The other day, James Gunn and Peter Safran — the two guys in charge of charting a new course for the DC Cinematic Universe — talked to reporters about their plans, and boy do they have them. Let's run down some of the things they said:
- This new DCU will officially launch with Superman, which will hit theaters on July 11, 2025. Gunn and Safran are cutting together a new trailer now as well as holding test screenings. They are psyched. “I’ve wanted to make a Superman movie since 1978 and the Superman film that James has made is exactly the one that teenage Peter Safran has been waiting for,” Safran said.
- After that, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow will release on June 26, 2026. The movie will star House of the Dragon veteran Milly Alcock (Young Rhaenyra Targaryen) in the title role. "We’ve always viewed this transformative story as one of the cornerstones of our vision for the future of the DCU,” Safran said. And Gunn gave a big vote of confidence towards director Craig Gillespie: "[H]e has been everything that I would hope for a director on a big project like this."
- The Supergirl movie will also star Game of Thrones alum Jason Momoa as space bounty hunter Lobo, who has a bit of a rock-and-roll edge to him that could fit Momoa very well. "There's some fuel behind him," Gunn said. "Same thing as Harley Quinn coming out in Suicide Squad. She's not as well known by everyone but there is a lot of fandom behind Harley Quinn. Lobo is one of those characters."
- Robert Pattinson's Batman is not part of the new DCU; he's in his own separate Batman universe overseen by director Matt Reeves. Gunn and Safran are making their own Batman movie called The Brave and the Bold, starring somehow who has yet to be revealed, or probably even cast. "[W]e’ve got to introduce a Batman into the DCU. It’s imperative," Safran said. "And so that’s the plan with The Brave and the Bold.”
- Gunn and Safran haven't talked specifically about Wonder Woman, who along with Batman and Superman is one of the recognizable characters in the DC Universe, but they are working on a live-action TV show called Paradise Lost, which is “totally still important” to their plans. The pilot is being written right now. If they were going to bring in Wonder Woman, they could be an obvious place to do it.
- There's a Green Lantern show called Lanterns on the way, and both guys sound excited about it. “I’ve been watching dailies,” Gunn said. “It’s so cool because it is connected to Superman because we’ve got Guy Gardner in that. And then we’ve got these Green Lanterns over here. And it’s just such a different tone from what Superman is. And [those different tones] is exactly what I want to bring to the DCU.” The first season will be eight episodes but Safran suggested it could keep going after that.
- The second season of Peacemaker is being edited. Gunn says it's “much more about the characters and the interconnectivity between the characters and their personal lives” this time around. Also, there will be a new opeing theme song, which feels a little like heresy since the original is such a banger:
- The Haunting of Hill House writer Mike Flanagan is working on a movie about the Batman villain Clayface. Safran describes the movie as “an incredible body horror film that reveals the compelling origin of a classic Batman villain.” James Watkins is in talks to direct. This movie will be part of the new DCU, rather than Matt Reeves' separate Batman universe.
- Logan director James Mangold is working on a movie about the DC superhero/antihero/plant monster Swamp Thing, although Mangold is busy (his movie A Complete Unknown is up for an Oscar) so that might take a while. “We love him as a filmmaker, so we’re happy to wait for him,” Safran said. “Swamp Thing is not integral to the larger story that we’re telling.”
- There are a couple of projects that have suffered setbacks, including a movie about the superhero team The Authority and Waller, a TV show that would have followed government operative Amanda Waller, who has played by Viola Davis in past DC movies. They may yet materialize down the road, but they're on the backburner for now.
- They're making a movie about the World War II-era hero Sgt. Rock. Contrary to rumors, Daniel Craig isn't involved.
- They're making a show about the show-boating, time-traveling superhero Booster Gold. According to Gunn, development is “going pretty strong.”
- Ana Noguiera, who earned high praise from Gunn and Safran for writing the Supergirl movie, is also working on a Teen Titans film. “It’s very early stages,” Gunn said.
- They're working on a number of animated series. New ones include My Adventures with Green Lantern, Starfire, and DC Superpowers.
- Dynamic Duo is an upcoming animated movie about two Robins that "provides a perfect on-ramp for the family audiences into the world of Gotham,” according to Safran. That one may or may not be part of the new DCU.
- They're close to greenlighting an animated Blue Beetle show.
- All of this will lead to some kind of big event, although we don't know the details yet. Maybe another crack at a Justice League movie? “We’re heading somewhere,” Safran said. “There’s a plan for movies with more characters,” Gunn added.
The plan is to eventually get into a rhythm where they're releasing two live-action films per year in the DC Cinematic Universe, plus one animated movie. Meanwhile, two live-action shows and one animated show will come out every year on Max and/or HBO.
Gunn and Safran reportedly talked a lot about being mindful of quality over quantity, but that's a lot of quantity. I wonder if they haven't bitten off more than they can chew, but I'll hope for the best. We'll start getting a better idea when the Superman movie comes out this July.
Colin Farrell is "in no rush" to return to The Penguin
And remember: The Batman movies starring Robert Pattinson have nothing to do with any of this; those are their own thing. The recent HBO show The Penguin is a spinoff of The Batman, so it's not part of the new universe Gunn and Safran are building either.
Speaking of The Penguin, star Colin Farrell talked a bit about it at the recent SAG Awards, saying he has "no deep desire" to return to the role. “I don’t want it. I don’t not want it,” he said. “We all left it in the ring in those eight hours. I would hate to, just because of a quote-unquote success, have to go again and for it to be a diluted version of what people seem to feel it is, majoritively. So I’m in no rush. I have no deep desire to do it.” […] “Sure, if they think of something that works in conjunction as a parallel to Matt Reeves’ cinematic universe, and it’s a good idea, I’m open to it. But it’s not something concerning me.”
“I don’t want it. I don’t not want it,” he told Variety. “We all left it in the ring in those eight hours. I would hate to, just because of a quote-unquote success, have to go again and for it to be a diluted version of what people seem to feel it is, majoritively. So I’m in no rush."
"Sure, if they think of something that works in conjunction as a parallel to Matt Reeves’ cinematic universe, and it’s a good idea, I’m open to it. But it’s not something concerning me."
The first (and only?) season of The Penguin was pretty much perfect, not to mention complete, so I wouldn't be mad if it didn't continue. especially since Farrell will play the role again in The Batman: Part II, which is due out in 2027. Then again, the show was so good than I'd also be happy if they announced a second season. I am easily pleased.
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