{"id":1989819,"date":"2025-08-31T15:48:01","date_gmt":"2025-08-31T15:48:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=1989819"},"modified":"2025-08-31T15:48:01","modified_gmt":"2025-08-31T15:48:01","slug":"james-gunn-explains-why-adding-static-shock-and-other-dc-characters-to-the-new-shared-universe-is-tricky","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/james-gunn-explains-why-adding-static-shock-and-other-dc-characters-to-the-new-shared-universe-is-tricky\/","title":{"rendered":"James Gunn Explains Why Adding Static Shock And Other DC Characters To The New Shared Universe Is Tricky"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><i>When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.<\/i><\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Credit: DC Comics<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The DC Universe isn\u2019t even a year old yet, and we\u2019ve already met a wide range of characters, including Superman, Hawkgirl, Guy Gardner, Mr. Terrific, Metamorpho, Eric Frankenstein, The Bride and Doctor Phosphorous, to name just a few. There\u2019s a lot more where that came from as one will see when looking over the slate of <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/upcoming-dc-movies-whats-next-233050594.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:upcoming DC movies;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">upcoming DC movies<\/a> and <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/articles\/upcoming-dc-tv-shows-full-183345457.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:upcoming DC TV shows;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">upcoming DC TV shows<\/a>, but there are certain characters who are trickier to fit into the DCU. Virgil Hawkins, a.k.a. Static, or Static Shock, falls into that category, as DC Studios co-head James Gunn shared.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">You may recall that at the end of June, Gunn said there were <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/articles\/ve-wondered-static-shock-join-015500573.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:\u201ca bunch of complexities\u201d behind Static right now;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">\u201ca bunch of complexities\u201d behind Static right now<\/a> regarding if he can be used the DCU. When <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DN1tJ-vWpdy\/?img_index=2\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:The New Blerd Order;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">The New Blerd Order<\/a> asked for clarification when speaking with the executive at the red carpet premiere for Peacemaker Season 2, which is now airing on the 2025 TV schedule, Gunn said this:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"mb-4 border-l-2 pl-5 italic text-tertiary\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">It\u2019s all about integrating him with the DC Universe because he\u2019s not a character that\u2019s traditionally part of the DC Universe.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">For those who don\u2019t know, Static was originally part of the Milestone Comics line alongside characters like Icon, Rocket and Hardware. Although these stories were published and distributed by DC Comics, the Milestone heroes and villains were kept in their own continuity, dubbed the Dakotaverse, during the imprint\u2019s heyday in the 1990s. It wasn\u2019t until the <em>Final Crisis<\/em> event that Static was incorporated into the main DC Universe, and though more recently, he was one of the leading protagonists in the Milestone Returns publishing line.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"The Authority from DC Comics\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/UEMSwvuLodfrheVs6fzE.A--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/cinemablend_388\/9252ab2491f205c88ae640c8cd592757\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Credit: DC Comics<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Ultimately the issue is that in James Gunn\u2019s mind, Static is more of a Milestone character than DC character. As such, he feels it\u2019s more challenging to incorporate him into the DCU than heroes and villains that originated straight from DC Comics. He also feels that way about The Authority, the superhero team that was originally contained to DC\u2019s Wildstorm imprint. Gunn continued:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"mb-4 border-l-2 pl-5 italic text-tertiary\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The Authority\u2019s been a little bit of a challenge simply because integrating [them] with the DCU has been a difficult thing to do, and the same thing is true of the Static Shock. Hopefully, we\u2019ll figure out a way to do that.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Although The Engineer, a member of The Authority in the comics, was included in <em>Superman<\/em>, nothing was mentioned about her ties to the team, as she was depicted as one of Lex Luthor\u2019s minions. James Gunn has said before about how <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/one-hardest-james-gunn-says-121120982.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:difficult it\u2019s been to get The Authority movie off the ground;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">difficult it\u2019s been to get <em>The Authority<\/em> movie off the ground<\/a>, and including Static in the DCU would be complicated for the same reason. Here\u2019s what I\u2019ll say to that: <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/sad-truth-behind-static-shock-090453744.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:the Static Shock animated series;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">the <em>Static Shock<\/em> animated series<\/a> did a great job at bringing Virgil Hawkins into the DC Animated Universe, where he crossed paths with Batman, Superman, John Stewart and even Terry McGinnis, among others. There\u2019s no reason why the DCU couldn\u2019t take a similar approach with the character.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">For now, don\u2019t expect to see Static electrifying the DCU, and it\u2019s unclear when or even if <em>The Authority<\/em> will move forward. What fans of the franchise can do, however, is watch new episodes of <em>Peacemaker<\/em> Season 2 with their <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/hbo-max-subscription-know-price-130351204.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:HBO Max subscription;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">HBO Max subscription<\/a> on Thursdays, and check out <em>Superman<\/em> on digital as its theatrical run winds down. Looking ahead, <em>Lanterns<\/em> debuts on HBO in early 2026, and <em>Supergirl<\/em> will fly into theaters on June 26 of the same year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: DC Comics The DC Universe isn\u2019t even a year old yet, and we\u2019ve already met a wide range of characters, including Superman, Hawkgirl, Guy Gardner, Mr. Terrific, Metamorpho, Eric Frankenstein, The Bride and Doctor Phosphorous, to name [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1989820,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[327569,306857,201412,41332,359228,357809,31353,357810,359227],"class_list":["post-1989819","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-dc","tag-dc-comics","tag-dc-universe","tag-james-gunn","tag-milestone-comics","tag-static-shock","tag-superman","tag-the-authority","tag-virgil-hawkins"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/James-Gunn-Explains-Why-Adding-Static-Shock-And-Other-DC.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1989819","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1989819"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1989819\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1989820"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1989819"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1989819"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1989819"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}