DCU's The Authority Film Delayed, Gunn Cites Challenges in 'The Boys' Era

It seems that the DCU movie The Authority is facing some challenges, as DC Studios co-chief James Gunn has admitted that the project has been placed on the "back burner." Announced as part of Gunn and Peter Safran's ambitious Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters DC Universe reboot two years ago, The Authority was intended to bring the notoriously brutal superhero team from the WildStorm Universe to the big screen. Gunn had initially described it as a "big movie," but recent developments suggest significant hurdles.

During a DC Studios presentation attended by IGN, Gunn revealed that The Authority is the "hardest" project among those announced for Chapter 1. He cited the success of Amazon's The Boys as a contributing factor to the difficulties, noting the shifting overall story and the need to get the project right in a landscape influenced by The Boys and other works inspired by The Authority.

Gunn also mentioned the challenge of integrating characters already filmed and loved by fans, whose stories they want to continue and see intersect. As a result, The Authority has been somewhat sidelined for now.

DC Universe: Every Upcoming Movie and TV Show

38 ImagesOne character from The Authority, The Engineer / Angela Spica, is set to appear in the DCU's kickstarter film Superman. The Engineer is a standout member of the team, known for her ability to self-duplicate, her technopathy, genius-level intellect, and radio-induced telepathy. For more information on The Authority, check out IGN's article, "Who Are the Authority: The WildStorm DCU Characters Explained."

The Authority isn't the only project in Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters facing issues. Gunn mentioned that Waller, a spinoff of his HBO Max series Peacemaker, has encountered "a couple of setbacks." On a more positive note, the HBO Max series Booster Gold is "going pretty strong," and Paradise Lost remains a priority, with Gunn stating, "It seems to be going pretty well." Peter Safran confirmed that the pilot for Paradise Lost is currently being written.

Regarding Swamp Thing, Safran indicated that DC Studios is willing to wait for director James Mangold, who is currently working on another project, A Complete Unknown. Safran expressed enthusiasm for Mangold's involvement, saying, "We hope that he'll come back to Swamp Thing when he's ready, because again, that was one of those ones that we love him as a filmmaker, so we're happy to wait for him." Gunn added that Swamp Thing is not integral to the larger story they are telling, emphasizing its standalone nature.