Ali Arsalan
In the rapidly changing entertainment landscape, artificial intelligence (AI) has had a significant impact on various creative industries. From special effects to virtual assistants, AI has revolutionized the way we experience and engage with media.
However, amidst this technological revolution, DC Studios has taken a bold stand. DC Studios co-chair and co-CEO James Gunn has firmly rejected the notion of employing AI in their upcoming DC Universe animated projects.
Gunn’s statement came in response to a speculation raised by a DC fan on Twitter, suggesting that the voice roles in projects like Creature Commandos could be generated using AI from licensed sound banks of the actors’ voices.
James Gunn’s Vision: Merging Live-Action And Animation In the DCU
While AI has been employed in prominent blockbuster franchises like Star Wars, Gunn emphasized that the DCU has no plans to adopt this technology. Instead, all DCU actors will portray their respective characters in live-action and record dialogue exclusively for any animated project featuring their characters.
In January 2023, James Gunn shared his visionary plans for the DCU;
“What we’re doing with the DCU is we’re having animation tied directly into live action. Television, movies and games all intertwine within the same universe. We’re going to cast actors that are going to be able to play the characters in this, as well as in other things, some of which we’ve already cast.”
James Gunn
Furthermore, to ensure continuity and stability, all actors joining the DCU will be required to sign a 10-year contract covering both film and television commitments.
DCU’s Animated Expansion: Creature Commandos Takes the Lead
James Gunn and Peter Safran, co-chair and co-CEO of DC Studios, introduced the first wave of DCU titles in January 2023. Among them, Creature Commandos emerged as the inaugural animated project, currently in production with a seven-episode first season.
The voice cast, confirmed in April 2023, includes Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr., alongside David Harbour, Alan Tudyk, Maria Bakalova, Zoe Chao, and Sean Gunn. Gunn will also reprise his role as Weasel, while Steve Agee and Violas return as John Economos and Amanda Waller, respectively.
Anticipated to premiere in 2024, Creature Commandos is expected to debut on Warner Bros. Discovery’s newly-renamed streaming service, Max.