There is no genre in the world right now bigger than superhero movies, and it's obviously a space in which DC movies are a massive force. For years, we watched a new cinematic era for the brand play out starting with the release of Zack Snyder's Man of Steel in 2013, but following the appointment of James Gunn and Peter Safran as the overseers of DC Studios, things are about to change dramatically.
In February 2023, Gunn mapped out an 8-10 year plan of what to expect from the first chapter of the DCU, dubbed “Gods and Monsters.” The following is a full list of all the upcoming DC movies for fans of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and more to look forward to, including some installments that do not take place in the brand’s new, central cinematic canon.
Justice League: Crisis On Infinite Earths - Part Two (TBA)
In early January 2024, Warner Bros. Animation brought us the first feature-length adaptation of the iconic, earth-shattering DC Comics crossover event, Crisis on Infinite Earths. This was only the beginning of the story, however.
Set to release digitally on April 9 and on physical media the 23rd, Part Two will include even more interdimensional iterations of our favorite heroes coming together to save the DC Multiverse -- including Terry McGinnis from Batman Beyond. Keep an eye out for Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Three, which is also in the works.
Joker: Folie à Deux (October 4, 2024)
Todd Phillips' Joker was a massive hit when it came out in 2019, getting wide-spread critical acclaim, making over $1 billion at the global box office, and earning star Joaquin Phoenix his first Academy Award. There was zero expectation that Warner Bros. would leave money on the table by not producing a sequel, and thus we are getting Joker: Folie à Deux in 2024.
Little is known about the sequel plot-wise, but it has been confirmed that Lady Gaga is in the Joker 2 cast as Harley Quinn. She is expected to play a very different iteration of the character compared to what Margot Robbie has been doing in the DC Extended Universe movies.
Watchmen (2024)
In addition to the Justice League: Crisis On Infinite Earths movie announced at SDCC, Warner Bros. and DC revealed that another animated movie based on an iconic comic that was previously adapted for live-action will debut in 2024. In this case, it is a new version of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon’s revolutionary deconstruction of superhero lore, Watchmen.
According to Collider, the new Watchmen movie will be rated R, much like Zach Snyder’s 2009 feature. The seminal graphic novel also served as the basis for an Emmy-winning HBO original miniseries that acted as a continuation of the original story.
Superman (July 11, 2025)
Fans of Henry Cavill were saddened by the news that – despite his appearance in Black Adam’s post-credits scene – the British actor would not be reprising the role of Superman after all. However, the news that James Gunn is penning another interpretation of the Man of Steel is not a bad consolation.
This new reboot, which was formerly titled Superman: Legacy, will follow Clark Kent in his mid-20s and is set to come out in the summer of 2025. The Superman cast includes David Corenswet in the title role, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and many other exciting additions.
The Batman: Part II (October 2, 2026)
Fans of Robert Pattinson can be happy to know that – after proving all the haters wrong – the British actor will be reprising the role of Batman. However, it should be noted that co-writer and director Matt Reeves’ vision for Gotham still does not exist in the new DCU canon.
Titled The Batman: Part II, the sequel to the acclaimed, Oscar-nominated hit from 2022 is part of DC Studios’ Elseworlds brand, which was technically already set in motion by the release of Joker in 2019. The film is set to come out in the fall of 2026.
The Authority (TBA)
At the moment, we cannot say when we will see some form of the Justice League on the big screen again. Yet, we can say that there are plans to bring a new team of superheroes into the mix.
Described by James Gunn as a passion project of his, The Authority is based on a Wildstorm brand comic about a group of vigilantes with a unique brand of justice that they intend to carry out by any means necessary. This team – including characters named Midnighter and Deathblow, to name a few – will be major focal points to the new DCU.
The Brave And The Bold (TBA)
Outside of the aforementioned upcoming Batman movies that do not exist in the DCU, the timeline’s new, official iteration of the Dark Knight has been chosen. No, I am afraid it is not going to be Ben Affleck.
To be helmed by The Flash director Andy Muschietti, The Brave and the Bold will feature a Batman inspired by comics from the legendary Grant Morrison and will pair him with Robin for the first time on the big screen since Joel Schumacher’s live-action Batman movies from the late ‘90s. Instead of Dick Grayson, however, this Boy Wonder is Damian Wayne – Bruce’s estranged son with killer instincts.
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (TBA)
A devastating turn of events regarding DC movies was the cancellation of the solo Batgirl movie. However, we can at least be happy to know that a film putting Superman’s cousin in the spotlight is officially in the works.
Inspired by the recent comic by acclaimed writer Tom King is the upcoming epic Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, which follows the “jaded” titular Kryptonian, as James Gunn describes. In January 2024, it was announced that House of the Dragon cast member Milly Alcock will star in the title role.
Swamp Thing (TBA)
One of the most acclaimed DC TV shows in recent memory was DC Universe’s Swamp Thing series. Thus, it was a very disappointing surprise to see it cancelled before it had even completed its first season.
Thankfully, the plant-based humanoid is getting another chance at glory with his own movie, with the involvement of James Mangold, who told Variety he sees it as a gothic standalone story. This will be the first new attempt at a Swamp Thing movie since the long-forgotten 1982 film by horror master Wes Craven, which also spawned a sequel seven years later.
Constantine 2 (TBA)
One of DC Comics’ darkest characters, John Constantine, has undergone a few different onscreen iterations – including a gender-swapped version in Netflix’s The Sandman. The first and, arguably, the most recognizable was from a self-titled 2005 cult favorite starring Keanu Reeves.
In perhaps the most surprising turn of events regarding upcoming DC movies as of late, Reeves is set to reprise the role of the occult detective in Constantine 2, which Francis Lawrence is returning to direct according to writer Akiva Goldsman's words to Deadline. The John Wick star recently joked about begging for a sequel for years before his wish came true.
J.J. Abrams-Ta-Nehisi Coates Superman Movie (TBA)
While it was still unclear what was to become of Henry Cavill's Superman, Warner Bros. was at work on a new version of the Man of Steel in the meantime. In February 2021, it was announced that J.J. Abrams is set to produce a new Superman blockbuster through his Bad Robot banner, and Ta-Nehisi Coates (who has written Black Panther and Captain America comics in recent years) has been tapped to pen the script.
While little is known about the project, it is expected that it will feature the first Black interpretation of the legendary hero made for the big screen. The most recent development to come out about the project -- as of January 2024 -- is James Gunn taking to Threads to confirm that and the Elseworlds story line-up is still in the works.
If your favorite DC superhero is missing from this current line-up, just keep your eyes peeled for updates to our upcoming DC movies schedule. Perhaps a new title could be added to the mix soon enough.
