With James Gunn taking full reign over the new (and hopefully improved) DCU, the MCU has seemingly had a reactionary response by roping the Russo brothers back into the Avengers machine, and announcing Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom.
Fans have had mixed-to-positive reactions to the casting, with everything from knee jerk one-liners to full on, complex breakdowns going viral on social media. It isn’t the immediate home run Marvel expected, but even so, it’s at least semi-clear what they were thinking, and further, what Gunn is thinking now.
Beginnings
Downey was there from the beginning, when Marvel Studios brought on singular, stylistic directors with challenging visions to bring the universe to life. Since then, that life has been slowly stripped away by a studio too scared to take the same kinds of risks that got them off the ground in the first place. Downey’s return seems to signify a recognition of the fall-off, though whether or not they fix it remains to be seen.
If the former process sounds familiar, it’s because it is exactly what the DCU is doing right now. Gunn, beyond working on Superman himself (which his track record suggests will succeed) has repeatedly stated the importance of a quality product, and confidence in it. He’s supposedly finishing and approving scripts before a project is even greenlit, and thus far, he’s stuck to his gun(n)s.
In the wake of Superman wrapping on set, he’s managing the post-production of that film whilst also shooting Peacemaker’s second season, which is set to tie into the DCU and sever itself from the previous universe. It doesn’t stop there, he’s actively manning the rollout for Creature Commandos on Max, the animated show that will officially usher in the first bit of continuity for the DCU. We’re seeing posters plastered on the back of comic books, teaser art being released, and Gunn himself is taking questions on all three matters. He’s in high gear, and if he can learn anything from Marvel, it’s to never let off the pedal. Not even for a moment.
Intangibles
Gunn is applying the same formula on the casting front, too. David Corenswet as Superman is a perfect visual match, but as far as his popularity goes, he’s hardly hit the limelight. His recent role in Twisters again proved the strong acting abilities he demonstrated in recent, smaller projects. This strategy of casting lesser-known actors to helm leading roles, is something the MCU did too. Chris Hemsworth is perhaps the greatest example. A meg a-star now, absolutely, but before Thor, he was what Corenswet is now: a visual match, with mostly experience in smaller roles. Yet, it worked out. Marvel didn’t seek big-name actors to sell their movies. Instead, by casting relative unknowns, they put the focus on the character instead of the movie star.
Nowadays, Marvel would rather bring Harry Styles in for an aimless post-credits scene than find a perfect match for the role. Gunn, whether deliberately or coincidentally, is retracing the good steps that the MCU took and, going forward, will benefit from the ability to avoid the bad ones. He’s a step ahead now, only because Marvel was a step ahead then.
Where Marvel has the edge is in returning characters that they’re able to repurpose. Take Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson, for example: a longtime mainstay that has been able to naturally transcend his role as The Falcon and take the mantle of Captain America as a result of earned development and comic destiny, to the applause of (mostly) ravenous fans. A trailer for his first solo film, Brave New World, debuted to deafening cheers at SDCC this year, and if the views online are any indicator, Marvel has a win on their hands.
Of course, the DCU can accomplish this eventually, and likely will, but Marvel can stay in the game by leaning on familiar faces. If fans won’t show up for the new guys, bring in the old. That’s where RDJ comes back in, and why the move makes enough sense.
Inbetweens
Either way, the fight is far from over. The DC Universe still hasn’t technically started yet, and if the sheer attention garnered from RDJ’s casting means anything, it’s that the MCU’s recent struggles haven’t hindered fan excitement for what is to come. Even in the MCU’s refusal to innovate after Endgame, the legacy of their characters and actors carries them through. Doctor Doom is Doctor Doom, and RDJ playing him is just a bonus drawcard—people will buy a ticket, even if just to see what it’s all about.
Ultimately, it’d be the best of both worlds if we could have Marvel and DC running cinematic universes successfully and simultaneously. Regardless of which you prefer, no Marvel superfan will turn down a great superhero movie from the other side, or vice versa. Active competition is healthy for the genre, and going forward, it may be the only thing that works to grow it beyond the stasis it currently suffers.
All superhero fans can do until Superman premieres is kick back, try and relax, and play the guessing game. If anything, folks should take solace in the fact that James Gunn has done nothing but earn the trust of die-hard comic book fans. Even with what little we know about Superman so far, that doesn’t seem to be changing… for everyone’s sake, let’s hope the MCU can do the same.
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