James Gunn officially revealed the comics that will inspire, or possibly be adapted, in Chapter 1 of the DCU. The comics he listed hint at what to expect from the new versions of Superman, Batman, Supergirl, Swamp Thing, and more.Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is one of the films in Gunn's DC slate that will be adapted from its Tom King comic book counterpart, described as a "science fiction epic." As a result of growing Supergirl comic book sales, Gunn continues the momentum by stating what other DC Comics are most relevant to the "early days."Gunn disclosed the graphic novels that will inspire his DCU on Twitter, which include All-Star Superman and Batman by Grant Morrison, The Authority, and Swamp Thing. The particular images used reveal different formats that audiences might not have known about, such as omnibuses, absolute editions, deluxe editions, and standard volumes, which are now seeing a resurgence in sales thanks to the DC Studios co-CEO's tweet. Beyond the Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow adaptation, The Authority is described as a "passion project" for Gunn, a Swamp Thing movie, which has been in and out of production at Warner Bros., is now described as a "dark horror story," and the upcoming Batman film Brave and the Bold will be about "Batman and his actual son, Damian Wayne," heavily inspired by Son and the Batman.
However, it is still unknown what elements will be taken from All-Star Superman as inspiration for Superman: Legacy beyond the aesthetic, seeing as how Gunn took a poll asking fans what they thought about the Superman trunks. For those unfamiliar with the story, All-Star Superman takes place at the end of the character’s mythology, and the DCU will be embracing a much younger man of steel at 25 years old. So, what elements Gunn takes from that storyline is anyone's guess.
The DCU Batman and Superman designs may return to their golden age era, not only featuring the iconic Superman trunks, but for the first time, audiences may also witness a live-action Batman with trunks in the blue cape and cowl combination that Morrison's Batman is known for. However, if audiences expect Christopher Reeves and Adam West, they may want to keep their expectations or fears in check. Seeing as how Gunn has described wanting his DCU actors to "move in and out of animation," it would also not be surprising if Jensen Ackles was cast as Batman, assuming Gunn chooses to adapt an older version of the character to compliment "the beginning of the bat family in the DCU."
Source: James Gunn/Twitter