James Gunn Admits 2 New DC Studios Projects Are Not Actually Canon

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James Gunn has stated that while some recent DC projects share characters with the new DC Universe (DCU), they aren’t officially part of its core storyline. The DCU began with *Creature Commandos* and *Superman*, and *Peacemaker* Season 2 is currently airing. To ensure it fits, *Peacemaker* altered a key scene from its first season, making it fully part of the DCU – something two other recent DC releases can’t claim.

James Gunn, co-CEO of DC Studios, has clarified that while the novel *Superman: Welcome to Metropolis* and the *Krypto Saves the Day!* shorts were released under the DC Studios label, their stories aren’t considered official parts of the new DC Universe (DCU) timeline. Although the novel features David Corenswet as Superman, the events in the book didn’t actually happen within the DCU, and the same applies to the Krypto shorts, which also included a character from the *Superman* movie.

James Gunn addressed fan concerns and confirmed that neither *Superman: Welcome to Metropolis* nor the other project in development are part of the official DC Universe canon. Responding to a question on Threads, Gunn plainly stated that *Superman: Welcome to Metropolis* is a separate story, saying, “It is not canon, no.”

James Gunn was also questioned about the *Krypto* shorts on Threads, and he gave a comparable answer. Specifically, when asked if the shorts were officially part of the story, Gunn replied, “No. I love ’em tho.”

The novel connected to the DCU and the *Krypto* shorts aren’t the only times James Gunn has discussed what officially counts as canon. He recently responded to a question on Threads about whether there will be comic books that expand on characters beyond the films and TV series, adding to the established story.

So, I just heard from James Gunn that they aren’t planning any official comics right now. He basically said it’s because keeping everything ‘canon’ – you know, what *really* happened in the universe – would get way too complicated if they started adding comics into the mix. It makes sense, honestly! It’s already a lot to follow with the movies and shows.

Even though I’m involved, along with Phil who manages everything, it’s already challenging to follow the DC Universe with so many movies and shows. Adding the comics into the official storyline right now would overwhelm our small team, so currently, only the movies and shows are considered official canon.

James Gunn has stated that only TV shows and movies will be considered official parts of the DC Universe (DCU). The animated shorts, *Krypto Saves the Day!*, are an exception to this rule, as they are still considered filmed content.

Will DC Studios Release More Non-Canon Projects?

The recent release of *Superman* was a significant event for DC Universe and a major project for DC Studios and Warner Bros. Given Superman’s status as one of the most iconic and beloved superheroes of all time, it’s no surprise that a novel tie-in was also published.

As a fan, I’ve learned we shouldn’t expect every DCU movie to get a tie-in novel. Apparently, there won’t be one for *Supergirl*, or if there is, it won’t be considered official canon. But with *Superman* being the first movie in this new universe, Warner Bros. and James Gunn probably figured a novel aimed at younger readers could get even more people to see it in theaters. And it seems like it worked, since *Superman* was a big financial win for them!

We can probably expect a new book or short stories related to the upcoming DCU Batman movie, currently planned as *The Brave and the Bold*. Because Batman is as popular as Superman, any related merchandise would likely find a strong audience.

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2025-09-18 13:05