James Gunn Sets the Record Straight Regarding ‘Black Adam’ and ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ Being DCU Canon — “I Hate It”

The reboot of the DC Universe has caused a lot of confusion about what counts as part of the official story, or “canon.” Many fans assumed that since Steve Agee and Jennifer Holland returned as John Economos and Emilia Harcourt in the movies Black Adam (2022) and Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023), those films must be part of the new DC Universe.

But James Gunn, who is leading the new DCU, has made it clear that this isn’t the case. Speaking to Den of Geek, Gunn said bluntly, “They’re not canon! I hate it!”

Rebooting an entire cinematic universe often brings these kinds of headaches. What’s surprising is who Gunn trusts to help sort it all out, not Superman, but Peacemaker.

The character, who stars in his own TV series, has become central to the new DC continuity. Gunn explains, “There are certain things from the old universe that we refer to in Peacemaker season 2, but until then, they’re not canon. Almost everything from season 1 is canon, but season 2 will explain everything that is or is not canon.”

James Gunn previously spoke about the new DCU’s official story. He explained that almost nothing before the series Creature Commandos is part of the new universe, except for a few things shown after it. “Now in Creature Commandos, you’ll hear them talk about things that happened in [The] Suicide Squad or Peacemaker, well then, those things automatically become canon,” Gunn said.

For example, in The Suicide Squad, the character Weasel survived and returned in Creature Commandos, joining a new team. Gunn also mentioned a scene in Peacemaker with the old Justice League, including Aquaman and Flash, that confused some fans.

But he clarified those characters are from the old DC universe, not the new one. “The truth is almost all of Peacemaker is canon with the exception of Justice League… which we will kind of deal with in the next season of Peacemaker,” he added.

Regarding the movies Black Adam and Shazam! Fury of the Gods, both had mixed critical responses. Black Adam, starring Dwayne Johnson, received praise for its action scenes and Johnson’s performance but was criticized for its thin plot and uneven tone.

Shazam! Fury of the Gods, the sequel to the popular 2019 film, was generally seen as entertaining and fun but didn’t quite capture the charm of the original, receiving mixed reviews from critics. Neither movie is part of the new DCU canon according to Gunn’s vision.

So, while these films brought back familiar faces and characters, they don’t officially fit into the new DC Universe story. Fans will have to wait for Peacemaker’s second season and upcoming shows like Creature Commandos to get the full picture of what counts as real in the new DC world.

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