The evolving landscape of the streaming wars presents a massive strategic opportunity for Netflix to acquire or license highly valuable intellectual property (IP). At the center of this potential deal are the iconic characters from DC Studios, controlled by Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD).
With the DC Universe undergoing a major restructuring under co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran, the need for international distribution, licensing revenue, and broad platform visibility is critical. For Netflix, securing access to the vast library of DC Superheroes—including Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman—would not only instantly solve its need for reliable, high-budget tentpole content but would also deliver a crucial competitive edge against rivals like Disney+ and Max.
LOS ANGELES — The future of the world’s best-known superheroes is being plotted by DC Studios co-heads Peter Safran and director James Gunn. Working from the Warner Bros. lot, their ambitious multi-year plan aims to transform the property into the “crown jewel” that the intellectual property deserves to be, Safran told Bloomberg Businessweek in mid-November.
The immense scale of their creative effort is visible in Safran’s office, which is “buried under Batman and Wonder Woman comic books, merchandise and annotated scripts.”
The Aggressive DCU Content Slate
Safran and Gunn are wasting no time in building out the new DC Universe (DCU).
- Kickoff: The new era officially kicked off in July with the announcement of Superman (Gunn starts shooting in April 2026).
- 2026 Slate: Next year’s production schedule includes films centered on Supergirl and the villain Clayface.
- 2027 Sequels: The DCU slate for 2027 is already heavy, featuring highly anticipated sequels to Superman and The Batman (director Matt Reeves starts filming in May 2026).
- Television & Max: Their television plans are equally ambitious, including a second season of The Penguin and a unique true-crime series based on the superintelligent villain Gorilla Grodd.
Safran concluded, emphasizing the immense untapped potential: “We’ve only literally started scratching the surface.”
