Warner’s David Zaslav speaks on multi-universe characters in DC films, says it will be unified

It’s been a hectic year at Warner Bros since the merger with Discovery. The CEO David Zaslav has made headlines about as much as Elon Musk with his equally controversial decision-making at the studio concerning streaming service HBO Max, and especially the DC Cinematic Universe. Things seem to be leveling out a bit with the recent news of James Gunn and Peter Safran being named the new CEOs of DC films.

DC’s Batman property is currently seeing multiple incarnations of their characters in different universes with different interpretations. The Wrap has the report on Zaslav making sense of all the Batmen and promising a “unified future.” As popular as multiverse characters are right now, as they see adored past actors returning to characters, like in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Zaslav is quick to say that the multiverse will not play a major role going forward.

I think over the next few years, you’re going to see a lot of growth and opportunity around DC, there’s not going to be four Batmans. And so part of our strategy is drive the hell out of DC, which James and Peter are going to do. I think they’ve thrilled the fans. I think they’re going to thrill you over a period of time.”

The DCEU saw the introduction of Ben Affleck’s Batman as the main incarnation before audience reception and studio politics played a part in causing him to lose interest time and time again. It is rumored he will make an appearance in the upcoming Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Then, a non-universe solo film with Robert Pattinson debuted. And with the upcoming Flash film, the hero would be able to travel to different universes and reintroduce Michael Keaton’s Batman into the film world. Keaton was also to return in the jettisoned Batgirl movie. There are even different incarnations of Batman’s famed villain, the Joker, in multiple films.

As Gunn and Safran take over, they are currently outlining an eight to ten-year plan for the movie universe, as Gunn has already participated in the Marvel phases and will likely use that experience as a back bone of a life spent cleaning up a gigantic franchise for a new dawn.