James Gunn, the co-head of DC Universe, recently gave a cryptic update on The Authority, a superhero feature reportedly part of the new franchise’s first chapter: Gods and Monsters. The project is an adaptation of the comic-book superhero team of the same name Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch created for DC Comics. Gunn and his DCU co-head Peter Safran originally announced it back in January 2023.
James Gunn hints The Authority’s script is ‘in development’
While answering a fan question on whether The Authority is in pre-production or currently dormant, through his official Threads account, Gunn said, “Those are not the only two options.”
He added, “Some scripts are IN DEVELOPMENT, either looking for writers or being written or rewritten. When scripts are finished and they’re ready to be made they are greenlit and then they are IN PRODUCTION.”
When another fan wondered if it was safe to conclude that the rest of the projects from the announced slate were in development, Gunn answered with a “Yes.” This doesn’t include David Corenswet’s Superman and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow as the former is in post-production at present. Meanwhile, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is the only other DCU project besides Lanterns currently in pre-production, Gunn confirmed.
In January 2023, Gunn described The Authority as one of his “real passion projects.” He elaborated, “I’ve been working really hard on it with the writers, we’re starting to put together the entire story. […] This is a big movie. […] I don’t know how many of you are familiar with the authority WildStorm characters. WildStorm was a comics imprint that was bought by DC that I really love, we’re moving a lot of these WildStorm characters into the DCU.” (via Collider)
Gunn also said at the time that The Authority would share a connection with Superman. “It’s about to use those well-known properties to help lead into lesser known properties,” he explained. (via Deadline)
The Authority doesn’t yet have an official release date, director, or screenwriter. The other Chapter One movies currently in development include The Brave and the Bold and Swamp Thing.
