As the DC Universe continues its ambitious restructuring under the guidance of DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn, the filmmaker has confirmed he is already looking beyond his current slate of projects. While the post-production process for Man of Tomorrow—the highly anticipated sequel to 2025’s Superman—remains the top priority for the studio, Gunn has revealed that he has already begun drafting his next venture, keeping fans and industry insiders speculating about the future of the interconnected cinematic universe.
Gunn shared the update during a candid interaction with followers on the social media platform Threads. When asked by a fan about his current creative focus, the director revealed that he had begun writing a new, currently undisclosed project. He lightheartedly noted that the writing process served as a productive outlet while he awaited the "assembly cut" of Man of Tomorrow. In professional filmmaking terms, the assembly cut represents the initial stage of the editing process, where all scenes are organized in script order before the director and editors begin the more intensive task of refining pacing, performance, and narrative flow.
The announcement coincides with a milestone in the production of Man of Tomorrow. Over the past weekend, Gunn officially confirmed that the assembly cut of the film is complete. This transition into the refined stages of post-production suggests that Gunn’s focus will now shift back to the rigorous demands of finalizing that specific film. Consequently, any new writing project he has initiated will likely be sidelined or moved into a slower development phase while he dedicates his primary attention to ensuring Man of Tomorrow meets the high standards established by the launch of the new DCU.
The Mystery of the Next DCU Chapter
Despite the excitement surrounding his latest creative endeavor, Gunn remained characteristically tight-lipped regarding the specific nature of the project. Given his exclusive creative partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery—a corporate entity currently navigating a major shift toward its future identity as Skydance following its merger with Paramount—it is a near certainty that the project will reside within the DC canon.
However, identifying exactly what that project might be remains a difficult task for even the most dedicated fans. The current DCU release calendar is already heavily populated, with numerous films and television series in various stages of development. Most of these projects have already been assigned their respective writers, directors, and showrunners, leaving little room for a major, unannounced Gunn-led production unless it is a project that has been kept entirely under wraps.
Speculation has naturally veered toward a potential third entry in the Superman saga or, perhaps more ambitiously, a definitive Justice League event film. Given that the current DCU strategy is built on a foundation of careful, interconnected storytelling, a massive team-up film would represent a logical, albeit massive, undertaking for the studio. Regardless of the specific title, Gunn’s hands-on approach to writing—a hallmark of his work on The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker—ensures that whatever he is drafting will be central to the overall architecture of the new universe.
Addressing Fan Speculation and Casting Rumors
Beyond his own creative output, James Gunn has also spent significant time lately clarifying the parameters of the DCU for an increasingly vocal fanbase. The social media landscape, particularly on platforms like Threads, has become a hotbed for theories, many of which are fueled by actors or fan-made concepts that gain traction before they can be officially addressed.
One such instance involved a fan-made poster that circulated online, depicting actress Adria Arjona in the role of Wonder Woman. The image gained significant momentum, with many fans adopting the idea as a confirmed reality rather than a speculative wish. The rumor gained further inadvertent fuel when Man of Tomorrow actor Frank Grillo reposted the image on his own social media channels.
The situation forced a swift response from Gunn, who sought to manage audience expectations and prevent the spread of misinformation regarding the film’s cast. Gunn clarified that Grillo’s actions were not based on insider knowledge of the film’s narrative or casting decisions. "Frank doesn’t know who Adria is playing in the DCU and whether or not she has any sort of incredibly small cameo in Man of Tomorrow or not," Gunn wrote. "People have been making way too much of this."
This incident highlights the ongoing challenge for the DC Studios team as they attempt to balance transparency with the necessity of keeping plot details and casting surprises intact until the proper time for an announcement. The hunger for information regarding iconic characters like Wonder Woman is immense, and in the absence of official news, fan theories have a tendency to harden into accepted fact within online communities.
This was not the only instance in recent weeks where Gunn had to intervene. A similar rumor regarding actor Matthew Lillard—who had been widely linked to the role of The Flash by internet observers—was also addressed by the director. Gunn felt compelled to shut down the speculation, clarifying that the rumors were unfounded.
As the studio moves forward, these clarifications have become a recurring feature of the lead-up to the release of Man of Tomorrow. While the excitement for the new DCU is palpable, the studio is clearly focused on delivering a finished product that stands on its own merits rather than one defined by the whirlwind of internet conjecture.
With the assembly cut of Man of Tomorrow now in the rearview mirror and the post-production team working toward the film’s release next year, the broader scope of the DCU continues to take shape. Gunn’s commitment to writing, even while managing the complexities of a massive blockbuster production, underscores his deep personal involvement in the future of these characters. For now, audiences will have to wait for official confirmation on what the director’s next project will be, but the fact that he is already writing suggests that the momentum at DC Studios shows no signs of slowing down.
