NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� New DC Studios bosses James Gunn and Peter Safran debuted their plans for a revamped and newly unified DC Universe of films and television series, including a new Superman film in 2025, a Wonder Woman prequel and a Batman movie that won't star Robert Pattinson.
In all, Gunn and Safran laid out plans for five new films and five new series in a presentation Tuesday that they said would constitute much of the first chapter 鈥� themed as 鈥淕ods and Monsters鈥� 鈥� in an ambitious eight- to 10-year plan to reshape the DCU. After years of fitful success and some much-maligned duds, Gunn and Safran are making their bid for some cohesion and fresh creativity in Warner Bros.' comic book empire.
After a several inherited projects debut in the next two years 鈥� including 鈥淭he Flash,鈥� with which Gunn said 鈥渞esets the entire DC Universe鈥� 鈥� their slate will launch with 鈥淪uperman: Legacy" on July 11, 2025. Gunn is writing that film, which is described as about Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. No casting has yet been announced, though Henry Cavill has departed the role despite a recent cameo in 2022's 鈥淏lack Adam鈥� 鈥� a sequel to which also isn't part of Gunn and Safran's plans
Who's in and who's out at DC has been the subject of much conjecture since October, when Gunn and Safran were named co-chairmen and co-chief executive officers of DC Studios. Among those making the cut: Viola Davis' Amanda Waller, the Swamp Thing and a Batman and Robin film.
First, Robert Pattinson's Batman will return in Matt Reeves' 鈥淭he Batman Part II,鈥� opening Oct. 3, 2025. That film, though will lie outside the DCU and 鈥� like Todd Phillips 2024 鈥淛oker鈥� sequel 鈥� be labeled 鈥淒C Elsewhere" to signify that it stands outside the central, overlapping DC universe. Another Caped Crusader film, though, is coming at an unknown date: 鈥淭he Brave and the Bold,鈥� a Batman and Robin tale inspired by Grant Morrison's comic series.
Also coming is 鈥淪upergirl: Woman of Tomorrow,鈥� based on Tom King's comics, and a big-screen standalone for the Swamp Thing. The all-women island birthplace of Wonder Woman will also be the setting of a drama series titled 鈥淧aradise Lost.鈥� Some series will mix animated and live-action interpretations of DC characters. The animated 鈥淐reature Commandos," the first season of which was written by Gunn, features Davis' Waller and a black ops team, while the live-action 鈥淲aller鈥� will star Davis and be written by Christal Henry ("Watchman" ) and Jeremy Carver ("Supernatural"). The planned series 鈥淟anterns鈥� will feature multiple Green Lanterns.
Gunn first came to DC after directing Marvel's well-regarded 鈥淕uardians of the Galaxy鈥� films. When the Walt Disney Co. temporarily dropped Gunn, he jumped to DC and made the supervillain film 鈥淭he Suicide Squad,鈥� a kind of blockbuster do-over that followed David Ayer's much-maligned 鈥淪uicide Squad." He and the veteran producer Safran came aboard with several upcoming DC films already on their way to theaters, including 鈥淪hazam! Fury of the Gods鈥� (out March 17), 鈥淭he Flash" (out June 16) and 鈥淎quaman and the Lost Kingdom鈥� (Dec. 25).
In , Gunn pledged that the new DC Universe will be characterized by filmmaker freedom and distinctive narratives.
鈥淚 knew that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that's very different,鈥� Gunn said. 鈥淥ne of the things that's very important for me in all of these movies and TV series is that the director's vision and the vision of the writers and all of the creators is unique and something special. Storytelling is always king. That's all that matters to us.鈥�
Jake Coyle, The Associated Press
