Many DC movies released prior to theDCUhave set the bar quite high for characters like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, who might need to make a good first impression in one key way. James Gunn has crafted a ten-year plan for the new DC Universe, starting with over a dozen movie and TV projects inthe DCU’s Gods and Monsters chapter. While David Corenswet’s Superman won’t be the franchise’s only lead, the Man of Steel is certainly its main foundation.
James Gunn’sSupermanhas made its tone, scale, and interconnectivity quite clear ahead of its release.Supermanprioritizes the hero’s colorful and optimistic nature, introduces a wide variety of DCU characters from all corners of the DC Universe, and it establishes a world where metahumans, heroes, and supervillains are an everyday occurrence. However, there’s one key element missing fromSuperman’s marketing, which raises questions about other characters' DCU debut.
Superman, Batman, & Wonder Woman Have Iconic Movie Themes
DC’s Trinity Heroes Have Received Some Of The Best Scores In Movie History
Not every DC movie has enjoyed the same level of popularity, but one consistently strong element throughout the years has been the score, especially the lead heroes' main themes. John Williams' main theme for Richard Donner’sSuperman: The Movie, Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL’s theme for Wonder Woman’s many DCEU appearances, and Danny Elfman’s theme for Tim Burton’sBatmanare some of the most iconic and easily recognizable in cinematic history. Each of them captures their respective character’s nature perfectly, from the heroes' personality to the specific stone of each movie.
Remarkably,Batman has received a wide variety of iconic themes. Besides Danny Elfman’s 1989 score, Hans Zimmer crafted a groundbreaking theme for Christian Bale’s Batman in Christopher Nolan’sDark Knighttrilogy. Just when it seemed like all the bases were covered for Batman on the big screen, Michael Giacchino raised the bar with his minimalist yet powerful theme for Matt Reeves’The Batman, built from just four notes and two distinct pitches. Even Joel Schumacher’sBatman ForeverandBatman & Robin, despite their critical reception, featured a memorable main theme composed by Elliot Goldenthal, who captured the dark but flamboyant tone of Schumacher’s Batman.
The DCU Hasn’t Started To Unveil Character Themes
No New Themes Have Been Unveiled For Superman Or Other DCU Characters
James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DCU is expanding withCreature Commandos,Superman,Peacemakerseason 2,Supergirl, andClayface, yet none of these projects has presented a standout character theme on par with the work of Hans Zimmer, Danny Elfman, or Michael Giacchino.Creature Commandosfeatures several needle drops in the traditional style of James Gunn’s comic book adaptations, andthe marketing for Gunn’sSupermanhas reused John Williams' iconic score. Gunn’sSupermanmight not introduce a new, well-defined main theme for the DCU’s Man of Steel, at least in his first movie appearance.
Whether David Corenswet’s Superman will be associated with a musical motif as clear as that of Christopher Reeve’s Superman and Robert Pattinson’s Batman remains to be seen
Speaking toTheWrap, James Gunn explained that John Murphy’sSupermanscore is"not a soundtrack, so it’s not about the songs.” Unlike Gunn’sGuardians of the Galaxytrilogy,The Suicide Squad, andPeacemaker, Gunn’sSupermanwon’t feature famous songs in action scenes. Gunn describesSupermanas"much, much more of a score film”in the same interview. However, whether David Corenswet’s Superman will be associated with a musical motif as clear as that of Christopher Reeve’s Superman and Robert Pattinson’s Batman remains to be seen.
Character Themes Are An Essential Part Of Superhero Adaptations
The DCU Will Need Themes & Motifs As Strong As The MCU And Previous DC Movies
Musical themes and motifs are a fundamental part of a comic book adaptation’s identity. Though often overlooked, a powerful score can define the tone of an entire film, and make or break key scenes. Wonder Woman’s main DCEU theme became synonymous with her character, to the point that it overshadowed her portrayal by the end of her journey. In the MCU, scenes as monumental asAvengers: Endgame’s final battle would fall flat without a score on the level of Alan Silvestri’s instantly recognizable mainAvengerstheme. TheDCUcould build up to a similar moment by introducing and repeating character themes over the course of years.
