Injustice 3 Reportedly Has James Gunn Directly Involved

NetherRealm Studios is reportedly working closely with DC Studios co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran on Injustice 3, raising questions about how closely the fighting game will connect with the wider DC universe.

The long-rumored Injustice 3 may be moving forward with more direct input from DC Studios than first imagined. Recent sources say NetherRealm Studios is working closely with DC Studios co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran as production moves forward on the next installment of the fighting game franchise. Their input could shape the game's characters, creative direction, and how it fits with other DC projects.

DC Studios was established to oversee the wider DC brand, from film and TV to video games. The studio was founded to give the brand a more uniform direction, much like Marvel Studios oversees the numerous projects under Kevin Feige. As a result, DC Studios will likely have a lot of say over which projects get the green light and how certain elements of the property are handled.

This latest development is particularly fascinating considering that Gunn and Safran are said to be playing an active role in overseeing projects beyond traditional film and TV productions.

Rumors say that NetherRealm is working on Injustice 3 in close coordination with the two executives, which might mean that the game could share some characteristics with other upcoming DC titles. That doesn't necessarily mean that Injustice 3 will be part of the regular DC Universe continuity, however. There’s a difference between separate DC initiatives coordinating with each other and making every release exist in the same fictional timeframe.

The fighting game series has historically explored its own take on DC heroes, giving NetherRealm plenty of latitude to create an alternate version of the superhero universe. One reason the collaboration is being mentioned could be that DC Studios just wants to coordinate character appearances in its upcoming releases.

For example, if Injustice 3 is eyeing a potential 2028 release, Gunn and Safran may drop hints about animation projects and other DC productions scheduled for around that time. This could help developers include characters that are getting attention elsewhere in the franchise. Characters from projects such as Creature Commandos or upcoming Green Lantern films could also get more screen time thanks to the game.

Such coordination would help DC to build its overall brand without necessarily demanding the same continuity of every project. There may be practical motivations for the collaboration as well. It gets tricky with DC characters and the rights involved – especially when you have different studios and creative teams working on the same IP.

If DC Studios were making these decisions, it wouldn’t lead to releases that contradict each other or get in each other’s way schedule-wise.

Still, the reported involvement of Gunn and Safran has naturally raised worries about whether NetherRealm will still have the creative independence that helped develop the Injustice brand. But there is no clear indication that DC Studios plans to make any substantial changes to the series’ identity.

The franchise is recognized for its darker alternative reality, dramatic character conflicts, and deadly battle techniques. It will probably matter to keep such elements if the next installment is going to make longtime followers happy. Other big gaming projects, including the aforementioned Arkham reboot, are also said to be in line for some DC Studios input. 

For now, fans shouldn’t expect James Gunn to turn Injustice 3 into a game that doesn’t feel like Injustice. A collaboration between DC Studios and NetherRealm could help the game fit better within the company’s overall roadmap and let the devs keep creating their own narrative.