DC Studios Introduces Unique Opening for Elseworlds Projects Like The Batman to Set Them Apart from DCU

by Tom January 20, 2025

DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has announced that DC is working on a distinctive opening for their Elseworlds projects, including upcoming films like The Batman, to set them apart from the DCU (DC Universe) projects like Superman. In a response to a question on Threads, Gunn explained that the animated series Harley Quinn and the spin-off film The Penguin do not bear the DC Studios branding because they were developed prior to their involvement. However, Gunn confirmed that a new DC Studios Elseworlds opening is in the works to provide a clearer differentiation between the shared DCU and the Elseworlds projects. The Batman, The Penguin, and the upcoming full sequel The Batman 2 belong to The Batman Epic Crime Saga and exist within the Elseworlds universe rather than the DCU canon. Currently, Creature Commandos is the only released entry in the DCU, with Superman scheduled to kick things off on July 11, 2025, followed by projects like Peacemaker, Lanterns, and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.

– DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has revealed that DC is developing a unique opening for Elseworlds projects like The Batman to differentiate them from DCU projects such as Superman.
– Gunn explained that the animated series Harley Quinn and The Batman spin-off The Penguin don’t have the DC Studios branding because they were developed before DC Studios existed, but future projects will have a clearer differentiator.
– The DC Studios Elseworlds opening will distinguish non-DCU projects like The Batman, which is part of The Batman Epic Crime Saga and falls under the Elseworlds category.

DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has recently disclosed that DC is working on a distinct opening for Elseworlds projects like The Batman in order to set them apart from DCU projects like Superman. Gunn provided an explanation on Threads as to why certain animated series like Harley Quinn or The Penguin spin-off did not carry the DC Studios brand, unlike the DCU opener Creature Commandos.

Gunn mentioned that Harley Quinn was developed long before DC Studios came into the picture, and as a result, it was deemed unfair to add the DC Studios fanfare to the series. Regarding The Penguin, he shared that although they had contributed in its development to some extent, a different DC Studios animation will be included at the end.

To provide more clarity on what belongs to the shared DCU and what does not, Gunn revealed that they are currently working on the DC Studios Elseworlds opening. It’s important to note that Elseworlds is not a shared universe in itself, but rather refers to projects that exist outside of the DCU. For instance, The Batman film has its own cinematic universe, and it, along with The Penguin and the upcoming sequel The Batman 2, is part of The Batman Epic Crime Saga. However, since these projects are not considered canon to the DCU, they fall under the Elseworlds umbrella.

Currently, there are few entries in the DCU, with Creature Commandos being the only one released. However, things will kick off properly with the arrival of Superman on July 11, 2025. Following this, viewers can expect a new season of Peacemaker, a Lanterns series, and the Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow film.