James Gunn on Princess Ilana Rostovic’s Return and Using the Lazarus Pit: “Dead Is Dead” in the DCU

James Gunn, the creative force behind the DCU, recently addressed two burning questions from fans: the potential return of Princess Ilana Rostovic and the use of the Lazarus Pit in the DCU.

In a candid response, Gunn stated, “In the DCU, if you die, you’re dead. Well, I wouldn’t mind using the Lazarus Pit (and/or resurrection) in a story. But it would have to be a part of the story itself. I won’t be killing major characters just to pop them in the old LP to be alive again. What backfires more is people believing there are no stakes and death doesn’t mean anything. Dead is dead.”

This statement really confirms Gunn’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of the DCU, ensuring that character deaths are meaningful and not merely plot devices.

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Regarding Princess Ilana Rostovic, a character introduced in the animated series Creature Commandos, her fate was sealed in the show’s finale. Ilana, portrayed as a power-hungry and manipulative monarch, met her end at the hands of the Bride of Frankenstein, who killed her to prevent a potential global catastrophe.

Maria Bakalova who voices Princess Ilana Rostovic hinted months ago in an interview that her character could return through some special magic powers, or at least the actress hoped that it could happen, it’s certainly a possibility but now, it seems otherwise.

While Gunn has not explicitly ruled out the possibility of Rostovic’s return, his recent comments suggest that any resurrection would need to serve the story’s purpose rather than undermining the stakes established within the DCU.

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