The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) has had its ups and downs over the years. So much so that the movie universe changed its name a few years ago to Worlds of DC, but I rarely hear anyone call it by that name. Zak Snyder kicked things of with the hugely popular Man of Steel and its follow up/sequel Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Things went a little off course with the release of Justice League which has recently been resurrected with Warner Bros. confirming HBO Max will home the Snyder Cut.

Even though these movies under performed at the box office compared to their rival Marvel movies a positive note to take was the characters it gave us in Wonder Woman, Cyborg, Aquaman and The Flash. All were promised a solo movie with Wonder Woman earning over 820 million becoming the most successful DC movie not featuring Batman or Superman. Not to be out done by the Amazonians, Aquaman went on to earn 1.1 billion and become the highest earning DC movie of all time. As such, both movies were instantly green lit for a sequel which brings me to our list of upcoming DC movies.

Wonder Woman 1984 (October 2nd 2020)

Patty Jenkins returns to direct WW84 with Gal Gadot again as the leading lady. The sequel will introduce us to Kristen Wiig as Cheetah and Pedro Pascal as Maxwell Lord while bringing back Chris Pine (somehow) as Steve Trevor. The movie is done and dusted and after having its original release date put back for Todd Phillips Joker to be released, WW84 has further been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Check out its amazing trailer below.

Justice League The Snyder Cut (2021)

#Releasethesnydercut actually worked. Coming to HBO max we will finally get to see Zack Snyder’s full version of the underachieving 2017 movie in which Zack departed mid way through production due to a family tragedy, with Joss Whedon stepping in to finish off the movie with heavy input from the studio.

The Suicide Squad (August 6th 2021)

A continuation of the characters but not a direct sequel to the 2016 Suicide Squad movie. This time written and directed by James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy) who confirmed through social media the movie wrapped just in time for the international lock down caused by COVID-19. There has been little information leaked about this movie as we eagerly await a trailer but all we do know is it will star Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis and Jai Courtney from the original movie. It will also star Michael Rooker, Idris Elba, Taika Waititi, Pete Davidson, Nathan Fillion and John Cena.

The Batman (October 1st 2021)

After Ben Affleck walked away from the role, the solo movie in which he planned to write, direct and star in seemed doomed. Warner Bros retained its release position and Matt Reeves stepped in as directer while writing the screen play with Mattson Tomlin. Reeves has since recruited an impressive cast in Robert Pattison as our new Bruce Wayne/Batman, Colin Farrell as Penguin, Andy Serkis as Alfred, Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman, Jeffrey Wright as Jim Gordan with Paul Dano, Peter Sarsgaard and John Turturro also.

Black Adam (December 1st 2021)

There is a part of me that feels this movie will never get made simply because of how long it has been in the making. It was 2014 when Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson was confirmed to playing the part of Black Adam but after leaving the role a few years later he reconfirmed in 2019 that he was back on board for the solo movie and even planned to appear in Shazam 2. Statistically the biggest box office earner over the last few years makes any movie with The Rock one to keep an eye on, but could Black Adam be his definitive role? The movie finally has a writer in Adam Sztykeil (Due date, Rampage, Scoob!) and a directer in Jaume Collet-Serra who has recently worked with Johnson on Jungle Cruise while other credits include The Shallows, Run All Night and Unknown.

The Flash (June 3rd 2022)

This is another movie I fear will never see the light of day. Ezra Miller is still committed to the character, so much so he offered to write the movie following multiple staffing departures. Back in 2013 when this movie was announced i was excited to see Chris Miller and Phil Lord off the back of their Lego movie success were signed on to write and direct the first live action Flash movie. Sadly they left the project to work on the Han Solo movie over at Disney, only to be later fired from that project with a glimmer of hope they would return to the Flash. Other names have come and gone like Seth Grahame-Smith (The Lego Batman Movie), Rick Famuyiwa (The Mandalorian), John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein (Spider-Man: Homecoming), and even Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future). 

Warner Bros may have finally found its creative team with Christina Dodson writing the screenplay who also wrote Birds of Prey and Bumblebee. The latest directer attached is Andy Muschietti following his success on the recently rebooted IT movies. Even bigger news to have recently surfaced is that Michael Keaton is in talks to appear once again as Bruce Wayne in some type of Flashpoint story. Even newer news is that Christian Bale is being lined up as a back up option if talks with Keaton fall through.

Shazam 2 (November 2nd 2022)

Very little details have been released other than the confirmation that there will be a Shazam 2 and directer David Sandberg has confirmed it is the next movie he will direct. We are expecting Shazam to come head to head with The Rock’s Black Adam but also if you remember the mid credits scene from the first Movie, while locked up in prison Dr Sivana meets Mister Mind, a Venusian worm from outer space. This leads us to believe Mark Strong will return with the potential formation of the Monster Society of Evil.

Aquaman 2 (December 2nd 2022)

He was often regarded as the joke of the Justice League while being ridiculed both internally and by fans for his super powers being water based, so it was only fitting that Aquaman went on to become DC Comics highest earning box office movie ever. James Wan and David Johnson-Mcgoldrick look set to return behind the camera with Jason Momoa and Amber Heard returning as Arthur Curry and Mera.

Green Lantern Corps (TBA)

Another movie announced back in 2014 to have never gone anywhere. Initially Justin Rhodes (Terminator Dark Fate) and David Goyer (Man of Steel) signed on to write the script before later being replaced by DC Comics legend Geoff Johns. There has been no firm updates on this since while rumours that J.J Abrams company Bad Robot would be producing still appear to be simply rumours. Geoff Johns is also producing a Green Lantern TV show with Greg Berlanti (Arrowverse) which does not appear to have any connection to the movie.

Man of Steel 2 (TBA)

Technically we already got a Man of Steel 2 in Batman vs Superman but the title Man of Steel 2 has always remained on the Warner Bros. movie slate for upcoming releases. The bigger mystery is to whether Henry Cavill will return to the role or a new Superman will be hired. In 2018 it was official news that Cavill had hung up the red cape but throughout 2019 and more recently in 2020 his love for the role and desire to play Superman again has never been stronger.

This is the movie the most hardcore DC fans want and hopefully it gains some traction. Maybe if the Justice League Snyder Cut proves a success then the studio will decide to push their flagship character back to the top of their priority list. The icing on the cake would be for Zack Snyder to direct but we can all wish hey? There have been no other names circulating the rumour mill for this, a movie which may never happen as ‘insiders’ report Warner Bros are looking to recast and reboot the Superman brand.

The Trench (TBA)

James Wan is someone who isn’t afraid to franchise. He kicked of the Saw franchise before helping architect the Conjuring and Insidious universes whilst also Directing Fast and Furious 7 before moving in to direct Aquaman. This saw him become only the second director (James Cameron being the first) to earn over $1 billion at the box office on 2 different movies being completed unrelated to each other. Knowing this information made his announcement to make a spin off movie from Aquaman no real surprise. Noah Gardner and Aidan Fitzgerald have signed on the write the movie with Wan and Peter Safran attached to produce.

Very little has been shared about his vision other than it will focus on the mysterious depths of the ocean called the Trench. We spent some time here in the Aquaman movie while Aquaman and Mera were journeying through the Mariana Trench in search of the Trident of Atlan, the Trench attacked them and their ship. They escaped them to the Hidden Sea, a realm found in Earth’s core, where they found Aquaman’s mother Atlanna and the Trident of Atlan.

Lobo (TBA)

A Lobo movie has been rumoured long before the DCEU and even the Nolan Dark Knight trilogy. There was even talks once upon a time for Guy Ritchie to write and direct following his successful reboot of Sherlock Holmes. Like many other slightly obscure comic book characters, people like the idea of a movie without actually having to make it. Back in 2015, during the height of the DCEU Lobo was once again confirmed to be part of the studios plans and even confirmed Brad Peyton (Rampage) was set to direct a script by Jason Fuchs (Wonder Woman).

Like many other movies announced at this time it faded away to nothing. In 2019 there was a slight resurgence on its possibility when rumours circulated that Michael Bay was in talks to direct, only for those rumours to once again go quiet.

Justice League 2 (TBA)

Justice League was originally announced as Part 1 & 2, which quickly changed into two separate movies once production started. The box office failure which was Justice League put a stop to the DCEU and Justice League 2. This never stopped the cast from continuing to support what they did and where the characters could go. Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller and Ray Fisher have all expressed interest in a follow up movie, sadly the studio doesn’t share their enthusiasm. 

Its inevitable we will see another Justice League movie some day, its just not likely to have a connection to the first. As down and out as people feel the DCEU is compared to its rival the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) I cant help but feel a follow up Justice League movie is exactly what DC comics and Warner Bros need. If social media is anything to go on then I know i’m not the only person who thinks Walter Hamada (President of DC based film production) should turn to his friend James Wan to resurrect this brand.

Nightwing (TBA)

In 2017 Lego Batman directer Chris McKay was officially signed on to direct a solo Nightwing movie with Bill Dubuque (The Accountant) writing the screenplay. In the early stages McKay was incredibly vocal on twitter asking fans who should be cast and what type of movie people wanted to see but the last couple of years have been silent. 

Batgirl (TBA)

When Joss Whedon stepped in to finish work on Justice League it was also announced that he had signed up to write and direct a solo Batgirl movie based on the Barbara Gordon version of the character. Then in one of the strangest turn of events Whedon stepped away saying he didn’t have a story to tell. This coming from the person behind Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly and the first 2 Avengers movies sounded a little fishy to me. Nothing official was ever released but there must have been disagreements behind the scenes because I never for one second believed Joss Whedon could not find a story for a character which has 60 years worth of comic books to fall back on. 

Recent words from Ray Fisher highlighted behind the scenes problems when working on Justice League.

Following the critical success of Birds of Prey Christina Hodson was once again tapped up to write the script and resurrect the project. Hodson to date is the only name attached to the movie but with a distinct lack of female led superhero movies out there something tells me Batgirl will be making an appearance sooner than later.

The New Gods (TBA)

Based on the Jack Kirby Fourth World books, The New Gods was green lit in 2019 with Oscar Nominee Ava DuVernay (Wrinkle in Time, Selma) announced writing and directing. To date no details about the plot, cast or characters have been announced however DuVernay wasted no time in adding to her writing team by appointing DC Comics modern day legend Tom King as co screenwriter.

Having no screenwriting credits to his name Tom King may have seemed an odd choice to the uneducated media, but from a comics fan point, other than resurrecting Jack Kirby himself, Tom King is the next best thing. DuVernay telling fans at comic con her favorite super hero was Big Barda was a heavy hint to her inclusion as a main character in the movie. This is where King’s appointment could be a stroke of genius as he won an Eisner award writing Mr Miracle, a story set in the Fourth World in which Big Barda is a major player.

Supergirl (TBA)

As talks regarding a new Superman movie faded, rumours started to circulate that the reason for this was Warner Bros intention to focus on Supergirl instead. Oren Uziel (22 Jump Street, The Cloverfield Paradox) is confirmed as writing the screenplay based on Kara Zor El, the cousin to Kal El Superman. That’s all that’s been confirmed so far but there have been a few names rumoured to be directing such as Zack Snyder, Kevin Smith and Patty Jenkins.

Blackhawk (TBA)

Who is Blackhawk I hear you ask? Well officially owned by DC comics now but not connected to your typical superhero characters like Batman and Superman. Led by a mysterious man known as Blackhawk, the Blackhawks (or more formally, the Blackhawk Squadron) are a small team of World War II-era ace pilots of varied nationalities, each typically known under a single name, either their given name or their surname. Though the membership roster has undergone changes over the years, the team has been portrayed most consistently as having seven core members.

This World War 2 fighter pilot movie is being Directed by none other than Steven Spielberg and written by David Koepp (Jurassic Park, Spider Man). Unlikely to have any DC comics connections but could be an interesting opportunity for someone like Steve Trevor to cameo.

Justice League Dark (TBA)

As a fan of the JLD i was bitterly disappointed the Guillermo Del Toro version was never made. Much like the story of Superman lives, its one the fans wanted that we will sadly never get. However, that is not to say the future doesn’t look bright for Justice League Dark. After signing a deal with Warner Bors J.J Abrams production company Bad Robot announced this as one of their first projects. 

We know nothing more yet other than Bad Robot is set to make numerous TV and Movie entries based on this franchise amongst other DC related content.