumbers:
$1,131,849,702
$872,395,091
$817,691,766
$745,744,980
$667,999,518
$655,945,209
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
$433,845,564
$390,455,088
$363,563,907
$266,550,332
$201,005,552
$167,097,737
$166,360,232
$132,276,175
Blue Beetle
$128,777,017
WhileWonder Woman 1984struggled to matchWonder Woman’s success — in part due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on its streaming release —Aquaman and the Lost Kingdommanaged to break the DCEU’s downward streak, surpassing movies such asBlack Adam,Shazam: Fury of the Gods, The Flash, andBlue Beetle. Clearly, Wonder Woman and Aquaman are both properties with plenty of potential in live-action. Yet, it may take a long while for James Gunn’s DCU to introduce its own version of Diana Prince and Arthur Curry.
Why The DCU May Have Avoided Introducing Wonder Woman & Aquaman In Chapter 1
The DCEU’s Version Of Wonder Woman And Aquaman Are Still Too Fresh In The Audiences' Minds
The DCU is set to begin with James Gunn’sSuperman, which will introduce a new Man of Steel three years after Henry Cavill’s final Superman appearance. The DCU will also present a new Batman in Andy Muschietti’sThe Brave and the Bold, which will likely be released concurrently with Matt Reeves’The Batmantrilogy. Although Superman and Batman will make their DCU debut much sooner than Wonder Woman and Aquaman,it makes sense for any blooming DC franchise to establish its take on the Worlds' Finest early on, and then start expanding its sights on the rest of the universe.
Lesser-known characters could serve as a palate cleanser for audiences who grew too attached to the DCEU’s version of Aquaman and Wonder Woman.
The DCU’s"Gods and Monsters"chapter seems to be avoiding comparisons with the DCEU’s release structure too. Instead of aiming to assemble a Justice League, James Gunn’s DC Universe is exploring other corners of DC’s extensive lore, such as The Authority, the Creature Commandos, and Swamp Thing. Lesser-known characters could serve as a palate cleanser for audiences who grew too attached to the DCEU’s version of Aquaman and Wonder Woman, but they could also become just as popular in the meantime.
Aquaman & Wonder Woman’s Current DCU Absence May Be A Good Thing
The DCU Will Likely Take Advantage Of The Long Wait For Aquaman And Wonder Woman’s DCU Debut
Despite the DCEU’s struggles, box office numbers prove that audiences have grown attached to Gal Gadot and Jason Momoa’s DCEU portrayals of Wonder Woman and Aquaman. Wonder Woman and Aquaman’s casting, costumes, score, and character arcs are still too fresh to allow new live-action portrayals to leave their own mark.A generous break from both characters may be the best way for the DCU to avoid comparisons and raise anticipation for Aquaman and Wonder Woman’s inevitable DCU introduction.
The DCU Now Has The Perfect Opportunity To Fix A DCEU Wonder Woman Problem
The DCU’s Teen Titans movie is in the perfect position to start building the Wonder Woman Family, something the DCEU’s Wonder Woman movies started.
Besides,the DCU seriesParadise Lostwill explore Themyscirafrom the point of view of a different character, likely setting the stage for Wonder Woman’s DCU debut. It’s possible that the DCU’s Atlantis will get the same treatment, especially considering how visually breathtaking James Wan’s Atlantis was in the DCEU. This approach already suggests that even though the DCU might give Wonder Woman and Aquaman a similarly sized role as the DCEU, there will be enough visible differences between both versions that the wait will be worth it.
