It’s been simply over two years since James Gunn and Peter Safran mapped out their preliminary slate of initiatives for DC Studios and what could be the newly revamped DCU, a brand new interconnected universe of superhero motion pictures and movies based mostly on DC characters and kicking off in earnest with Gunn’s “Superman” arriving this summer time.
So the place do they stand? In a press occasion final week on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, Gunn and Safran held court docket with journalists about all they’d cooking, the stuff that’s shifting ahead and the stuff that has misplaced the wind in its sails or has hit a snag. That included the whole lot from particulars on the studio’s Batman movies — each the DCU movie “The Courageous and the Daring” and updates on the non-canon “The Batman 2” from Matt Reeves — in addition to a possible “Teen Titans” film and the replace on “Sgt. Rock” now that Daniel Craig has dropped out.
Two years in the past, Gunn and Safran introduced 10 completely different initiatives, a few of that are in manufacturing or slated to start quickly, whereas others have stalled. However as they stated again then and once more on this most up-to-date session, key for DC is to not inexperienced gentle something till they really feel a script is locked and safe, a marked distinction from how issues have been performed and are nonetheless performed at Marvel.
“Superman” hits theaters on July 11, however after that, issues are wanting good, with the plan to launch two live-action options and an animated movie and two live-action collection and an animated collection per 12 months.
On the fast horizon, “Supergirl: Girl of Tomorrow,” which is directed by Craig Gillespie and stars Milly Alcock as Supergirl, is midway by means of manufacturing in London. “Lanterns,” the Inexperienced Lantern collection for HBO starring Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan, simply started manufacturing in Los Angeles. Gunn’s “Peacemaker” collection will debut its second season in August. And essentially the most promising replace was for “Clayface,” a physique horror movie based mostly on a Batman villain that has a script by Mike Flanagan and is being directed by James Watkins (“Communicate No Evil”). That venture was not initially on DC’s preliminary slate of 10, however Gunn and Safran stated the script was robust sufficient to lock it in. The hope is to shoot the movie this summer time for launch in fall 2026.
On the animation entrance, the studio is in pre-production on a household movie, “Dynamic Duo,” which might comply with each of the Robins — Dick Grayson and Jason Todd — who fought alongside Batman. And the studio is creating an animated collection about “Blue Beetle” that might proceed the occasions seen within the 2023 live-action movie. Additionally greenlit are younger-skewing animated collection “My Adventures with Inexperienced Lantern,” “Starfire,” and “DC Tremendous Powers.”
As for Batman, the studio is in lively growth on “The Courageous and the Daring,” which might introduce a brand new Batman to the DCU, however no forged is hooked up and a script isn’t locked. “The Batman 2,” which might have Robert Pattinson reprise his function as Bruce Wayne and isn’t part of the DCU canon, additionally doesn’t have a accomplished script and was lately pushed again for launch in 2027. Lastly, whether or not “The Penguin” returns for a second season remains to be unclear and will depend on the return of Colin Farrell, amongst different elements.
Gunn and Safran had fewer updates to share on three different titles all introduced among the many preliminary slate of 10, these being the “Suicide Squad” spinoff collection “Waller” starring Viola Davis, a “Booster Gold” collection, and a movie based mostly on the ’90s staff of heroes “The Authority.” “Waller” has been on a “bumpy highway,” “Booster Gold” required them to pivot away from a beforehand enthusiastic showrunner, and “The Authority” has up to now not been a “precedence,” as Gunn stated. And “Swamp Factor” from James Mangold has been on the backburner amid Mangold’s awards marketing campaign for “A Full Unknown.”
Gunn and Safran additionally addressed a few of the rumored initiatives that had by no means been formally introduced. “Sgt. Rock” had been within the information when it was reported that Daniel Craig was now not in talks to star within the movie, however the execs stated he was by no means hooked up they usually by no means met with him. Ana Nogueira, who wrote “Supergirl: World of Tomorrow,” can be engaged on a script for a “Teen Titans” movie. And Matthew Orton (“Moon Knight”) is engaged on a script that could possibly be within the vein of a narrative following the characters Deathstroke and Bane, although Gunn and Safran didn’t formally affirm the venture.
The excellent news is that Gunn nonetheless has the longview in sight, saying that he’s mapped out a six-year plan that might culminate in a “Avengers” type team-up movie.