The DCU Metropolis Feels Unique & Henry Cavill’s Did Not
James Gunn is working hard on Superman, and the first movie in the DC Universe makes an exciting choice that helps the film beat Henry Cavill’s Superman a year before premiering. Cavill did the best he could with the material he was given; however, his time as Superman was shrouded in controversies, as were the majority of the movies in the DCEU. Now, the franchise hopes to shift towards a new chapter with the star of the new Dcu, spearheaded by Gunn and Peter Safran, DC Studios co-CEOs.
Despite playing Superman for nearly a decade, Cavill only led one solo movie as the hero, appearing in a couple of crossover projects after that. When Cavill was onscreen, he showed glimpses of the perfect Superman within, though the DCEU made some confusing creative decisions with the hero, which included changes to his core cast of characters and beloved city. Now, the new DC Universe is reworking those decisions, and after recent reveals, it is clear that Gunn’s Superman reboot is already beating Cavill’s Superman based on a key change.
How The DCU Can Make The Most Of DC’s Iconic Cities
The Dcu needs to take some cues from its Metropolis design for the rest of DC’s iconic cities. Since Gunn has shown that he understands DC’s iconic settings, it should be expected that each location will feel unique. Gotham City could have a noir inspiration, Themyscira needs to be a lush island, Central City can be a technologically advanced city, and so on. Having each city stand with a singular design allows the DCU to establish a rich and diverse world from the get-go, which would be key in making the franchise feel fresh, starting with Superman’s Metropolis.
The DC Universe needs to avoid the mistake of making all of its iconic cities bland. The DCEU struggled to establish a distinct identity for these locations, and it negatively impacted the franchise’s overall cohesiveness. The DCU needs to recognize the importance of world-building, making each city distinct from the other, and it should start with Metropolis.
