The DCU’s Violent New Release Has Me Excited To See What Its R-Rated Movies Will Be Like

Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Creature Commandos episode 6.The new DC Universe started with James Gunn's Creature Commandos, and the latest episode of the animated series serves as the perfect example of what the franchise's R-rated movies could look like. In January 2023, Gunn announced the first few movies and series in the DCU's Chapter One. At the time, the director claimed that the ten projects consisted of less than half of the slate for the first chapter of the new franchise. Since then, DC has greenlit new projects that had not been announced then, with more rumored to be happening.

Many projects, such as the reported Deathstroke and Bane movie or the officially announced The Authority film, seem perfect for an R rating. While the Marvel Cinematic Universe took quite some time to get to its first mature projects, Gunn's DCU is already focused on that angle from the start. Creature Commandos, the DCU's first project, is a TV-MA animated series that does not shy away from violence, gore, and dark themes. With James Gunn confirming to Collider that multiple R-rated projects are in the works for the DCU, the franchise's first release shows how that could work.

Creature Commandos Has Made The Prospect of R-Rated DCU Movies Look Even More Promising

James Gunn's First DCU Project Is A Great Success

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James Gunn wrote all of Creature Commandos season 1's seven episodes, ensuring that his creative vision for the DCU can be felt from the start of the franchise. I think that was the perfect choice, as the series makes the most out of its TV-MA rating to show that the new DC can offer great variety for fans, especially since Gunn himself goes from this violent series into David Corenswet's Superman debut later this year. Creature Commandos' action scenes are some of the most dynamic in DC adaptations, with the show approaching emotional stories and character development equally well.

Creature Commandos was renewed for season 2 before the first season even ended.

I believe that Creature Commandos is the ideal example of what the DCU's planned R-rated movies should aim for, both tone and action-wise. Creature Commandos episode 6 cemented that for me, as the show's latest entry was incredibly dark and violent. In terms of action, the animated series went all out, with Doctor Phosphorus melting people's faces and body parts while The Bride tore a man's heart out of his body and crushed it as he watched and died. Those moments are pretty intense, and with Phosphorus' family being murdered and his revenge arc, they make for a dark episode.

James Gunn's Movie History Means R-Rated DC Universe Movies Could Be Something Special

The Director Understands The Darker Tone Since Before His DC Days

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While Creature Commandos and the DCEU's Peacemaker season 1 are great examples of James Gunn's expertise with TV-MA storytelling, it runs deeper. Gunn's movie history features multiple instances where the director brought to life engaging characters and stories within an R-rated setting. Before his latest DC entries, Gunn made his start in the franchise through 2021's The Suicide Squad. While the film had a lot of humor, it was a violent affair, with plenty of bloody deaths as members of the titular team and other characters died along the way. Gore and mature themes filled the film.

Related What Is The DCU's Endgame? What James Gunn's Story Should Lead To Based on the projects announced for James Gunn's new DC Universe, there are exciting options for the DCU's endgame with major characters involved.

However, Gunn's R-rated movie experience goes beyond his DC work. Gunn wrote and directed the 2006 horror movie Slither. The film featured a lot of hilarious and gruesome deaths in the style Gunn has now become known for with his work at DC. Slither also brought a horror aspect to Gunn's R-rated filmmaking, showing how he can build tension around dark themes pretty well. Described by many as the closest to an evil Superman origin story in theaters, Gunn was a producer on Brightburn. The movie is another great example of Gunn's eye for impactful and dark R-rated stories.

The DC Universe Having R-Rated Movies Early Could Be Exactly What It Needs

The Franchise Should Be Different From The MCU & The DCEU

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James Gunn has enough experience with both superhero projects and R-rated fare to know what works best. As such, I find his approach to the start of the DCU not only refreshing but also necessary to set the franchise apart from what came before. Not all DCU projects should be PG-13 like most superhero movies are, and that is a good thing. Certain characters demand an R rating due to their darker stories or the level of violence that comes from their action scenes. Gunn understands that, which is why every DC project will have the rating that fits it best.

The MCU only started having more mature projects, both in movies and TV, in 2024.

This makes the DCU different from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the old DCEU from the go. The MCU only started having more mature projects, both in movies and TV, in 2024. As for the DCEU, its more mature fare mostly came from Gunn's The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker season 1. By starting the franchise not only with a TV-MA series but an animated one, Gunn shows that there will be a plurality of tones in the DCU. Fans of more violent projects like The Boys or mature storytelling like Game of Thrones should be excited about the new DCU.

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