As DC Universe fans wonder what awaits the future of this superhero universe under Warner Bros. Discovery, one place to look is social media. Recently, James Gunn shared an iconic Alex Ross image from Kingdom Come, seemingly a tease for the future.Perhaps the most confusing thing about James Gunn's new position at DC Studios is that he continues to use social media like a person. Sure, he uses it to promote his films and shows. But if one talks about him online, at-mentioned or not, he's the type of person who might just pop up in the replies. He debunks online "leaks" and "scoops" about himself or his projects. He also just shares stuff that he thinks is cool. One has to imagine for a fan like Gunn, he's encountered a lot of cool things while plotting the future of the DCU over the past month. He could've just shared that image because -- like all comics fans -- it's great. Yet, he also knows how people react to things he posts, especially with no context. So, it would be on the nose to guess this is a tease of a straight-up adaptation of Kingdom Come. Rather, Gunn could be teasing a specific multiversal part of that story.
James Gunn Could Adapt 'Kingdom Come' Replacing Magog with Black Adam
In the comics, an aging Superman is aghast that the "new generation" of heroes kills people. While he doesn't go full Injustice tyrannical, it is a notable installment in the "Authoritarian Superman" genre. Yet, Henry Cavill wants to tell a joyful Superman story. So, Superman becoming an authoritarian, fighting Batman and Lex Luthor and being at the center of a devastated future sounds a bit at odds with those plans. The Kingdom Come corner of the DCU has other chapters, though, where that Superman crossed into the main DC continuity.
One came in Justice Society of America in 2007, the second time DC tacked an epilogue on the story. It takes place between panels in the original miniseries, but it enriched the character nonetheless. Adapted on-screen, this could offer a different kind of contrast on Superman than the Knightmare future. The Kingdom Come Superman is still a good man, he just went too far. In the 2007 story, he ultimately fights the entire Justice Society to escape their custody. Not to flee but instead to save a kid who jumped from a building. This is a different way to do a dark/light contrast with Superman without going full Brightburn (which James Gunn produced!).
As always, the Arrowverse paved the way. They brought Brandon Routh as the Christopher Reeve version of Superman, visually inspired by Kingdom Come. In fact, if it is the start of a multiversal event, Routh's version of Superman is the perfect one to bring in. He's been through it before. Cavill's Superman could meet a Kal-El who lost his way and came very close to becoming a villain.
The DC Universe Is Fully Embracing the Multiverse Concept, as It Should
When it comes to the future of DC Studios, fans are getting mixed signals. Matt Reeves and Todd Phillips are both working full-steam ahead on their own discrete Gothams. Superman and Lois is in production on its third season. Doom Patrol and Titans are still going strong on HBO Max. Yet, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said he wanted the universe to connect, specifically looking for a "Kevin Feige" type to oversee that. Similarly, James Gunn said that everything is all one story while also confirming that the standalone DC movies and shows are safe.
Even if the Kingdom Come image isn't a tease for a multiversal crossover, it's perhaps a signal that something like that is in the works. The Flash -- which dives face-first into the multiverse -- is still on track for a summer 2023 release. Saying it's all "one story" is just a way to say that even though these are parallel fictional universes, it's still all pretend and can crossover if it makes money sense. Like those who think Gunn's tweet meant a literal Kingdom Come adaptation is in the works, perhaps fans are thinking too literally. The things that decide the future of the DC universe will be what they always were.
The great thing about the multiverse, that James Gunn likely understands, is that by its nature, it means that everything is canon. From Batman in 1966 to Doom Patrol, it all "happened," and it all "matters."