James Gunn Confirms DC Universe Expansion With Arkham Asylum Series

James Gunn, co-head of DC Studios, recently shared details about the highly anticipated Arkham Asylum series in development at Max, dispelling earlier assumptions about its connection to Matt Reeves' Batverse. In a response on Threads, Gunn clarified that the Arkham Asylum series is an integral part of the new DC Universe, which is concurrently being developed with Superman: Legacy and Creature Commandos.

In 2022, it was announced that The Batman's world would expand with The Penguin, starring Colin Farrell as Oswald Cobblepot. Simultaneously, there were reports of an Arkham Asylum series in development at Max, with Reeves as the producer. Speculation suggested a connection to The Batman's story, possibly delving into characters like Barry Keoghan's Joker within the asylum. Gunn, however, clarified Sunday that Arkham Asylum is firmly part of the broader DCU.

"Right now, Matt is producing Arkham as a DCU series, so there's just the two [The Batman Part II and The Penguin] for now," Gunn confirmed. Responding to another query, he emphasized, "Yes [it's set in the DCU]. We love Matt as a director and producer, so he'll be producing stories both within his The Batman universe and within the DCU."

The Arkham Asylum series, initially revealed as a spinoff for The Batman, was announced before Gunn and Peter Safran overhauled DC's film slate, introducing the new DC Universe. Gunn acknowledged fans' surprise at the transition, stating, "It wasn't changed." Despite earlier hints from Reeves suggesting a direct tie to The Batman's world, Gunn clarified on Threads that the Arkham series was always meant to be part of the broader DCU.