James Gunn's future with the DCU is no longer a question mark after the monumental merger between Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). The movie landscape continues to go through major changes, with Netflix pushing to complete its purchase and acquisition of WBD and take over operations for the legacy studio. Considering the numerous projects still slated for development in James Gunn's DCU, the franchise's future seemed to be on shaky ground following this move.
Netflix confirmed that Warner Bros. Discovery will make no major personnel changes after the WBD acquisition and purchase is complete. An official statement from the streaming giant revealed that the two businesses will operate independently of one another "with the teams that currently run them." Listing out the number of jobs they have added and the money contributed to the US economy, Netflix hopes to "be able to do even more" with WBD in the fold:
"Netflix and Warner Bros. have complementary businesses, which is why we plan to continue operating them independently — with the teams that currently run them. We'll also keep growing our long-term investment in original films and series and expanding U.S. production capacity. Over the last four years, we've contributed over $125 billion to the U.S. economy and hired more than 140,000 cast and crew members, filming across all 50 states. With Warner Bros., we'll be able to do even more."
Over the last few weeks, as news about this merger began to go public, all indications were that James Gunn's DC Studios would remain safe from any major changes in operations. This means that Gunn and DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran will stay in their current positions, and none of their plans will be adjusted.
While one last DC project is being released for the end of 2025, Gunn and Safran have a hefty slate of projects in their Elseworlds and Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters slates. Confirmed 2026 releases include Supergirl in theaters on June 26, 2026, Lanterns in late summer on HBO Max, and Clayface also in theaters on September 11, 2026.
What To Expect From James Gunn's DCU After Netflix/WBD Merger
As noted in reports from the last few weeks, James Gunn and his team appear to be in no danger of losing their jobs or changing their strategy. The big mystery is how these two industry giants will coexist under the same parent company.
While Gunn's slate of theatrical movies from both slates will still be kept in theaters, Netflix will have access to a second streaming leader in HBO Max for releases. At least half a dozen shows from the greater DC landscape are confirmed to debut on HBO Max in 2026, with more in development beyond.
This merger may not change much from that perspective, as Netflix could decide to keep these confirmed streaming series as HBO Max releases once they are ready. However, Netflix is no slouch itself when it comes to releasing its own content, and it will now have access to DC's biggest superheroes and villains.
Netflix may want to expand its reach in the streaming world by creating new content for exclusive release on Netflix, making it a new home for DC stories. There may also be productions developed for a single streamer or for both. As of writing, there are no confirmed plans for what Netflix will do with its new line of DC properties, but Gunn and Safran will be there to shepherd in the new era.
Richard Nebens joined The Direct in March 2020, now serving as the site's Senior Writer and also working as an assistant editor and content creator. He started his journalism career as a hobby in 2019 and is passionate about sharing news and stories from the entertainment industry, especially comic book movies, comedy, and sci-fi. Richard looks to expand his knowledge about movies and TV every day, and he is eager to stay locked into the latest releases and breaking news at every opportunity.
