James Gunn Provides a Shockingly Positive Update on the DCU’s Most Troubled Film

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James Gunn shared some encouraging news about The Authority, which has been facing difficulties in development as part of the DCU. The Authority was among the first projects Gunn announced for the first phase of the DCU, called “Gods and Monsters.” Based on a relatively obscure team from the Wildstorm comics, choosing The Authority as one of the initial DCU films was unexpected. Things looked promising when Gunn featured one of its members, The Engineer (María Gabriela de Faría), in Superman, leading many to believe it would be the next DCU movie. However, The Authority has experienced several delays, and some have wondered if Gunn has scrapped the project altogether.

In an interview with Deadline, James Gunn was questioned about the progress of The Authority. He mentioned that a talented creator had recently approached him with ideas, but he didn’t reveal their identity. When asked if the film would move forward or potentially become an HBO series, Gunn simply stated, “Who knows?” It seems DC Studios is prioritizing well-known heroes like Batman and Wonder Woman, rather than The Authority. Gunn explained, “I’m probably not going to do certain movies with characters who (audiences) don’t know; it’s harder to get people in the theater for that kind of thing.”

Where Does ‘The Authority’ Fit in the DCU’s Future?


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While James Gunn didn’t share who he talked to, several directors have been considered for DC projects. Matthew Vaughn, famous for directing adult-oriented comic book movies like Kick-Ass and Kingsman, is said to have discussed a potential project with Gunn and Peter Safran. At the same time, Tim Miller, the director of the popular R-rated film Deadpool, also showed interest in directing The Authority. Hiring either Vaughn or Miller would be a big win for the DCU.

Developing The Authority proved challenging for DC Studios, appearing to be a bold move that ran into several problems. James Gunn explained that writers brought onto the project struggled to finalize the script. A key issue seems to be that the concept of a team of violent, proactive anti-heroes doesn’t feel particularly new, given the popularity of shows like The Boys, Invincible, and Gen V. Although Gunn has stated The Engineer will reappear in Man of Tomorrow, it’s still uncertain if she will ultimately join The Authority.

Many initially thought The Authority would be the second movie in the DCU, but now Supergirl will take that spot, hitting theaters on June 26, 2026. After that comes Clayface, a film that wasn’t part of the original DCU announcement in January 2023. Currently, Gunn appears to be concentrating on the sequel to Superman, titled Man of Tomorrow, and both a solo Wonder Woman movie and the Batman film, Brave and the Bold, are now key projects for the studio. While The Authority could still potentially appear in the DCU at some point, it’s unlikely to be the focus of its own movie right now.

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2025-10-02 19:25