DC Animated Universe Producer Butch Lukic In The Dark On What James Gunn, Peter Safran, And DC Studios’ Plans Are For DC Animation

DC Animated Universe producers Butch Lukic and Jim Kreig revealed they have no idea what James Gunn, Peter Safran, and DC Studios have planned for the animated universe.

While promoting their upcoming film, Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths Part One, they were asked by ComicBookMovie.com, “With DC Studios’ formation, there’s some uncertainty about the future of these animated movies. Are you hoping they’ll continue as Elseworlds projects or do you not know yet?”

Lukic responded, “At this stage, we don’t know, but even something like Justice Society: World War II could definitely be continued with other versions as far as stories.”

“It’s all dependent on where they want to go. It all has to be Elseworlds. We can’t go into the James Gunn universe but our whole goal, even before James Gunn came in to be in charge, was to have a ten-movie structure and then be finished at this point. Beyond that, when it comes to sequels based on these films, that’s up to DC and Warner Bros,” he concluded.

READ: ‘Superman’ Writer Joshua Williamson Admits DC Comics Attempts To Sell Comics By Pissing Off Readers And Making Them Unhappy

When James Gunn announced the DC Universe slate at the end of January last year he confirmed it would feature projects in films, television, gaming, and animation.

He said, “It’s one of our jobs, mine and Peter’s, to come in and make sure the DCU is connected in film, television, gaming, and animation. That the characters are consistent, played by the same actors and it works within one story.”

Gunn continued, “And if something is outside of that like Matt Reeves’ Batman, or Todd Phillips’ Joker, or Teen Titans GO! that it is clearly labeled as DC Elseworlds, outside of the mainstream DCU continuity.”

He was also previously asked by DC.com if the DC animated films from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment would continue.

Gunn shared, “We’re dealing with all that. Some of that stuff will continue as Elseworlds, but a lot of other stuff we’re starting to bring into animation with (Warner Bros. Animation President) Sam Register so that we’ll have things that are connected with this.”

The DC Studios CEO concluded, “I think there have been a lot of really marvelous DC cartoons, so we’re going to keep moving forward with that.”

READ: James Gunn Says Former CIA Agent And Pusher Of Immorality Tom King Is “Integral Part Of The DCU,” A Death Knell For The DC Universe

Gunn did make it clear that the upcoming Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths films are not connected to the DCU while responding to a fan’s inquiry on Threads.

He was asked, “Do the new animated “Crisis on Infinite Earths” movies have anything to do with the start of the DCU or is that just some convenient timing?”

Gunn responded, “They do not.”

It’s unclear when the DC Universe is expected to kick off. Gunn has made a number of confusing and contradictory comments on the matter.

Last fall, he seemed to definitively claim that Creature Commandos was the start of the DCU posting on Threads, “Nothing is canon until Creature Commandos next year – a sort of aperitif to the DCU – & then a deeper dive into the universe with Superman: Legacy after that.”

He added, “It’s a very human drive to want to understand everything all the time, but I think its okay to be confused on what’s happening in the DCU since no one has seen anything from the DCU yet.”

READ: Tom King And DC’s Latest ‘Wonder Woman’ Issue Decried As A “Full On Grooming Psy-Op”

However, he would later reveal that Peacemaker Season 2 takes place in the DC Universe.

He was asked, “Will season 2 of peacemaker take place in the new DCU/ new continuity Or will it at least be addressed?”

Gunn replied, “Yes and yes.”

Gunn’s response seemingly indicated that the first season of Peacemaker is connected to the DCU, and if it’s connected that opens up a whole can of worms given the film connects to the DCEU via The Suicide Squad film that Gunn directed that featured numerous characters from DCEU including Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn and Joel Kinnaman’s Rick Flag.

Peacemaker Season 1 also featured cameos of Ezra Miller’s Flash and Jason Momoa’s Aquaman. It also included stunt doubles to portray Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman and Henry Cavill’s Superman.

What do you make of the fact that Lukic is in the dark on what Gunn and Safran’s plans are for DC animation?

NEXT: ‘Suicide Squad’ Director David Ayer Declares “I’m Done With DC,” Shares Details On His Next Project