In the wake of the shakeups at Warner Bros. and DC, James Gunn faces a daunting task. He’s already stopped a third Wonder Woman movie, made it clear that Henry Cavill is out as Superman, and made a statement that Robert Pattinson’s Batman will not be part of the DCU continuity.

With all of these announcements regarding various franchises, does this mean we’re starting from scratch? Is the Snyderverse done and gone? If it is, Gunn needs to look at the various possibilities of this new universe. When he does, it may be wise to leave the Big Three, Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, on the back burner for the time being and focus on other characters.

The Significance of The Big ThreeSuperman Batman Wonder Woman

DC has always made sure to stack the deck in their favor. This means leaning heavily on Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. Although these three have been the most well-known and consistent characters in the DC Comics universe, eight different actors have played Superman while six actors have played Batman.

Let's look at these three characters and why they are pivotal to the DC universe. Superman has been the centerpiece of DC since its inception. He is the original alien that fights for truth and justice and the "boy scout" that has not only had a Jesus-like resurrection but whose very existence has made him a useful tool for world governments. Throughout his tenure he has masqueraded as Clark Kent, a farm boy-turned-reporter whose relationship with Lois Lane allows him to experience the more human side of things.

Related: James Gunn's Hiring Shut Down Warner Bros. Discovery's Justice League 2 Plan

Batman, the orphan Bruce Wayne, witnessed his parents murdered when he was young, and it fueled his rage into an unwavering need to fight crime. Known as the world's greatest detective, his lack of superpowers has never been a hindrance. He is always one step ahead of his peers, even creating fail-safes should his fellow Justice League members go rogue. He is Superman's most trusted ally and his endless supply of money has allowed him carte blanche when it comes to creating technology to go after his foes.

Wonder Woman, also known as Princess Diana of Themyscira, is the leader of the Amazons and one of the most powerful heroes on the planet. She is the wielder of the Lasso of Truth, a nearly unbreakable sword, super strength, and two wristbands that can repel bullets. A hero in her own right, she has also been portrayed as Superman's love interest. Wonder Woman is a born warrior who does not have Superman's hesitation when it comes to killing her enemies.

When the studio looks at DC Comics they seem to have a blind spot for the remaining characters. The only time they have taken a chance on others with any success was with Gunn’s own The Suicide Squad in 2021 (this doesn’t count the train wreck that was Suicide Squad from 2016). Some have even said that this film was a pivotal reason he was offered the job of reinventing the DCU.

Why Taking The Focus Off The Big Three Matters

The Suicide Squad
Warner Bros. Pictures.

Gunn's bottom line needs to be world-building. The fact that Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman exist is common knowledge across the DCU. However, it is also true that they cannot do everything on their own. There are regimes to topple, threats from space, and villains from every corner of existence. That is why there is a Justice League, Justice Society, Suicide Squad, and a list of other independent heroes just waiting to be tapped in.

The problem with the Snyderverse was its insistence on building its world from the top down. Take the biggest, unmatched hero and realize that anyone that comes after will be less powerful. This is how to build a one-shot but no way to build a universe. Utilizing Superman early is also an issue because he needs to be placed opposite someone just as powerful. This means the big bad or the "Thanos" of it all isn’t gradually introduced. They are tossed in right from the beginning. Therefore, if the focus is placed on other heroes, the universe can be explored with the intention of ramping up to the big bad or final battle. Let it breathe and make it accessible so non-fans can find their way into the increasingly complex and intricate world.

Putting The Focus on Other Heroes

DC Superheroes
DC Comics

There are literally thousands of characters to choose from. For starters why not members of the Justice League who were never featured in the Snyderverse? The teased Green Lantern (John Stewart, not Hal Jordan) would be a great place to start. He could introduce the audience to the greater universe and its threats.

Related: James Gunn Drops Strong Hint at Justice League Dark Universe Coming to the DCU

There are also characters underused in the television Arrowverse that could use a big screen makeover. Make them diverse. Make them different. Allow representation and interesting powers that we haven’t seen from Marvel. Explore the interesting DC backstories. Some characters are alien, and some are displaced by time. There are those with generational powers and others with powers that have a terrible cost.

Picking these anchor characters will be difficult but necessary. They each need to represent something different. Further down the line, they’ll need to interact and work as a team. Allow them to forge their own paths with zero crossovers, save for a mention of an incident or a consistent connective character. Different tones, attitudes, and even costume styles will make them each stand out in a way that will make audiences beg for them to come together.

First, build worlds and start breaking things. Five or six movies in, make the mess so big that you need these three to make an entrance. Then you’ll have your universe.