Apr 27, 2026 10:56am PT

DC’s ‘The Authority’ Movie Put on Back Burner, Says James Gunn: ‘Script Wasn’t Quite There’ and Story ‘Didn’t Work in Terms of the Larger DCU’

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Zack Sharf

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Courtesy of DC Comics

James Gunn is currently in production on his “Superman” sequel “Man of Tomorrow” but is still using Threads to keep comic book movie fans updated on the ongoing DC Universe, which apparently will no longer include “The Authority” movie. At least, not anytime soon.

“The script wasn’t quite there but more importantly it didn’t work in terms of the larger DCU both in terms of the story and practical concerns. Maybe some day. Not soon,” Gunn revealed about “The Authority,” which was one of 10 projects that he and Peter Safran announced in January 2023 when they first unveiled their plans for the new DC Universe.

“The Authority” was a series of comic books that launched in 1992 and centered on a superhero team whose members have a less-than-idealistic approach to saving the world. Popular characters included the Doctor, Swift, Midnighter, the Engineer and Jack Hawksmoor, although Gunn never confirmed who would be appearing in the film adaptation.

Popular on Variety

When “The Authority” was first announced by Gunn and Safran in January 2023, the duo said the project was “being written now.” Safran described the team members as “Jack Nicholson in ‘A Few Good Men.’ They know that you want them on the wall, or at least they believe that.”

“It isn’t just a story of heroes and villains, and not every movie and TV show is going to be about good guy versus bad guy,” Gunn said at the time. “There are people that are very questionable, like the Authority, who basically believe that you can’t fix the world in an easy manner, and they take things into their own hands.”

In his new response to fans, Gunn revealed that he never planned to write or direct “The Authority” movie himself. The DC co-boss has been adamant in various interviews since taking over the studio that DC movies will never go into production until their scripts are fully developed and ready to film.

Gunn also confirmed in his latest update that “Booster Gold” and “Paradise Lost,” two other projects announced in January 2023, remain “in development” and “in extreme development,” respectively. When a fan asked Gunn why it was taking more than three years for these projects to get off the ground, the writer-direct reminded people that’s standard operating procedure for “95% of scripts and shows that get made.”

The DC Universe next continues with “Supergirl,” in theaters June 26.

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DC's 'The Authority' Movie Put on Back Burner, Says James Gunn: 'Script Wasn't Quite There' and Story 'Didn't Work in Terms of the Larger DCU'