The DC Universe begins fully with the release of Superman, with mastermind James Gunn finally detailing many mᴀssively exciting elements about the franchise’s future. James Gunn’s Superman movie has long been positioned as the true beginning of the DC Universe, despite the release of Creature Commandos in December 2024. Superman is expected to kickstart a wave of movies and TV shows in the DCU’s Chapter One, тιтled Gods and Monsters, which many have ᴀssumed will consist of the projects James Gunn revealed back in January 2023.
In the time since then, Gunn and his large team have been ironing out this first chapter of the DCU, which has undoubtedly raised some changes. Upcoming DC movies like Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, Clayface, and Dynamic Duo have been outright confirmed, but some others are yet to receive significant updates. However, Gunn himself, alongside his co-DCU chief Peter Safran, has rectified this lack of information, with the filmmaker providing a DCU catch-up at the Warner Bros. lot in February 2025. This catch-up provided more insight into the DCU’s future beyond Superman, complete with many overwhelmingly exciting reveals.
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James Gunn Is Deep Into Post-Production On Superman
The Film Is Almost Complete
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Supergirl: Woman Of Tomorrow’s Team Is A Dream Come True For James Gunn
The 2026 Film Is Well Into Production
Another DCU film that James Gunn provided an update for is the story of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. The 2026 film began production in January 2025, with Gunn once more praising the fantastic script by Ana Nogueira. Gunn also gushed about director Craig Gillespie and star Milly Alcock, insisting that the latter had been on his radar since House of the Dragon season 1. Overall, Gunn’s reveals prove that Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is in good hands across the board and remains on course for its June 2026 release date.
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James Gunn Is Working On A Mystery DCU Project
He Just Didn’t Reveal What It Was
One of the bigger, more mysterious reveals of the DCU catch-up is that James Gunn is already working on his next project in the franchise. Frustratingly, albeit logically, Gunn would not divulge more information about it. Although Gunn did declare it was not the sequel to Superman and was separate from his work on other DCU movies and shows, he is currently writing his next script as production on the former comes to a close.
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The DCU’s Batman, The Brave & The Bold, Is In “Very Active Development”
The Caped Crusader Is Edging Closer To The Big Screen
One project that has received few updates since January 2023 is the DCU’s Batman story, The Brave and the Bold. This story was rumored to be directed by The Flash director Andy Muschietti, but no casting updates or official production dates have been given. Similarly, a release date has not been confirmed for the project.
However, Gunn put minds to rest at the DCU catch-up, insisting that The Brave and the Bold is in very active development. Gunn confirmed that work on the film’s script is progressing nicely, and he is actively involved in the process given that Batman is one of the DCU’s three main heroes, alongside Superman and Wonder Woman. Peter Safran confirmed that the script will be shown to Andy Muschietti upon completion, which will lead to the final decision being made on who directs the project.
16
Paradise Lost, Booster Gold, & Swamp Thing Remain In Development
Of The Initial Projects Announced
Concerning the third of the DCU’s main trio, Wonder Woman is expected to appear in Paradise Lost, a TV show announced in January 2023. Gunn has confirmed this remains a priority, with the DC Studios’ chief being as involved in this process as he is with The Brave and the Bold. Among the other projects announced in January 2023, Gunn confirmed that Booster Gold and Swamp Thing are still moving forward.
Where the latter is concerned, Safran confirmed they are waiting for James Mangold to choose to direct Swamp Thing next. Mangold came to Gunn and Safran with the idea, and, despite the production duo confirming it would not tie too heavily to the overarching DCU narrative, the idea was strong enough to be accepted. After Mangold’s work on A Complete Unknown, it remains to be seen what he will produce next, but Gunn made clear that Swamp Thing will be ready should it be chosen by the writer-director.
15
Peacemaker Season 2 Will Take John Cena’s Chris Smith To An Even Deeper Place
The Antihero Continues His Intimate Character Arc
The other live-action project of the DCU set to release in 2025 is Peacemaker season 2. Peacemaker season 1’s ending is regarded as canon to the DCU by Gunn, all except the brief cameo from the DCEU’s Justice League, which is now rendered null and void. Regardless, Peacemaker season 2 will continue the story of Chris Smith/Peacemaker, with Gunn hinting it gets even more complex, personal, and emotional. Gunn praised John Cena’s performance and ability to perform emotional aspects, insisting that Peacemaker season 2 will focus more on Chris Smith than the show’s eponymous superhero persona.
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James Gunn Is Already Working On Creature Commandos Season 2
The Sequel To The DCU’s First Project Is On The Way
Despite the final episode of Creature Commandos season 1 only airing a month before Gunn and Safran’s DCU catch-up, details on season 2 have been unveiled. The duo confirmed that Creature Commandos season 2 has been ordered, with Gunn stating that conversations are already taking place regarding its story. The characters and storyline clearly resonated with audiences, as Gunn points out thanks to the strong reviews and word-of-mouth, making it a relief that season 2 is already coming.
13
Lanterns Are Connected To Superman But Has A Very Different Tone
An Important Live-Action DCU Show Continues Development
Concerning the DCU’s Lanterns TV show, Gunn and Safran provided a lot of updates. Gunn has been watching various parts of the show as it continues filming, with him and Safran praising the directors and writers involved, as well as stars Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre. Gunn also remarked how different it is to Superman in terms of style and tone, despite containing a connection via the Green Lantern character of Guy Gardner that will appear in the 2025 movie.
12
Clayface Begins Production In Summer 2025, Releases In Fall 2026
The “Full Horror” Film Is Being Fast-Tracked
Image via Max
A more surprising confirmation as part of the DCU recently was a Clayface movie. Akin to Swamp Thing‘s origin as a project, Gunn and Safran revealed that Clayface was never outright planned, but that the idea and script provided by Mike Flanagan was too good to ignore. Clayface‘s director, James Watkins, was confirmed, with the DCU heads revealing that production begins in Summer 2025 for a Fall 2026 release date. Like Lanterns and Swamp Thing, Clayface has a different tone and style to the likes of Superman, with Gunn describing it as full horror.
11
Dynamic Duo Is A Coming-Of-Age Crowd-Pleaser That Might Not Be Set In The DCU
The Animated Movie Received An Intriguing Update
One of the first DCU projects to be announced last year was an animated movie called Dynamic Duo. The film will feature two versions of Batman’s trusty sidekick Robin. The film has been kept mostly under wraps since then, making the revelations by Gunn and Safran in February 2025 even more intriguing.
Gunn stated that he has thought of ways to tie the film to the upcoming story, but that the nature of its tale and the unique animated style mean it is separate…
Dynamic Duo was described as a coming-of-age crowd-pleaser that will allow an introduction to Gotham, yet Gunn hinted it may not be set in the mainline DCU. Gunn stated that he has thought of ways to tie the film to the upcoming story, but that the nature of its tale and the unique animated style mean it is separate. This could change in the future, especially with Gunn voicing his interest in making Dynamic Duo an official DCU project, but, for now, at least, the filmmaker was unwilling to outright confirm its placement one way or the other.
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4 New Family-Friendly DC Universe Shows Have Been Green Lit
The Animated/Family-Friendly Sect Of The DCU Is Growing
Alongside the confirmation of Dynamic Duo, more easygoing DCU projects were announced by Peter Safran and James Gunn. The former revealed that four new TV shows have been announced: three animated projects called My Adventures with Green Lantern, Starfire, and DC Superpowers, and a live-action episodic Superman spin-off featuring Krypto. These will all be family-friendly stories for the DCU, fleshing out the franchise beyond more mature filmmaking.
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The DCU Is Aiming For Seven Projects Per Year
The Franchise Is Looking For Complete Dominance
One of the more interesting confirmations at the DCU’s catch-up event was the reveal of how many projects Safran and Gunn will look to release each year. While this exact goal will not be met for a while until the groundwork is complete, the DCU is striving to release seven projects per year. Safran broke this down, insisting that three movies – two live-action and one animated – would be targeted each year, as well as four TV shows, split equally regarding animation and live-action.
8
The DCU Aims For Cohesion & Unity, With Projects That Can Also Stand Alone
Fixing The DCEU’s Mistakes
Undoubtedly, the most criticized aspect of the DCEU’s movie timeline was how disparate it felt. After Zack Snyder departed the franchise, it became split into two visions – one that still followed what Snyder began, and another that was dictated by studio oversight. The DCU is looking to fix this, with Gunn and Safran continuing to highlight how they are aiming for cohesion and unity with their projects. That said, this will not stop individual DC projects from standing alone, meaning general audiences can check in and out at any point and still follow the overarching narrative of the franchise.
7
Matt Reeves Is Yet To Submit A Script For The Batman – Part 2
But He Will Sooner Rather Than Later
The wait for Matt Reeves’ The Batman – Part II has been excruciating for a lot of people, but Gunn and Safran had a somewhat positive update. Despite confirming that Reeves is yet to submit his completed script for the movie, they revealed that what they have read of it so far is very encouraging. This means that The Batman – Part II will surely meet its 2027 release date as opposed to being delayed even further.
6
Robert Pattinson Is Not The DCU’s Batman
The Brave & The Bold Will Feature A Different Dark Knight
One point of contention regarding the differences between Reeves’ Elseworlds Batman stories and The Brave and the Bold is whether this will change. Theories have been crafted recently to suggest that Reeves’ The Batman saga will be folded into the DCU’s main continuity, making Robert Pattinson’s Caped Crusader the one and only Batman of the franchise. However, Gunn and Safran confirmed this was not the plan, only a month after Batman’s cryptic DCU debut in Creature Commandos.
Gunn bluntly confirmed that it was not the plan to have Pattinson be the DCU’s Batman. Safran then backed this up, insisting that the duo loves his work, but that another DCU Batman is imperative. Safran says that this Batman will come in The Brave and the Bold, as has been expected since the project’s announcement.
5
The Authority & Waller Have Had Some Setbacks
The Projects Remain In Doubt
Alongside Paradise Lost, Booster Gold, and Swamp Thing, several other DCU projects were announced in January 2023. The most recent update by Gunn has revealed that a few of these are on the back burner for DC Studios at the minute, namely The Authority and Waller. Gunn did not divulge what setbacks the latter has suffered but insisted that the former proved harder to perfect as it is very similar to other superhero spoof IPs like The Boys, meaning that it is not a current priority.
4
The DCU’s Video Game Side Remains Important
One Aspect Of DCU Media Has Not Been Forgotten
When Gunn first confirmed his long-lasting plans for the DCU, one element caught the eye of many. Gunn stated that the DCU would remain consistent narratively across video games as well as movies and TV shows, something that is uncommon for modern franchises. Since then, video game updates have been few and far between, but Gunn confirmed that this side of things is still very important, if more secretive. Gunn has been giving input on various video game projects, at least proving that the DCU’s future lies in gaming just as much as film and TV.
3
James Gunn Has Ensemble Movies Planned
The Justice League May Be On The Horizon
Naturally, a major question fans have about the DCU is when teams like the Justice League will first be introduced. While Gunn did not give a straight answer to this, he at least confirmed that ensemble movies are planned for the future. Despite being asked about the likes of the Justice League or Justice Society, Gunn remained coy and did not give much away, moving onto other questions after insisting team movies with more characters are in the works.
2
Superman Is Focused On 3 Characters With Many Supporting Heroes
Worry Not, Superman Is The Lead Of, Well, Superman
Since Superman‘s first trailer was released, many have worried that the film will lose focus of its тιтular character given the amount of other heroes involved. However, Gunn put these worries to rest at the DCU catch-up, insisting that every frame of Superman is utilized to further the eponymous DC hero’s journey. The director went on to say that the three main characters of the film are Superman, Lois Lane, and Lex Luthor, with the likes of Hawkgirl, Mr. Terrific, and Guy Gardner, for example, serving as supporting characters.
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A Second Superman Trailer Is Being Prepared
Fans Will Not Have To Wait Much Longer
One of the last elements mentioned by Gunn and Safran at the DCU catch-up event was the marketing for Superman. When asked about another trailer, Gunn revealed that he is currently putting together another for the movie. Safran jokes that this would technically be the first official trailer, given that the one released in December was dubbed a teaser. Either way, another trailer for Superman can be expected sooner rather than later to further tease the true beginning of the DC Universe that has been teased at length by James Gunn and Peter Safran.
Upcoming DC Movie Releases
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Superman
- Release Date
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July 11, 2025
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Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow
- Release Date
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June 26, 2026
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The Batman Part II
- Release Date
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October 1, 2027
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