Three years after its initial announcement, James Gunn has finally disclosed the status of a previously anticipated R-rated DCU collaboration film.
In 2023, Gunn revealed the lineup for the DCU’s inaugural chapter titled “Gods and Monsters,” which featured projects like Superman, the first season of Creature Commandos, and the second season of Peacemaker. These projects have already been released. Additionally, upcoming releases such as Supergirl were also announced at that time. However, progress on several other announced movies and shows has been minimal over the past three years, leading to speculation about their cancellation.
Among these projects was the The Authority movie, which Gunn has now confirmed via Threads will not proceed. The DC co-CEO clarified that contrary to some fan theories online, he never intended to direct or write the film. He further elaborated that the project’s discontinuation stemmed from script issues, difficulties integrating the movie into the broader DCU narrative, and various practical challenges, though he hinted at a potential revival in the future. Below is Gunn’s complete statement:
Just a normal slip of the tongue. I would have never had time to do this and although I know this is a popular theory online I never had an intention of writing or directing The Authority. The script wasn’t quite there but more importantly it didn’t work in terms of the larger DCU both in terms of the story and practical concerns. Maybe some day. Not soon.
The Authority is a group of antiheroes from the DC Comics universe, featuring characters like Jenny Sparks, The Engineer, Midnighter, The Doctor, Swift, Jack Hawksmoor, and Apollo. The Engineer was portrayed by Maria Gabriela de Faría in the DCU’s Superman movie, where she collaborated with Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult). This role was seen as a setup for The Authority film, which is now not going ahead.
In the same Threads post, Gunn also updated the status of two other DCU endeavors unveiled in 2023, the TV series Booster Gold and Paradise Lost. He mentioned that “BG is in development. PL is in extreme development.” Paradise Lost is envisioned as a prequel exploring the island of Themyscira and the Amazons before Wonder Woman’s era.
While there have been significant changes to the DCU’s planned slate compared to three years ago, Gunn has maintained that projects will only be greenlit when the scripts are strong enough. This is evident with the Clayface movie, scheduled for an October theater release, despite not being part of the original “Gods and Monsters” lineup, thanks to a solid script by Mike Flanagan. Other projects have required more development time or, like The Authority, have been put on hold.
Despite the cancellation of The Authority, there remain possibilities for The Engineer and other members of the antihero team to appear in the DCU. For example, although there are no current plans for a third season of Peacemaker, the narrative of Christopher Smith (John Cena) will continue in other DCU projects. A similar approach could be taken with The Authority, even if they are not the central characters of a particular storyline.
While the darker, R-rated The Authority film is off the table, the DCU continues to embrace diverse narratives. Clayface serves as a prime example of this, being an R-rated horror film. The DCU remains open to a wide range of styles and tones, from the hopeful and inspiring tales like Superman to much darker and intense stories.
Ava Thornton is an entertainment journalist with a keen eye for the latest in Hollywood, indie films, and streaming trends.
Her work blends insider knowledge with a deep appreciation for storytelling.
