The DCU, James Gunn, and the Missing Batman Film Project

While James Gunn made good on his promise to introduce audiences to new iterations of Superman, Green Lantern, Supergirl, Lex Luthor, and more, DC Studios never did get their marquee character, Batman, onto the big screen.

That specific creative gap and the inability to launch the caped crusader in the new cinematic landscape ultimately may have cost Gunn and his partner Peter Safran their jobs at the studio helm.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

The absence of a central pillar like Batman in a newly launched cinematic universe creates a massive hurdle for studio momentum. Batman franchises traditionally act as major box office drivers and audience anchors, meaning his absence from the initial rollout left a significant void in the overarching DCU strategy.

Although the creative team succeeded in bringing alternative heroes and fresh cosmic characters to the forefront, the missing presence of Gotham's dark knight remained a glaring omission for studio executives tracking the long-term viability of the cinematic universe.

Source: IGN Movies