In a recent statement, James Gunn, the director of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and co-head of the newly rebooted DC Universe (DCU), revealed that the Justice League does not exist in the new universe yet. This update has generated significant interest among fans who have been wondering if the iconic superhero team will return in the upcoming DC projects.

Justice League’s Absence in New DCU

James Gunn spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about the direction of the new DC Universe, including the fate of the Justice League. He explained that Peacemaker, one of the first DCU projects, serves as a “light canon” alongside Creature Commandos in the new universe. Despite some references to superheroes, Gunn emphasized that the Justice League is not part of the current DC Universe.

In his own words, Gunn stated,

“Peacemaker is pretty straightforward, with the exception of the appearance by a certain group [the Justice League] at the end. They don’t exist yet.”

This comment implies that while characters like Aquaman (played by Jason Momoa) and The Flash (played by Ezra Miller) appeared in Peacemaker, they were not fully integrated into the DCU’s primary timeline.

Impact of Previous DCEU Films

Gunn also mentioned that if references to past DCEU films appear in future DCU projects, it could serve as a hint towards the existence of characters or events from the older franchise. However, the existence of these characters is not yet confirmed in the new universe unless they are directly mentioned in the storyline.

In Peacemaker, fans saw faceless versions of Superman and Wonder Woman, though they were portrayed by body doubles Brad Abramenko and Kimberley von Ilberg, rather than the original actors Henry Cavill and Gal Gadot. This leaves room for the DCU to redefine these characters in a new light.

The Future of the DC Universe

While the Justice League may not yet be a reality in the DC Universe, Gunn has promised exciting new introductions of superheroes. For instance, Superman will feature a new lineup of characters including Mister Terrific, Hawkgirl, Guy Gardner (Green Lantern), and Metamorpho. Additionally, Kara Zor-El (Supergirl) and the two Green Lanterns — Hal Jordan and John Stewart — are also set to make their debut in upcoming projects.

The upcoming Creature Commandos animated series, which will premiere on December 5, 2024, on Max, is one of the first to showcase new characters, including Rick Flag Sr., voiced by Frank Grillo. Grillo is also slated to appear in the 2025 live-action projects, including Superman and Peacemaker Season 2.

Fans of the Justice League may need to wait a bit longer before seeing their favorite heroes together in the new DC Universe. For now, Gunn is focused on introducing fresh faces and reimagining the foundation of the DCU, with the possibility of integrating characters from the previous DCEU in subtle ways.

For more updates on the DC Universe, stay tuned to Vviptimes.