TheDCUis steadily building their universe and already with the first three projects, it feels like they are correcting a major MCU problem. The MCU has been dominating the box office since 2008 when Iron Man was released. However, since the Infinity Saga ended, and the MCU shifted focus to covering multiple mediums, including TV and film, things have slowed down considerably. Meanwhile, the DCU is about to debut their first movie withSuperman.
Now, with only one movie due to be released in 2025, and a handful of other projects planned for the years and months ahead, there is a long road ahead for the DCU. But, withJames Gunn’s previous experience working on the MCU, and seeing the ups and downs of the MCU, it seems as though theDCU is already course correcting some of the issues from the MCU.
The DC Universe’s First Movie & First Two Shows All Share 1 Storyline
The Universal Connections Run Deep In The DCU
As mentioned above, the DCU is releasingSupermanin 2025, in addition to having released the animated series,Creature Commandosat the end of 2024, andPeacemakerseason 2 coming out later in 2025. And while these shows cover the big and small screen, all three have clear connections. Beyond the references and teases for the Justice League, all three projects includeFrank Grillo playing the role of Rick Flag Sr.
Rick Flag Sr.’s story also extends back into the DCEU, with his son having appeared and being killed inThe Suicide Squad, andPeacemaker dealing with the aftermath of having killed Rick Jr.in the first season ofPeacemaker.Rick Sr. is well-connected in the DCU, and his central role in multiple projects creates a unique continuous story that is gradually expanded and developed through other projects.
How The Rick Flag Sr Storyline Avoids An MCU Problem
The MCU Has Struggled To Create A Balanced Viewing Experience For Audiences
Now, Gunn promised from the start of the DCU, the projects featured on various platforms, whether that is TV, film, or even video games, would all be connected, unless explicitly set up as DC Elseworlds projects. This means that the universe that all of these stories play out in is designed to take place in the same universe, with a certain amount of overlap and continuous storytelling. AndRick Flag Sr.’s story is a perfect exampleof how this is true, without overwhelming or overshadowing the rest of the DCU.
Rick is present in each of these three stories, and his narrative develops in each project, but it’s not required viewing to watch the two TV shows to enjoy the character and connect with them in the movie. Instead, theDCU is making an effort to connect these stories, butviewers can be as engaged as they want to be, without feeling the burden of needing to catch up on every project. And unfortunately, as the MCU has grown, their projects can sometimes feel like homework to get to the next story.
The DCU’s Rick Flag Storyline Makes Superman & Peacemaker Season 2 Even More Exciting
There Are Layers Of Storytelling Being Worked Into The DCU
Rick Flag Sr. is a central character inCreature Commandosas the official leader of the team. That project delivers the most expansive exploration of the character, and it appears that his role in bothSupermanandPeacemakerseason 2 is more of a supporting role. However, theinclusion of the character doesn’t necessitate the audience needing to go and learn everything about himunless they want to find out more about his character. And if that’s the case, they can go and enjoyCreature Commandos, which ultimately feels a lot closer to how comics work.
The comics have connected universes, and when readers find a character they like, there is often a series of stories that explores more about that character. However, if they don’t have an interest in the character, they can focus their attention on other characters.Rick Flag Sr.’s role inSupermanandPeacemakerseason 2feels similarly positioned, which means that theDCUaudience is in control of how much or how little they engage with the series as a whole.
