Earlier today, James Gunn has released a 6-minute video outlining DC studios’ plans for the future of the DC Universe:
In his video presentation, James Gunn admitted that the DCU has been "disconnected" in their past projects. He emphasised the importance of making sure that "the DCU is connected in film, television, gaming, and animation", and that "the characters are consistent, played by the same actors, and works within one story".
Gunn also asserted that any projects outside of the planned DC Universe will be clearly labelled as "DC Elseworld" — including "Batman 2", "Joker: Folie à Deux", and "Teen Titans Go!".
Yet, before moving into the "true beginning" of the DCU, the following films are set to be released later this year:
- Shazam! Fury of the Gods (March 2023)
- The Flash (June 2023), cited as the movie that will "reset the entire DC Universe"
- Blue Beetle (August 2023)
- Aquaman 2 (December 2023)
Subsequently, Gunn unveiled that he and his team "have started to outline an 8 to 10 year plan of what DC studios will be in film, television, and gaming". The first chapter of the DCU is dubbed "Gods and Monsters", with the planned projects partly announced as follows:
- Creature Commandos (TV, animation)
Gunn stated that there will also be live-action series played by the same cast behind the voices of the animation series. - Waller (TV, live-action)
Played by Viola Davis, this series tells the story of Amanda Waller, the overseer of Suicide Squad. - Superman: Legacy (Film, July 11th 2025)
Dubbed as the “true beginning” of the DCU by Gunn. - Lanterns (TV, live-action)
A story about the Green Lanterns who watches over precinct earth and discovered a terrifying mystery that connects to a larger story of the DCU. - The Authority (Film)
An epic movie based on the WildStorm characters, and will involve all of the primary DCU characters. - Paradise Lost (TV, live-action)
The story of Paradise Island, also known as Themyscira or the birthplace of Wonder Woman, featuring fantasy-political themes similar to Game of Thrones. - The Brave and the Bold (Film)
Featuring the introduction of DCU Batman and his son Damian Wayne, also known as Robin. This film will mark the beginning of the Bat family in DCU. - Booster Gold (TV, live-action)
The story about a loser from the future who uses future technology to come back to the present, and become a superhero so that people would love him. - Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (Film)
Featuring Supergirl who, unlike Superman, was raised in a harsh environment and watched people around her perish miserably. - Swamp Thing (Film)
A dark horror story about the origins of the monster called Swamp Thing.
And that’s it for what Gunn has revealed in the video. After it was announced last year that Henry Cavill will not return as Superman anymore, and that Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman 3 had been scrapped, DC Studios certainly took us by surprise. While it is great to hear that DC Studios have detailed plans mapped out for the future of DCU, the cast of these well-known superheroes remains a mystery.
