DC has numerous TV and film projects on the horizon under the new guidance of James Gunn and Peter Safran. In addition to the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) films and shows, we also have the beginnings of Matt Reeves’ Batverse, as well as an array of standalone projects, such as Joker. Many of these projects are confirmed, though a large number are still stuck in the developmental phase.
Fans became aware of the changes when Warner Bros. Discovery shockingly canceled the upcoming DCEU film, Batgirl, despite the film already being in post-production and boasting a budget of $90 million. Shortly after the cancellation, they announced that HBO Max and Discovery+ would be replaced by one merged platform in the summer of 2023. Despite canceling Batgirl for … reasons(???), Warner Bros. is still seemingly continuing with The Flash‘s release this year, despite star Ezra Miller’s troubling behavior.
Additionally, James Gunn has officially announced DC’s slate of upcoming releases. Needless to say, things are changing fast in the DC department. So let’s take a closer look at all the DC movies and TV series confirmed to be released in 2023 and beyond.
Gotham Knights (2023)
Gotham Knights is a DC TV series set to premiere on The CW sometime in 2023. The show follows a dark period in Gotham in which Batman has died and the murder suspect is his own adopted son, Turner Hayes (Oscar Morgan). Hayes, however, has been framed for the crime and seeks the aid of his friends Stephanie Brown (Anna Lore) and Carrie Kelley (Navia Robinson) to clear his name. They soon discover that there is something much more nefarious going on in Gotham than Hayes’ framing. With Batman gone, it remains up to this band of fugitives to become the new saviors of Gotham.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods (March 17, 2023)
Shazam! Fury of the Gods is set for release in March. The sequel to the 2019 film will see the return of Billy Batson (Asher Angel) and his foster siblings, who can transform into adult superheroes thanks to the powers of the wizard Shazam. This time, the siblings are taking on the daughters of Atlas—Anthea (Rachel Zegler), Kalypso (Lucy Liu), and Hespera (Helen Mirren).
The Flash (June 16, 2023)
Initially, The Flash was set to be released on June 23, 2023, but positive screen tests resulted in Warner Bros. moving the release date forward by one week. Despite the numerous allegations against the film’s lead star, Ezra Miller, Warner Bros. is still going forward with The Flash. The film will follow Barry Allen (Miller) as he travels through time to prevent the murder of his mother and faces unforeseen consequences. In addition to Miller, Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton will both be appearing in the film as different versions of Batman. Meanwhile, viewers have been calling for The Flash to be recast since Miller was accused of harassment and child grooming. Strangely, Warner Bros. Discovery still seems steadfast in its plans to move forward with The Flash‘s release in 2023.
Blue Beetle (August 18, 2023)
Xolo Maridueña will make his DC debut in Blue Beetle, which is set to hit theaters on August 18, 2023. Maridueña, best known for starring in Cobra Kai, will be the first Latino superhero to lead his own DC film. The film will follow teenager Jaime Reyes after he gains superpowers from a scarab that binds to his spine and gives him a suit of alien armor.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (December 25, 2023)
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is set to release on March 17, 2023, and is the sequel to the 2018 film, Aquaman. The film will see the return of Jason Momoa as Aquaman and Amber Heard as Mera. Additionally, Ben Affleck recently surprised fans with the announcement that he will be reprising his role as Batman for the film. Plot details have been kept under wraps, but the sequel will center around an alliance Aquaman forms to save Atlantis.
The Penguin (2023)
Before the shake-up at HBO Max, The Penguin series was officially confirmed by the platform. The spinoff of Matt Reeves’ The Batman will—obviously—center on Colin Farrell’s Penguin. Filming on the series is expected to begin soon, and we are anticipating a 2023 release date. While things are uncertain at HBO Max, there’s been no indication that The Penguin‘s plans are changing.
Legion of Super-Heroes (2023)
Legion of Super-Heroes is a DC animated film set to premiere in 2023. It follows Kara (Meg Donnelly), who struggles to adjust to life on Earth after the destruction of Krypton. In need of a change, she travels to the 31st century to attend the Legion Academy, where she makes new friends and new foes, including the ominous organization the Dark Circle.
Legion of Super-Heroes does not have an official release date but is expected in 2023. It is still unclear if it will be tied to the HBO Max animated TV series of the same name currently in development. However, The Hollywood Reporter did confirm the cast of Legion of Super-Heroes. In addition to Donnelly, the film stars Harry Shum Jr. as Brainiac 5, Darren Criss as Superman, and Supernatural star Jensen Ackles as Batman.
Joker 2: Folie À Deux (October 4, 2024)
The sequel to 2019’s Joker was recently confirmed to be in development and given a release date of October 4, 2024. Joaquin Phoenix is reprising his role as Joker and Lady Gaga has also joined the film. While we assume she is starring as Harley Quinn, Gaga’s role has not been officially disclosed. Few details about the plot have been released, aside from the fact that it will be a musical. Additionally, the subtitle, Folie à Deux, refers to a shared delusion between two people—which, again, seems to reference the Joker and his companion, Ms. Quinn.
Superman Legacy (June 11, 2025)
Shortly after Henry Cavill reprised his role in the DCU as Superman in Black Adam, it was revealed that he would be stepping down from the role under Gunn and Safran. Gunn revealed that recasting was necessary due to his plans to create a young Superman story. He later confirmed that the film is in development and has an official title and release date. Superman Legacy is slated to premiere on June 11, 2025. Gunn may write and direct the film, though he has yet to formally commit.
The Batman: Part II (October 3, 2025)
Not long after The Batman was released in 2022, a sequel was quickly confirmed to be in development. Not much is known about The Batman: Part II, other than that Matt Reeves will be returning to direct and Robert Pattinson will return as the titular hero. The film will premiere on October 3, 2025.
Creature Commandos (TBD)
One of the first projects Gunn announced for the first chapter of his and Safran’s DCU is Creature Commandos, an animated TV series written by Gunn. In the comics, the Creature Commandos are a superhuman team composed of monsters, including a werewolf, a vampire, Frankenstein’s monster, and a gorgon. The series is meant to start a unique feature in the DCU, with actors playing both their live-action and animated counterparts across titles.
Waller (TBD)
Gunn confirmed that viewers’ suspicions of a solo Amanda Waller project were correct. Waller will be a live-action TV series following the eponymous government agent, played by Viola Davis. Davis’ character has become a fan favorite with her no-nonsense personality and cold, ruthless dealings with the Suicide Squad and Peacemaker. The series will see her in a very different position, though, as she will “team up” with Peacemaker’s squad, seemingly instead of pulling strings in the background as she is apt to do. The show will be headed by Watchmen writer Christal Henry and Doom Patrol creator Jeremy Carver.
Lanterns (TBD)
Green Lantern is also coming to the DCU in a live-action HBO TV series titled Lanterns. The show will follow multiple iterations of Green Lantern, as more than one character has donned the mantle in the comics. Gunn listed Hal Jordan and John Stewart’s Green Lanterns as appearing in the show, but he also teased the appearance of other Lanterns, as well. Gunn described the project as True Detective with the Lanterns serving as space cops probing a “terrifying mystery.”
The Authority (TBD)
The Authority will be another large-scale live-action film in the DCU. In the comics, the Authority is the name of a superhero team that was notorious for using extreme methods to get the job done. Gunn described the film as a personal “passion project” of his. He promised the project would give a “very different look at superheroes” as it follows a team with a cynical view of the world who desire to fix it by “any means possible.”
Paradise Lost (TBD)
Paradise Lost is another live-action TV series in development and will serve as a Wonder Woman prequel. The series will focus on Themyscira, a.k.a. Paradise Island, the birthplace of Wonder Woman. Gunn didn’t reveal too many details about the series but hinted it might be a bit gritty, as he described it as Game of Thrones with Amazons.
The Brave and the Bold (TBD)
Gunn also confirmed that his and Safran’s DCU will be introducing its own Batman—separate from Matt Reeves’ version with Robert Pattinson. The Brave and the Bold is a live-action film that will feature Batman and his biological son, Damian Wayne. In the comics, Damian is one of many characters who has taken on the mantle of Robin. Hence, the film will seemingly mark the live-action debut of both Damian and Robin. Gunn teased that the film will be the beginning of the introduction of the “Bat family” to the DCU.
Booster Gold (TBD)
Booster Gold is a live-action HBO show that will focus on the hero Michael Jon Carter (a.k.a. Booster Gold). As Gunn explained, Booster Gold is a highly popular hero with a cult following. He also has a very unusual story in that he’s a “loser” from the future who used technology to travel to the present day and present himself as a hero. Gunn described the project as “the superhero story of Imposter Syndrome.”
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (TBD)
Kara Zora El’s Supergirl is also getting a live-action film in the DCU. The film will be titled Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow and is inspired by the comic book series of the same name. Gunn described the film as a “big, science fiction epic.” Like the book, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow has a bit of a dark premise. While Superman went to earth to be raised by loving parents, Supergirl lived on a chunk of Krypton and watched everyone around her die, so, as Gunn described, she’s quite a “jaded” character.
Swamp Thing (TBD)
The final project that Gunn revealed for DCU’s Chapter 1, is a live-action film based on Swamp Thing. Gunn described it as a very dark horror film that tells the origin story of the character known as Swamp Thing. In the comics, Swamp Thing is a very powerful creature capable of controlling all plant life on Earth. While Gunn hinted the film will be a bit “tonally” different from other DCU projects, he promised it would still fit into the grand scheme of things.
Dead Boy Detectives (TBD)
Dead Boy Detectives, set to be a spinoff series of Doom Patrol, has officially been ordered to series by HBO Max. Things are coming together nicely with Lee Toland Krieger set to direct and George Rexstrew and Jayden Revri set to star as Dead Boy Detectives Edwin Payne and Charles Rowland, respectively. The horror series follows two dead British teens who remain on Earth as ghostly detectives investigating supernatural occurrences. It’s unclear if the series is still in development following the cancellation of Doom Patrol; it wasn’t mentioned during Gunn and Safran’s announcement.
Arkham Asylum (TBD)
A second spin-off series of The Batman, Arkham Asylum, is reportedly in development. The show has already been workshopped quite a bit, initially starting out as a Gotham PD series, but later morphing into a series centered on the infamous Arkham Asylum. It is intended to be another HBO Max series, but no further details are available.
Zatanna (TBD)
A Zatanna film was reported to be in development by Warner Bros. in 2021 with Emerald Fennell writing the script. Other than Fennell’s hiring, no other updates have been given about the film. However, with Batgirl being canceled, the DCEU is desperately in need of some female-led films, which means our fingers are crossed for Zatanna. Last we heard, a planned show was scrapped at HBO Max.
Static Shock (TBD)
A live-action Static Shock film was revealed to be in development last year, as a joint project between Warner Bros. and Michael B. Jordan’s production company, Outlier Society. Later, it was announced that Jordan had joined the production team and Randy McKinnon was tapped to write the film. In the comics, Static Shock is a teenager named Virgil Ovid Hawkins, who gains electromagnetic powers and sets off to fight crime.
Aqualad (TBD)
Earlier this year, it was revealed that HBO Max is developing an Aqualad series, reportedly based on the graphic novel You Brought Me the Ocean, and set to be produced by Charlize Theron. The story follows Jake Hyde, a gay teenager who is navigating grief after his father’s death and struggling to understand the powers he has from the ocean. It is unclear if this series will be connected at all to the DCEU’s Aquaman, and its current status is unknown.
Constantine 2 (TBD)
Warner Bros. recently officially greenlit Constantine 2. Previously, HBO scrapped a Constantine TV series produced by J.J. Abrams. Now, the studio is going forward with the long-awaited sequel to Constantine, which premiered in 2005. The film is loosely based on the DC comic series Hellblazer and stars Keanu Reeves, Peter Stormare, Rachel Weisz, Tilda Swinton, and Djimon Hounsou. Constantine performed well enough at the box office, but didn’t fare as well with critics. Over the years, though, it has grown a cult following and with Reeves’ major Hollywood resurgence, Warner Bros. has finally decided to give Constantine 2 a go.
So far, Reeves is the only cast member confirmed to be returning for Constantine 2. Constantine director Francis Lawrence is returning to direct Constantine 2, with Akiva Goldsman writing the screenplay and Abrams producing. No other information regarding the plot, cast, or release date has been revealed.
(featured image: Warner Bros.)
Published: Jan 31, 2023 01:36 pm