If you're trying to plan what families will actually watch next year, here's the headline: DC just set up two new series - one inside James Gunn (movies and tv series)'s Superman circle, one completely outside it.
We're getting a Jimmy Olsen show set in the DCU, with Skyler Gisondo (movies and tv series) continuing his role from Superman. And a new V for Vendetta series that's expected to live in Elseworlds - DC's label for stories that don't connect to the main timeline.
What Gunn's Really Building: The Superman Family
For months, the talk has been steady: Gunn's big "Gods and Monsters" plan has cooled, and he's leaning into smaller, contained stories built around Superman and the people (movies and tv series) closest to him.
The Jimmy Olsen series fits that exactly. It keeps the focus tight - Metropolis, the newsroom, the human angle that lets families sit down and actually care. You can feel the pivot.
- Superman
- Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow
- Jimmy Olsen
- Man of Tomorrow
Different titles, same orbit. Same tone. If you program schedules or cut trailers, that consistency matters - it's easier to explain, easier to sell, and easier for parents to trust.
V for Vendetta Heads Elsewhere - On Purpose
Then there's V for Vendetta. The word is it's an Elseworlds project, which means it won't touch Gunn's DCU at all. Think Joker and The Batman - strong, standalone, their own thing.
That tracks with what we're hearing inside the lot: Warner Bros. is still developing projects outside the DCU lane, the kind of adult, political, prestige TV play that lives on its merit. No homework required. If you need a refresher on how DC is separating these lanes, Variety covered the Elseworlds approach when Gunn and Peter Safran (movies and tv series) rolled out their plan in 2023: their explanation is here.
As for the source material, the original graphic novel is still the compass for tone and stakes. DC's overview remains a good touchstone: V for Vendetta at DC.
The Quiet Part: Why This Split Is Happening
Here's the part people say off the record. Gunn's long-term DCU might be shrinking because the bigger business picture is still in flux. His current deal is said to run into 2026, and he's hinted on camera that his future after that isn't locked. Maybe it's just timing. Maybe it's strategy.
Meanwhile, the sale chatter around Warner Bros. Discovery hasn't gone away. Skydance and Comcast keep coming up in conversations. Netflix's name gets tossed in, too. Nothing official. But folks inside development are planning like anything could happen.
What This Means For Family TV Teams
- Short-term clarity: Expect more Metropolis and character-led stories tied to Superman. That's a cleaner promo message for broad audiences.
- Elseworlds stays active: V for Vendetta suggests WB will keep premium, standalone series alive next to the DCU - different tone, different night.
- Fewer mega-crossovers: Don't plan on sprawling, MCU-style rollouts. The playbook looks simpler, safer, and easier to schedule.
Bottom line
Two series, two lanes. Jimmy Olsen keeps Gunn's focus tight around Superman - the one (movies and tv series) corner of DC that still feels stable. V for Vendetta reminds us WB will keep rolling out bold, separate stories no matter who's in charge.
For now, that's enough to plan against. And honestly, maybe that's the point - give families something clear to follow, and give everyone else a sharp, standalone watch when the kids (movies and tv series) go to bed.
