The MCU Isn't the Perfect Template for the DC Universe - But Another Franchise Is

The DC Universe is set to avoid the mistakes of the DC Extended Universe, and following the Conjuring Universe's template is the best way to do so.

Created by James Wan, the Conjuring Universe is easily one of the most successful shared universes in the past decade. In that, several other attempts at cinematic universes have come and gone, but these horror movies (based loosely on the real-life cases of demonologist couple Ed and Lorraine Warren) have remained a firm fixture at spooky season and at the box office. Ironically, the Warner Bros. films might offer the best way to handle another franchise from WB.

The rebooted DC Universe begins in 2025 with Superman: Legacy, and the goal is to succeed where the previous DC Extended Universe failed. The most obvious source of successful inspiration is Marvel Studios' Marvel Cinematic Universe, but trying to emulate these movies only doomed the DCEU. Instead, the new DCU might be better served by sticking close to the formula of the Conjuring Universe.

The Conjuring Universe Succeeds Due to Its Unique Interconnectivity

The Conjuring Universe began in 2013 with the release of The Conjuring, with the recent The Nun II being essentially a 10th anniversary release. Based around the exploits of the Warrens, the movie was seen by many as a revival of horror after a period dominated by less-than-successful slasher movie remakes. A year afterward, the first Annabelle movie released, with the possessed doll having debuted in a scene in The Conjuring. Two more Annabelle movies were later made, with The Curse of La Llorona and the two Nun movies currently being the other spinoffs. There were also two more main Conjuring movies, with another on the way.

These movies are unique in that they tie into each other without being overbearing in their continuity. For instance, the first two Annabelle can be watched independently of The Conjuring, as can the Nun movies and The Curse of La Llarona. While these movies all build upon characters and concepts introduced in the main movies, they're accessible on their own. In fact, La Llorona is almost entirely removed from the other films' stories beyond a brief appearance from the Annabelle doll and Father Perez. Thus, watching the entire universe is a "plus" and not a must, allowing viewers to skip movies if they so wish.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe Lives and Dies by Connection

The Marvel Cinematic Universe wasn't the first shared cinematic universe, but it was the first one to display the level of scale seen in the movies. For instance, these films were building up to the first Avengers movie starting with the post-credits scene of Iron Man. From there, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Captain America and Thor finished the bridge to the ambitious 2012 crossover event. From there, other Marvel characters were showcased in sequels, spinoff movies and other works. The universe that began with the fairly grounded first Iron Man movie eventually led to the cosmic comedy Guardians of the Galaxy, with these title characters and others uniting in the epic Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.

Such interconnectivity has put the MCU on the map, making each movie a must-see. This was particularly easy when it was apparent that these films were clearly building into something grander. Unfortunately, that sentiment hasn't been as stronger after Avengers: Endgame, especially since that movie was seen by some as a "jumping off point" to stop following the MCU so closely. It didn't help that Marvel Studios inundated audiences with a seemingly endless array of entertainment, with the Disney+ streaming service becoming home to numerous Marvel Cinematic Universe shows. Worst of all, these weren't the "options" they were touted to be, with WandaVision and arguably the first season of Loki necessary to understand elements from the movies Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

Audiences were used to the MCU gearing up for a big crossover, yet nothing of the sort has happened since the end of Phase 3. Likewise, the downward trend in the quality of some of Marvel Studios' entertainment makes it even easier for some to skip certain projects or move past the shared universe entirely. Ironically, even some of the more disappointing Marvel Cinematic Universe movies were better received than the worst-reviewed Conjuring Universe movies. In the case of the latter, however, those movies were made on fairly small budgets, making them turn quick and hefty profits. Likewise, they were never advertised as being integral building blocks of a universal story, which actually made them easier to enjoy since there was no narrative need to watch them in order to enjoy other movies. It almost sounds counterintuitive, though the method might actually help DC new movies get off the ground.

The DCU Can't Afford to Collapse Under a Weight of Continuity

The DC Universe is starting rich right out of the gate, with Superman: Legacy introducing several DC heroes that aren't related to the Man of Steel. James Gunn has stressed that this isn't a backdoor pilot for spinoff movies, and that's for the best. It's also quite like how the Conjuring Universe grew. While Annabelle got her own spinoff movies, this felt organic and not "forced" like some shared universe entries do. That was especially the case with The Curse of La Llorona, which wasn't directly spun off from the events of any previous Conjuring Universe movie. There's already an entire slate of DC Universe movies and shows announced, and none of them seemingly tie into each other in a dramatic way.

There will likely be cases where fan demand illustrates how viable a project might be, and this is probably the only time that sequels or direct spinoffs should be made. That way, the DC Universe can avoid any projects that make consumers question the existence of, which has become the case with past DC movies and especially certain Marvel Studios movies and shows. Allusions can be drawn to the Conjuring Universe once again, as many fans have been demanding a movie detailing the origins of the demonic samurai armor seen in the Warrens' possession. While it's strange that such an interesting concept hasn't been expounded upon, it shows the restraint of the Conjuring Universe's producers in making spinoffs.

Most importantly, a major crossover or event in the vein of Thanos needs to be held off for a while until the universe truly finds its footing. Rushing to imitate the MCU was a big problem in the DC Extended Universe, and such a jarring shift after the universe's dour early entries left it without a central identity. Thankfully, James Gunn's intentions are for each movie and character to have their own tone and scope. This way, the DCU won't come off as an assembly line of similar movies, and with the tonal dissonance at hand, audiences might be less interested in crossovers and more attuned to simply seeing each movie become its own strong franchise that just happens to share the same world as others. That sentiment is exactly why each entry in the Conjuring Universe is able to connect with those who've never seen the other movies, and it might be a way for the DCU to similarly carve its own niche among the superhero movie competition.

The Nun II is now playing in theaters.