What is going on on with the upcoming DC motion pictures? Will the DCU have phases? Is The Batman canon? You could be questioning about all this (and extra) for those who’ve heard about DC Studios’ ongoing reboot of films and TV reveals, which begins in cinemas this yr with James Gunn’s Superman.
Warner Bros. and DC’s renewed method to constructing a cinematic universe is looser than Marvel’s MCU efforts. Positive, we’d get crossovers sooner slightly than later, and sure, there is a construction/bigger plan set in place, however the ‘twist’ is that there isn’t any exhausting roadmap set in stone. According to DC Studios co-heads James Gunn (of Guardians of the Galaxy fame) and Peter Safran, we’re now venturing into Chapter 1 of the DCU: Gods and Monsters, which truly started in December 2024 with season 1 of Creature Commandos.
As for motion pictures and reveals that had been standing on their very own, akin to The Batman, Joker, and The Penguin, it has been confirmed that these universes will stay ‘elseworlds’ which toy with DC’s wealthy library in numerous methods and other than the principle DC continuity. It stays to be seen what’s occurring with Blue Beetle, however current feedback in regards to the character’s future counsel he might cleanly transition to the DCU.
Beneath you will discover a listing of each upcoming DC film, the creatives who’re connected, launch dates, and every thing else we all know to date. Scroll right down to the very finish to get the short rundown on which initiatives are within the DCU and that are deliberate as standalones or alternate universes.
Superman
- Launch date: July 11, 2025
- Director: James Gunn
The DCU kicks off on the massive display with the most secure guess you possibly can probably make (with the doable exception of extra Batman): a hopeful Superman reboot which skips the origin story everyone knows and locations the character right into a universe that is already filled with superheroes (just like the Lanterns) and scheming evildoers akin to Lex Luthor.
You may suppose this undertaking is a bit overcrowded for the primary film of a rebooted continuity, however we should admit James Gunn has confirmed us fallacious again and again with regards to comedian ebook variations, so we’re optimistic.
Whereas the core of the story appears to be like and sounds easy sufficient (Clark Kent/Superman attempting to navigate the complexities of being a god-like determine who needs to observe his coronary heart), we all know it is obtained ties to Creature Commandos, Peacemaker season 2, and certain 2026’s Supergirl: Girl of Tomorrow, amongst others. Talking of which…
Supergirl: Girl of Tomorrow
- Launch date: June 26, 2026
- Director: Craig Gillespie
Whereas Superman is taking part in up the ‘boy scout’ angle, Supergirl’s big-screen debut is working with Tom King’s critically acclaimed and celebrated 8-issue restricted sequence that was printed from 2021 to 2022. The primary hook was its extra layered and mature tackle the lore surrounding the character and the extra fantastical mythology constructed round this particular story. With I, Tonya and Cruella director Craig Gillespie on the helm – directing a script by Ana Nogueira – chances are high Supergirl: Girl of Tomorrow will seize a lot of that spark.
We have but to see how carefully it follows the comedian ebook’s storyline, which targeted on Kara Zor-El celebrating her twenty first birthday with a visit throughout the cosmos, solely to discover a noble younger warrior named Ruthye Marye Knoll whose father was murdered by Krem of the Yellow Hills. This leads each ladies proper right into a violent quest for revenge that enables Kara to replicate on her personal origins. As a pleasant shock, we now know that former Aquaman Jason Momoa will be playing interstellar bounty hunter Lobo within the film.
Clayface
- Launch date: September 11, 2026
- Director: James Watkins
James Gunn wasn’t mendacity when he said that Warner Bros was open to bizarre, extra tonally distinct DC initiatives. Clayface is approach much less in style than the Joker, but he is getting the solo film remedy at DC Studios after Mike Flanagan hit Gunn with a convincing sufficient pitch and script. Sadly, he will not be directing attributable to different commitments, and a brand new draft is being written by Hossein Amini (Drive) as we converse. James Watkins (Communicate No Evil) is presently set to direct.
Earlier rumors and official chatter pointed to Clayface being extra within the lower-budget horror flick area, which is becoming contemplating most incarnations of the character have a clay-like, shapeshifting means that is unnerving to say the least. That mentioned, we would not be completely stunned if this film goes for a extra grounded method. James Gunn has stated the film might be set within the DCU, although, which implies now we have already met this Clayface via his temporary function in Creature Commandos.
The Batman Half II
- Launch date: October 1, 2027
- Director: Matt Reeves
The Batman was an enormous win for DC in 2022, proving that audiences weren’t afraid of getting extra iterations of the Caped Crusader so long as the pitches had been ok. Nevertheless, Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne will keep in his lane and never be a part of the extra comedian book-y DCU. Regardless, what’s occurring with this one? Why is it taking so lengthy to get made?
Effectively, it seems most of it comes right down to Pattinson’s busy schedule and writer-director Matt Reeves’ private life. James Gunn has repeated a number of occasions that they are nonetheless ready for a script Reeves is pleased with, and contemplating the important reception and field workplace receipts the primary film garnered, it is most likely in everybody’s finest curiosity to not rush this one. Final yr, we noticed HBO’s The Penguin add extra to Reeves’ tackle Gotham Metropolis, however we have but to study the principle villain who will make Batman’s job more durable in Half II.
Dynamic Duo
- Launch date: June 30, 2028
- Director: Arthur Minz
Kicking issues off with an animated present based mostly on lesser-known DC characters was a transparent signal of Gunn’s love for the medium and its potential as a special canvas for large comedian ebook tales introduced out of the pages. It wasn’t lengthy earlier than he confirmed they had been additionally taking a look at releasing extra animated DC motion pictures in cinemas following the success of the Spider-Verse motion pictures from Sony Animation. Swaybox’s Arthur Mintz might be directing; his firm mixes puppetry, stop-motion, and CGI, so this undertaking may carry one thing actually contemporary to the desk.
Whereas it isn’t confirmed if the story will belong to the DCU or stand by itself, we all know it will observe Dick Grayson and Jason Todd, the 2 hottest Robins, with Batman out of the image (not less than for essentially the most half). Grayson finally turns into the hero referred to as Nightwing, whereas Jason Todd turns into the Crimson Hood. For all we all know, the story – written by Coco’s Matthew Aldrich – might be set earlier than these modifications. On prime of every thing, The Batman and The Penguin’s Matt Reeves is producing.
Batman: The Courageous and the Daring
- Launch date: Unknown
- Director: Andy Muschietti
The Batman skipping the DCU continuity does not imply DC Studios is not already exhausting at work on discovering the correct Caped Crusader for the rebooted universe. With The Flash’s Andy Muschietti connected to direct (not less than for now), work on The Courageous and the Daring has been underway for not less than somewhat over two years now. We have not heard something in regards to the writing expertise connected, although.
The film is anticipated to be based mostly on the comedian books by Grant Morrison that explored the Bat-Household and their many dramas, particularly the connection between Bruce Wayne and his son, Damian Wayne. This confirms the Batman we’ll be assembly within the DCU is a seasoned veteran who’s been defending Gotham Metropolis for years. Creature Commandos additionally gave us a glimpse of the hero, so Gunn has been quietly laying the groundwork for his large entrance.
Swamp Factor
- Launch date: Unknown
- Director: James Mangold
One other in-the-works undertaking skewing in the direction of horror is the big-screen adaptation of Swamp Factor. James Mangold (Logan, A Full Unknown) stays on board to jot down and direct the “very simple, clean, Gothic horror movie“, although progress on the script has been gradual, as he is additionally engaged on an epic ‘Jedi origins’ Star Wars film at Lucasfilm.
Although it has been deliberate as a standalone film with little to no connection to the bigger DCU, it was revealed as a part of Chapter 1 of the universe. Within the comics, Swamp Factor is an antihero character that seeks to guard nature and humanity. The ‘Avatar of the Inexperienced’ has had completely different incarnations through the years, however he stays one of the crucial iconic and recognizable DC characters regardless of his restricted mainstream reputation. With the correct script, that is an off-beat undertaking that would simply flourish.
The Authority
- Launch date: Unknown
- Director: Unknown
The Authority was one other large swing of a undertaking that was revealed again in 2023 with the tough define of DCU Chapter 1, Gods and Monsters. James Gunn teased it’d have robust connections to Superman, and that film’s major trailer launched Angela Spica (The Engineer). As a superhero group, The Authority is thought for occasionally going a bit excessive, so consider a darker different to different main teams of the DC universe, just like the Justice League. Actually, these characters initially weren’t a part of DC.
Gunn has described the movie as “a ardour undertaking” that is being developed alongside different DC Studios writers, however we’ve not obtained any main updates. The latest update got here in early 2025, when Gunn admitted it has been “moved to the again burner” as different initiatives are larger priorities for each Warner and the studio.
Teen Titans
- Launch date: Unknown
- Director: Unknown
Teen Titans is one other film based mostly on fan-favorite characters that is within the early phases of growth. Ana Nogueira (Supergirl: Girl of Tomorrow) pitched the undertaking to Gunn and Safran, who called the first script “superb” earlier than confirming it merely is not able to go but. The updates we have obtained are encouraging, however DC Studios has but to commit.
For now, the potential roster of characters is totally up within the air, although many followers wish to see a detailed adaptation of the superhero group as seen within the early 2000s CN animated sequence, which included Robin, Cyborg, Raven, Starfire, and Beast Boy. With a Batman film that is introducing Damian Wayne on the way in which, it isn’t exhausting to see the way it might be arrange with ease within the close to future.
Bane/Deathstroke (untitled)
- Launch date: Unknown
- Director: Unknown
Films and TV reveals about DC antiheroes and villains have had a strong hit fee to date, so it comes as no shock that the brand new regime is doubling down on such initiatives. On prime of Clayface and Swamp Factor, final yr we discovered of one other script that is been floating round: one specializing in Bane and Deathstroke sans Batman.
You all know the previous, and the latter was launched on-screen in Justice League’s (2017) post-credits stinger, performed by Joe Manganiello, solely to by no means present up once more because the DCEU continued to battle. In fact, we might probably be taking a look at new faces behind each masks, however with a script by Moon Knight scribe Matthew Orton solely within the early phases of growth, we would not get our hopes up simply but.
Constantine 2
- Launch date: Unknown
- Director: Francis Lawrence
Final however not least, now we have to acknowledge the existence (in some kind) of a tentative sequel to 2005’s Constantine, starring Keanu Reeves. It’s been pitched to DC Studios and a script is now within the works, with authentic director Francis Lawrence involved in coming again to helm it as soon as he is completed with quite a lot of initiatives, together with a brand new Starvation Video games and the long-in-development BioShock adaptation at Netflix.
Akiva Goldsman (I Am Legend) is writing after Reeves and Lawrence cracked a narrative and a few “actually, actually nice concepts” that will carry the duo again to the identical universe the unique film offered. Subsequently, this could probably be thought-about an elseworlds undertaking below DC Studios. As a lot as we might like to have Reeves’ tackle the occult detective again on the massive display, it is gonna take a uncommon planetary alignment to get this one to the beginning line.
Which upcoming DC motion pictures are a part of the DCU?
If you’d like the short reply to which motion pictures presently within the works at DC Studios are confirmed to be a part of the principle DCU continuity, starting with Creature Commandos and Superman, right here you go:
- Superman (2025)
- Supergirl: Girl of Tomorrow (2026)
- Clayface (2026)
- Batman: The Courageous and the Daring (TBA)
- Swamp Factor (TBA)
- The Authority (TBA)
- Teen Titans (TBA)
- Bane/Deathstroke (TBA)
