With the start of the new DCU, James Gunn needs to find a way to begin showing new characters in a fun yet efficient way. Though some characters will undoubtedly receive their debut on the big screen, some may be just as effective through their own streaming series.

The question is whether he will take this path and learn from Marvel’s movie-first method or find his own way of going about introducing his expanded universe to the world.

Gunn Should Bank on Green Lantern

     DC Comics

There are already plans in the works to bring the Green Lantern Corps to HBO Max. However, rumors abound about whether it will actually happen as planned. Gunn has shot down these rumors of its premature cancelation, but the end result of his DCU shakeup may make the show a soon-to-be would-have.

The idea of the Green Lanterns getting their own series was great news to the fanboys. The idea of one movie encapsulating such a large, pivotal DC team seemed like a bad idea. A series could establish importance and lore before any character joined a big screen team up.

Add to this the fact that, although they will not be canon, DC has had a run of successful shows and universes based around The Flash, Supergirl, Green Arrow, and others. They have even had an amazing string of successes in their animated universe. While these are all undoubtedly discounted from any DCU timelines streaming may end up being a great way of adding more to the DCU. Smaller characters could solidify a universe under construction.

Marvel Did It Backwards

     Disney Platform Distribution

Before Disney+ became the hub of streaming Marvel television shows, Netflix carried the torch with Daredevil, Jessica Jones, The Punisher, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist. Since that time, Marvel has added a number of shows and one-shots to their Disney+ roster. Due to there being no other game in town, they had the luxury of doing things this way.

Marvel also used Loki to introduce their multiverse and give a peek at their big bad of Phase 5. They learned that building backstories through end credits no longer needed to be their only means of teasing their audience. They have streaming shows that built more interest and created a way to continue their narrative between films. Gunn now has a chance to look at the Marvel model and plan their strategy with both film and television at his fingertips.

The Logical Next Steps for the DCU

     The CW

The first thing Gunn needs to do is decide on his universe. If the DCU is properly planned, they will consider their own phases. Each phase revolves around a storyline that has a beginning, middle, and end. However, television shows could begin at any point and continue underneath the films. These secondary narratives could be interrupted by the films, pulling characters onto the big screen for one-shots and appearances. Should their shows continue, they could serve as a what’s next and show the after-effects of the big battles, world-shattering revelations, and other big-picture fallouts.

Gunn must make sure that the right characters get their own series. In the beginning, it may behoove them to play the Guardians of the Galaxy card and begin their process of introducing teams that even fans may not be familiar with. These often yield breakout stars and groundswell support for characters that people have not yet written off. New characters offer nothing but surprises.

Who Gets Their Own Show?

     Warner Bros.

With such a large stable of characters, it may seem like there are too many choices. However, there are plenty to weed out and a handful to consider.

Many people will point to Doom Patrol as one of the best examples of a current DC show. It has not been ruled out as canon, but the characters may not appear in normal continuity. That being said, Doom Patrol may be a template for the type of show that should appear on the small screen for the DCU. Multiple characters working together who may eventually be involved in big-screen action.

One team that could very much appear separately or as a group on the small screen would be those involved in Justice League Dark. This is a group of supernatural-based characters who tackle some problems that the more mainstream characters do not. Their roster has changed from time to time but some of their main characters such as John Constantine are well known. Though Keanu Reeves will be reprising his role as Constantine in the sequel to his 2005 film, there is no word whether the character exists in the DCU. If he does, he may be an anchor for a show revolving around a team of characters as diverse as Swamp Thing, Zatanna, Deadman, and even Frankenstein.

A minor character that could have interesting implications within the DCU on the small screen is The Question. This character has been a mainstay of DC Comics and could allow for more street-level action. The Question is a detective whose distinct feature is that they wear a pseudo-skin mask over their face to protect their identity and remain mysterious. Multiple characters have taken on the mantle of The Question, and they have spent a bit of time in Gotham City, though this is not their sole area of activity. Utilizing this character could give a more grounded view of the DCU and provide viewers with a view that differs from the typical capes-in-the-air heroes they are used to seeing.

In essence, the entire purpose of adding these characters would be to show the breadth of this universe and that it extends well beyond what the non-comics reader knows. Gunn would do well to remember this and use the small screen to his advantage.