James Gunn reveals another confusing decision theDCEUmade prior to its early conclusion, confirming why the previous DC franchise had to be rebooted. Despite leaving several narratives still left open, the DCEU came to a definitive end in 2023 with James Wan’s standaloneAquaman and the Lost Kingdom.Various DCEU characters are returning in the DCU, but they’re all soft-rebooted versions of their DCEU selves. As confirmed by DC Studios CEO James Gunn, the new DC Universe is presenting a brand new continuity with no direct connections to anything that came before.
On June 23, 2025,James Gunnposted an image of DC Comics' Emilia Harcourt, saying that"a heap of mess is in store"for the character inthe DCU’s upcomingPeacemakerseason 2. One fan asked Gunn whether Harcourt’s return implies thatShazam: Fury of the Godsis canon to the DCU, asShazam: Fury of the Gods' post-credits scenefeatures Emilia Harcourt and John Economos arriving to recruit Billy Batson into the Justice Society. Gunn responded to the fan saying the following:
you don’t need to be confused. It’s not canon. I don’t know now or then what Harcourt of Economos have to do with the Justice Society.
Shazam: Fury of the Gods’ Post-Credits Scene Reveals The DCEU Was Going Nowhere
Shazam: Fury Of The Gods' Crossover Set-Up Was Impossible To Pay Off From The Get-Go
Shazam: Fury of the Godswas released on June 05, 2025, almost two months after James Gunn’s announcement ofthe DCU’s"Gods and Monsters"slate. James Gunn and Peter Safran were confirmed to be helming DC Studios in October 2022, meaning that the end of the DCU must have been set in stone much earlier thanShazam: Fury of the Gods' release date. Hence,it makes no sense whyShazam: Fury of the Gods' post-credits scene wasn’t cut, as it must have been evident that its crossover tease was never going to be paid off.
It’s also likely thatShazam: Fury of the GodsandBlack Adam’s directors and stars didn’t know where their respective characters were heading either
What’s more, James Gunn has confirmed that he had no creative input on Emilia Harcourt and John Economos’Shazam: Fury of the Godsappearance, which suggests that these characters' plans for Billy Batson were still undecided by the film’s release date, or that Harcourt and Economos' DCEU story would have been changed without James Gunn’s supervision in order to integrate them into a completely different storyline. In this case, it’s also likely thatShazam: Fury of the GodsandBlack Adam’s directors and stars didn’t know where their respective characters were heading either.
The DCEU Somehow Remained Determined To Set Up Future Projects Until The End
The DCEU’s decision to set up projects with no actual plans to develop them wasn’t exclusive toShazam: Fury of the Gods. Directly afterMan of Steel,Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justicereceived plenty of criticism for adding the Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg as cameos in the DCEU’s second installment. Since then,the DCEU wasted at least eight post-credits scenes, which appeared to set up important events and battles but were never revisited or even acknowledged. Some of these post-credits scenes went so far as to introduce new characters who had no relevance in the franchise afterward.
Lynda Carter’s Asteria resurfaces in human society
Superman arrives to negotiate with Black Adam
Mister Mind begins to manipulate Doctor Sivana
Shazam: Fury of the Gods
Mister Mind tells Doctor Sivana that his plans are still on course
Emilia Harcourt and John Economos recruit Shazam into the Justice Society
Black Adamis a particular case, as Dwayne Johnson fought to have Henry Cavill return as Superman inBlack Adam’s post-credits scene, which set up a battle between both DC powerhouses. Cavill even took to social media to thank fans for their support and promised to excel in the role in future movies. Yet, the DCU was announced shortly afterward, andBlack Adam’s post-credits tease became Henry Cavill’s final appearance as the Man of Steel.
It’s Essential For The DCU’s Post-Credits Scene To Be Meaningful
Post-Credits Scenes Are Promises That Keep Fans Engaged With The Franchise When Fulfilled
The Marvel CInematic Universe popularized post-credits scenes in Phase 1, with movies such asIron ManandThe Avengerssetting up incredibly ambitious projects that previously seemed unlikely to happen. These post-credits scenes were groundbreaking due to their unexpected nature, whereas more recent post-credits teases have become a requirement.
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Given how closely connected James Gunn’s new franchise will be, the DCU needs to choose its post-credits scene carefully. James Gunn and Peter Safran have allegedly designed a detailed 10-year plan for the DCU. So, if the DCU’s post-credits scenes begin to fall by the wayside, anticipation for certain in-universe events could diminish.Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, theDCEU’s last installment, managed to end the franchise on a rather high note with a solid ending and no post-credits tease. Likewise, the DCU could skip these teases if they aren’t strictly necessary.
