What's Going On With the DCEU Movies

Find out what DCEU movies are canon and what's going on with Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and more now that James Gunn took over DC Films.

Warner Brothers launched the DCEU, its own comic book-inspired cinematic universe in 2013 with Man of Steel—and the James Gunn DC slate is revamping basically everything with the new DCU.

The previous DCEU has had a mostly successful run at the box office and includes 11 movies, with four more set to be released in the coming year. Despite that, the films have been bogged down by behind-the-scenes drama and have often struggled to connect with audiences. Warner Brothers recently announced that Gunn will take over DC Studios, which means that the current version of the DCEU is coming to an end—and the DCU will be what's going forward.

Yes, we know that's a little confusing!

"Peter & I have a DC slate ready to go, which we couldn’t be more over-the-moon about; we’ll be able to share some exciting information about our first projects at the beginning of the new year," Gunn tweeted in December 2022. "Among those on the slate is Superman. In the initial stages, our story will be focusing on an earlier part of Superman's life, so the character will not be played by Henry Cavill."

He added, "But we just had a great meeting with Henry and we’re big fans and we talked about a number of exciting possibilities to work together in the future."

From cast changes to director shifts and more, here's what we know so far about the DCEU and DCU with answers to your biggest questions about the franchises.

Related: How to Watch Every DCEU Movie In Order

What is the James Gunn DC movie slate?

James Gunn finally announced the first phase of his new DC slate on Jan. 31, 2023. The upcoming James Gunn DC movies for the DCU are:

Related: Everything to Know About James Gunn's Superman: Legacy

Superman: Legacy

Superman: Legacy won't be an origin story as we traditionally know them, but it will follow a young Clark Kent who tries to compromise his “Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing.” James Gunn will pen the script for Superman: Legacy, but it's unclear so far if he will also direct the film.

Superman: Legacy Release Date: July 11, 2025

Related: Stars Who Should Play Superman

The Authority

The Authority is the second James Gunn DC movie and will follow—you guessed it—The Authority, a superhero team that's mostly comprised of antiheroes. Superman: Legacy will reportedly lead directly into The Authority, which is based on a relatively obscure line of comics about equally obscure heroes.

The Authority Release Date: TBA

The Brave and The Bold

The Brave and The Bold will be the first Batman movie from the James Gunn DC slate. This Batman film will focus on Damian Wayne as Robin, making it the first time the character—who is also Bruce Wayne's biological son—will be depicted in a live-action movie. (There is already an animated series, Batman: The Brave and The Bold, which chronicles Bruce and Damian Wayne's relationship.)

Gunn describes Damian as an “assassin” and “a little son of a bitch,” so you can probably expect some of Gunn's similar humor in this iteration.

The Brave and the Bold will lead into Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.

The Brave and The Bold Release Date: TBA

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow

The first solo feature film to feature Superman’s cousin Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl, will be Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, based on Tom King’s comic series run of the same name. James Gunn describes this version of Supergirl as darker, explaining, “We will see the difference between Superman, who was sent to Earth and raised by loving parents from the time he was an infant, versus Supergirl, raised on a rock, a chip off of Krypton, and who watched everyone around her die and be killed in terrible ways for the first 14 years of her life and then come to Earth. She is much more hardcore and not the Supergirl we’re used to.”

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow Release Date: TBA

Swamp Thing

James Gunn describes Swamp Thing as closer to horror than a traditional comic book movie—but that the title character will still interact with the other DCU characters. The character of Swamp Thing largely focuses on keeping his swamp, and the environment overall, safe from intruders, polluters and other villainry. In the comics, he is a key member of the Justice League Dark, though it remains to be seen if that will come to fruition in the movies.

Swamp Thing Release Date: TBA

What is in the James Gunn DC TV slate?

The upcoming James Gunn DC TV shows will be on HBO and HBO Max. The DCU TV series are:

Creature Commandos

Creature Commandos sounds like a fun time for horror fans. The animated series will be based on a 1980s comic book run about supernatural military warriors including a vampire, werewolf and Frankenstein's monster who team up to fight Nazis in World War II. This iteration will include Rick Flag’s father, Rich Flag Sr., as well as The Suicide Squad's Weasel.

Creature Commandos Release Date: TBA, but expected sometime before Superman: Legacy

Waller

Viola Davis will star in Waller, a spinoff of Peacemaker focusing on Amanda Waller, who assembled the Suicide Squad in both Suicide Squad and The Suicide Squad. Other Peacemaker stars will appear in the series as well, likely including Gunn's real-life wife Jennifer Holland.

Waller Release Date: TBA, but expected before Superman: Legacy

Paradise Lost

Considered a prequel for Wonder Woman, Paradise Lost is described as a Game of Thrones-inspired series set on Themyscira long before the Queen of the Amazons as we know her was born. The show will focus on the dynamics and politics of an all-female society. (If you ask us, that's more like Paradise Gained!)

Paradise Lost Release Date: TBA

Booster Gold

Booster Gold introduces Booster Gold, a time-traveling, egotistical hero from the future named Michael Jon Carter. Gunn describes Booster Gold as a character as being "imposter syndrome as a superhero."

Booster Gold Release Date: TBA

Lanterns

Lanterns is a True Detective-like mystery series that will star Green Lanterns Hal Jordan and John Stewart. Greg Berlanti is developing the show, which will tie into the larger DCU.

Lanterns Release Date: TBA

Are DC and DCEU the same?

DC is the name of a comic book company. The DCEU is a series of films based on DC Comics' characters and is an acronym for DC Extended Universe.

Are the DCEU and the DCU the same?

Er, not quite. The DCEU can be considered the Warner Bros. slate under Zack Snyder beginning with Man of Steel in 2013 and ostensibly ending with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom—that that still remains to be seen.

The DCU is James Gunn's take on the DC movies since he took over DC Studios.

Who is Superman in DCEU?

Henry Cavill portrayed Superman in the DCEU. He first played the character in Man of Steel and recently reprised the role in Black Adam. Gunn recently announced that a new Superman movie was on the way for the DCU, Superman: Legacy, focusing on a younger Clark Kent and that Cavill would not play the role again, which Cavill confirmed. The role of the new Superman hasn't yet been cast.

Related: Former Superman Star Henry Cavill's Net Worth Revealed

Is Joker part of DCEU?

Jared Leto portrayed the Joker in the DCEU. He first portrayed the character in Suicide Squad and reprised the role in Zack Snyder's Justice League. Joaquin Phoenix's Joker was, at the time of its conception and release, its own separate entity altogether.

Joker will be part of James Gunn's DCU folder of "DC Elseworlds," and the sequel will also fall under this umbrella, as will The Batman universe from Matt Reeves.

Related: How to Watch Every Batman Movie In Order

Is Green Lantern in the DCEU?

Green Lantern starring Ryan Reynolds is not part of the DCEU as we know it today. A different Green Lantern was briefly shown during a flashback in Justice League. However, a new Green Lantern will be part of the DCU, which will kick off with a TV series called The Lanterns.

Is The Batman part of the DCEU?

The Batman is not part of the DCEU. The film is part of a separate universe with its own unique continuity called DC Elseworlds within the DCU.

Related: Every Batman Movie, Ranked

Does DCEU exist in MCU?

The DCEU and MCU are separate film universes. While several MCU properties have referenced DC characters, the two universes are completely separate.

Is Aquaman in the DCEU?

Jason Momoa portrays Aquaman in the DCEU. He first appeared in a cameo in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice and will reprise the role in the upcoming Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. After that, it remains to be seen whether he'll be in the DCU, though he's said he had good talks with James Gunn, so we hope to see more of him.

Related: Jason Momoa Goes Deep as Aquaman

Who is the DCEU Batman now?

Ben Affleck portrays Batman in the DCEU, though he previously announced he'd stop playing the vigilante with the famous cowl. It has been strongly rumored that he will make cameo appearances in the upcoming Flash and Aquaman movies, but that has not been confirmed.

Robert Pattinson is Matt Reeves' The Batman and will play Bruce Wayne in an upcoming sequel, but will not be the official DCEU Batman nor the DCU Batman. He will be in DCU's Elseworlds slate.

Related: How Much Did Ben Affleck Make as Batman?

Which Suicide Squad is in the DCEU?

The Suicide Squad is a loosely connected sequel to Suicide Squad. Both movies feature characters from the DCEU, such as Harley Quinn (played by Margot Robbie). Confusing? Yes. We know. The Suicide Squad will be canon for the new DCU, as will the characters within it, including Viola Davis' Amanda Waller.

Related: Why Did Zack Snyder Quit Justice League?

Is Zack Snyder's Justice League part of DCEU?

Zack Snyder's Justice League is part of the DCEU that is ending. While the theatrical version is technically the in-continuity version, many fans consider Snyder's cut to be the true version of the film.

It is not canon in James Gunn's new DCU.

Related: The Differences Between Zack Snyder's Justice League and 2017 Version

Will Red Hood be in the DCEU?

Red Hood is a character from the Batman comics. While the possibility of the character appearing was hinted at in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, Warner Brothers has not confirmed that he will appear in any future projects.

Which Suicide Squad is canon?

The Suicide Squad acts as a loose reboot of the franchise and features characters from the first film and doesn't contradict the events of that film in any significant way. The Suicide Squad is canon in the new DCU.

Related: The Best Batman Quotes From Comics, Movies, TV

Is Black Adam still in DCEU?

Black Adam is part of the DCEU. While the film was meant to start a new era of the DCEU, it still honored the continuity of the previous films. It remains to be seen if the character of Black Adam will remain in the DCU.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson revealed in December 2022 that Black Adam will not be in "the first chapter" of James Gunn's DCU, but that they plan to possibly work together in the future, so it may not be the end of the road for the character.

Related: Everything to Know About Black Adam

Is Henry Cavill in Black Adam?

Henry Cavill makes a cameo appearance during an end-credit sequence in Black Adam. The appearance was originally meant to announce Cavill's return to the role, but DC's plans have since changed.

Are Dwayne Johnson and Henry Cavill still in DCEU?

Henry Cavill will not return to play Superman. The future of the DCU and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's involvement have not been revealed yet, but appears unlikely.

Are Black Adam and Superman in DCEU?

A new Superman is in the DCU beginning in 2025's Superman: Legacy. It's unlikely Black Adam in its current iteration will be in the DCU, though we'd love for him to get another shot!

Related: Superman and Lois Lane Through the Years

Is the Superman dog movie DCEU?

DC League of Super-Pets is an animated film starring Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart as Krypto (Superman's dog) and Ace (who eventually becomes Batman's dog). While the movie features references to the DCEU, it is not officially part of the cinematic universe.

Related: Best Superhero Movies Ever

Is Superman in Black Adam?

Henry Cavill makes a cameo appearance as Superman in Black Adam. During an end credit scene, he appears in front of the title character and says they should talk.

Can Black Adam beat Superman?

Black Adam and Superman both have similar powers. Since Black Adam's powers are magic based (and he doesn't have a kryptonite weakness), he may sometimes have an advantage over Superman, although victory isn't assured for either character.

Will there be a Black Adam vs. Superman movie?

According to Johnson, there were initially plans for Superman and Black Adam to face off in a movie. Unfortunately, following the shakeups at Warner Bros. and DC, those original plans are likely canceled.

Will there be a Black Adam vs. Shazam movie?

A movie featuring Black Adam vs. Shazam has not been confirmed by Warner Brothers. In the comics, the two characters are rivals.

Related: Why Critics and Audiences Love Shazam!

Is Deadpool in the DCEU?

Deadpool is not part of the DCEU. The Deadpool franchise was originally part of Fox's X-Men series, but it will likely become a part of the MCU with the release of the third Deadpool film.

Related: How to Watch the X-Men Movies In Order

What is the most successful DC movie?

Based on box office performance, the most successful DC movie is Aquaman. The film earned over $1.1 billion dollars at the box office. Prior to that, The Dark Knight Rises was the most successful DC movie.

Is Wonder Woman in the DCEU?

Wonder Woman is part of the original DECU. The character first appeared in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice and then went on to headline her own franchise.

There will be a Wonder Woman in the new DCU as well, but remains to be seen if the previous iterations will be canon and if Gal Gadot will reprise the role of Diana Prince.

Who plays Wonder Woman in the DCEU?

Gal Gadot portrays Wonder Woman in the DCEU created by Zack Snyder. She portrayed the character in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, Wonder Woman, Justice League and Wonder Woman 1984. It remains to be seen if she will reprise the role in James Gunn's DCU, as Gunn has said he plans on re-casting the major players with younger actors.

Related: Gal Gadot Thinks About Wonder Woman In Real Life

What is the next DC movie in 2023?

The next DCEU movie is Shazam! Fury of the Gods, due on March 17, 2023, followed by The Flash, premiering on June 16, 2023.

Related: Everything to Know About Shazam! Fury of the Gods

How many DC movies are there in total?

There have been at least 37 feature films based on DC Comics properties, starting with Superman and the Mole Men in 1951. The DCEU, a cinematic universe of connected films based on DC comic book characters, includes 11 films as of 2022.

Is Ezra Miller The Flash in James Gunn's DC movies?

Gunn has left the door open for Ezra Miller to potentially reprise his role as The Flash after The Flash and when the DCEU closes and the DCU begins. However, it remains to be seen if the role will be recast amid Miller's myriad legal and mental health problems.

Is there a Dua Lipa DC movie?

Warner Brothers has not officially announced any DC Comics-based films starring Dua Lipa. In late 2022, rumors circulated that she would star as Zatanna in an unannounced film.

Is Shazam! Fury of the Gods in the DCEU?

Shazam! Fury of the Gods will be part of the DCEU created by Snyder. The film is a sequel to Shazam! and will likely be one of the last films to be released as part of the DCEU.

Related: Shazam! Is Magical Indeed

Is Peacemaker DCEU?

Peacemaker is part of the DCEU under James Gunn. The character originally appeared in The Suicide Squad and the HBO Max show featured cameo appearances from Ezra Miller and Jason Momoa as their Justice League characters.

Related: John Cena on Why He Loves Playing Peacemaker

Is Blue Beetle in DCEU?

Blue Beetle will likely be part of the Snyder DCEU. The film was originally intended to be released on HBO Max, but will instead debut in theaters on Aug. 18, 2023.

Is Barry Keoghan's Joker DCEU canon?

Barry Keoghan appeared in The Batman as a character who was intended to be a precursor to the Joker. This movie is not part of the DCEU, but it's possible that Barry Keoghan will appear as the villain in The Batman sequels, depending on Gunn's plans for the franchises as a whole. The Batman and its characters are part of the DC Elseworld canon.

Related: Joker Quotes

Is Aquaman the most successful DC movie?

Aquaman is the most successful DC movie, according to box office results. The film slightly edged out The Dark Knight Rises total box office of over $1.1 billion.

What is the highest-grossing DC movie?

Aquaman is the highest-grossing DC movie, not adjusting for inflation. The film earned over $1.1 billion at the box office.

What was The Batman box office?

The Batman had a successful box office run that pulled in over $770 million. A sequel was officially announced in April 2022.

Next, here's how to watch every Marvel movie in order of story.