James Gunn breaks down death rules in the DCU and when the Lazarus Pit might be used: 'I won't be killing major characters just to...'

With the first season of 'Creature Commandos' now available to watch, 'Superman' (starring David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, and Nicholas Hoult) releasing this July, and Season 2 of 'Peacemaker' launching in August, James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DCU is starting to take shape.

As the universe expands, fans have grown more curious about its core concepts, beliefs, and how closely it will follow comic book traditions.

‘In the DCU, if you die, you're dead’

Over on Threads, a fan joked, ‘no one stays dead forever’ and asked whether Princess Ilana Rostovic was really dead or if she might return for 'Creature Commandos' Season 2.Gunn gave a firm reply: "In the DCU if you die, you're dead," not leaving much room for misinterpretation.

A fan raises the Lazarus Pit question

Another fan joined the conversation, saying, “As someone who loves the no-resurrections rule, I do wonder, doesn't it limit you from using established elements of DC comics lore like the Lazarus Pit?"Gunn responded, clarifying that while he’s not completely against resurrection as an idea, it has to be done with purpose. “I wouldn't mind using the Lazarus Pit (and/or resurrection) in a story. But it would have to be a part of the story itself.

I won't be killing major characters just to pop them in the old LP to be alive again."

Lazarus Pit: powerful but not to be overused

In the comics, Lazarus Pits are powerful pools that can heal wounds, resurrect the dead, and even offer near immortality. But Gunn made it clear that he thinks this plot device should be used very sparingly.He explained, "What backfires more is people believing there are no stakes and death doesn't mean anything. Dead is dead."

High stakes in the new DCU

Gunn’s message is loud and clear — in his DCU, death has weight. With the exception of major storylines like Jason Todd’s, where the Lazarus Pit plays a crucial role, Gunn has no interest in casually bringing characters back to life. If resurrection is used, it will likely be central to the storyline, not just a quick fix. This approach aims to keep the stakes high and the stories meaningful, giving fans a more grounded and emotionally engaging DC Universe.