Rumor: TMNT the New Focus at WB/Paramount as Gunn's DCU Fizzles

The underperformance of the DCU is causing waves internally.

Much has been made of the poor opening for Supergirl at theaters this past weekend. Indeed, James Gunn's DCU has largely been an underperformer for Warner Bros. since its inception. Superman in particular was supposed to be the big, opening salvo for DC's revamped cinematic universe, and while it got decent reviews, it didn't generate the revenue or buzz that WB was hoping for. As Supergirl fails to launch, the question now is, what can be done to salvage James Gunn's vision for the DCU?

According to the WDW Pro YouTube channel, Paramount, the new owners of Warner Bros., are looking to other IPs under the WB umbrella to prop up in place of the flagging DC pantheon. Prime among the properties under consideration is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. And no, not the mediocre Seth Rogen version of TMNT, but something more in line with the original cartoon and movies from the '80s and '90s.

TMNT's earlier iterations (beyond the comics) had a wild appeal, and Paramount is hoping to find a way to tap into that which will pull in both longtime fans and newbies. A stage show celebrating the 40th anniversary of the original cartoon is set to premier in the fall of 2027; a Last Ronin game is on the way from Platinum; TMNT: Shredder's Revenge was a huge success and leaned heavily into the aesthetic of the '87 cartoon. All signs point to a revival of classic style TMNT being a winning move for Paramount, but the question is how much the studio will provide an authentic take on the characters that doesn't pander to the so-called modern audience.

If this pans out beyond a rumor, we'll be sure to let you all know.

Source: WDW Pro YouTube Channel