DC’s Johns Thinks Film And TV Universe Should Be Separate, While Marvel’s Whedon Thinks Combining Carries More Weight

Marvel And DC have very different opinions when it comes to if their respective film and TV universes should overlap. Marvel has taken the approach where their Avengers movies exist in the same universe as their TV shows like ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Netflix’s upcoming Daredevil.

However, DC prefers to keep their move and TV universes separate, and the TV show Arrow does not exist in the same universe as their upcoming film Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice. And even though The CW’s Arrow and The Flash exist in the same universe, apparently DC TV shows that air on different networks like Fox’s Gotham and NBC’s Constantine will occupy their own separate universes.

In an interview with Variety, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. executive producer Jed Whedon and DC chief creative office Geoff Johns explained their feelings on why there should or shouldn’t be a shared universe for their respective properties.

Even though Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was somewhat limited by having to wait for the big reveal in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Whedon thinks the benefits outweigh the minor inconveniences.

Whedon said, “The fact that it is one universe means that when something occurs on our show or a character makes a turn, it ripples through the entire universe, which gives it much more weight. It adds the seal of approval of all those other cinematic franchises.”

On the other side of the spectrum, Johns said, “We want to give freedom to creators… so that they can take their passion [and make] the best show, the best film, the best game without having to tie it into other things.”

Given DC’s success on the TV side, Johns argument could support that not having to worry about other universes has enabled them to get projects launched more quickly. However, Marvel has had much success on the film side, and Whedon raises an excellent point on how combining the properties carries more weight. Fans who follow the movies might be more prone to tune into the related TV shows if they know those shows could impact the movies and vice versa.