James Gunn has a message for DCU fans waiting on bigger crossovers: not every film is there to set one up. In posts on Threads reported by IGN, the DC Studios co-chairman said he doesn’t want Clayface to exist just to feed whatever comes next, days after the R-rated body horror reached cinemas.
Gunn was replying to a fan who defended the shared universe. IGN reports that he called the DCU “just an alternate universe” where DC Studios can “enter at any location or time and tell THAT story”. He added, “I dislike the idea that individual stories aren’t meaningful unless they lead to something else.” Screen Rant’s account of the same thread has him calling it strange that people don’t grasp this, since Star Wars has been working the same way for 50 years across films, shows, games and books, “admittedly without the tonal variety”.
That caveat matters because the DCU has swung hard between registers. It began with the animated series Creature Commandos, moved to cinemas with Superman, then ran through Peacemaker Season 2, Supergirl and Lanterns before landing on a horror film. Some DC watchers say Gunn and co-chairman Peter Safran haven’t used the smaller stories to build toward bigger team-ups. Gunn’s answer is that connective tissue exists without every title acting as a trailer for the next. Star Wars, which sits on the streaming charts as well as in cinemas (Andor topped the May 4th 2025 streaming charts), is his chosen precedent.
In a follow-up post, Gunn said the “Superman Saga” runs from Superman into Man of Tomorrow and “contains many characters we’ve introduced in other stories”. Those other stories, he said, don’t exist only to set up what happens there. He’d rather audiences see Clayface as a “great, fun horror movie unto itself” than for where the character turns up three films later.
What else Gunn mentioned
IGN reports that Gunn also touched on the wider slate:
- Creature Commandos Season 2 will arrive after Man of Tomorrow‘s premiere next year.
- A small group has seen director’s cuts of Man of Tomorrow. Gunn called the process “exciting” and said he is recutting during the week and screening the latest version for a few new viewers each Friday.
- IGN says The Batman Part 2 still appears on track for 18 February 2028.
IGN also notes that standalone Wonder Woman and Batman films are in development. It describes projects such as The People v. Gorilla Grodd as further along than most, with crossover moments limited so far.
Clayface in the UAE
According to Dubai Standard, Clayface has been showing in UAE cinemas since 22 October, a day ahead of its US opening. VOX Cinemas lists the same date, with English audio and Arabic subtitles. IGN gave the film 7/10 and says it has solid scores from critics and fans. It adds that the film leans on a new version of Gotham City and doesn’t reveal whether Batman appears.
Do you need to watch the other DCU projects before Clayface?
Gunn’s comments suggest not. He wants the film to work as a horror movie on its own, and describes the DCU as a universe where stories can start at any point in time or place.
When does Creature Commandos Season 2 arrive?
IGN reports that Gunn said it will follow Man of Tomorrow‘s premiere next year. No exact date has been given.
Is a Justice League-style team-up coming soon?
Nothing in Gunn’s comments points to one. IGN reads the approach as laying a foundation first, with standalone Batman and Wonder Woman films in development.
