James Gunn: DCU Will Be a World Like Game of Thrones and Star Wars — Not an MCU Clone
James Gunn says the new DC Universe will not copy Marvel’s movie model. Instead, Gunn told Rainn Wilson in a conversation that the DCU will be built more like a connected world — with distinct cities, long histories, and different power players — and that the storytelling approach will reflect that world-building.
- What Gunn said about the DCU’s structure, setting, and tone.
- Which cities, factions, and companies will appear.
- How characters such as Lex Luthor and Maxwell Lord fit into the plan.
Gunn’s comparison: not the MCU
Gunn pushed back on the idea that “the DCU is doing what [the] MCU is” and outlined a different plan. He compared the DCU to Game of Thrones and Star Wars, saying: “is a lot more to me what the Game of Thrones world is like or what Star Wars is like, because we’re building a universe and then picking out little pieces of it and telling individual stories from that universe.”
Distinct places, long history
According to Gunn, the DCU will use its own map of cities rather than real-world metropolises. For example, he named Metropolis, Evergreen, and Coast City. Furthermore, he said metahumans have existed in this world for at least 300 years, so the setting includes deep history as a storytelling resource.
Factions and big players
Gunn explained the DCU’s main power structure: three factions — the Metahumans, the governments, and the corporations. He listed the four major companies competing for influence: Luthor Corp, Lord Tech, Stagg Industries, and Wayne Enterprises.
Image: Warner Bros. Entertainment
How corporations and governments behave
Gunn said these industries are not necessarily evil, but often act without regard for morality. He put it this way: “There is not a New York City in our DCU. There is not a Los Angeles in our DCU. There is Metropolis, Evergreen, and Coast City,” and later added, “I guess governments are amoral too. But it’s really more dependent on the morality of the figurehead.”
Lex Luthor and other characters
Gunn described Lex Luthor’s arc and his relationship with Superman in concrete terms. He explained that Luthor’s corporation has developed a battery that improved global efficiency and air quality, and that Luthor once had a high reputation. In Gunn’s words: “Luthor has created a battery, which has made the running of the world a much more efficient process. He has cars that run more efficiently, that are better for clean air. He’s done some really great things for the world, which is the reason for his obsession with Superman. He was considered the greatest guy in the world a few years ago, even though there were Metahumans, and then this guy with dimples and a glint in his eye in a silly costume came in and made him feel like shit, so he’s been sort of obsessed with him ever since and has gone evil.”
Gunn also referenced Maxwell Lord, who appears in Superman (2025) and in Peacemaker season 2. He said: “He’s not the greatest guy in the world, but as far as billionaires go, he’s probably more on the right side of things than Lex Luthor.”
Story focus and the multiverse
Finally, Gunn framed the DCU’s central narrative aim. Rather than centering on endless cosmic battles, he said the multiverse will be a way to tell contained, character-driven stories. Therefore, the plan emphasizes grounded conflicts between metahumans, governments, and corporations, instead of nonstop large-scale spectacle.
