DC Reboot Roulette: After Snyder and Gunn, Another Reset Looms

Every time it feels like DC finally picked a lane, the road shifts again. The latest chatter? If Paramount ends up buying Warner Bros. Discovery, a lot of DC plans could move around fast — including who is actually steering the ship.

What people are hearing

Puck News is floating a scenario where Paramount, as part of a full WBD takeover, taps filmmaker Zack Cregger for a Gotham-centric mini-franchise inside DC. That would carve out a chunk of the universe just for him. In that setup, James Gunn and Peter Safran might stick around, but with only partial control. The other angle being whispered: earlier planning on the Paramount side allegedly included reviving the old Snyder-era DCEU instead of continuing Gunn's DCU.

Paramount is said to be the frontrunner to grab WBD, but Netflix and Comcast are still in the mix. Variety previously pegged the Paramount package circling WBD at roughly $71 billion, which tells you how aggressive this is. Meanwhile, Cosmic Book News has amplified claims that Paramount is intrigued by a full Snyderverse revival — and, if outside funding comes through (Saudi money is mentioned in some of these reports), there may be less enthusiasm to keep Gunn because of his politics. That last part is very rumor-zone, but it is part of the conversation.

Also floating around: despite the strong response to Gunn's Superman and the buzz from Peacemaker season 2 wrapping, there are reports saying the larger DC franchise picture under Gunn is not performing as well as hoped. Again, different camps are spinning this in different ways, but it is out there.

The moving pieces at a glance

• Paramount is reportedly leading a potential full acquisition of WBD, with a deal value around $71 billion (as reported by Variety), while Netflix and Comcast are also circling.
• Puck News says Paramount is eyeing Zack Cregger to build a Gotham-centric mini-franchise inside DC. If Gunn and Safran stay, this would likely split or limit their control.
• Some reports claim earlier Paramount thinking included reviving Zack Snyder's DCEU rather than continuing Gunn's DCU.
• Cosmic Book News has pushed talk that, with possible Saudi backing, Paramount could sideline Gunn over his political views. Treat that as speculation for now.
• Amid all this, Snyder has been posting images of Henry Cavill's Superman and other DCEU-era heroes on Instagram — which fans are reading as a signal, even if it might just be Snyder being Snyder.
• On the ground right now, Gunn's DCU has wins: Superman drew strong reviews and Peacemaker season 2 has wrapped. Counterpoint reports say the broader franchise momentum is uneven.
• Superman quick facts: directed by James Gunn; stars David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, and Nathan Fillion; Rotten Tomatoes scores sit at 83% (critics) and 90% (audience); worldwide box office is $616 million.

What this would actually mean

If Paramount gets WBD and goes the Cregger-in-Gotham route, you could see a DC map with separate fiefdoms: Gunn/Safran running a leaner mainline DCU, and Cregger building a crime-and-costumes corner around Gotham. If they go full Snyder revival, that is another reboot on top of a reboot on top of a reboot — and at some point, that starts to scream instability to audiences and investors.

Why keeping Gunn might be the smart play

Setting aside the palace intrigue, Gunn's DCU is still in its early innings and connecting with critics and a lot of fans. Yanking the steering wheel now risks derailing momentum just as it is building. Also, the genre needed a tonal refresh, and Gunn's been delivering that. There is a world where Gunn keeps the core DCU on track, Snyder gets to cook in a parallel corner (Elseworlds or not), and someone like Cregger gets the keys to Gotham — a divide-and-conquer approach that covers more audience tastes without nuking what is working.

For now, none of this is locked. No official deal has been announced, and the only thing certain is that DC's future is being argued about by a lot of very powerful people behind closed doors. Again.

Where to watch

Superman and Man of Steel are available to stream on HBO Max (US).

Would you keep Gunn in charge, bring Snyder back, split the difference, or blow it up and try again? Tell me where you land.