It’s been reported that none of the DCEU’s Justice League actors will reprise their roles in the DCU, but this is great news for the new franchise.

SUMMARY

•  Justice League actors will not reprise their roles in the new DC Universe, which may disappoint some fans, but it will help avoid confusion and allow for fresh storytelling.
•  While smaller characters from the DCEU will return with new actors, the iconic and recognizable heroes of the Justice League will be recast to emphasize the “newness” of the DC Universe.
•  James Gunn’s announcement did not confirm a Justice League crossover in the DCU, which is a smart move to prioritize character development and avoid rushing into a team-up event.

Actors comprising the DCEU’s Justice League will reportedly not be reprising their roles in the new DC Universe, and while this decision may garner some criticism, it will actually be the best thing for DC Studios’ rebooted franchise. After James Gunn and Peter Safran were hired as co-CEOs of DC Studios in November 2022, following a long period of turmoil at Warner Bros. and DC, plans were immediately set into motion to revitalize DC’s live-action superhero franchise. January 2023’s announcement of the new DC Universe caused confusion about which Justice League actors might reprise their roles in DC Studios’ future, but this has recently seen some clarification.

Zack Snyder’s initial projects in the DC Extended Universe built up to 2017’s Justice League, including the likes of Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller, and Ray Fisher as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, the Flash, and Cyborg, respectively. These heroes (bar Fisher’s Cyborg) became cornerstones of the DCEU, even after Snyder’s departure from Justice League, and after James Gunn’s DC Universe reveal, some of these actors were rumored to be reprising their roles. However, a recent report by Variety suggests that none of Justice League’s actors will reprise their roles, but this isn’t necessarily bad news for Gunn and Safran’s budding franchise.

Justice League Actors Returning Would Be An Unnecessary Distraction In The DCU

There was a lengthy period of confusion following James Gunn’s announcement in January, particularly since several actors from the DCEU have since been confirmed to be reprising their roles in the DC Universe. Among them, Viola Davis, John Cena, Freddie Stroma, Xolo Maridueña, and Sean Gunn will be reprising their roles, though they will be portraying different versions of their previous characters. Confirmation that these actors are returning led many to speculate that members of the Justice League could also return, particularly Gadot’s Wonder Woman, Momoa’s Aquaman, and Miller’s Flash, as Cavill and Affleck were quickly revealed to be hanging up their capes.

Variety’s report that none of the Justice League actors will be reprising their superhero roles in the DC Universe may garner criticism from fans of the DCEU, but this will actually help to avoid a major confusion in the new franchise. Having high-profile stars such as Gadot and Momoa reprise their roles will distract from the new stories that are set to be explored, and create unnecessary connections to the pre-reboot DCEU. Gunn and Safran have a lot of work to do to pull off an effective reboot, especially after a series of poorly-received projects in the DCEU’s recent years, so avoiding any unneeded distraction is the best choice.

Why It Makes Sense To Keep Other Actors, But Not The Justice League

While characters such as Davis’ Amanda Waller, Cena’s Peacemaker, Maridueña’s Blue Beetle, and Stroma’s Vigilante may be returning in the DC Universe, these figures were relatively small-time in the DCEU. They may receive larger roles in the new franchise, particularly Waller, but the fact that they were never the faces of the DCEU means that it won’t be such a jarring transition to see new-and-improved versions of the characters in the future. Oppositely, the heroes that comprised the DCEU’s Justice League were far more iconic and recognizable, so bringing in new actors in those roles will help to cement the “newness” of the DC Universe.

It was confirmed not long after Gunn and Safran’s hiring at DC Studios that Henry Cavill and Ben Affleck would not be reprising their roles. Since Superman and Batman are key to the DC Universe’s future stories, this was a bold move that clearly set a boundary between the DCEU and the new franchise. David Corenswet has been cast as the DCU’s Superman, and new actors will soon assume the roles of the other Justice League members in the DCU. Smaller characters are less likely to elicit confusion in the new franchise, and with new actors taking on the bigger roles, the DCU could be off to a smooth start.

James Gunn Hasn’t Confirmed A Justice League Crossover Yet

Gunn’s announcement didn’t include any crossover events featuring the DCU’s new heroes, where many were expecting confirmation of a Justice League reboot. While it’s possible that the DCU’s Chapter 1, “Gods and Monsters”, could feature a Justice League project, as only half of the slate has been revealed, it makes sense for DC Studios to wait. One of the biggest criticisms aimed at the DCEU’s Justice League was that it rushed into a crossover without developing its characters first. With new actors assuming these major roles, more time will be spent exploring them separately before bringing a new version of the Justice League together in a team-up event, which will seriously benefit the new DC Universe.