James Gunn recently responded to online skepticism regarding the planning of the DC Universe. He believes that entries within a shared universe can stand on their own, without every story needing to serve as setup for future major events.
Gunn stated that the DCU is a parallel universe that can be entered from different locations and times, with each standalone story having its own merit. He used Star Wars' nearly 50-year expansion across films, series, games, and books as an example, while pointing out that DC works exhibit even greater variation in tone and setting.
However, independence doesn't mean the works are entirely disconnected. Gunn cited Superman and its follow-up, Superman: Man of Tomorrow, as examples, stating that the latter will still feature characters introduced in other stories, but those other works aren't solely serving this one series. He also hopes audiences watch Clayface because it's an interesting horror film in its own right, not just to wait for the character to appear in three other movies.
This discussion stemmed from a netizen listing DCU titles such as Superman, Peacemaker, Supergirl, Creature Commandos, Clayface, and Lanterns, and asking where they would ultimately lead. Directed by James Watkins, Clayface tells the story of actor Matt Hagen undergoing highly experimental treatment after being disfigured; the film topped the box office in its opening weekend, earning $24 million across 3,458 theaters in North America.