James Gunn and Peter Safran have revealed the first projects coming to their new DC Universe, including release dates for a new Superman film, and The Batman sequel!
Pretty much since it was announced Gunn and Safran were heading up the new DC Universe at Warner Bros, fans have been chomping at the bit to learn what’s coming next. After Gunn promised we’d get details this month, the final day of January finally brings some answers in the form of 10 new projects that include a variety of iconic characters and some unexpected surprises.
Now, for the big question…how do they tie things together? As many speculated, Gunn confirmed that this year’s The Flash will serve as a “reset” to the universe, allowing all new stuff to form:
“So, how can we take these things together and make them make sense and have them unified and have it one real universe?…I think that we’ve gotten lucky with the next four movies, frankly, because we have Shazam, which leads into Flash, which resets everything which then goes into Blue Beetle, which is totally disconnected…But the one thing that we can promise is that everything from…our first project forward, will be canon, and will be connected. We’re using some actors from the past, we’re not using other actors from the past. But everything from that moment forward will be connected and consistent.”
Yesterday afternoon, the pair shared details on “Chapter 1” of the new slate with a handful of reporters. The current plan is to release two movies, and two shows every year. Now, they caution that some things may end up changing, but these are what they’re hoping to get out there first:
MOVIES
Superman: Legacy – This one is already set for July 11, 2025 release with James Gunn currently writing the script and MAY end up directing. Safran mentions this will serve as the “start of the DCU” and “It focuses on Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way. He is kindness in a world that thinks of kindness as old-fashioned.”
The Batman: Part II – Gunn and Safran made it clear that Matt Reeves’ The Batman trilogy is still full steam ahead and have even given the sequel an October 3, 2025 release date, with plans to (most likely) film later this year. This and the Joker sequel will now use the “Elseworlds” Banner.
The Authority – This is an interesting one, and set to build off things introduced in Superman: Legacy. The Authority is based on Wildstorm comics from the early 90s, which focused on a set of superhumans who don’t exactly play nice when it comes to saving the world…
“It isn’t just a story of heroes and villains, and not every movie and TV show is going to be about good guy versus bad guy,” Gunn said. “There are people that are very questionable, like the Authority, who basically believe that you can’t fix the world in an easy manner, and they take things into their own hands.”
A script is currently in the works, though no screenwriter was revealed.
The Brave and the Bold – This will serve as the DCU’s Batman, who will be separate from the “Elseworlds” version we’re getting with Matt Reeves and Robert Pattinson. More importantly, this film will actually feature the Bat-family, with the Damian Wayne version of Robin featured prominently. At last, Robin back on the big screen!
Supergirl: World of Tomorrow – Based on Tom King’s comic run of the same name, the Supergirl movie will put the focus on Superman’s cousin, Kara Zor-El.
“We see the difference between Superman,” Gunn says, “who was sent to Earth and raised by loving parents from the time he’s an infant, versus Supergirl, who was raised on a rock chip off of Krypton, and watched everyone around her die and be killed in terrible ways for the first 14 years of her life. She is much more hardcore and not the Supergirl we’re used to.”
Swamp Thing – Lastly, on the movie side, Gunn and Safran announced a new Swamp Thing movie! Described as something more of a horror film, it will explore the “dark origins” of the character (who will still have interactions with the larger DCU). Very eager to see how this one goes as it will also “close out” the first chapter of the DCU.
TV
But it’s not just movies that were revealed. Gunn and Safran revealed a handful of TV projects they’re currently working on that will also flesh out their new DCU.
Creature Commandos – This one is already in production and will be a seven-episode animated series written by James Gunn. Originally launched in 1980, Creature Commandos put the focus on…well CREATURES fighting Nazis in World War II. This new version won’t follow the same path (and includes Weasel from The Suicide Squad). Casting is still happening, but it’s important to note Gunn said they’re hoping to cast people who could ultimately portray these same characters in live-action down the road.
Waller – The already planned (and in the works) spin-off of the Peacemaker series is still going forward. Viola Davis will reprise the role of Waller as it will also serve as a continuation of Peacemaker. For the moment, the previously announced second season of Peacemaker is on hold as Gunn directs his efforts to Superman: Legacy. Christal Henry (Watchmen) and Jeremy Carver (Doom Patrol) are currently writing the scripts.
Lanterns – Thank GOODNESS! We finally have some actually information on something related to Green Lantern (my personal favorite DC stuff). As many suspected, Greg Berlanti’s long-gestating TV show is no longer happening and has been scrapped entirely. Instead, we’re getting Lanterns.
The new show will focus on Hal Jordan and John Stewart, and is described as something more intimate in scale, “very much in the vein of True Detective,” as Safran described it. In the show, the two Lanterns will be investigating some big mystery that “plays a really big role leading us into the main story that we’re telling across our film and television.”
Paradise Lost – Described as a “Game of Thrones” esque drama, Paradise Lost is set on the island of Themyscira and will take place BEFORE Wonder Woman is even born.
“It’s really about the political intrigue behind a society of all women,” Safran said.
Gunn adds, “How did that come about? What’s the origin of an island of all women? What are the beautiful truths and the ugly truths behind all of that? And what’s the scheming like between the different power players in that society?”
Booster Gold – WB has been trying to get something related to Booster Gold going for a while, and now it looks like we’re finally getting something with a new HBO Max series centered on the “loser from the future who uses basic future technology to come back to today and pretend to be a superhero.”
Obviously some questions still remain, namely in regards to actors continuing their roles. For the moment, Gunn isn’t committing to much, saying the current slate of actors might still continue down the road (I’m hoping the new Supergirl from The Flash continues on), but they’ll be recasting plenty as well.
Overall, I’m pretty encouraged here, and liking how it feels like a good mix of the iconic characters and some lesser known characters. At the very least, it feels like an honest to goodness plan, something DC hasn’t had in a long time.
