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Tom Power

'I trust James Gunn' or 'repeating the DCEU's mistakes'?: Booster Gold cancelation rumor leaves DC fans divided over the direction of the rebooted DCU

A promotional image of Booster Gold smiling for his DCU TV series.

  • DC fans are worried about forthcoming HBO Max show Booster Gold
  • Its showrunner no longer appears to be involved, which has sparked fears it may have been canceled
  • DC Studios co-chief James Gunn is yet to comment on the rumor

DC comic book fans have been left divided over the future of DC Universe (DCU) TV show Booster Gold.

The live-action series, which was one of myriad projects announced as part of DCU Chapter One in January 2023, appears to have suffered a major setback after its showrunner dropped a big hint that they were no longer involved.

Indeed, as first spotted last Sunday (March 15) by X/Twitter fan account DCdaily (see below), David Jenkins deleted every Booster Gold-related post he'd made on his personal Instagram account. Jenkins was hired as Booster Gold's showrunner last July, with the Our Flag Means Death creator also tapped to pen its pilot episode.

DC Studios co-chief James Gunn hasn't commented on Jenkins' rumored departure yet — and I'm guessing he won't, either.

Sure, Gunn has made a habit of confirming and denying speculation about various DCU projects on his social channels. However, he never publicly acknowledged that Jenkins had been given the reins to this HBO Max TV show, so I'd be surprised if he movies to clarify the truth behind this particular piece of gossip.

A HBO Max show in dire need of a developmental boost

Understandably, the big question on DC fans' minds now is this: has Booster Gold been scrapped internally, or is Jenkins' apparent departure a relatively minor issue in the grand scheme of things?

Right now, it doesn't look like there's a consensus among the wider fanbase. There are those who fear for the overall fate of this DCU Chapter One production, but there are just as many people who believe there's nothing to be concerned about.

After all, Gunn and fellow studio co-head Peter Safran have regularly stated that announced projects won't enter full production unless they're happy with a film's screenplay or a show's scripts. For the latter crowd, then, it's plausible that Jenkins' initial draft wasn't up to scratch.

It's a stance that, on the surface, is hard to argue against. However, it's been over three years since Booster Gold was first announced, so concerns about its development — especially eight months on from it securing a showrunner — shouldn't be dismissed so easily.

Furthermore, the collection of movies and shows that'll comprise DCU Chapter One, otherwise known as 'Gods and Monsters', has been added to since its initial lineup reveal.

Film-wise, a sequel to 2025's Superman called Man of Tomorrow, Clayface, and a Wonder Woman flick have been added to Chapter One's roster. Meanwhile, on the TV front, a Superman spin-off series starring Jimmy Olsen, an animated take on Tom King's Mister Miracle comic book series, and Creature Commandos season 2 have also been greenlit.

With many of these projects seemingly being prioritized over others, including Booster Gold, fans of the time-traveling superhero wannabe are rightly anxious about the status of his first-ever live-action portrayal. All eyes are on Gunn and Safran, then, to see if it's still in active development.


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