For the last several weeks, social media has been buzzing with claims — and let’s be honest, fantasy fiction — that the Warner Bros. sale might result in the DC Snyderverse coming back. The idea spread quickly across fan communities, helped along by wishful thinking by entertainment news outlets and a handful of influencers who saw opportunity in the chaos. But now that the actual facts are on the table, it’s clearer than ever: this rumor never had a pulse.
The executives directly involved in the sale have spoken publicly. Their priorities are crystal clear. And none of it — absolutely none of it — points toward reviving a defunct cinematic universe that ended years ago.
Let’s break it down.
Zaslav Makes It Explicit: Gunn and Safran Are the Future
During a December 4th interview with Businessweek, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav didn’t mince words when asked about the future of DC under new ownership. He offered full-throated praise of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s leadership.
WBD CEO David Zaslav Speaks at a New York Times event – YouTube, New York Times Events
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“The work of James and Peter, their creative vision, it’s compelling and a great economic return,” Zaslav said. “There’s no storytelling content that we have that provides a bigger palette than DC, and there’s nobody around right now who can tell these stories with the same imagination and excitement.”
He continued: “The DC universe is big enough and strong enough that it should be available on all platforms. There are some stories that are important to be told in theaters around the world, and some stories that are important to be told as series.”
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 13: Zack Snyder attends the Netflix Premiere of Zack Snyder’s REBEL MOON – Part One: A Child of Fire at TCL Chinese Theatre on December 13, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)
If there was ever a moment where the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery would gesture toward a potential Snyder comeback, this was it. Instead, he doubled down on Gunn’s direction.
The rumor ends right there — but let’s go further.
The Netflix Angle Was Always Nonsense
A second part of the online theory suggested Netflix would eagerly revive the Snyderverse the moment the company gained control of Warner Bros.
The logic went something like this: Netflix likes Snyder → Netflix buys WBD → Snyderverse restored.
Except… reality doesn’t work that way.
Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos – YouTube, WSJ News
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Netflix’s own CEO, Ted Sarandos, also spoke last week and echoed Zaslav’s stance on expanding DC storytelling — not reviving old cinematic timelines. Sarandos encouraged thinking beyond tentpole films, giving examples like The Penguin series branching out from core DC continuity (notably he didn’t mention Gunn’s crass and poorly received Peacemaker series).
But here’s the real kicker: Netflix already had a massive multi-project deal with Zack Snyder. And it didn’t go well.
As we previously reported here on That Park Place, Netflix seems to have canceled several Snyder-led projects, including planned expansions of Rebel Moon and multiple spin-offs that were once hyped as streaming tentpoles. The streamer invested heavily and ultimately backed away when the returns weren’t there.
ARMY OF THE DEAD (L to R) ZACK SNYDER (DIRECTOR, PRODUCER, WRITER) in ARMY OF THE DEAD. Cr. CLAY ENOS/NETFLIX © 2021
For years the myth surrounding Zack Snyder was that of a misunderstood genius unfairly harangued by evil meddling studios like Warner Bros. But when left to his own devices with creative control and large scale budgets, he delivered long gritty films that failed to find an audience.
So the idea that Netflix’s first order of business after acquiring Warner Bros. would be to resurrect a universe from a guy it reportedly just kicked to the curb? That was always pure internet mythology.
The Gunn DCU Isn’t Perfect — But It Is the Plan
Now, let’s be fair here: James Gunn’s DCU hasn’t had the smoothest start.
Superman certainly performed better than every other superhero film in 2025, but that’s not saying much when you look at Marvel’s horrific slate. And as Forbes previously reported, the film reportedly ended its global run over $40 million in the red. On top of that, his HBO Max series Peacemaker failed to chart in a meaningful way and drew a lot of criticism.
So fans feeling uncertain about the Gunn/Safran era aren’t imagining things.
Superman wounded in the snow in the trailer for James Gunn’s Superman – YouTube, DC
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But uncertainty is not the same as a Snyder revival being imminent. If the Gunn universe fails that doesn’t magically rewrite history to make the Snyderverse a success worthy of coming back.
The people with the power to make decisions have reaffirmed their path forward. For the foreseeable future, the DCU remains firmly in Gunn’s hands.
Why the Snyderverse Revival Rumor Had No Chance
Even without the executive commentary, this rumor was doomed the moment it entered the discourse for a few simple reasons.
For starters, most DCEU actors have moved on. Contracts expired years ago. Schedules changed. Some actors expressed openly that they’re finished. The logistical mountain alone makes a revival impractical.
Henry Cavill as Superman in Man of Steel – HBO Max
The timeline doesn’t work. Even if Netflix took over today, no major creative shift could realistically happen for several years. DC Studios has an active slate already in motion.
Additionally, online fan enthusiasm doesn’t equal commercial viability. There is indeed a vocal community that still champions Snyder’s work. But the numbers tell a different story, and the industry operates on economics, not nostalgia.
Ben Affleck as Batman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Warner Bros.
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Executives want forward momentum — not backward motion. Zaslav and Sarandos both articulated a shared vision: expanding and strengthening DC’s reach. Not rewinding it to double down on failure.
Conclusion: The Rumor Was Always Absurd
The internet loves a comeback story, and the idea of the Snyderverse coming back is one of those narratives that just refuses to fade — regardless of evidence. But when you stack the facts, the executive quotes, the studio economics, and Netflix’s own relationship with Snyder, the conclusion isn obvious.
It was never going to happen.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 13: Zack Snyder attends the Netflix Premiere of Zack Snyder’s REBEL MOON – Part One: A Child of Fire at TCL Chinese Theatre on December 13, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)
The DCU is James Gunn and Peter Safran’s sandbox now. Zaslav reaffirmed it. Sarandos reinforced it. And the rumor mill can’t change it.
If anything, the last week proved something else entirely.
A corporate sale doesn’t resurrect a dead cinematic universe…It just gives Twitter something to talk about.
Do you think the Snyderverse is coming back? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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