DCU Film The Authority 'On the Back Burner,' as James Gunn Points to Difficulty 'Getting It Right in a World With The Boys'

DC's upcoming film adaptation of The Authority has reportedly been sidelined, according to DC Studios co-chief James Gunn. Initially announced as a major component of Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters, the reboot of the DC Universe, the project, featuring the notoriously violent WildStorm superhero team, has encountered significant hurdles.

Gunn cited the project's complexity and the success of Amazon's The Boys as contributing factors to the delay. He stated that adapting The Authority in a landscape already saturated with similar themes presented a considerable challenge. Furthermore, the ongoing development of other DCU projects and the desire to maintain continuity with existing characters have further complicated the process. As a result, the film's production has been temporarily shelved.

It's worth noting that The Engineer/Angela Spica, a powerful member of The Authority, is slated to appear in the upcoming Superman: Legacy. For a deeper dive into the Authority characters, see IGN's article, "Who Are the Authority: The WildStorm DCU Characters Explained."

Other Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters projects have also faced setbacks. Waller, a spin-off of Peacemaker, has experienced production delays. However, Booster Gold is progressing smoothly, and Paradise Lost remains a high priority. The pilot script for Paradise Lost is currently underway. Regarding Swamp Thing, DC Studios is prepared to wait for director James Mangold's availability. While the project isn't crucial to the overarching narrative, its development will resume when Mangold completes his other commitments.