James Gunn continues to reveal more details about the UDCand his latest comments give me hope that an underrated DC character will receive justice. The DCU slate has many familiar DC characters such as Superman, Supergirl, Green Lantern and Batman, but projects featuring lesser-known characters are also in development. Creature Commands and The Authority these are two projects containing heroes and villains that casual audiences are unfamiliar with. However, Gunn has a knack for making audiences fall in love with bizarre and obscure characters.
A character at the intermediate level of popularity is Swamp Thingcharacter who has a confirmed DCU project in development. Swamp Thing has had a few projects over the years, but nothing has elevated the hero into mainstream pop culture. It is known that the Swamp Thing project will be a film, with director James Mangold already attached, and although there is no release date, it is exciting that Gunn already has plans for this character. After his latest comments, I’m more excited about a DCU Swamp Thing movie as Gunn understands his popularity and value.
James Gunn Understands How Popular The Swamp Thing Is
Gunn is active on his social media and frequently responds to fans’ questions and comments. In a recent post on Topicsone user responded to Gunn, claiming that the DC Studios co-head was giving designs to characters like Sgt. Rock and Swamp Thing to appeal to the most dedicated comic book readers. Gunn quickly responded, saying that Swamp Thing’s popularity is often underestimated and that he has many great stories that audiences will respond positively to.
“Don’t leave Swamp Thing out. This is an in-development project we’ve announced, and he’s an incredibly well-known character, not only with some of the greatest comics of all time, but also with a number of successful films and his TV show itself, something that could only be said of a small handful of DC characters.”
Swamp Thing isn’t on the same level as Superman or Wonder Woman, but he still has a decent following and has been represented in several projects. He landed a 1982 film directed by Wes Craven and a 2019 TV series that premiered on the DC Universe streaming platform. Swamp Thing was also included in the list of Injustice 2. DC continues to make new Swamp Thing comics, illustrating the character’s enduring popularity. Gunn understands that Swamp Thing remains a popular character among a diverse audience.
DCU may revive the DC Universe’s canceled Swamp Thing series
Swamp Thing premiered on DC’s short-lived DC Universe streaming app, the company’s attempt to put its comics, shows, and movies in one place. Although the series did not achieve the best viewing figures, it received excellent reviews from critics and audiences. The series currently holds a 92% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. While the visual effects weren’t always top-notch, the show offered a more realistic and darker perspective on the character, and it was refreshing to see Swamp Thing taken so seriously.
Unfortunately, the positive feedback couldn’t save it as it was abruptly canceled after one season. When the DC Universe app was ported into the comics-only DC Universe Infinite, it wasn’t saved as Harley Quinn and Titanswhich passed on to Max. This series deserved an extension, but barring that, the DCU could give it the justice it deserves. Gunn knows how to make queer characters more popular and he can do the same thing with Swamp Thing. With the help of Logan director James Mangold, Swamp Thing may finally get a successful project in the DCU that sends him into the mainstream.
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