Warning: The following contains SPOILERS for Stargirl season 3.The stunning premiere of DC's Stargirl season 3 highlights the worsening problems Warner Bros. has regarding its DC Comics offerings. Despite Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav's announcement of a 10-year plan to revitalize the DC Extended Universe, many are skeptical of Zaslav's decision to focus production on blockbuster films and big name superheroes rather than television and less famous characters. With a diverse cast that draws deeply from the lore of DC Comics and a female lead, Stargirl would seem to be symbolic of the sort of programming Zaslav doesn't want to produce. Unfortunately for Zaslav, Stargirl is also the best of Warner Bros. current crop of superhero series and its success undercuts the company's current line.
The current controversy over Warner Bros. plans for DC Comics began with the announcement that the studio had ceased production on a Batgirl movie for HBO Max and would not be releasing the film, despite the filming being finished. Zaslav defended the decision to cancel Batgirl, saying that it was important to "grow the DC brand, to grow the DC characters," while emphasizing his belief that Warner Bros. should focus upon popular heroes like Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. There is some irony in this, however, given that Warner Bros. next DC Comics' movie is Black Adam, which centers around a character that was originally a Shazam villain before being reworked into an anti-hero in the early 2000s.
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Further adding to this irony is that the comics that brought about Black Adam's reformation were written by comic book writer Geoff Johns, who is also the creator of the Stargirl character and Executive Producer of the Stargirl show. With Johns leading a writing team that includes several comic book writers, Stargirl draws deeply on the rich history of DC Comics. However, despite every Stargirl episode being full of Easter eggs from the comics, Stargirl is accessible to general audiences and the season 3 premiere could be enjoyed by someone who hadn't watched the first two seasons. The success of this episode in the light of the recent Batgirl cancellation rubs salt in the wound of anyone hoping for a more varied, character-driven DC future in which less mainstream projects are able to thrive.
On paper, Stargirl would seem to be everything Zaslav wants Warner Bros. to stop producing. Yet series like Stargirl are also the heart of DC Comics' brand. While Marvel Studios seemingly found success through centralizing their movie and TV production under one banner, Warner Bros. found similar success over the past decade with a variety of offerings that reflected the weird and varied nature of DC Comics' multiverse. Grim and gritty action-oriented series like Arrow and Titans exist alongside more eclectic shows like Legends of Tomorrow and Doom Patrol, allowing audiences to find something to suit their tastes. With its family friendly tone, Stargirl has found an audience and won the hearts of fans and critics alike, providing the best example of how DC and Warner Bros. got it right in adapting a comic for television.
Beyond that, Stargirl is the story of how one person can make the world a better place by being a light in the dark. While its optimistic outlook may not fit the dark vision of some filmmakers, that core message of hope and heroism should be the centerpiece of any effort to revive the DC Extended Universe. With any luck, Stargirl will continue to shine and guide the way to a better future for DC Comics and Warner Bros for years to come.
New episodes of Stargirl air Thursdays on The CW