Gunn designates three heroes as central pillars of DC universe

James Gunn designated Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman as the primary "diamond characters" for the DC Studios universe in a series of posts on Threads. The co-head explained that these three figures anchor the narrative structure of the studio's current and future projects.

Gunn introduced the term "diamond characters" during a virtual Warner Bros. Discovery town hall in 2022. At that time, he and fellow co-head Peter Safran presented a roadmap for the DC universe that spanned eight to ten years. The plan included storylines, character development, and a strategy for maintaining filmmaker freedom across various tones and ratings.

The co-head stated that the studio is also developing smaller characters into diamonds. He identified Krypto, John Stewart, and Peacemaker as figures who will occupy this elevated tier. Gunn noted that the long-term roadmap extends beyond simple plot points to encompass the overall direction of DC as a brand.

In a recent exchange on the platform, Gunn defended the studio's approach to standalone stories. He compared the structure to the Guardians of the Galaxy films, citing the character Clayface as an example of a story that operates independently. He emphasized that every piece of a larger narrative should stand on its own, regardless of whether a viewer has seen previous entries.

Gunn addressed criticism regarding the lack of a major crossover event. He replied to a commenter who suggested the studio did not need a fully interconnected universe by writing, "I couldn't agree more." He described the DCU as an alternate universe where audiences can enter at any location or time to tell a specific story.

The co-head drew a parallel to Star Wars, noting that the franchise has operated with individual stories for 50 years across movies, shows, games, and books. He expressed excitement that elements of the plan are beginning to come together, which increased his enthusiasm for the upcoming release. The next film in the series, Superman: Man of Tomorrow, is scheduled for theaters on July 9, 2027.