James Gunn‘s blunt reaction to Clayface missing connective tissues to expand the DCU has sparked MCU comparisons. Led by Tom Rhys Harries, the R-rated body horror movie hit theaters last week.
Gunn recently defended Clayface, stating it’s “an alternate universe”. “I dislike the idea that individual stories aren’t meaningful unless they lead to something else,” he wrote on Threads. Soon, several fans came forward in his support. They also drew parallels with the MCU while defending Gunn’s perspective. One fan, named @infinitesky21, wrote, “Feels like every new movie’s an overgrown and glorified big a** trailer for the next movie in the MCU lately.”
Another fan, @pashortt, called out the MCU and mentioned that the worst thing it did “was convince audiences that a movie or show only had value if it was serving as an extended trailer for the next big crossover.”
A third fan, @hangry_egg, defended DCU’s method of making standalone movies. They wrote that it’s “different from the MCU. They kind of made us come to expect everything to be connected and push forward the entire storyline. Which worked in the first phase but kind of died down after.” The user also mentioned that DCU’s strategy allows them to present a “great story and not have to worry about, well, how does this connect, what purpose does it serve.”
What comes next for the DCU after Clayface?
The DCU will keep moving forward with next year’s Man of Tomorrow. The sequel to 2025’s Superman will bring back David Corenswet in the role of Clark Kent/Superman. The story will see him making an unexpected alliance with his enemy Lex Luthor, played by Nicholas Hoult. They will fight together against a bigger threat, Brainiac.
Man of Tomorrow’s cast will also bring back Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, and more. They will be joined by Adria Arjona in her DC Universe debut. However, her character details are still under wraps.
Later, the franchise will expand with The Brave and the Bold movie. It will introduce the live-action version of DCU’s Batman. Fans may also witness a Savage Hunters movie featuring Bane and Deathstroke. Teen Titans, Swamp Thing, and a Wonder Woman reboot are also expected to come out in the future.