James Gunn confirms the creation of Elseworlds films set outside of the DC Universe. DC Studios is replacing DC Films as Gunn and Peter Safran assume control of the DCU’s television, film, and animation productions. On November 1, the two CEOs assumed their positions, and there have been countless reports regarding what they are doing with the DCU.

While Gunn has disputed numerous speculations, some have proven to be true, since Wonder Woman 3 has been canceled and Henry Cavill’s tenure as Superman in the DCU has ended, with Gunn authoring a reboot for the hero. However, there are still many unanswered questions, as DC Studios has been in the news frequently over the past few weeks.

Gunn has spoken to several fans on Twitter and offered hints about what DC Studios is planning for the DCU. During his tenure at DC Studios, a fan recently asked Gunn, “Are you developing any Elseworlds DC projects that are not set in the DCU?” It did not take long for Gunn to provide a positive response.

Elseworlds was a DC Comics publication imprint devoted to stories outside of the standard comic narrative, for those unaware. This brand has brought legendary comic storylines to life for decades, including DC’s Kingdom Come and Gotham By Gaslight, among others.

Elseworlds was also the name of the Arrowverse crossover spanning three episodes in 2018, which served as a major buildup for Crisis on Infinite Earths. In recent years, Elseworlds has been mostly superseded by the 2018-launched DC Black Label imprint.

Even though they have never referred to it as Elseworlds, Batman and Joker are effectively classified as Elseworlds properties because they exist beyond the DCU. While a shared world is evidently a goal, with many The Batman spinoffs in development and Joker 2 already in production, DC has also found success with standalone films and television series.

Having creators tapped for Elseworlds stories would not be detrimental to the new DCU and would instead provide WBD with additional stuff for consumers to enjoy. The canceled Strange Adventures TV show could have helped them in this regard, particularly on the tiny screen.

Kingdom Come appears to be the most likely possibility, as Gunn has hinted on social media several times that the story arc may play a role in his DC plans.

DC has always been successful as a comic book publisher because it permits storylines to exist both within and outside of the primary continuity. It allows distinct audience groups the opportunity to find something that resonates with them on a personal level if other aspects of the brand are not for them.

This is another major reason why the Arrowverse and the DCU were able to coexist for years, as there was another reality for fans to explore if anything in the films didn’t appeal to them, and vice versa with the Arrowverse and DCU. As 2022 comes to a close, it is hoped that there will be more information on the future of the DCU in 2023 and what Elseworlds-type projects are in the works.