In November 2022, Warner Bros. Discovery announced that filmmaker James Gunn and producer Peter Safran were appointed co-CEOs of DC Studios to oversee the next era of storytelling for DC media. It was further established that the pair were creating the DCU, which alarmed fans of the current DCEU that began in 2013.

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After the pair’s hiring, several updates began to trickle in about the studio's direction. As of late, much of the news has upset fans, leveling most of their criticism at Gunn. Whether fans like it or not, it is clear that they must prepare themselves for the end of the DCEU as they know it.

10 2023 DCEU Releases Likely Mean Nothing For The Long Run

The Flash Movie New Logo

The DCEU has four releases in 2023: Shazam! Fury of the Gods, The Flash, Blue Beetle, and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Each of these films is to take place within the DCEU, but with the way Gunn and Safran have been restructuring the DCU, they most likely will not have any meaning for the franchise's future.

This is a tough pill to swallow for the studio, but the films are too big to cancel. They did cancel Batgirl, originally intended for HBO Max, but the film only had a $90 million budget compared to $200 million and upwards for the theatrical releases. The 2023 releases could all be great films, but very likely will not get any follow-ups.

9 Winning Back The Fans Will Be An Uphill Battle

DCEU Fanfare

Fans of the DCEU have had a roller coaster of a time since Man of Steel came out in 2013. Many enjoyed the film and were excited for Batman and Wonder Woman to be introduced into the mix with Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, but the film was not well-received. Topping it off with Suicide Squad and the much-maligned Justice League, fans were disappointed with how the universe unfolded.

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Certain elements have been praised, such as Wonder Woman and Zack Snyder’s Justice League, as well as the performances of many of the actors. Now that Gunn and Safran have taken over, fans have been up in arms about some things, notably that Henry Cavill will not return as Superman. While fan input is not something that totally needs to be taken into consideration for the studio, they will have to contend with some angry fans and have to work to win them back.

8 Fan-Favorites Are On The Chopping Block

Superman looks ahead in Black Adam

A mostly new universe means new actors taking on iconic roles. Unfortunately, Henry Cavill has gotten axed from being Superman in the DCU, and Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman will likely follow after Wonder Woman 3 was halted. Ben Affleck has already stated that this is the end of his Batman, ending with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, although he has been approached by Gunn to direct a movie in the DCU.

For all the work that Cavill, Affleck, and Gadot put into their roles, it is disheartening that their characters will not get a proper send-off. Affleck has the best chance to in The Flash, but it has been rumored that cameos from Cavill and Gadot were cut from the film, signaling that the studio is truly putting their iterations of the characters in the rearview mirror.

7 It Will Take A While For The DCU To Get Up And Running

James Gunn backed by the roster of the DCU

The DCU will not be born overnight. As of late, Gunn has only said that he is currently working on a new Superman movie featuring a new take on the character. Fans may not see the first seeds of the DCU until as early as 2024, especially since DCEU entries dominate 2023.

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Gunn and Safran will have the play the long game for the DCU; something fans may be a little restless about. However, if they can right the ship, it will be worth it, as well as getting DC back on track and back into fans' good graces.

6 Confusion Around Which Actors Will Return And Who They Will Play

Jason Momoa as Aquaman or Lobo in the DCU?

Gunn has teased that some DCEU actors may return in the DCU, albeit as different characters. Aquaman star Jason Moama recently said he had a great meeting with the new ownership and suggested he may play a different character like Lobo in the future.

Gunn and Safran will have to decide which actors from the DCEU will return or not. Gunn is planning Peacemaker season 2. He has expressed interest in having Margot Robbie return as Harley Quinn, so there may be some confusion until the pair lays out their blueprint for the DCU in the future. Either way, fans should prepare themselves for new actors taking on roles in the DCU.

5 There Will Be Lots Of Loose Ends For The DCEU

5 Most Underrated DCEU Movies

With the DCEU as we know it seemingly ending in 2023, there will be many loose ends in the universe. Likely, these will not get proper answers as the DCU looks to move forward with a new identity.

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Black Adam is obvious, as its post-credits scene featured Superman returning. Chances are that since the upcoming DCEU films were made under old ownership, there were loose ends and teases for future installments that will not be made now. One way to rectify this could be for The Flash to reset the universe like in the comics, but there is no word yet on whether this will be the case. Fans, unfortunately, may not get a proper ending for the DCEU.

4 Michael Keaton's Triumphant Return Is Likely Wasted

DC FanDome concept art for The Flash featuring Michael Keaton's Batman fighting alongside Ezra Miler's Barry Allen/Flash.

A big surprise addition to the cast of The Flash was that Michael Keaton was returning as Batman for the first time since 1992’s Batman Returns. Fans were thrilled to hear not only that, but that Keaton would return in Batgirl as well. After Batgirl was canceled, one has to wonder if Keaton’s return turned into a one-off.

It sounds like Keaton was planned for a multi-film arc, possibly the DCEU’s adaptation of Batman Beyond, but with the DCU emerging, it would not be surprising to only see him in The Flash. It is heavily rumored he was to make an appearance in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom before being replaced by Affleck due to release date restructuring, so it is a shame that his return may be ultimately wasted.

3 Zack Snyder’s Justice League Was Just What Could Have Been

Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)

Ever since Justice League hit screens, fans petitioned for the Snyder Cut to be released after Snyder was replaced as director by Joss Whedon after a family tragedy. Fans finally got their wish in 2021 when Zack Snyder’s Justice League, a 4-hour cut of the film, was released on HBO Max. However, the films that came after it did not refer to it, nor would Snyder ever return for a follow-up.

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The film became just a tease for fans of what could have been for the rest of the DCEU. Snyder has a strong following in the fandom, with fans dubbing his movies the “Snyderverse” in the DCEU, and many wanted him to return to finish his Justice League trilogy. It is safe to say that Snyder’s time with DC is at an end, and fans can only dream of what would have followed in the battle against Darkseid.

2 A Black Adam Sequel Is Dead In The Water

Black Adam In Black Adam

The most recent release of the DCEU, Black Adam, established the character as a force to be reckoned with in the universe. Played by Dwayne Johnson, who promised that the “hierarchy of the DCEU will change,” it seemed that the character was being set up for future appearances.

Following a somewhat lackluster performance at the box office and new ownership under Gunn and Safran, a sequel appears to be dead in the water. Johnson did say he met with the pair to discuss the character's future, but made it clear that Black Adam will not be part of the first phase of storytelling for the DCU. A tough break for Johnson, who had been developing Black Adam since 2014.

1 The DCEU Will Be Remembered As A Missed Opportunity

Split of DCEU Characters And And MCU Characters

The DCEU had tons of potential and phenomenal talent behind it, but as a whole, it came up short. This can be attributed to a number of reasons, such as studio interference, questionable character choices, and no cohesive long-term plan. In reality, the DCEU was truly a missed opportunity.

The DCEU was built partially in response to the MCU and had the potential to be like it in the long run, but it did not even come close to the success the MCU has continued to enjoy after 15 years. The biggest mistake was to try to catch up with Marvel in fewer films, which ultimately hurt the DCEU as a whole, something Gunn and Safran no doubt will learn from while building the DCU.

NEXT: 10 Comics The DCEU Tried (& Failed) To Adapt Properly