We recently learned that The Suicide Squad director James Gunn and veteran producer Peter Safran will spearhead the new DCU, overseeing a huge story that looks set to play out over a decade. In other words, Warner Bros. is finally taking this franchise down the MCU route!
It's been a long time coming, though it will likely be a while before we get any sort of slate reveal. However, there are a number of movies definitely heading our way over the next couple of years - unless they meet the same fate as Batgirl - along with others that we know are in various stages of development.
We're also taking a look at the long-rumoured projects that are now unlikely to become a reality, and weigh in on the chances of them becoming a reality under the new regime.
To find out what the future does and doesn't hold in store for the DCU, click on the "Next" button below.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods - March 23, 2023
A lot of time has passed since 2019's Shazam!, but excitement remains high for this sequel.
The entire plot can be found online if you look closely enough, and those confirm we have a lot of big moments to look forward to. Leaks aside, though, and Fury of the Gods looks like a blast, with Helen Mirren and Grace Caroline Currey, who finally gets to suit up Mary Marvel, sure to be among the highlights.
The Flash - June 23, 2023
Thanks to lead star Ezra Miller, excitement for The Flash has lessened a great deal in recent months. Most fans are ready to see them move on from the role, though we shouldn't overlook what promises to be a fun, time-travel adventure in the DCU.
Michael Keaton will reprise the role of Batman for the first time since 1991's Batman Returns, while Sasha Calle is set to make her debut as Supergirl. Throw in cameos from Ben Affleck (Batman) and Michael Shannon (General Zod), and we're keeping an open mind.
Blue Beetle - August 18, 2023
Originally destined for an HBO Max release before pivoting to a theatrical one, it's hard to know what to expect from Blue Beetle. The costume seen on set wouldn't look out of place on The CW, while there are no huge names to speak of in the cast.
That could actually go in the movie's favour, though, and this is definitely a story that deserves to be told. Angel Manuel Soto is a great filmmaker, while Xolo Maridueña has all the makings of a star.
Aquaman & The Lost Kingdom - December 25, 2023
Wrapping up what looks set to be a busy year for the DCU is the Aquaman sequel, and we're hoping this too will have been worth the wait. Black Manta is going to take centre stage as the big bad, though Amber Heard's recent controversies mean Mera will take a backseat in proceedings.
There's a lot of speculation that Jason Momoa will play Lobo in the new DCU, so we can't help but wonder whether he might put Arthur Curry to one side after The Lost Kingdom.
Joker: Folie à Deux - October 4, 2024
Many fans questioned early on whether Joker was a movie that needed a sequel, but we're getting one and it's not for the fight against a grown-up Bruce Wayne as Batman we initially expected.
Instead, Joker: Folie à Deux will take place in Arkham Asylum with the Clown Prince of Crime paired up with Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn for what sounds like a musical escapade. Consider us intrigued.
The Batman 2 - TBA
Matt Reeves' The Batman sequel doesn't have a release date, but the sooner it gets here, the better. We just hope the filmmaker isn't stretching himself too thin with not only The Penguin TV show, but those that will reportedly revolve around a surprisingly long list of the Dark Knight's greatest foes.
Robert Pattinson was a great Batman, and it would be no bad thing for him to be brought into the new DCU spearheaded by Gunn and Safran.
Man Of Steel 2 - TBA
Henry Cavill made his return as Superman in Black Adam and now looks set to have a bright future in the DCU. A solo movie is reportedly in development and may be further ahead than we realise if recent reports are anything to go by.
All signs point to the movie being vastly different in tone from Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, giving us a Man of Tomorrow more in line with his comic book counterpart. As for who will direct, we don't know, though Christopher McQuarrie remains a firm fan-favourite.
Wonder Woman 3 - TBA
We still have no idea what's happening with Patty Jenkins' Rogue Squadron movie, but know she's working on Wonder Woman 3. The threequel is expected to take Diana Prince into the present day and surely has to be an improvement over the hit-and-miss Wonder Woman 1984.
Nothing is known about the plot, though we do hope the Amazon warrior has finally moved on from Steve Trevor.
Green Lantern Corps - TBA
With Warner Bros. now changing course with that Green Lantern TV series to focus on John Stewart, we remain in the dark when it comes to the planned Green Lantern Corps movie.
That's been stuck in development hell for a very long time, and was supposed to revolve around John teaming up with Hal Jordan. We're optimistic, however, that the project will find new life with Gunn and Safran as Hal deserves another chance.
Black Adam 2 - TBA
Despite star Dwayne Johnson touting Black Adam's opening weekend like it was the biggest movie of the year, Teth-Adam's DCU debut has actually underperformed, doing Shazam! numbers on a budget that's twice as big (with reviews that were nowhere near as positive).
There's been a lot of talk about a sequel, though whether one will actually happen now remains to be seen. We don't think we've seen the last of Black Adam, but Johnson might have to make do with being a co-star moving forward.
Static Shock - TBA
Announced during DC FanDome in 2020 under a different regime at Warner Bros., it's now unclear what the future holds in store for the Michael B. Jordan-produced Static Shock movie.
It was expected to be an HBO Max project developed as part of "a new universe centered around black superheroes" based on DC's Milestone imprint. While Randy McKinnon had been tapped to pen the screenplay, we have a feeling Virgil Hawkins' big screen debut will have to wait for now.
Supergirl - TBA
The Flash was meant to write Henry Cavill's Superman out of the DCU, permanently replacing the Man of Steel with Sasha Calle's Supergirl. With the actor now returning, though, plans have obviously changed.
22 Jump Street writer Oren Uziel was hired to write the movie, but it's been a long time since we've heard anything about Supergirl. As a result, we have a feeling a different role will be found for this hero in the newly relaunched DCU.
Nightwing - TBA
The LEGO Batman Movie director Chris McKay was overjoyed to be tasked with directing Nightwing, but as time passed, it became increasingly obvious Warner Bros. had moved on from the project.
We're not sure what happened, but it was being developed at a time the studio clearly didn't know what to do with the "DCEU." Titans is a mediocre series, and Dick Grayson deserves the chance to shine on the big screen.
Lobo - TBA
Wonder Woman writer Jason Fuchs was supposed to be working on Lobo, while there was a time when even Transformers director Michael Bay was attached.
Since then, we've heard nothing, though Gunn sent the internet into a frenzy after posting a photo of the Main Man on social media. Jason Momoa would later say he and Safran are making one of his dream projects a reality, with the belief now that he'll get the chance to play Aquaman and Lobo.
Zatanna - TBA
A Zatanna movie was being developed by HBO Max and thought to be part of J.J. Abrams' plan to assemble the Justice League Dark in the DCU.
Promising Young Woman writer Emerald Fennell was tasked with penning the screenplay, but like the rest of Abrams' DC projects, it appears this one is now dead. We hope that's not it for Zatanna, of course, as the character has heaps of potential.
Black Canary
Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey received positive reviews, but didn't really strike a chord with fans. However, we got to spend time with a lot of great characters, including Jurnee Smollett's Black Canary.
Misha Green was writing the script, but as this was expected to be another HBO Max movie, we don't anticipate a solo outing for Dinah Lance being a priority when it comes to telling epic stories on the big screen. She can, however, appear as a supporting player elsewhere.
And The Rest...
There's a lot to squeeze into this final slide. Among the movies we don't expect to become a reality in the new DCU are Booster Gold, Blackhawk, Deadshot, Deathstroke, Gotham City Sirens, Metal Men, and the female-led Plastic Man.
We're also lumping not one, but two Superman movies into this one. The first was being developed by J.J. Abrams and Ta-Nehisi Coates, with a Black lead and period setting. The second, meanwhile, was going straight to HBO Max with Michael B. Jordan likely to play the Calvin Ellis version of Supes.
Now that Cavill is reprising the role, we can't imagine either of them being a priority of Warner Bros. Discovery.