A lot is changing for DC's lineup of movies and shows in the years ahead. Luckily, despite the rash of cancellations affecting everything from the Batgirl movie to HBO Max shows like Titans and Doom Patrol, it's not all bad news. James Gunn and Peter Safran have been installed as the co-CEOs of DC Studios, and they have a strategy for a more cohesive and interconnected lineup of content moving forward. It all starts with Chapter 1, dubbed "Gods and Monsters."
It can be very difficult to keep track of all the big changes at DC these days. That's why we've put together this comprehensive list of everything currently in the works, as well as the major projects that have either been officially canceled or gone dormant.
Come join us in the reborn DC Universe. Click on through the slideshow below for a glimpse or read on for even more details...
And for more on what to expect from DC in 2023, including comics and games, follow the link!
What Are the Next DC Movies Coming Out? 2023 Release Dates
For those keeping track, here's the full lineup of upcoming DC movies and TV shows:
- Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (December 20, 2023)
- Joker: Folie à Deux (October 4, 2024)
- Superman: Legacy (July 11, 2025)
- The Batman Part II (Oct. 3, 2025)
- Superman & Lois: Season 4 (Greenlit; date TBD)
- The Brave and the Bold (In Development)
- Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (In Development)
- The Authority (In Development)
- Swamp Thing (In Development)
- Waller/Peacemaker Season 2 (In Development)
- Creature Commandos Animated Series (Possibly 2024)
- Booster Gold TV Series (In Development)
- Paradise Lost TV Series (In Development)
- Lanterns TV Series (In Development)
- Gotham PD/Arkham TV Series (In Development)
- Matt Reeves Projects/Penguin TV Series (In Development)
- Dead Boy Detectives TV Series (In Development)
- The Sandman Season 2 (In Development)
- Constantine 2 (In Development)
- Harley Quinn and Other Animated Titles (In Development)
Here are some of the most notable projects that are currently in the works:
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (December 20, 2023)
The first Aquaman made over a billion dollars worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing DC film of all time for Warner Bros. So yeah, a sequel is happening. Director James Wan returns to helm Aquaman 2, while David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, who co-wrote the first film, is scripting. Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Patrick Wilson, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II are also returning. The film is poised to be the last of the pre-DCU movies, so we'll see if it acknowledges the events of The Flash or forges any links to the new universe to come.
Joker: Folie à Deux (October 4, 2024)
For quite some time there, there had been conflicting reports as to whether director Todd Phillips and star Joaquin Phoenix were planning a sequel to their Joker movie. The pair initially said the first film was meant to be a one-off. But in May of 2021, word came that Warner Bros. had signed Phillips to pen a sequel to the 2019 comic book film. In June of 2022, Phillips confirmed the project by sharing the cover of the script on Instagram. Called Joker: Folie à Deux, the film is written by Phillips and his Joker 1 co-writer, Scott Silver. Folie à Deux is defined as a psychological disorder where the same or similar mental disorder affects two or more people, so think on that a bit. Lady Gaga will co-star in the film, fueling rumors that it's partly a musical.
Superman: Legacy (July 11, 2025)
We can all stop holding our breath for Man of Steel 2. Rather than pursue a sequel to the 2013 film, DC is pushing ahead with a new take on the character with Superman: Legacy. James Gunn is currently writing a Superman movie featuring a younger Clark Kent early in his reporting career (though it won't be an origin story). The film will explore Clark's struggle to balance his Kryptonian heritage with his Kansas upbringing and deal with the challenge of being a kind hero in an unkind world. Gunn has confirmed he's directing the film, but it is shaping up to be one of the first and most important entries in the revamped DCU line.
Legacy is currently in preproduction, with Gunn having turned in his first screenplay draft shortly before the start of the WGA strike. It remains to be seen how significantly the strike will impact production. As for the cast, THR reports that We Own This City's David Corenswet is a frontrunner for the Superman role, while X-Men: First Class' Nicholas Hoult may be up for the role of Lex Luthor. Deadline, however, indicates Hoult may actually be in the running for the Superman role. Gunn has refused to comment on casting rumors.
The Batman Part II (Oct. 3, 2025)
Of course The Batman Part II is in the works with Matt Reeves returning to write and direct and Robert Pattinson putting on the cape, cowl, and eyeliner (!) again as the Dark Knight Detective. The film is confirmed to have survived the recent turmoil at Warner Bros. Discovery, and Reeves has even signed a multi-year first-look deal with the studio. There's no word yet on what it will be about, so begin your Joker speculation now. It also remains to be seen how much the WGA strike might impact the sequel.
Superman & Lois: Season 4 (Greenlit; date TBD)
The Arrowverse as we once knew it is gone. With the end of The Flash in 2023, the only show left -- and even it claims to take place on a different Earth from most of the rest of the Arrowverse shows! -- is Superman & Lois. While observers expected the show to be cancelled after Season 3, it is in fact getting a 10-episode fourth season, reportedly with a reduced cast and budget.
The Brave and the Bold (In Development)
DC has confirmed that we'll have two cinematic versions of Batman going forward, as the DCU will get its own Dark Knight alongside the standalone movies of Matt Reeves' The Batman series. The Brave and the Bold looks to deal with the full Bat-family, centering specifically on Bruce Wayne's 10-year-old son Damian. The movie will draw heavily from Grant Morrison's Batman comics. It is unclear how the film will connect to the events of The Flash movie, if at all, but that film's director, Andy Muschietti, is confirmed to be directing The Brave and the Bold.
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (In Development)
The new DCU will also have a new Supergirl. Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is a movie based on Tom King and Bilquis Evely's comic of the same name. This Supergirl is one who spent much of her early life living on a fragment of Krypton that was dislodged in the planet's destruction, what Gunn describes as a "horrible situation where she watched everybody around her die." Is unknown if The Flash movie's Supergirl, Sasha Calle, will return for this film.
The Authority (In Development)
DC's anti-Justice League are getting their own movie in the new DCU. The Authority is a group of powerful heroes who take a far more proactive approach to meting out justice.
Swamp Thing (In Development)
Swamp Thing may not have found much success on the short-lived DC Universe app, but DC is still betting big on this lumbering monster for their new cinematic universe. The Swmp Thing movie will explore the dark origins of Alec Holland's monstrous alter ego. Logan and Indiana Jones 5 director James Mangold is writing the script for the film.
Waller/Peacemaker Season 2 (In Development)
Not everything is being completely rebooted for the new DCU. Gunn's Peacemaker is getting an Amanda Waller spinoff series as well as a second season. We don't know much about Season 2 yet, only that it's being back-burnered in favor of releasing Waller first. Viola Davis will reprise the Amanda Waller role in a series that builds on the ending of Peacemaker: Season 1. Several other Peacemaker alums will also return.
Creature Commandos Animated Series (Possibly 2024)
Surprisingly, Gunn is relying on one of DC's most obscure properties to launch the new DCU. Gunn has already written a seven-episode first season of this animated seres, which deals with Amanda Waller forming another team of incarcerated super-criminals to save the world. The Creature Commandos series is in production now, and Gunn hinted it may be ready in time for a 2024 release, beating Superman: Legacy to the finish line.
Booster Gold TV Series (In Development)
The lovably goofy Booster Gold is getting his own series as part of the new DCU. Booster Gold will explore the character's impostor syndrome as he travels back in time and uses the technology of the future to make himself a present-day superhero.
Paradise Lost TV Series (In Development)
While a new Wonder Woman movie isn't on the immediate horizon, DC is moving forward with a TV series set on the island of Themyscira. Paradise Lost will explore the origins and political intrigue of Diana's home. The series is billed as the DC equivalent of Game of Thrones.
Lanterns TV Series (In Development)
We're (hopefully) finally getting that oft-promsied Green Lantern show. Lanterns is a high-concept detective drama in the vein of True Detective. The series revolves around Hal Jordan and John Stewart. It's unclear if this series is at all connected to the Green Lantern Corps show that Greg Berlanti was executive producing at one time for HBO Max.
Which DC films or shows are you most looking forward to? And which characters or titles do you want to see DC tackle in live-action next? Let's discuss in the comments!
Note: This story was updated on 6/20/2023 with the latest DC movie news. It was originally posted on 7/29/2021.
