On Monday, the co-chiefs of Warner Bros Discovery, James Gunn and Peter Safran, held a press conference to announce the upcoming reboot of the DC Universe, which is set to launch in 2025.
During the conference, Gunn unveiled the first ten projects that will form the foundation of the rebooted DCU franchise, which will feature interconnected films, television shows, gaming, and animation. The goal of the reboot is to maintain consistency in character portrayals, with the same actors playing the roles throughout the franchise.
However, Gunn made it clear that some projects, such as Matt Reeves’ The Batman, Todd Phillips’ Joker, and Teen Titans Go, will not be a part of the main DCU continuity, but rather will fall under the “DC Elseworlds” umbrella. This means that they will exist outside of the main DCU continuity and will not be directly connected to the other projects in the franchise.
The upcoming projects, such as Shazam! Fury of the Gods, The Flash, Blue Beetle, and Aquaman 2, should not be disregarded despite the DC Universe reboot in 2025. These films are set to release this year, with The Flash being the most significant of them all. Directed by Andy Muschietti, this film will play a crucial role in rebooting the entire DCU.
Gunn and Safran have a well-thought-out plan for the franchise, with an 8-10 year roadmap to establish the DCU properly. This plan is part of the first chapter of the franchise, titled “Gods and Monsters.” Upcoming shows and projects will be an integral part of this plan, so it will be interesting to see how the DCU develops and evolves over the coming years.
DC Television Shows
Creature Commandos (Animated TV Series)
The Creature Commandos series is the only animated show included in the new slate of projects. All episodes are written by James Gunn himself and will center around Rick Flagg Sr (who will also feature in a live-action project), Eric Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, Weasel, G. I. Robot, Doctor Phosphorus, and Nina Mazursky.
Waller
This spin-off series, Waller will focus on the character of Amanda Waller, once again played by Viola Davis. The director of Suicide Squad will join forces with Team Peacemaker in this new series, which will be led by Christal Henry from Watchmen and Jeremy Carver, the creator of Doom Patrol.
Lanterns
The Lanterns series will feature fan-favorite characters, Hal Jordan and John Stewart, as the main protagonists. However, it is not yet clear if this show is the Greg Berlanti project or something else.
Paradise Lost
This series will serve as a prequel to Wonder Woman, with a Game of Thrones-style theme. The show will delve into the politics among the women of Themyscira, prior to the birth of Diana Prince, as they maneuver to attain power at any cost.
Booster Gold
This project revolves around a superhero struggling with imposter syndrome, who travels from the future to establish a name for himself in the present day.
DC Movies
Superman: Legacy
James Gunn is writing the script for Superman: Legacy and may also direct it in the future. The show will follow Superman as he tries to balance his ordinary human life with his superhero responsibilities.
The Authority
The Authority is a team of antiheroes with a mission to fix a broken world, and they will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.
BATMAN: The Brave and the Bold
This film will feature a storyline centered around Batman and Robin. A new actor will take on the role of The Dark Knight, meaning that Robert Pattinson and Ben Affleck will not be involved. In this movie, Bruce Wayne will take Damian under his wing as the new Robin and train him. It is possible that other members of the Bat Family will also make an appearance.
Swamp Thing Origin Story
A dark origin story based on the character of Swamp Thing is in the works.
Supergirl: Future of Tomorrow
Gunn has given Kal-El’s cousin her own movie with “Supergirl: Future of Tomorrow.” Unlike Clark Kent, Kara Zor-El did not grow up on Earth after Krypton’s destruction, but instead survived on a fragment of her home planet that drifted away. The film will delve into the pain and loss that the “Girl of Steel” experienced as she watched those she loved perish before her eyes.
Wonder Woman 3
Gunn did not mention any plans for Gal Gadot’s return as Wonder Woman in the recent announcement. It remains to be seen if the actress will be a part of future DCU projects.
DCU Schedule Safran and Gunn have outlined a plan to release two movies and two TV series per year as part of the rebooted DCU, in order to maintain the quality of the projects. It will be intriguing to see how the DCU fares in the coming years, so stay tuned for updates.