In a bid to revitalize its struggling DC Films division following the 2017 failure of Justice League, Warner Bros. reportedly reached out to Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios. According to The Wall Street Journal, the studios initiated discussions in hopes of tapping into Feige’s expertise in building the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), which has been a dominant force in Hollywood since Iron Man debuted in 2008.
Although Feige did meet with Warner Bros., the talks did not lead anywhere significant as sources indicate that they “fizzled,” leaving the future of DC films uncertain while Feige remained focused on the MCU’s Infinity Saga, culminating with Avengers: Endgame in 2019. Despite speculation that he might be open to new ventures post-Endgame, no formal agreement was reached with Warner Bros.
Under Feige’s guidance, Marvel has produced films that reshaped the landscape of superhero cinema, and he continues to oversee upcoming projects, including two highly anticipated Avengers sequels — Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027).
In the years following the failed negotiations with Feige, Warner Bros. shifted its focus and appointed James Gunn and Peter Safran as co-heads of DC Studios in late 2022. Gunn, who has a successful history with Marvel, where he directed the Guardians of the Galaxy films, initially declined a Superman project offered by WB in 2018 to instead direct The Suicide Squad. However, he later agreed to write and direct a new Superman film, which is set to launch toward the beginning of DC’s revamped cinematic universe on July 11, 2025.
This new direction for DC can be seen as a hopeful shift, as positive early reviews are already highlighting a revitalized portrayal of the iconic character. This promising future could mark a turning point for the struggling franchise, aligning more closely with the enduring success of its Marvel counterpart.