This week there was particularly extensive news from DC. After much speculation in recent weeks, it is now clear how things will continue after the release of the four upcoming films "The Flash", "Blue Beetle", "Shazam 2: Fury of the Gods" and "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" in 2023.

Similar to the MCU, there will be different phases, or rather chapters in which a certain amount of projects will be released. These chapters have a thematically appropriate title, with the first section being called "Gods & Monsters". But which movies and series can we look forward to? Well, James Gunn revealed that in a short video on Twitter. Here are the highlights!

Chapter 1: Gods & Monsters

Superman: Legacy

One of the new movies that was already apparent beforehand is a new "Superman". After the back and forth about the previous actor Henry Cavill, it was made clear some weeks ago that they would start looking for a new, younger actor. The planned film, which will be the first one of the new chapter, is titled "Superman: Legacy", but according to Gunn, it will not be an origin story. The script is written by Gunn himself and there is speculation that the DC boss will also be the director. The release date is set for July 11, 2025.

The Authority

"The Authority" will be about a group of superheroes who have to save the world from destruction. Gunn emphasizes that, as in other projects, there will be no clear line between good and evil. Thus, the main characters are not necessarily only the good guys. Gunn compares the characters to Jack Nicholson in 1992's "A Few Good Men", so it is worth looking forward to.

Waller

"Waller" is a spin-off of Gunn's own series "Peacemaker", which in turn is a spin-off of his film "The Suicide Squad". Viola Davis will star in the lead role. The script is by Jeremy Carver, who also penned the screenplay for the "Doom Patrol" series. Gunn has not revealed any further information at this time.

Lanterns

One of the most anticipated projects from Chapter 1 is "Lanterns". The series is said to have two main characters: Hal Jordan, who was played by Ryan Reynolds in the 2011 film "Green Lantern", and John Stewart, who is likewise a Green Lantern. Many fans expressed particular excitement about the way the series will be made, as it is said to be inspired by "True Detective". This series belongs to the best modern crime series. Above all the first season with Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson continues to have a large fan base to this day. We can therefore look forward to a dark crime series with at least two members of the Green Lantern Corps.

Creature Commandos

The seven-part animated series "Creature Commandos" is also included in the first DC chapter. Although Gunn states that no voice actors have been cast yet, the series is already in full production. The story will be about a group of monsters fighting Nazi Germany, but with a more modern twist.

Paradise Lost

"Paradise Lost" is to be a series similar to "Game of Thrones" should Gunn and Safran have their way. The setting is the island of Themyscira, which is not only Wonder Woman's birthplace, but also entirely populated by women. The plot takes place before the events of "Wonder Woman" and, as with the HBO show, you can expect a lot of scheming and power play.

The Brave and the Bold

"The Brave and the Bold" introduces the first DCU Batman. The exact cast is not known yet, but you will be able to see not only the Dark Knight but also his colleague Robin on the big screen again. In this case, Robin is Damian Wayne, Bruce Wayne's son and, according to Gunn, his favorite Robin. He is a cunning murderer who will surely cause chaos and a very special father-son relationship.

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow

Not only will Superman get his own feature in Chapter 1, but his female counterpart Supergirl is also to get a movie. The focus is on the clear difference between her and Superman. While the latter was able to spend a reasonably comfortable life on Earth, Supergirl grew up in the wilds of her home planet until the age of fourteen and had to watch nearly all her friends and family being killed. A significant difference, which will most likely also be reflected in the way the film is made.

Booster Gold

The upcoming series "Booster Gold" will revolve around a lesser-known DC superhero. Fans of the comics may already know the character introduced in 1986 whose real name is Michael Jon Carter, while others will get to meet him in the planned comedy series. The main character is more of a loser character suffering from imposter syndrome, who believes he's not really a superhero at all. Booster Gold comes from several centuries in the future and uses futuristic technology that nevertheless gives Carter, who is not gifted with supernatural powers, the necessary abilities to be perceived as a superhero.

Swamp Thing

With "Swamp Thing", a genuine horror flick is to make its way into the DCU. Following the cancellation of the series a few years ago, the company is now going to produce its own feature film. In keeping with the genre, it will be pretty dark, but in spite of the horror element, it will be equally related to the other films and series. The film is supposed to be the last installment of Chapter 1 and should therefore deal with some storylines that will then be taken up in Chapter 2. It's a bold move to end the first chapter with a horror movie, since the genre has rarely been applied to superhero movies in the past.

Elseworlds

Joker 2: Folie à Deux

Besides talking about the many movies and series from Chapter 1 of the new DCU, James Gunn also discussed two movie projects that are very well known beyond the borders of DC and stand entirely for themselves - and therefore are now being referred to under the term "Elseworlds", which is quite well known in the comic book world. The first film from the "Elseworlds" is "Joker: Folie à Deux". The sequel is an immediate continuation of the popular first part from 2019, and the main actor Joaquin Phoenix is to be joined by Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn. The style of the film is said to resemble a musical and there are plenty of rumors regarding the plot. In one of our Originals we took a closer look at the film, so feel free to check it out if you want to know more about the "Joker" sequel. The theatrical release is scheduled for October 4, 2024.

Other projects from the "Elseworlds" include the animated series "Teen Titans Go!" and another Superman movie to be produced by J.J. Abrams and written by Ta-Nehisi Coates. There is still no release date for either of them.

The Batman 2

The second movie from the "Elseworlds" is "The Batman 2". Although it is a known fact that a new Batman is being sought for the DCU, this one has nothing to do with the already introduced Robert Pattinson as the Dark Knight. In terms of story, the plot of the first part from the year 2022 is continued and accompanies Batman on his journey as a young detective in Gotham City. Also to be released is "The Penguin" series, which is set in the same universe as the two films and, as the name suggests, revolves around Colin Farrell as the Penguin. As we have known for quite a while, the series will link the two movies in terms of story and, as a result, will also be released before "The Batman 2", which is scheduled to hit theaters on October 3, 2025. Whether and how it will continue after "The Batman 2" with Robert Pattinson and his character is not yet known.