Due to the popularity of Marvel’s mutant revival X-Men ’97, which brought sense of nostalgia and a continuation of the 90’s animated series, many DC fans are left to wonder if a similar revival could happen to the classic Justice League: Unlimited. According to Comicbook, creator James Gunn (Guardian of the Galaxy 2) has acknowledged the success of the revival but has confirmed that he would not be following the trend. The headman of DC Studios described his reasoning on his Threads page.
Post by @jamesgunnView on Threads
When a fan, @iamthelangston, asked Gunn about the potential of a revival series, Gunn responded: “X-Men ’97 is fun because it’s unique and not desperately trying to follow the trends of everything around it. So I’d rather just keep doing that,” via Comicbook. The series follows the journey of well-known DC Comics superheroes such as Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman as they protect Earth from all threats. It originally broadcast in 2004 and ran for three seasons.
This comment suggests that Gunn is more focused on building up the franchise with fresh new takes and storylines distinct from the DCAU, while also respecting its legacy. According to a previous mxdwn post, Gunn and Peter Safran (Shazam! Fury of the Gods), have been working on several different projects such as the upcoming Lantern series and the Creature Commandos.
According to Comicbook, one of the main factors that make the revival of the acclaimed animated DC series unattainable is the passing of Kevin Conroy (Batman Beyond), the longtime voice of the Dark Crusader and the detective himself. Fans have stated that a revival would be daunting and unfair to whoever would replace him.
Only time will tell what Gunn has planned for the future of DC animation. But one thing’s for certain: the animation department at DC Studios is poised to deliver exciting new stories for both longtime fans and newcomers alike. For now, fans can rewatch the entirety of Justice League Unlimited, which is still available for streaming on HBO Max.