Two Projects Reportedly Canceled at DC Studios Leaving DCU’s Slate Thinner Than Ever

James Gunn and Peter Safran’s overhaul of the DC Universe began in January 2023 with an ambitious slate that included five interconnected TV series and five films under the banner of “Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters.” This announcement sparked significant excitement, as it promised a cohesive universe that would connect everything from Peacemaker’s world to the legendary island of Themyscira.

Fast forward nearly four years, and the original TV lineup has transformed into a tale of survival rather than growth. Of the five announced series, only ‘Creature Commandos’ and ‘Lanterns’ have made it to screens, while ‘Booster Gold’ has languished in development hell and recently lost its showrunner.

Now, the DCU’s television prospects have taken another major blow. A recent report from The Ankler reveals that both ‘Waller’ and ‘Paradise Lost’ will no longer proceed at DC Studios, effectively canceling two of the franchise’s most anticipated spinoff series before they even entered production.

‘Waller’ was set to bring back Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, a role she has portrayed in both David Ayer’s and Gunn’s ‘Suicide Squad’ films. The series was initially intended to connect the first and second seasons of ‘Peacemaker,’ but ongoing script issues led to ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 being prioritized, forcing ‘Waller’ to be reimagined as a sequel.

On the other hand, ‘Paradise Lost’ was envisioned as a grand, ‘Game of Thrones’-style narrative set on Themyscira, delving into the political machinations and darker aspects of the all-female Amazonian society predating Wonder Woman’s origin. Earlier this summer, Kira Snyder and Janet Lin were still reportedly involved, making its sudden cancellation particularly shocking for fans who believed it was on track.

In addition to these cancellations, The Ankler’s report indicated that DC Studios and HBO recently turned down pitches for standalone series focusing on Batman villains Catwoman and Poison Ivy, highlighting a broader tightening of what is approved under the current DC leadership. Representatives for DC Studios did not comment on the report when approached by other outlets.

The timing of these cancellations has raised eyebrows, especially following the disappointing box office performance of ‘Supergirl,’ which reportedly earned just $126.25 million globally. Some industry analysts suggest this may have influenced DC Studios’ decision to scale back on ambitious character-driven spinoffs that lack a solid theatrical foundation.

With ‘Waller’ and ‘Paradise Lost’ now effectively shelved, ‘Booster Gold’ remains the only original Chapter 1 series still technically alive, though it currently lacks a writer after David Jenkins, who was set to showrun the project, announced in July that his script would not be moving forward. This leaves DC Studios searching for a new creative direction from the ground up.

This news comes just days before ‘Lanterns,’ featuring Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre, premieres on HBO Max on August 16, marking the third live-action DCU series to reach audiences under Gunn and Safran’s leadership. For a slate that once promised five interconnected series alongside its film lineup, the current television landscape at DC Studios appears significantly leaner than what fans were initially promised.

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