DC Universe’s Expansion Stalls
Well, folks, it’s over. While DC fans are still reeling from the recent “Booster Gold” news, The Ankler just shared that two additional previously green-lit DCU TV shows are officially “dead” at HBO Max. “Waller” starring Viola Davis as the titular Amanda Waller and Themyscira-set prequel “Paradise Lost” are no longer moving forward at HBO, but remain in active development with DC Studios.
DCU TV Shake-Ups Post-Supergirl
The three recently shelved TV shows were going to feature very different parts of this universe. “Booster Gold” was supposed to give us a different vibe with a man going back to the past with basic technology from the future to be a superstar superhero in our present. Davis was set to reprise her role as the cutthroat A.R.G.U.S. director in “Waller” and would’ve featured Team Peacemaker, who’ve been in limbo since the end of “Peacemaker” season 2. “Paradise Lost” is the biggest loss, however, as it would’ve given us a world set in Wonder Woman’s home, Themyscira. The series’ description had a “Game of Thrones” feel about it, focusing on the political movements of the Amazons.
The deprioritization isn’t surprising news, considering the two women-focused projects were announced in 2023 with little to no movement since then. The unfortunate timing of “Supergirl” faltering at the box office probably also factored in despite DC Studios Co-Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Peter Safran’s comments.
“While ‘Supergirl’ didn’t meet our box office expectations, it’s just one component of a broader, long-term strategy at DC Studios that we remain confident in,” Safran said to The New York Times.
That “broader strategy” doesn’t seem as broad anymore with the latest cancelation news of three highly-anticipated TV projects. Wonder Woman and Wonder-family fans are lamenting across social media for the loss of their only hope at a project that centered Diana of Themyscira’s people rather than another Batman or Superman-related project.
Though DC Studios Co-Chairman and Co-Chief Executive James Gunn revealed last year that a “Wonder Woman” film was being written at the time, there’s been little news since then for Diana lovers to hold on to.
Whatever Happened to Gods and Monsters?
All the way back in 2023, which feels like a decade ago at this point, DC Studios co-heads Gunn and Safran unveiled an exciting slate of DC projects, calling this chapter “Gods and Monsters.” This was supposed to be the great reboot/reset born out of the chaos of the previous DC Extended Universe and while everything started off smoothly with “Creature Commandos,” “Peacemaker,” and the box office success of “Superman,” things seem more in flux than ever.
The ship isn’t sinking yet, though. With “Lanterns” premiering Sunday, August 16 and “Clayface” coming to theaters October 23, 2026, DC Studios still has many opportunities to reassure fans and critics that Gunn and Safran are still charting the correct course. The uncomfortable fact remains that two female-led projects had to be put on the back burner after “Supergirl” flopped. Despite Safran’s comments, it does look like the studio is being a little more cautious with it’s streaming ventures going forward.
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