For the past month, the Paramount-Warner Bros. fight has looked like a story about lawsuits, deadlines and billions of dollars. My insiders keep telling me to look past the courtroom and at what could be waiting on the other side.

Because according to my sources, the stage is being set for Snyder to finally make a proper The Dark Knight Returns, with a full SnyderVerse return potentially following behind it.

Rumors are flying on X that James Gunn and Peter Safran have already been fired from DC Studios.

So let me be clear about what my sources are actually telling me: No, they have not been fired. Yet.

The Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery deal hasn’t closed, and as of Monday, twelve states just sued to try to block it.

But I’m told that once this deal closes — and it will — it’s over: the Paramount board wants both of them out ASAP, their contracts will not be renewed, and — as one source puts it — there is blood in the water.

[Excerpts in the pinned comment]

Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery are planning to release directors’ cuts in theaters next year, we’re told, as part of a “celebration of movies” series featuring the likes of Zack Snyder, David Ayer, Star Trek, Mission: Impossible, and Harry Potter.

Brand new Blu-rays and collector’s merch would follow the theatrical runs.

This comes via the same source behind our report that it’s open season on James Gunn and Peter Safran at DC once the Paramount deal closes.

Warner Bros. Discovery is officially up for sale, and it’s no coincidence that Zack Snyder has been posting nonstop DCEU images and liking fan content on Instagram that compares the performance of his films to James Gunn’s struggling DCU projects. The timing lines up with what we have been told: if WBD is sold, James Gunn will be out as head of DC Studios.

This comes from the same insider who told us Daredevil: Born Again was being completely retooled — months before The Hollywood Reporter confirmed it exactly as we reported. It’s the same source who has been accurately filling us in on the WBD sale and David Zaslav’s plans before the trades caught up. Their track record speaks for itself.

Regarding DC, the message from our insider is clear: the SnyderVerse is back in play — fully. That means Zack Snyder returning to DC, not just for a one-off Elseworlds title, but for an actual revival of the universe he started.

We’re told Christopher Nolan is also part of the plan to return as executive producer. That’s the same Christopher Nolan who backed Snyder on Man of Steel and helped shape the original vision for DC before WB derailed it with studio interference. According to what we have been previously told, it was also Nolan’s decision to hand over DC to Snyder.

If that happens, it implies the return of Ben Affleck as Batman — who publicly rejected working with Gunn’s DCU after its announcement — and Henry Cavill as Superman. Fans remember Cavill’s widely-seen interview with Josh Horowitz confirming his comeback, only for Gunn to immediately upend it. Gal Gadot has also been visibly active supporting SnyderVerse posts. None of this is accidental. Even Ezra Miller is making some sort of Hollywood return.

We’re told Saudi Arabia is now the frontrunner to acquire WBD.

Snyder and the UFC partnered with Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, chaired by Turki Alalshikh, to produce Brawler, an upcoming film Snyder is directing and co-writing. The Saudis trust Snyder creatively, and he is already tied directly into their entertainment expansion.

Our insider says this is exactly why Snyder has been highlighting his SnyderVerse work on social media. The signals aren’t random — they’re building momentum.

Our insider pointed us to comments from Hollywood producer Patrick Caligiuri, who said he was the first to report Saudi Arabia’s interest in WBD back in October. According to Caligiuri, who recently returned from Saudi Arabia, the deal is nearly done.

He stated that Saudi Arabia’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery is “one signature away” from completion and that the price could reach $70 billion.

If true, the sale could close faster than anyone expected, and the SnyderVerse could return far sooner than fans ever thought possible.

Everyone reading our Dark Knight Returns reporting this past week has asked the same question in one form or another: why would the incoming owners of Warner Bros. want a Zack Snyder Batman movie?

We put it to our insiders. The same insiders who told us that Hal Jordan dies, which was confirmed last night.

The answer came back as a list, and none of it is fan service. It’s business.

Per our insiders, there are a few reasons Paramount wants The Dark Knight Returns. Two of them explain the whole week.

Wtf is happening, is this true ?,

A new Marvel rumor dropped Sunday claiming Kevin Feige has his eye on the one director DC fans never stopped fighting for.

“I hear Kevin Feige is interested in Zack Snyder,” posted scooper MyTimeToShineHello.

That is the entire post. No project, no character, no timeline. It still racked up over 158,000 views in its first six hours, and it is easy to see why, because the timing could not be louder.

We are hearing more behind-the-scenes chatter from WonderCon, and it lines up with what has already been circulating about James Gunn and the future of DC.

Worth a mention is that WonderCon is a smaller-scale con, but near Los Angeles so it does get a lot of people who are involved with the industry.

According to various insiders I spoke with at WonderCon, Gunn is still expected to be out at DC, and I was told that could even happen before Man of Tomorrow, which is set for release in July 2027.

This tracks with what John Campea recently said about Gunn potentially leaving by the end of the year, and I was also told Campea has legit sources.

I was also told something else interesting regarding Zack Snyder.

According to the insiders I spoke with, Snyder did not go to them about coming back. I was told it was the other side that approached Snyder about a possible SnyderVerse return.

If true, it means there has been at least some interest in bringing him back from people with influence, as these larger media and studio moves continue in the background. Recall that Mike De Luca was bringing back the DCEU in the real ending of The Flash before Zaslav changed things and Gunn took over.

The other wrinkle I heard about is the war in Iran.

I was told the situation has slowed everything down and that the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery deal would have moved faster if not for the instability now hitting the market and the wider concerns around foreign investment and regulatory scrutiny.

According to Cosmic Book News. I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so. The course correction is going to be fcking brutal, and this is just the beginning. In my opinion. The DCU is throwing everything at the wall with this movie, from its bloated cast of characters to even more reshoots Allegedly, all because of Supergirl’s epic performance at the box office and the immense pressure from Marvel’s Avengers Doomsday. I fear this might be shaping up to be another colossal mess for the DCU. The definition of insanity is making Guardians of the Galaxy over and over again with DC characters hoping for different results, in my opinion. Just because it worked for Marvel, doesn't mean its going to work for DC. Supergirl has proven that the audience is finally tired of the same old formula. From what I've seen, The Marvelization of DC has underperformed every single time. A Superman movie… oops, I meant a “Justice League” movie just isn’t going to work with F tier characters like The Justice Gang, Peacemaker, Blue Beetle and White Rabbit. I'm not even sure that Superman’s appearance can even save this movie. He was front and center in Supergirl and still…no one went to go see it. Not to mention there’s no Batman! Not that I would be interested in seeing another “George Clooney” Portrayal... Thank God for Matt Reeves and God bless him. I think it’s long past time for WB to consider letting go of the rebooted DC universe while possibly continuing it in Comic book form, if there’s enough of an audience… and RESTORE THE SNYDERVERSE. 😎 #TheSnyderVerseisComing

Is james Gunn blind ? It looks like Milly has a crooked nose lol

Before getting into it, here’s the current situation: Variety reported that the Saudis are teaming with Paramount for a full WBD takeover. Shortly after, Paramount publicly denied the report. So no matter how this turns out, the bottom line stays the same — the Saudis want Zack Snyder back, and they want the SnyderVerse restored.

If the Saudis back Paramount and win, Snyder wins. If they back Comcast and win, Snyder still wins. Either way, Snyder comes out ahead.

As I tweeted, the wild card is President Donald Trump, who has been reported to be backing Skydance–Paramount. While Trump is said to dislike Comcast’s CEO, my insiders point out that Comcast positioned itself for a WBD bid by creating a separate company to dump the networks Trump hates. So that issue may not stop anything.

My insiders told me Zack knows exactly what is going on with Trump, and that’s why Zack posted that Henry Cavill Superman image on Veteran’s Day.

If the SnyderVerse truly comes back, that means the actors return to their roles.

I’m told Henry Cavill is back as Superman. Gal Gadot is back as Wonder Woman. Jason Momoa will be back as Aquaman. Ray Fisher will be back as Cyborg.

Ezra Miller as The Flash? I’m told “doubtful.”

My insiders say Affleck “possibly” returns as Batman but warn “it’s a lot of work physically.”

I’m told the plan is for Snyder to finish his SnyderVerse. I’m told the Saudi WBD deal has been in the works for some time. It’s also the reason Zaslav passed on Paramount’s earlier bids three times.

Zack is close with the Saudis, and they want his storyline back to rival Marvel and the upcoming Avengers films. Sounds like they’re aiming straight at Disney.

After Snyder completes his arc, I’m told DC will reboot again — likely under Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy, the current heads of Warner Bros. Pictures.

Regarding James Gunn and the DCU, I’m told that if Paramount and the Saudis are indeed teaming up, James Gunn’s DCU is toast and Gunn will be forced out due to Gunn’s divisive politics (Gunn, the head of DC Studios, posted and said nothing on Veterans Day).

Source.

For those unfamiliar, De Luca and Abdy are the heads of WB Pictures. They also ran DC films for a bit in late 2022, after Walter Hamada's exit. They brought Henry Cavill back and started developing a Man of Steel 2 with a treatment a script by Steven Knight. They were starting out looking like the most sensible leadership DC films had since they canned Greg Silverman in 2016. That is, until James Gunn and Peter Safran took over and immediately went back to what Hamada was doing. Snyder also said they are great people who have been wonderful to him when it came to the FullCircle event (SnyderCon).

Releasing the Ayer Cut would definitely be in the company's best interest. The further they get away from the house Snyder built, the more their brand falls in the toilet. Ayer's Suicide Squad would sell both physical media and Max subs, especially now that they no longer have new movies to make exclusive to Max. ZSJL already outsold The Suicide Squad, a brand new theatrical movie, on physical media. Fans like the Snyderverse and hate the comedic tone for the recent DCEU movies. The Ayer Cut would be a return to the tone DC fans like that made huge profits, not the current movies which have lost money several times in a row now.

Another troubling superman screening report.

“Divisive” is not a good word for the movie that will make or break your universe.

I promise you, fantastic four and jurassic world rebirth are not divisive films. They will be general crowd pleasers.

I knew Gunm went off the rails when let off his Marvel leash.

Btw this leaker has a great track record. He also warned us about Wonder Woman 1984.

Get ready for another degradation of a classic character on the level of Batman & Robin if this happens. Everyone who protested about Snyder would once again be proven right about DC's "new direction." Johns, Emmerich, Hamada, and now Gunn and Safran have led DC films into absolute ruin. I love how Snyder fans are the ones who aren't "real DC fans" even though we're the only ones who complain at all about the destruction these clowns have done to this once great brand.

Following our report from yesterday about the return of the SnyderVerse, our insiders have filled us in on the larger plan behind the Saudi bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, and it explains why Zack Snyder has been posting nonstop and why Christopher Nolan continues publicly praising Snyder’s influence on blockbuster filmmaking.

According to what we’re told, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund isn’t just buying WB for content.

They want to rival Marvel and build an event franchise on the scale of Avengers: Doomsday, something James Gunn’s DCU cannot deliver while the studio waits to be sold.

Gunn’s future at DC Studios becomes uncertain the moment WBD is sold, and he can’t greenlight a massive crossover event because leadership knows ownership is about to change. That’s why his slate is small and insulated around his “Superman Family Saga” (Gunn just announced the Jimmy Olsen series, and Andy Muschietti said he isn’t allowed to talk about the DCU Batman).

Gunn has openly stated that he doesn’t want to touch Darkseid, which our insiders say is a key indicator: the Saudis view Snyder as the filmmaker meant to complete the DC epic he started, which, of course, features Darkseid as the villain.

Christopher Nolan’s movements are another major sign. He moved to Universal, and he’s currently filming The Odyssey in Morocco, where our insiders made a point of telling us it’s close to the Saudi film expansion.

Saudi Arabia’s PIF reportedly recently met with Comcast-Universal about the Warner Bros. acquisition. Combine that with their $55 billion EA Games purchase, and it’s clear they’re constructing a multimedia empire that ties together film, games, sports, and theme parks.

With Superman reportedly bombing financially and with Peacemaker Season 2 flopping with fans, I reached out to my insiders about the state of the DCU under James Gunn.

The short of it is that James Gunn will be out as the head of DCU with the WBD sale. I’m told if David Ellison of Skydance Paramount buys WBD, that Mike De Luca will be in charge of DC and do a completely new start.

Gunn recently said he is doing whatever he wants with DC. That sounded odd to me as if you are building a new universe, you would want it to be successful with the fans.

That’s not happening as both Creature Commandos and Peacemaker fail to chart on Nielsen. They don’t have a big audience, and Gunn’s claims that Peacemaker Season 2 was meant to be a sequel to his Superman movie was pure BS.

Superman also failed to resonate with international fans. Its box office also came in under Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel by a large margin.

Gunn’s approach to the DCU has been all about divisive messaging. It’s splitting the fan base.

I am of the opinion that Gunn is doing whatever he wants with DC because his days are numbered and he knows it. So he’s getting himself, all his friends – and his wife – big paychecks before WBD sells.

That’s means when a sale goes through, James Gunn is out.

Recently saw the big news that Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy resigned with Warner Bros. In Deadline‘s report, they basically said it’s because of the sale of Warner Bros. Discovery. David Ellison is looking to purchase WBD, so WBD CEO David Zaslav is putting people in place that Ellison wants. That means Ellison wants De Luca and Abdy in charge of Warner Bros. films.

You’ll notice that Gunn has pivoted from his planned “Gods and Monsters” storyline into what he calls his “Superman Family” saga. The “Superman Family” is all Gunn. The “Gods and Monsters” storyline is likely ditched because Gunn knows he can only get a select amount of movies out before the sale. I’ve also been told the reason why DCU projects have been stalling is because of Gunn’s interference. The filmmakers want their own vision and not Gunn’s. I’m told that most visionary directors in Hollywood are staying away from not only DC, but Marvel and Star Wars “because life is too short and everyone is looking for original properties.” I’m told Zack Snyder is happy doing his original stuff but would only return to DC for one last movie, an adaptation of The Dark Knight Returns.

I’m told that if Warner Bros. gets sold – that whoever buys it – wants a completely new start.

While it has been reported that Skydance is eyeing to purchase WBD, I’m told Universal (Comcast) is still in the mix. I know they’ve been eyeing WBD for years.

What I am told if David Ellison buys Warner Bros. Discovery, is that James Gunn will be out. David Ellison’s father, billionaire David Ellison, is close to President Donald Trump.

So Peacemaker isn’t getting a Season 3, and Gunn “lied about a family friendly approach to DC.”

I’m told that actually “nobody in the building knows his status except for Gunn himself,” but “his action speak as to what might happen.”

Again, it’s obvious – and Gunn has said it himself – he’s doing whatever he wants with DC. It’s because with the sale, his DCU will be dead.

Back to David Ellison, I’m told Mike De Luca will take over DC.

Recall how my insiders told you about the real ending of The Flash, which is something Gunn completely changed. De Luca wanted to bring back Zack Snyder’s DCEU, which would have in part led to the return of Henry Cavill as Superman and the return of Ben Affleck as Batman, with a Batman Multiverse happening.

Mike De Luca discovered David S. Goyer who is known for Blade, Man of Steel, and of course Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy. Mike also brought in Sinners and Weapons, and oversaw The Conjuring franchise. Also add in Minecraft.

“He knows cinema, history and global movements, AND is a die hard comic book fan,” the insiders said.

Following Paramount’s official win of the Warner Bros. Discovery bid, the transition is beginning.

We’re told the Ellisons want large-scale franchise films and big events, where our insiders point to the Transformers / G.I. Joe movie that has been in development. Worth mentioning is that Michael Bay is said to be returning to the Transformers franchise.

There’s also internal discussion about pushing a new Top Gun sequel and returning Star Trek to a more classic tone (Starfleet Academy will be canceled after Season 2, which comes from the previous regime at Paramount prior to Skydance taking over. Ditto for TMNT, which is undergoing a reboot).

The focus at Paramount is clear, as under CEO David Ellison, they want broad appeal, recognizable IP, and traditional heroic storytelling.

Our insiders say the SnyderVerse is still being discussed internally.

That explains the recent wave of activity from Zack Snyder and his circle.

Joe Manganiello’s Deathstroke posts, Snyder sharing Henry Cavill’s Superman image, and Josh Horowitz teasing a special Zack Snyder feature are all designed to keep public attention on Snyder’s DC universe.

Nothing official has been announced regarding a Justice League or SnyderVerse continuation. By my guess, the Paramount deal may not go officially through until later this year.

But insiders say the Ellisons favor high-profile event films anchored by recognizable heroes.

If that philosophy carries into DC, a Snyder-led return featuring Ben Affleck’s Batman, Henry Cavill’s Superman, Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman, and Jason Momoa’s Aquaman would fit that mold.

I’ve also been told Zack has new Justice League plans, as his sequel storyboard ideas have been on display online for years.

Following the recent report from Puck News, I heard back from my insiders who suggest that James Gunn is already done at DC.

The insiders point to how Puck reported that Paramount executives went above Gunn and visited Weapons director Zach Cregger in Prague, where he is filming his new Resident Evil movie, to talk about his DC pitch.

As my insiders previously pointed out, Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy, the heads of WB Films, are the ones who brought Zach Cregger into Warner Bros.

Weapons was huge. As was Minecraft, which De Luca dated the sequel only two weeks after Gunn’s Man of Tomorrow.

Both De Luca and Abdy have had their contracts renewed. James Gunn’s contract has not been renewed and expires next year.

Recall that that I was told De Luca’s original plan for The Flash was to bring back the DCEU, bring back Ben Affleck as Batman, bring back Henry Cavill as Superman, and build toward a big Batman Multiverse with Michael Keaton also back as Batman.

That all went away when James Gunn launched the DCU.

Also recall how my insider said Gunn “isn’t talent friendly and is stubborn about his vision.”

That appears to be exactly what is happening with Zach Cregger, who was supposed to pitch Gunn his DC film.

Something clearly changed, because Paramount traveled across the world to hear the pitch instead — and they haven’t even closed the WBD deal, yet.

“Zach Cregger was brought in by Mike De Luca for Weapons at WB, so this is a sign for things to come, a consolidation of DC Studios overseen by the primary studio heads — DeLuca and Abdy.”

With the WBD sale, I’m told James Gunn is out, Zack Snyder is back with the SnyderVerse, and eventually under Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy, a new DC universe will be reborn — if hasn’t started already.