A little over two years ago, incoming DC Studios co-chiefs James Gunn and Peter Safran first unveiled the direction they planned to take in building a new cinematic universe based on the superheroes of DC Comics. It was an ambitious announcement, with projects spanning both film and television as well as the numerous subgenres of stories that these characters inhabit. And since that initial announcement, more projects have been reported on, with some being officially announced by Gunn and Safran and others only being rumored at the moment.
Now, with the cornerstone of these plans, Gunn’s Superman starring David Corenswet as the Man of Steel, set for release just five months from now, let’s take a look at the state of that production slate and see where things stand at this moment for the DC Universe.
The Plan
While we don’t know exactly what Gunn and Safran have in mind in the way of long term overarching story plans for the DCU, but they must have at least a general point towards which they are building, given that the titles they revealed in 2023 were under the umbrella “Chapter One, ‘Gods and Monsters’.” That certainly implies more story to come.
But for now, the focus of the DCU is on introducing audiences to the wide variety of characters in the DC Comics stable that they hope to bring to the big screen. As Gunn noted at the time –
One of our strategies is that we take our diamond characters — Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman– and we use that to help prop up other characters that people don’t know. Like taking teams like The Authority, which is I know is just as spectacular idea for a film that is completely different take on superheroes. Because it’s really connected to Superman. It’s about to use those well-known properties to help lead into lesser known properties.
As to the mutual canonicity of animated and live action fare, Gunn announced early on that voice actors for animated projects would be cast with an eye towards their suitability for playing their characters in live action as well. Thus, you have Frank Grillo voicing Rick Flag Sr in the animated Creature Commandos as well as appearing as the character in Superman.
Gunn has also stated that the various film and TV projects will go into production based more on the readiness of their scripts rather than needing to be finished in time to meet a specific release date.
What Has Come Before
This new DC Universe is, for the most part, a hard reboot of the franchise, starting fresh with an all new creative direction and creatives in front of and behind the camera. However, like similar reboots that have been done in the comics, the break between the past and the future is not always 10 percent clean. In a variety of interviews, Gunn has stated that only a small bit of what we have seen before in DC Comics-related film and television projects will carry over into the cinematic universe. Specifically, he noted that three actors – Xolo Maridueña as Blue Beetle, Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, and John Cena as Peacemaker – would continue in their roles in projects for the new DCU. This led to some initial confusion, which Gunn stated he understood but that all would be revealed in time.
More recently, Gunn has honed some of the details about what has carried over to the new canon of the franchise. Basically, the events of his film The Suicide Squad happened in broad strokes with specific details being confirmed as having happened if they are referenced in any new project. So specific things like “Project: Starfish” and the death of Rick Flag Jr from The Suicide Squad are brought into the new canon as they are mentioned in Creature Commandos. The carryover of Xolo Maridueña continuing in the role of Blue Beetle and Season one of Peacemaker falls under this status as wells as noted below, it is unclear as to what, if any, of the details from the 2023 live action Blue Beetle film will carry over to the status quo. Gunn, however, has been very clear that the only thing in Peacemaker season one that is explicitly non-canon is the season finale’s tag scene featuring the old version of the Justice League.
Creature Commandos
Writer: James Gunn
Cast: Indira Varma (The Bride), Sean Gunn (G.I. Robot, “John Doe” / Weasel), Alan Tudyk (Alex Sartorius / Doctor Phosphorus, Will Magnus, Clayface), Zoë Chao (Nina Mazursky), David Harbour (Eric Frankenstein), Frank Grillo (Rick Flag Sr.), Maria Bakalova (Princess Ilana Rostovic), Anya Chalotra (Circe), Viola Davis (Amanda Waller), Steve Agee (John Economos), Stephanie Beatriz (Aisla MacPherson)
Status: Season 2 in pre-production
Release Date: Season 1 Currently Available, Season 2 TBA
Following some questions from the government over her use of human supervillains as part of Task Force X, aka the Suicide Squad, ARGUS chief Amanda Waller assembles a new black ops team, the decidedly non-human Task Force M, aka the Creature Commandos. This was also a series that Gunn was writing at the time of his hire to run DC Studios, so it was easy for him to fold it into his ongoing reboot plans. The first full DCU project released, it does give its audience some tantalizing glimpses of characters who they will be seeing more of in the future. The series was a hit for streamer MAX and a second season was ordered last December.
Superman
Writer/Director: James Gunn
Cast:David Corenswet (Clark Kent / Superman), Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane), Nicholas Hoult (Lex Luthor), Edi Gathegi (Michael Holt / Mister Terrific), Anthony Carrigan (Rex Mason / Metamorpho), Nathan Fillion (Guy Gardner / Green Lantern), Isabela Merced (Hawkgirl), Skyler Gisondo (Jimmy Olsen), Sara Sampaio, (Eve Teschmacher), María Gabriela de Faría (Angela Spica / The Engineer), Wendell Pierce (Perry White). Pruitt Taylor Vince (Jonathan Kent), Neva Howell (Martha Kent), Alan Tudyk (unknown)
Status: Post-production
Release Date: July 11, 2025
The first big reveal of what is in store for audiences, Superman will debut David Corenswet as the cornerstone hero of the franchise, while also establishing the new world of heroes and villains. Gunn has pointed out that this film will not be an origin story, but will join the character early in his career. This film’s origins stretch back to before Gunn’s tenure as DC Studios co-chief. Happy with the finished product of Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, Warner Brothers set him to work on a Superman screenplay idea he had pitched to the studio. At the time, the DC film franchise was in a state of disarray, with no perceived strong story direction. Gunn’s plan to set the story early in superman’s superhero career, necessitating recasting the character as current Superman lead Henry Cavill might be too old angered some fans. Following Gunn’s hiring as co-head of the newly reformed DC Studios in November 2022, the script became the foundation of the plans that he and Safran developed for the DC Universe. As part of the audience’s introduction to this new interconnected world, we will be seeing Creature Commandos‘ Rick Flagg Sr showing up, as well as establishing a bit who the Green Lanterns are before they become the focal point of the Lanterns MAX series next year.
Peacemaker
Writer: James Gunn
Director: James Gunn
Cast: John Cena (Christopher Smith / Peacemaker), Viola Davis (Amanda Waller), Danielle Brooks (Leota Adebayo), Freddie Stroma (Adrian Chase / Vigilante), Jennifer Holland (Emilia Harcourt), Steve Agee (John Economos)
Status: Season 2 in production
Release Date: Season One currently available, Season 2 – August 2025
Spinning out of Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, Peacemaker centers on the titular anti-hero as played by John Cena. The gun crazy Peacemaker is brought back to the ARGUS fold to help investigate what turns out to be an insidious alien invasion. A fun mixture of superhero pulp, over the top action and some deft social satire, Peacemaker proved to be a big hit. Initially, a series focusing on Viola Davis’s ARGUS chief Amanda Waller was to follow before a second Peacemaker season, but the 2023 twin Writers Guild and Screen Actors Guild strikes caused these two projects to be reversed on the release schedule.
Supergirl: Woman Of Tomorrow
Writer: Ana Nogueira
Director: Craig Gillespie
Cast: Milly Alcock(Kara Zor-El/Supergirl), Eve Ridley (Ruthye Marye Knoll)Matthias Schoenaerts ( Krem of the Yellow Hills), Jason Momoa (Lobo), David Krumholtz (Zor-El), Emily Beecham (Alura In-Ze)
Status: Production began on January 17, 2025
Release date: July 26, 2026
In broad strokes, the film will be drawing it’s storyline from the 2021 comics miniseries of the same name. In that story, Kara Zoe-El, aka Supergirl, uses the occasion of her 21st birthday to head out and explore the galaxy a bit. She encounters a young alien woman named Ruthye and becomes involved with her quest for revenge. The screenplay appears to be expanding on that plot somewhat, as the original miniseries did not feature Momoa’s intergalactic bounty hunter Lobo, a fan favorite character.
Lanterns
Writers: Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof and Tom King
Cast: Kyle Chandler (Hal Jordan/Green Lantern), Aaron Pierre (John Stewart/Green Lantern), Nathan Fillion (Guy Gardner/Green Lantern), Ulrich Thomsen (Thaal Sinestro), Kelly Macdonald (Kerry), Garret Dillahunt (William Macon), Poorna Jagannathan (Zoe)
Status: In Production
Release Date: Summer 2026
This series will center on Hal Jordan and John Stewart, two human members of the intergalactic police force known as Green Lanterns, as they investigate an Earth-bound crime. Both this and Supergirl seem poised to introduce viewers to some of the more cosmic side of the DC Universe and their close proximity of their 2026 releases suggests that may compliment each other in that regard.
Clayface
Writer: Mike Flanagan
Director: Unknown
Cast: Unknown
Status: Pre-Production
Release Date: September 11, 2026
After months of rumors about a possible feature film centering on the malleable Batman villain Clayface, Warner Brothers officially announced the project this past December. Doctor Sleep writer/director Mike Flanagan developed the screenplay, but has a commitment to develop and direct a new Exorcist movie for Universal and therefore won’t be available to direct this film. As of publication, Warners is still looking for someone to helm the project, which they hope to get into production soon if they wish to make the reported September 2026 release date. The Batman director Matt Reeves is signed as one of the film’s producers.
Sgt Rock
Writer: Justin Kuritzkes
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Cast: Daniel Craig
Status: In Development
Release Date: Unknown
Sgt Rock and the soldiers of Easy Company were the stars of DC Comics’ Our Army At War, one of the most popular titles in the overall subgenre of military-themed comics. The character fell out of vogue with casual readers by the mid-1980s and is remembered mostly by die-hard comics fans today. Various attempts have been made to bring the character to the big screen as far back as 1987 when Arnold Schwarzenegger was attached to play Rock in a proposed film. Sgt. Rock and Easy Company have already made their debut in the DCU, appearing in flashback in the Creature Commandos season one episode “Cheers To The Tin Man.” This live action version will reportedly see Challengers director Guadagnino teaming once again with his Queer screenwriter Kuritzkes and star Craig. The studio reportedly hopes to get the film in front of cameras by the end of this year, which suggests a 2027 release.
Swamp Thing
Writer: James Mangold
Director: James Mangold
Cast: Unknown
Status: In Development
Release Date: Unknown
Part of the initial slate of titles announced by Gunn and Safran in January 2023, it only took a couple of weeks before it was reported that writer/director James Mangold would be spearheading this project bringing the DC horror character to life. However, Mangold was obligated to finish his duties on Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny and his Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown before he could start in on developing Swamp Thing. Mangold is also concurrently developing his Star Wars film Dawn Of The Jedi for Lucasfilm, and it remains to be seen which project will go into production first.
The Authority
Writer/Director: Unknown
Starring: Maria Gabriela de Faria (The Engineer)
Status: In Development
Release Date: Unknown
Another superteam in the DC pantheon, but one known for not being as clearly heroically virtuous as those on the Justice League. Instead of taking a reactive stance to potential threats like the members of the Justice League, the Authority is more than ready to take more strident measures. Naturally, this puts the two groups at odds with each other. Gunn described getting the film made as a passion project, but as of yet there has been no official word of any creatives being attached to the film. Authority member The Engineer will be appearing in Superman, played by Maria Gabriela de Faria, so perhaps reaction to her character may play a factor on this possible film going forward.
The Brave And The Bold
Writer: Andy Muschietti
Director: Andy Muschietti
Cast: Unknown
Status: In Development
Release Date: Unknown
Drawing on writer Grant Morrison’s run on the Batman And Robin comics series, this film will feature Batman teamed up with his son Damien Wayne as his Robin while setting up the status quo for much of the rest of the Batman family of characters. Flash director Andy Muschietti was brought on board the project in June 2023 to oversee development. Recent statements from Muschetti, however, seem to suggest that in order to not conflict with Matt Reeves’s non-DCU The Batman II, which is currently targeted for an October 2027 release, The Brave And The Bold could be pushed further down the DCU release calendar.
Teen Titans
Writer: Ana Nogueira
Director: Unknown
Cast: Unknown
Status:Reportedly in Development, Not Confirmed
Release Date: Unknown
Although reported on in the trades in March 2024, Gunn and Safran have yet to confirm that they are developing a film based on the team of teenage superheroes. This rumored film will most likely focus on a core team consisting of Batman’s first Robin sidekick, Dick Grayson, who now goes under the superhero nom-de-plum Nightwing, Donna Troy, aka Wonder Girl, Changeling, Cyborg, Wally West, aka Kid Flash, Raven and the alien warrior princess Starfire.
Bane And Deathstroke
Writer: Matthew Orton
Director: Unknown
Cast: Unknown
Status:Reportedly in Development, Not Confirmed
Release Date: Unknown
Another project only reported on by the industry press last September. It has not been officially announced by Gunn and Safran.
Blue Beetle
Writer: Cristian Martinez
Showrunner/Director:
Cast: Xolo Mariduena (Jamie Reyes/ Blue Beetle)
Status: In Development
Release Date: Unknown
Initially reported on by Deadline last June, this animated series will spin off from the live action film from 2023, “but will divert from telling the same story.” Presumably, this means that the series will not repeat the film’s origin story telling how teenager Jamie Reyes (Mariduena) acquired the symbiotic alien weapons suit he uses under his superhero alias. It is unclear if that suggests the animated series will be abandoning the mystery of the disappearance of Ted Kord, the previous hero who had used the name Blue Beetle, a storyline that was left hanging at the end of the film. If the show is successful, Deadline states that it could help to propel the character back to live action.
No other cast members from the original film beyond Mariduena have been reported as joining the show, though Deadline’s report states that a number “have been approached and DC has received a positive response regarding returns.” Angel Manuel Soto and Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, who respectively served as director and screenwriter on the 2023 film, are set to executive produce.
Booster Gold
Showrunner: Unknown
Cast: Unknown
Status: In Development
A former athlete who was disgraced after getting caught in a betting scandal, Booster Gold decides to travel from his home time in the 25th century to the 1st century and use his knowledge of history to make his fortune as a superhero. First introduced in 1986 by comics creator Dan Jorgensen, Buster Gold has often been depicted as a more lighthearted character whose braggadocio often gets him in over his head. His origin has some light connections to the 25th century group the Legion of Super Heroes, though it is unknown if those will carry over to the show.
Paradise Lost
Writer: Unknown
Director: Unknown
Cast: Unknown
Status: Unknown
Release Date: Unknown
Still in development with no real reporting or announcements as to creatives working, on the show, Paradise Lost was announced as an HBO Max series that looks at palace intrigue on Wonder Woman’s home island of Themyscira. During the initial production slate announcement, Gunn compared the show to HBO’s popular Game Of Thrones fantasy series. Since there has been no announcement as to when Wonder Woman will make her first appearance in the rebooted cinematic universe, it remains unclear whether or not this series will predate that.
Waller
Writer: Christal Henry
Director: Unknown
Cast: Viola Davis (Amanda Waller), Steve Agee (John Economos, unconfirmed)
Status: In Development
Release Date: Unknown
Another HBO Max series, this one centering on the hard edged spymaster who runs the government’’s covert black ops teams Task Force X and Task Force M. The series was originally set to be released following Peacemaker season 1 and before Superman. This plan was disrupted by the twin Writers Guild and Screen Actors Guild strikes in 2023. The show is currently being targeted to follow Peacemaker season 2. As of now, only Davis’s participation has been announced. No other characters who have previously appeared in Peacemaker have been confirmed or denied as appearing in this series as that may constitute spoilers for Peacemaker season 2.
