As James Gunn and Peter Safran rebuild the DC Universe from the ground up, there’s a chance to revive some lost DC movies that never got their big-screen chance. Over the last few decades, DC had ambitious plans for its cinematic universe. While many of these emerged in the DCEU timeline, some promising stories were canceled.

Now, with a clean slate and a more character-driven creative direction, some of those scrapped projects could fit perfectly into the new DCU. Whether it’s grounded Gotham stories, cosmic epics, or supernatural team-ups, these abandoned movies had real potential. With the right adjustments, they could thrive in Gunn’s franchise, offering blueprints that are more relevant now than ever.

8

Batgirl

Canceled In 2022

Originally planned as an HBO Max exclusive, Batgirl was one of DC’s most controversial cancellations. The film had already completed principal pH๏τography and featured Leslie Grace as Barbara Gordon, with Brendan Fraser as the villain Firefly and Michael Keaton’s Batman. In the previous DCEU, it was unclear where Batgirl fit in, especially with continuity chaos surrounding Batman.

Yet in James Gunn’s restructured DCU, Batgirl could be a crucial part of establishing the Bat-family. Gunn’s DC is aiming to introduce Damian Wayne and hint at a more lived-in Batman world in The Brave and the Bold. That makes this the perfect time to bring Barbara Gordon back into development.

With her tech-savvy skills, strong moral center, and street-level focus, Batgirl complements the larger-than-life DC roster. Reimagining Batgirl as a grounded action-detective film would fit perfectly in the new continuity. It would finally give Gotham’s other great vigilante the spotlight she deserves.

7

Green Lantern Corps

Canceled In The DCU Reboot

For years, Green Lantern Corps was teased as DC’s answer to Guardians of the Galaxy. It was a cosmic buddy-cop movie featuring Hal Jordan and John Stewart. The project stalled in development despite strong fan interest and was ultimately shelved in favor of the upcoming Lanterns TV series.

With Gunn’s DCU building toward galactic-level threats and a stronger interplanetary presence, a Green Lantern Corps movie now feels like a no-brainer. If the Lanterns show lays the groundwork, a full theatrical Corps film could expand the mythos significantly, especially after Guy Gardner’s introduction in Superman.

With space horror, political intrigue, and high-powered action baked into the premise, Green Lantern Corps could become DC’s definitive sci-fi epic. As the DCU moves beyond Earth-based heroes, this canceled movie could be retooled into a cinematic event. It could bring a cosmic scale to the rebooted universe.

6

New Gods

Canceled In 2021

Ava DuVernay’s New Gods was one of the most artistically intriguing projects DC had in the works. Co-written with comic legend Tom King, the film promised to explore the cosmic lore of Jack Kirby’s Fourth World. It would have featured characters like Big Barda, Mister Miracle, and Darkseid.

Unfortunately, it was canceled in the wake of Zack Snyder’s Justice League, which had already introduced Darkseid in a very different context. Now, with a true reboot underway, New Gods deserves a second chance. With Gunn embracing bold storytelling and lesser-known characters, New Gods would allow DC to tap into mythology, science fiction, and philosophical depth.

These characters are operatic, emotionally rich, and weird in all the right ways. Reintroducing them in the new continuity (possibly as part of an eventual cosmic saga) would give the DCU a unique edge over Marvel. Few superhero franchises can handle this kind of scope, and now’s the perfect time to try.

5

Nightwing

Canceled In 2023

At one point, The LEGO Batman Movie director Chris McKay was developing a Nightwing solo film. It would have depicted Dick Grayson stepping out of Batman’s shadow to forge his own path. The project quietly faded as the DCEU unraveled, but it remains one of the most logical and exciting spin-offs DC could still pursue.

In the DCU’s Brave and the Bold, Batman is already established and raising Damian Wayne, which implies that past Robins, like Dick, exist in the timeline. That opens the door perfectly for a Nightwing movie. It could tell a deeply human story about idenтιтy, legacy, and mentorship, grounded in Gotham’s gritty world but with a more hopeful tone than typical Batman entries.

Whether set in Blüdhaven or tied into a larger Bat-family arc, Dick’s journey from sidekick to independent hero would resonate with audiences new and old. It would also make up for how criminally underrepresented he has been in live-action movies. Robin’s long overdue for a spotlight, and now, DC has the chance to deliver.

4

Gotham City Sirens

Postponed For Birds Of Prey

Before Birds of Prey, DC planned a Gotham City Sirens movie featuring Harley Quinn, Catwoman, and Poison Ivy. It would have depicted the three antiheroines navigating Gotham’s chaotic underworld. Directed by David Ayer and positioned as a Harley-led follow-up to Suicide Squad, the project was shelved as DC pivoted away from Ayer’s vision.

In today’s DCU, with a stronger emphasis on character dynamics and female-led storytelling, Gotham City Sirens feels more relevant than ever. The film could balance sleek action, complex relationships, and morally gray territory. These are features James Gunn has done brilliantly in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies.

Gotham City Sirens also provides DC with an opportunity to explore queer representation through Harley and Ivy’s relationship, something many have long advocated for. A retooled Sirens movie could anchor a new corner of Gotham. It could blend sensual style, social rebellion, and big-hearted chaos into one unforgettable team-up.

3

Batman Beyond

Shelved In The DCU Reboot

A Batman Beyond movie has been fan-cast and fan-dreamed for decades, but it came the closest to reality when The Flash featured Michael Keaton’s Bruce Wayne transitioning into a mentor role. Unfortunately, after The Flash bombed, so did hopes for a futuristic Batman Beyond adaptation.

Set in a cyberpunk Gotham of the future, Batman Beyond could tell a visually stunning, emotionally rich story about legacy. Bruce Wayne, now older and broken, trains teenager Terry McGinnis to carry on the mantle. This version of the Bat-verse could explore AI, surveillance states, and the psychological toll of heroism in a high-tech society.

This is the perfect time to reintroduce the idea within James Gunn’s new DCU. With no direct tie to current continuity, it could stand alone or exist as an Elseworlds project. Either way, Batman Beyond is a genre-blending opportunity DC shouldn’t miss.

2

Harley Quinn Vs The Joker

Canceled In 2019

A wild and unpredictable Harley Quinn/Joker project was in the works by This Is Us creators Glenn Ficarra and John Requa. It was described as a dark romantic comedy meets Natural Born Killers. It would have explored Harley and Joker’s toxic, explosive relationship in the most unhinged way possible.

While the project was abandoned after Birds of Prey, it could thrive now as an Elseworlds film or as part of the darker, edgier side of the DCU. It would also be the perfect way to introduce the DCU’s new Joker and Harley Quinn. James Gunn has shown interest in complex, broken characters, and few DC pairs are messier than Harley and Joker.

A standalone movie could examine their twisted dynamic, perhaps as a psychological thriller with bursts of cartoonish mayhem. It would be both entertaining and disturbing in all the right ways. With the right creative team, this project could flip superhero romance tropes on their head and add a gritty, chaotic flavor to DC’s new film slate.

1

Justice League Dark

Canceled In 2023

Justice League Dark has been the great “almost” of DC movies for years. Guillermo del Toro was attached to the project at one point, and more recently, J.J. Abrams attempted to develop it as a streaming series before the entire slate was canceled. With the DCU embracing the supernatural with Swamp Thing and Creature Commandos, the team is more relevant than ever.

The team of mystical misfits could include Constantine, Zatanna, ᴅᴇᴀᴅman, and Etrigan. Unlike the Justice League, this team deals with magical threats, demons, and ancient evils – things not even Superman can punch. A Justice League Dark film could offer visual horror, moral ambiguity, and rich world-building

Justice League Dark could tie into the stranger corners of the DCU. It’s also the perfect place to reintroduce Constantine with a fresh take. Whether as a team origin story or a loose ensemble of cursed heroes, Justice League Dark could be DCU’s answer to Doctor Strange meets The Conjuring.