The DC Universe‘s future has officially been revealed, including dozens of significant revelations about what James Gunn and Peter Safran are planning. The co-CEOs of DC Studios have spent the last few months planning the next 8-10 years of the DCU in secret. The duo confirmed during the time that followed that audiences would have to wait until January to know more about the plans. However, the flurry of rumors and new releases around the same time allowed announcements like Henry Cavill’s Superman exit and Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam having no future to come to light.
After making audiences wait until the very last day of January, James Gunn and Peter Safran made good on their promise to unveil part of the DCU Phase 1 slate. This included confirming ten upcoming projects in the next several years and revealing how the 2023 DC movies fit into their larger plans. With a mixture of live-action films, live-action TV shows, and animated shows announced, the DCU future has become more clear. Here is everything James Gunn and Peter Safran revealed about the plans for DCU Phase 1 in movies and TV.
1 Shazam 2 & Blue Beetle Could Connect To The DCU Future
Shazam: Fury of the Gods and Blue Beetle were both made before the new DCU plans were put in motion, but both projects and characters could be kept as part of the new franchise. Gunn confirmed that the Shazam! sequel leads into The Flash and that Blue Beetle is totally disconnected from anything that came before. The latter makes it easier to add Xolo Mariedueña’s Blue Beetle to the DCU moving forward. As for how Zachary Levi’s Shazam could carry on in the future, that was not revealed. However, Safran produced the sequel, and the duo teased that some actors from before their tenure will be kept.
2 The Flash Movie WILL Reset The DC Universe
James Gunn confirmed that long-standing belief that The Flash movie resets the DCU. Due to the movie’s multiverse and time-travel story, it was initially planned by the previous DC Films regime to be a place to reboot the franchise after years of changes. It is not confirmed how much of The Flash‘s reset will be kept for the new DCU franchise, but Gunn did offer high praise for the film director Andy Muschietti delivered. He and Safran also suggested that they have not made any changes to the movie to help set up their plans. Instead, The Flash‘s multiverse story appears to pave the way for a DCU reset naturally.
3 Aquaman 2 Will Lead Into The DC Universe’s Superman Reboot
Gunn also suggested that Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom leads into the DCU’s Superman reboot movie. It is unclear if the co-CEO was referring to how Aquaman 2 is the last DCU movie releasing before the next Superman film (not including Joker: Folie à Deux) or if it is a sign that the Jason Momoa-led sequel directly sets up a Superman reboot. There have been teases that Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom‘s place in the canon is somewhat in flux after filming cameos for both Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton’s Batman. But it now sounds possible that Jason Momoa’s Aquaman could connect to Gunn’s Superman plans.
4 Superman: Legacy Title, Release Date, & Story
The big announcement for the DCU’s future is that Superman: Legacy is the first movie to come in Phase 1. James Gunn is writing the script, which focuses on a younger Clark Kent who is already established as Superman and working to balance his superhero and regular life. He is meant to embody hope and be a light for a world that thinks kindness is old-fashioned. No new Superman actor has been cast for the project yet, but James Gunn might also direct if he has time. Superman: Legacy has an official July 11, 2025 release date set by Warner Bros.
5 DCU Phase 1 Is Called Gods And Monsters
The DCU movie and show slate announcement also gave Phase 1 a subtitle of its own: Gods and Monsters. Peter Safran announced the plan as part of the big presentation. Phase 1’s Gods and Monsters title reflects the types of stories that DC Studios will tell and what characters will be at the center of it. This includes using Swamp Thing, the Bride of Frankenstein, and others as the Monsters, while Superman, Supergirl, and Wonder Woman will help make up the Gods.
6 Creature Commandos Animated Series Includes Suicide Squad Ties
An animated series known as Creature Commandos was officially announced for HBO. James Gunn wrote all seven series episodes, which are already in production. Creature Commandos follows Bride of Frankenstein as the protagonist and features other DC characters like Nina Mazursky, Doctor Phosphorus, Eric Frankenstein, and G.I. Robot. It also features two connections to The Suicide Squad, as Rick Flag Sr. – Rick Flag’s father – and Weasel will appear. Creature Commandos will potentially release on HBO Max in 2024.
7 Waller TV Show Confirmed With Viola Davis & Peacemaker Characters Returning
It was also confirmed that the DCU future includes the Amanda Waller HBO series previously reported to be in development. Known simply as Waller, the series comes from Christal Henry (Watchmen) and Jeremy Carver (Doom Patrol). It will take place between Peacemaker season 1 and season 2. Waller will see Viola Davis return as Amanda Waller, while several characters from Peacemaker are also scheduled to appear, but which ones were not confirmed. The series will potentially be ready for a 2024 release.
8 Peacemaker Season 2 Will Not Happen Soon Due To Gunn’s Schedule
James Gunn did confirm that Peacemaker season 2 is not happening in the immediate future, though. Due to his new commitments as the co-CEO of DC Studios that include writing multiple projects and possibly directing Superman: Legacy, he has not had the time to work on a follow-up season to the hit HBO Max series. Peacemaker season 2 is still something that he and Safran want to make, but the timeline for the project to happen is unclear at the moment.
9 A Green Lanterns TV Show Following Hal Jordan & John Stewart
The Green Lanterns are finally returning and will play a pivotal role in the overall DCU story. A Lanterns HBO Max show is in development that will follow Hal Jordan and John Stewart, the two most popular Green Lanterns in the comics. The series follows them in a True Detective-type mystery mostly set on Earth where they investigate an ancient horror. No actors have been cast as Hal Jordan or John Stewart. It was teased that the central mystery behind Lanterns‘ story will directly connect to the overall narrative that Gunn and Safran have in mind for the DCU’s future.
10 Wonder Woman Prequel Show About Themyscira Will Be Like Game of Thrones
Paradise Lost is a new DCU show coming to HBO Max that serves as a Wonder Woman prequel about her home, Themyscira. The series is described as a Game of Thrones-style series that dives into the darkness, drama, and political intrigue behind the island. It will take place well before Diana Prince’s birth and explore what a society full of women does to gain power. No creative team, cast, or release date was announced for Paradise Lost.
11 Gal Gadot Wants To Return As Wonder Woman In The DCU
James Gunn did confirm that while nothing is officially set in stone for Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman return, she is willing to come back and they are discussing various options. This comes after reports circulated that Wonder Woman 3 was canceled, leading to rumors that Gunn and Safran played a role in axing the project. Gal Gadot may be one of the previous DC actors to remain part of the DCU’s future in their previous role. This would be understandable considering her fan-favorite status, even if it also means the DCU changes her story to accommodate the new universe plans.
12 Booster Gold TV Show Happening With Mystery Actor
The DCU’s future plans also include a Booster Gold TV show for HBO Max. Following the time-traveling hero Michael Jon Carter, the series will explore imposter syndrome as he uses future technology to try and become a modern-day superhero. James Gunn confirmed that he and Safran are already talking to an actor about playing Booster Gold in the DCU, but they did not reveal who this person is. Booster Gold‘s creative team and release date were also not disclosed.
13 The Authority Movie Brings Anti-Heroes Into The DCU
Sticking close to his The Suicide Squad world, James Gunn is outlining a The Authority movie for the DCU. Based on the Wildstorm imprint that DC absorbed in 1999, The Authority follows a group of anti-heroes who believe the world needs saving and are willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish that goal. This includes killing people, toppling governments, and more, as Gunn teased. It was not revealed which characters will be part of The Authority, but major comic characters like Jenny Sparks, Jack Hawksmoor, and others are candidates to appear. The movie does not have a release date yet.
14 DCU Batman & His Son Debut In The Brave and the Bold Movie
The DCU is rebooting Batman with The Brave and the Bold, a movie that will bring Bruce Wayne and his son Damian Wayne together. The film will star a new actor in the lead role of Batman and feature the live-action movie debut of Damian, who Batman did not know existed as he grew up as an assassin. The Brave and the Bold is based on Grant Morrison’s Batman comics. It will feature other members of the Bat Family as Gunn and Safran feel like they have been left out too often, but which ones have yet to be decided.
15 Ben Affleck Is Not Returning As Batman
As part of the confirmation that the DCU is rebooting Batman, James Gunn reiterated that Ben Affleck is not returning as Batman in any capacity within the new plans. He does have an appearance in The Flash and potentially Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, but that will be the end of his time as Bruce Wayne. Instead of continuing to play a DC superhero, Gunn once again shared Ben Affleck’s interest in directing an upcoming DCU movie. It will not be The Brave and the Bold, but they are still figuring out the best property for him to work on.
16 Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow Movie Will Explore Her Dark Origin
A Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow movie is also in development for the DCU’s future. Based on the 2022 comic run by Tom King, he is working with DC Studios to craft the new Supergirl movie. Gunn and Safran declined to confirm whether this would see Sasha Calle’s Supergirl from The Flash star or have a different actress play the character. The early plan for Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is to follow Supergirl after she stays on a piece of Krypton for 14 years after the planet was destroyed and watches loved ones around her die. The film does not have a release date.
17 Swamp Thing Movie Brings The Monsters To The DCU
It was also confirmed that a Swamp Thing movie is in development to bring the monsters to the DCU. Very little was revealed about the plans for Alec Holland a.k.a Swamp Thing and how he fits into the larger story. The movie will be an origin story for Swamp Thing. There is currently no confirmed writer, director, cast, or release date for the film.
18 DC Studios Architects Revealed, Includes The Flash & Moon Knight Writers
James Gunn and Peter Safran are not the only people working to craft the DC Studios plan, as they revealed a collection of writers that make up the Architects of the DCU. This includes The Flash and Birds of Prey writer Christina Hodson, Moon Knight lead writer Jeremy Slater, and Deadpool 2 writer Drew Goddard. James Gunn, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow‘s Tom King, and Waller‘s Christal Henry are also among the group. They are busy writing various projects ahead of time to have a collective and unified vision for the future that helps ensure DCU projects have finished scripts before filming begins.
19 How Many DCU Movies & Shows Will Be Made Each Year
James Gunn also revealed the projected DCU output of movies and shows. The DC Studios’ goal is to release two films and two HBO Max shows per year. This begins in 2025 with the release of Superman: Legacy and does not include non-DCU movies or shows. Based on this goal, there is still one DCU movie coming in 2025 that has yet to be officially dated, and it will not be The Brave and the Bold due to Matt Reeves’ The Batman plans.
20 Not Every Phase 1 DCU Movie & Show Have Been Revealed
The 10 DCU movies and shows announced by James Gunn and Peter Safran do not include every project that will come out during this time. They announced most of Chapter 1 of Phase 1, which will have two Chapters by the time it concludes in 8-10 years. It was revealed that due to how long some movies and shows will take to make and how much others reveal about the larger plans, they could not reveal everything that is planned. Furthermore, they want to retain some flexibility in terms of the order that specific projects are released.
