Too Fast, Too Soon – A Review on the DCEU

With the eventual theatrical release of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. The DCEU is effectively at an end and now, fans and audiences alike get to wait on a new interconnected universe.

Set to begin officially by 2025 with the release of Superman: Legacy.

Although, it goes without saying that the tumultuous DCEU was never all bad. As it did have objectively beloved storylines, characters and of course, films.

But for an interconnected cinematic universe that never felt ‘interconnected’. A downfall was all but assured and while a number of factors resulted to this inevitable downfall.

One major factor that has pointed out time and again, is that of the Studio interference.

As the title of this article reads, Too Fast, Too Soon. Speaks to the unwarranted pace that Warner pushed the DC cinematic universe to. All because they wanted to keep pace with MCU, a franchise which already had a solid headstart.

The fact that many of the entries weren’t of any consequence to each other all the while masquerading as parts of a whole.

This really threw fans and audiences alike for a loop. Which wasn’t in the best interest of the Studio as time has now proven.

However, the cracks really began to show back in 2019. When Warner opted to start creating standalone projects in conjunction to their yet-to-be defined DCEU.

With this, panic became evident and one could have already guessed at this point, that the franchise was at a breaking point.

With its only choice being a reset, either partial or complete. As has been done in the comics, time and again.

It’s no secret that world building is a necessary aspect of developing a franchise, be it a longrunning one like that of MCU. Or a more concise endeavour like The Dark Knight Trilogy.

But for whatever reason world building be damned when it came time for Warner to unleash a DC cinematic universe. All because, playing catch up with the MCU seemed more appealing.

This also goes to show that Warner had insecurities and never truly trusted their fanbase. Even though they stand tall alongside studio giants like Disney & Universal. Not just for their DC content but also for the wealth of IPs they possess.

Moreover, it’s also been rumoured that Man of Steel was never meant to serve as definitive starter for the DCEU like Iron Man was for the MCU. But however, ended up becoming such simply because it had made promising returns on investment and Warner felt time was running out for them.

Since virtually almost every studio had gotten into the superhero/blockbuster game. But most especially, because Marvel was at the height of this conversation.

Therefore, Warner must have felt they needed to shake things up by doing things Too Fast, Too Soon.

If DCU is to do better, it has commit to the rules of developing a franchise and trust in its fanbase.

While the latter may be tasking for the Studio, it’s rival brand is currently experiencing an all time low, which can be capitalised on.

That’s not to say ill-will upon the MCU is currently being savoured. Or that the DC brand must equally fail for MCU to keep rising.

This writer makes his intentions clear by stating that there is a world in which these two comic book giants can and should coexist.
It all just depends on how their respective parent companies and creatives are handling their affairs.

Afterall, the 2010s which is considered as the height of comic book/blockbuster franchise fame. Was because a number of projects that existed within separate cinematic circles would experience immense success.

Though largely from a financial aspect. Which isn’t everything, but still good enough to allow continuity. For those who loved to consume these projects & get their fill of it.

So if movies made within MCU, Transformers, Star Wars, Fast and Furious franchises could experience financial successes. On more than one occasion during this period. It ultimately shows that no one was witch hunting the DCEU.

They weren’t just impressive enough and chose not to play to their own strengths. Hence, the audience couldn’t care less.