After a controversy-filled Justice League, the DCEU is poised to expand by embracing the multiverse.
The plan was set in motion when it was announced during last year's DC FanDome, with projects like Ezra Miller's The Flash and Robert Pattinson's The Batman being at the forefront. The Flash will look to do a deep dive into the concept of alternate realities while The Batman has been confirmed to be set in Earth-2.
This isn't the only strategy from Warner Bros. The arrival of HBO Max also created an opportunity for more projects to move forward, thus cementing the idea that a full-blown multiverse affair is on its way.
Films like Batgirl and Blue Beetle will reportedly headline the streaming slate of the studio with two dozen more DC projects in development.
Now, the lead executive of Warner Bros. has shed some light on how this approach will further propel DC's properties down the line.
HBO MAX CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR DC CROSSOVERS
Warner Bros. Pictures Group Chairman Toby Emmerich recently sat down with the LA Times to talk about the studio's release strategy and the future of HBO Max.
When asked how HBO Max and DC will intertwine with one another, Emmerich admitted that the former “presents a huge opportunity” for the latter since it allows the studio to create “high-quality mid-budget superhero movies” while also “crossing over stand-out characters” from the films into their respective spinoff series:
“HBO Max presents a huge opportunity for DC. It allows us to make high-quality mid-budget superhero movies that reintroduce lesser-known DC titles, while also crossing over stand-out characters from our bigger films into original series.”
The head executive then said that it also gives fans "more ways to explore the DC multiverse:"
“Connecting the DC cinematic universe with Max gives our fans more ways to explore the DC multiverse and more chances to enjoy more great stories with these beloved characters. One of the first examples of a stand-out character crossing over from film to Max is the “Peacemaker” series, which is a spin-off from James Gunn’s “Suicide Squad 2.”
MORE DC SPINOFFS COMING TO HBO MAX?
Based on Emmerich's comments, it seems that Warner Bros. and DC's plan is similar to that of Marvel Studios and Disney+. However, the main difference is that the shows on HBO Max are not confined to a single universe. Instead, the multiverse is involved in DC's corner.
Giving lesser-known characters their own chance to shine on HBO Max is a good thing, mainly because it provides fans an opportunity to get to know these heroes even more. This could also potentially lead to big-screen outings if the performance of these projects is commendable on the streaming front.
Meanwhile, allowing stand-out characters from theatrical films to lead their original series is also a fitting direction. Characters like John Cena's Peacemaker and Jeffrey Wright's Jim Gordon will be further fleshed out in their own spinoffs. This means that viewers will view them differently when they return to their respective franchises on the big screen.
It remains to be seen which other characters will receive the spinoff treatment, but it's reasonable to assume that a good amount of them will be given the chance to succeed in their own stories on HBO Max.
