The DC Studios co-head also offered a glimpse into the creative process for the upcoming ‘Creature Commandos’ series, revealing a raunchy joke that was left on the cutting room floor.
Burbank, CA – James Gunn, the architect of the new DC Universe, continues to engage directly with fans, offering new details on his highly anticipated film Superman while pulling back the curtain on the franchise’s inaugural project, Creature Commandos. In a recent series of social media interactions, Gunn confirmed a key character for his cinematic reboot and clarified the tone of his upcoming animated series.
The biggest revelation for fans was the confirmation that Superman’s Kryptonian father, Jor-El, will indeed be a part of the new film. When asked on the social media platform Threads if the pivotal role had been cast, Gunn was direct: “I don’t have Jor-El cast.”
While seemingly a simple denial, the statement accomplishes two things: it officially confirms the character’s presence in the narrative and simultaneously debunks rampant online speculation about specific actors being attached to the role. The part of Jor-El, who sends his infant son Kal-El to Earth before Krypton’s destruction, is iconic in Superman lore, having been famously portrayed by Marlon Brando in 1978’s Superman: The Movie and Russell Crowe in 2013’s Man of Steel. The search for the DCU’s new Jor-El will now become a major point of interest for fans as production continues.
As speculation for Superman builds, Gunn provided a more concrete update on the very first project set to launch the new DCU: the animated series Creature Commandos. Gunn announced that the show is now “100% finished” and ready for its debut later this year.
In a moment of candid insight, he also shared details about a “non-family-friendly” joke that was ultimately cut from the series. The joke involved Frank Grillo’s character, Rick Flag Sr., making a crude remark about his son’s anatomy, quipping, “And people say my son had a little flag.”
Explaining the decision to remove it, Gunn stated it wasn’t due to censorship but creative judgment. “The joke, in the context of the scene, wasn’t funny enough to warrant the wince,” he wrote, adding that it “just didn’t fit the tone.” This detail offers a valuable look into the tonal balance Gunn is striving for in the DCU—a universe that can be mature and edgy, but where humor and character must serve the story first.
With Creature Commandos complete and Superman currently filming for its July 11, 2025 release, Gunn’s updates paint a picture of a universe steadily taking shape, with its creator ensuring every detail, from major casting to minor jokes, aligns with his cohesive vision.