With the DCEU being wrapped up as a mostly failed experiment, fans are cautiously awaiting the arrival of James Gunn’s Superman and the proper start of the rebooted DC cinematic universe, now dubbed the DCU. Though projects like Creature Commandos have already technically started the new shared universe, the live-action debut of David Corenswet’s take on everyone’s favorite Kryptonian is what most people are waiting on.
It’s a very exciting time to be a DC fan, with Gunn’s ambitious plans for the DCU after Superman extending to all forms of media; movies, television, and yes, even video games. And while there haven’t been any hard and fast plans for any direct DCU gaming ventures, there’s still plenty of room for the universe to expand into the realm of gaming without conflicting with the canonicity of any installments the universe may be getting in days to come.
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James Gunn's DCU is the Perfect Material For Lego Games
The DCU is a perfect fit for LEGO game adaptations. For one, the skeleton of a DCU game is already right there. Titles like the LEGO Batman franchise and its spinoff LEGO DC Super-Villains have already brought these characters into the LEGO world with their own models, powersets, and abilities. All that’s left is to use them in adaptations of the forthcoming DCU stories. With Superman on the horizon and projects like a Green Lantern show and a new Batman soon to follow, developers at TT Games won’t have any shortage of material to pull from.
What makes the DCU such an inspired fit for a LEGO game adaptation comes directly from the storytelling preferences of the one and only James Gunn himself. It’s no secret that Gunn is a huge fan of deep cuts, whether in his outstanding soundtrack choices or his seemingly out-there character picks. From as early as the first Guardians of the Galaxy, Gunn has been taking lesser-known or even unknown characters and turning them into household names via prominent roles in his movies. It might be hard for younger fans to remember now, but oddballs like Mantis and Rocket Raccoon were virtual nobodies before Gunn fleshed them out and made them the beloved characters they are today.
Similarly, LEGO games have thrived on massive character rosters that almost invariably include strange picks from the depths of the source material's lore. Lego Star Wars fans all remember first discovering and playing as the useless but effortlessly loveable Gonk droid; a character from the more obscure parts of Star Wars lore that’s become a fan favorite through its appearances in games. Gunn’s own inclination towards including these obscure and lesser-known characters in his projects means they’d all be right at home in LEGO games.
Superman alone is poised to include the likes of Mr. Terrific, Hawkgirl, and Guy Gardener’s Green Lantern. While these names may be familiar to comic book diehards, they're still very alien to general audiences, which gives Telltale Games an excellent opportunity to endear them to fans by putting them in a game adapting the first few DCU projects, much in the same way the MCU did with LEGO Marvel's Avengers.
How Will More Adult-Rated DCU Projects Fit in LEGO Games?
Gunn’s dedication to keeping the DCU varied in tone might seem like a roadblock to the prospect of a DCU LEGO game, but this might not be the case. LEGO adaptations of the universe’s more adult properties like Peacemaker and Creature Commandos might seem like a little too much for the more family-friendly game series, but plenty can be done to incorporate those characters and stories into a LEGO game.
With clever storytelling and some light content moderation, LEGO games have touched on plenty of dark or adult material in the past; Order 66 in LEGO Star Wars, nazis in LEGO Indiana Jones, and the nightmarish existence of Davy Jones and the Flying Dutchmen’s crew in LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean. If the developers can handle mature themes in other properties with lighthearted comedy, they can no doubt do the same with a show like Peacemaker—a series that already treats its violence and mature themes with a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor.