Editorial Staff
Umpteen rumors and speculative tweets later, new DC Studios co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran finally announced their plans for the studio today during a press conference. Among projects announced, the previously reported Superman project that Gunn is currently writing. That one, as you’ll recall, will feature a younger Man of Steel – thus, concluding Henry Cavill’s time as the iconic superhero.
Here’s what’s in Chapter 1 of the new DCU, also known as “Gods and Monsters.”
While familiar faces Batman and Robin, the Green Lantern, and Superman will be part of the line-up, there’s also some surprising additions here – including Creature Commandos and Swamp Thing. All those characters will seemingly be introduced in 2025, after this year’s The Flash resets the universe.
Superman Legacy
this is a project that, per Gunn, won’t so much be an origin story but will deal with the title character’s plight of being both an alien and an adopted citizen of Earth.
The Authority
In addition to writing Superman Legacy, Gunn is scripting a movie based on the WildStorm superteam. Like Suicide Squad, this bunch is a wild, rebel assemble that will do anything to save Earth and get the job done – even if it means breaking a few rules along the way.
The Brave and the Bold
Damian Wayne will join father Bruce Wayne (not Michael Keaton, Robert Pattinson or Ben Affleck by the sounds) in a Batman & Robin movie. It’ll be a father-son tale, inspired by the Grant Morrison comic series, that puts the younger Wayne in the thick of the action.
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow
A new Supergirl (likely not to be played by Sasha Calle, who has the role in The Flash) will be introduced into the DCEU. Kara won’t have as rosy a tale to tell as cousin Clark does, with her story being a little sad-ish. This one will be inspired by Tom King’s run.
Swamp Thing
A reboot of the classic, based on the horror character, is also in the works and it’ll be inspired by Alan Moore’s run. Not much info on this one yet.
Creature Commandos/Waller
On the TV front, a seven-episode series based on the comic series in the works and it’ll feature Viola Davis’s Amanda Waller and some other familiar faces – like Weasel from Suicide Squad. Characters from Gunn’s Peacemaker series will feature in Waller too, which will see Davis reprise her role for her own weekly series.
Booster Gold
The fan-fave is coming to the small screen too but no word on whether Blue Beetle will be joining the time-traveling loser for his televisual adventures.
Lanterns
A long proposed Green Lantern series is in the works – and it’ll feature both Hal Jordan and John Stewart. Inspired by HBO’s True Detective, it’ll see a couple of Lanterns teaming up to solve a murder on Earth. No word if Arrow‘s David Ramsay is in the mix to play Stewart, despite hints he was attached to play the character down the line in those Arrowverse series’.
Paradise Lost
Described as a political drama set in Wonder Woman’s hometown, Themyscira. They didn’t say whether Gal Gadot, Connie Nielsen, or any of the other characters from the Wonder Woman movies would be involved just that it’ll be set years after Diana was born, so maybe not.
The Batman II
Labeled an ‘Elseworlds’ project, the Matt Reeves directed sequel – confirmed to be the middle part of a trilogy – is a lock for a October 3, 2025 release. Gunn and Safran said this one will exist, as predicted, outside of the main universe and that Robert Pattinson will be back to wear the charcoal cloak.
Here are just a few of our plans. Up, up, and away! #DCStudios #DCU @DCComics pic.twitter.com/8XNDNLUEPq
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) January 31, 2023
