10 Biggest Ways The DCEU Has Changed From Original Plans
1. They're Allowed To Have Fun Now
Prior to his departure, it looked as though the self-serious, somber and gritty tone that marked Zack Snyder's time as the DCEU's creative driving force looked to become the template for the entire franchise, and it definitely informed the look of both Wonder Woman and Suicide Squad.
However, in the post-Snyder era the possibilities have opened wider than before for the filmmakers to put their own unique stamp on their DC projects, without being beholden to the established aesthetic. Aquaman is a big, loud, stupid movie and all the better for it, but would have stood out like a sore thumb during the Justice League years.
Similarly, Shazam! is pretty much a superhero twist on the body-swap comedy; Birds of Prey ventured into R-rated territory and adopted its own visual style; Wonder Woman 1984 looks to embrace the decade's nostalgia in all of its full-blown neon glory; people are expecting James Gunn to take the same irreverent and offbeat approach he brought to Guardians of the Galaxy in The Suicide Squad, and The Batman reportedly won't even connect to the DCEU at all.
One of the most frequent criticisms of Marvel's cinematic universe is that they closely adhere to both formula and template, making singular and visually-dazzling instalments few and far between as a result. While this isn't a knock on Zack Snyder by any means, if he still held the keys to the kingdom then we likely wouldn't have seen such variety in the DCEU's recent history.