New DC Studios heads announce first 10 DC superhero TV / film projects for new DC Universe
As far as DC superhero films are concerned, the film studios responsible have been in a state of flux for years – frustrating many DC fans who have been hoping for and looking forward to Superman film sequels starring Henry Cavill, and Justice League sequels with the cast from Zack Snyder’s Justice League getting back together to battle the evil Darkseid.
At one point, after 10 years since the first Superman / Cavill film “Man of Steel” debuted back in 2013, it looked like Cavill was finally returning for a Superman II film – but those hopes were dashed back in the fall of 2022 when film industry veterans James Gunn and Peter Safran were appointed to their new roles as Co-Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers of DC Studios, overseeing the overall creative direction of the DC Universe across film, TV, and animation under one single umbrella banner.
Beginning November 1, 2022, Gunn and Safran began reporting directly to the head of the newly formed Warner Bros. Discovery and are now working closely with their counterparts in the Warner Bros. Film Group.
One of the first things Gunn and Safran did was to announce that Henry Cavill was out and that Gunn was writing his own Superman film script starring a new and much younger actor in the role. He also said that some former Justice League actors would be reprising their roles, and some would not – without going into much in the way of specifics.
And last week, the new guard in charge of the DC super films announced their new and upcoming initial set of projects for the newly remolded DC UNiverse, beginning with a new and rebooted 26-year-old Superman.
They’re dubbing the initiative as “Chapter 1” and will be focused on “Gods and Monsters” comprised of five new films and five television series for HBO Max that are already in development.
“As we craft the plan for DC Studios, we are thrilled to share with fans the first 10 stories they can expect from the unified DC Universe featuring some of our most well-known characters as well as the next generation of marquee characters” said Safran. “Chapter 1 tells cohesive stories that highlight love, compassion, and the innate goodness of the human spirit, all designed to minimize audience confusion and maximize audience engagement across platforms.”
Gunn is writing Superman: Legacy, the first film of the new slate, which will be released in theaters globally on July 11, 2025. The highly-anticipated sequel The Batman – Part II is slated for release on October 3, 2025.
Gunn added: “Superman: Legacy is the true foundation of our creative vision for the DC Universe. Not only is Superman an iconic part of DC lore, he is also a favorite character for comic book readers, viewers of earlier movies, and fans around the world. I can’t wait to introduce our version of Superman who audiences will be able to follow and get to know across films, movies, animation and gaming.”
The upcoming slate of DC projects are detailed below:
Film Projects
- Superman: Legacy – written by Gunn, the film will hit theaters on July 11, 2025, and focus on Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing.
- The Authority – WildStorm characters will join the DCU as members of The Authority take matters into their own hands to do what they believe is right
- The Brave and the Bold – the DCU will introduce its Batman and Robin in this unusual father-son story inspired by Grant Morrison’s comic series
- Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow – this science fiction adventure, which will be based on Tom King’s amazing, award-winning recent comics stories, presents a Supergirl viewers are not used to seeing
- Swamp Thing – the film will investigate the dark origins of Swamp Thing
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Television Projects for HBO Max
- Creature Commandos – a seven-episode animated show in which Amanda Waller creates a black ops team out of monstrous prisoners; Gunn wrote all the episodes of the first season
- Waller – starring Viola Davis, this series features Team Peacemaker and will be written by Christal Henry (Watchmen) and Jeremy Carver (Supernatural)
- Booster Gold – Booster Gold uses basic technology from the future to pretend to be a superhero in present day
- Lanterns – this enormous TV event series follows intergalactic cops John Stewart and Hal Jordan as they uncover a dark mystery
- Paradise Lost – set in Themyscira, home of the Amazons and birthplace of Wonder Woman, this drama focuses on the genesis and political intrigue of an island of all women
A small fraction of the fans DC lost when Cavill was unceremoniously fired from his Superman role were re-energized and pleased by the new projects announced by Gunn and Safran – while perhaps just as many still want to see Cavill and Ben Affleck back as the World’s Finest – and the hashtags #FireJamesGunn and #RestoreThe Snyderverse ran rampant through social media.
And although its highly unlikely that we’ll ever see the Zach Snyder Justice League back together to battle Darkseid, Gunn did say that he’s spoken with Cavill about working on an as of yet unnamed future project and that Affleck could very well be directing a future Gunn / Safran DC film.
(Sources: Warner Bros. Discovery and DC Press)
(Cover photo, Superman, Image credit: DC Press)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
