James Gunn has clarified what he meant regarding some recent comments about Black Adam and Shazam! 2.
Gunn and Peter Safran launched the DCU at DC Studios and Warner Bros. Pictures in December 2024 with the animated Creature Commandos series. That was followed by Gunn’s Superman movie, while Peacemaker Season 2 will premiere next month. Lanterns, Clayface, and Supergirl all arrive in 2024.
Before the DCU, Warner Bros. had the DCEU — a shared universe that began in 2013 with Man of Steel and ended in 2023 with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Gunn worked on DCEU projects such as 2021’s The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker Season 1.
Speaking with Den of GeekGunn recently confirmed that Black Adam and Shazam! 2, also known as Shazam! Fury of the Gods, are not canon to the DCU despite both movies including cameos from Peacemaker characters.
He commented, “They’re not canon! I hate it!”
Some inaccurately took this to mean that Gunn was saying he hated both Black Adam and Shazam! Fury of the Gods; however, this is not the case.
He clarified on Threads“This is the kind of nonsense you have to look out for in these posts. I never said I hated either of those films – I said I didn’t like the way the 11th Street Kids were included, as I don’t think Harcourt was ever the warden of an underwater prison, and I don’t think Waller had anything to do with the Justice Society.”
How Peacemaker Season 2 deals with the DCEU/DCU continuity change remains to be seen; fans need not worry, though, as Gunn has said multiple times that it will be addressed.
Peacemaker Season 2 premieres on HBO Max on August 21, 2025. The first season, along with Black Adam and Shazam! 2, are currently available to watch on the streaming platform.
Originally reported by Brandon Schreur at SuperHeroHype.
