"DCU's The Authority Film Delayed: Challenges in Matching 'The Boys'"

It seems that DCU's movie "The Authority" is facing some challenges, as confirmed by DC Studios co-chief James Gunn. Announced as part of the expansive Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters DC Universe reboot two years ago, "The Authority" was touted as a significant project featuring the notoriously intense superhero team from the WildStorm Universe. However, recent updates suggest the project has been placed on the "back burner."

During a DC Studios presentation attended by IGN, Gunn described "The Authority" as the most challenging project within the Chapter 1 lineup. He attributed this difficulty to the evolving narrative of the DC Universe and the influence of other successful adaptations like Amazon's "The Boys." Gunn highlighted the complexities of integrating "The Authority" into a world already influenced by similar themes and characters.

"Honestly, Authority's been the one that's been the hardest, both because of the shifting overall story and because of getting it right in a world with The Boys and a world with all the things that The Authority influenced that came out after it," Gunn explained. He further noted the challenge of balancing the introduction of new characters with the continuation of stories for already filmed characters.

DC Universe: Every Upcoming Movie and TV Show

38 ImagesOne character from "The Authority," the electronics prodigy The Engineer / Angela Spica, is set to appear in the DCU's kickstarter film "Superman." The Engineer is considered one of the most powerful members of the group due to her abilities to self-duplicate, her technopathy, genius-level intellect, and radio-induced telepathy. For a deeper dive into the team, check out IGN's article, "Who Are the Authority: The WildStorm DCU Characters Explained."

"The Authority" isn't the only project facing hurdles within the Chapter 1 slate. Gunn mentioned that "Waller," a spinoff from his HBO Max series "Peacemaker," has encountered some setbacks. In contrast, the HBO Max series "Booster Gold" is progressing well, and "Paradise Lost" remains a key focus with active development. "The pilot's being written right now," confirmed Peter Safran.

Regarding "Swamp Thing," Safran expressed willingness to wait for director James Mangold, who is currently engaged with another project, "A Complete Unknown." "Our writer-director went off to make another little movie, A Complete Unknown, and we hope that he'll come back to Swamp Thing when he's ready, because again, that was one of those ones that we love him as a filmmaker, so we're happy to wait for him," Safran stated. Gunn added that "Swamp Thing" is not integral to the larger DCU narrative, emphasizing its standalone nature.