DC Fans got a lot of shocking news yesterday about the DCEU‘s future. In short, there may be a massive, drastic reset for the brand on the horizon, with some upcoming films now scrapped. Patty Jenkins‘ “Wonder Woman 3“? Dead. “Man Of Steel 2“? Also possibly dead. Fans expected big shake-ups after James Gunn and Peter Safran came on as the new DC Studios heads, but not this much so soon. And with a pivotal presentation by Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav next week, expect even more shattering news in the coming days.
Amid all the fallout yesterday, The Hollywood Reporter had another tantalizing bit of intrigue. THR reports that Jason Momoa‘s days as Arthur Curry may be over after “Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom” hits theaters on Christmas Day 2023, but his time in the DCEU potentially isn’t. So, what DC character would Momoa lead instead? None other than Lobo, the cigar-chomping intergalactic bounty hunter.
Momoa as Lobo? The potential casting kind of works, as the actor already rocks the comic antihero’s long locks and facial hair. But it’s DC’s apparent interest in a movie starring such a fringe character. Only DC diehards know about Lobo, who was once the comics brand’s answer to Marvel‘s super-popular “X-Men” character Wolverine. First introduced in the 1980s before quickly falling out of favor with comics writers, Lobo’s most popular period came in the ’90s. The character still has enthusiastic fans, but Lobo is not a high-profile DC staple.
However, Lobo is the kind of quirky, outsider, misfit character that James Gunn loves, so it makes sense that they’re in the discussion of DC Studio’s future. Gunn even tweeted a pic of Lobo last month, albeit he’s done that with several other fringe DC characters, too. But why would DC Studios pivot away from Arthur Curry, the hero who led “Aquaman” to become the highest-grossing film based on a DC Comics character? “Aquaman” reeled in $1.148 billion, much more than recent DCEU efforts like “Black Adam” and Gunn’s “The Suicide Squad.” If this dramatic DCEU reset is about righting the brand’s ship, why jettison its most lucrative property overboard? It’s a pretty wild thought, but only a hypothetical one for now.
In any case, expect at least an update on Momoa’s future with DC Studios in David Zaslav’s presentation next week. But even with the DCEU’s future in upheaval, its 2023 theatrical schedule remains secure, so expect “Shazam! Fury Of The Gods,” “The Flash,” and “Blue Beetle” in theaters on their respective release dates. As for Lobo’s future in the DCEU, stay tuned. Momoa talked to CBR today about an upcoming mystery project he has lined up with DC. Does it involve Lobo? Momoa remained coy, but teased it’s based on a character he’s collected the comics of his whole life. “I’m just happy that Gunn is at the helm and Safran, who is just like my heart,” Momoa said. “So I’m in good hands, and I think comic book fans around the world are going to be very excited.”
Expect definitive news about that Momoa-DC mystery project soon, possibly as soon as David Zaslav’s presentation next week.
