Highlights
- The rebooted DC Universe under James Gunn and Peter Safran has raised concerns among some executives about the uncertain use of actors from the previous DCEU.
- Producer Charles Roven, who worked on Wonder Woman and Justice League, expressed his uncertainty about whether or not the new DCU will use the same actors in their roles.
- Roven's observations on ongoing strikes and the importance of casting decisions highlight the challenges faced in building up the new canon for the DC Universe franchise.
As James Gunn and Peter Safran's vision for a rebooted DC Universe starts to take off in earnest, one of the most important players of the previous Snyder-led franchise has some concerns about the actors that Gunn and Safran choose to fill the roles in the new DCU.
After a period of uncertainty surrounding the tumultuous merger that created Warner Bros. Discovery, new CEO David Zaslav spent a long time searching for a new creative leader for the conglomerate’s DC projects before it was decided that Gunn would run the DC film division alongside Peter Safran. The two quickly set about constructing a revitalized DC film slate to rehabilitate the IP, including using the existing Flashpoint storyline for 2023’s Flash film as a narrative device to transition to the new DC Universe.
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While The Flash scored lower than expected at the box office during opening weekend, that did nothing to slow down the new shows and films being developed at WB. However, at least one prominent executive from the old DCEU seems to have reservations about the new slate. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter about his role behind the scenes of his most recent project, producer Charles Roven explained his gripe with the rebooted universe, focusing specifically on the air of uncertainty surrounding the previous DCEU's actors. His comments came after a question about his involvement with the new DCU going forward, as he has worked with Gunn on The Suicide Squad.
"Right now, they’re really rebooting everything, and it’s a little bit unclear to me exactly how finite their desire is to use or not use any DCEU actors in the same roles,” said Roven, who produced Oppenheimer, a project that many are calling the culmination of Christopher Nolan's filmmaking career. “So I’m not really sure, but at the moment, we’re not really having any discussions. James and I are good friends. My wife and I are very good friends with him and his wife, Jenn [Holland]. And so we see each other socially, but we’re not really talking about any business."
The prolific DCU producer, who has worked on everything from Wonder Woman to Justice League, also commented on the ongoing strikes stopping works in progress. “You face new problems on every single movie, and a perfect example is the strike. For the very first time, I just experienced being shut down by a strike. We were 80 percent done with The Killer's shoot, and we had to shut down. So I’ve never experienced that before.” While Roven seems to take it in his stride, some actors, like Arrow star Stephen Amell, have come out against the strike
Roven's concerns and observations are valid and widespread, especially in light of roles like Viola Davis' Amanda Waller being confirmed to remain unchanged heading into the new canon and many others still up in the air as fans await 2025’s Superman: Legacy. Despite the failings of the DCEU, the casting was generally looked on positively, and the actors involved generally built up goodwill with viewing audiences, with a prime example being Henry Cavill. Gunn and Safran will have to consider this as they continue to build up the new canon for the DC Universe franchise.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter