Last updated: March 4, 2023
After the shocking cancellation of Batgirl, the uncertainty of the direction of DC’s universe, and a power play for the universe by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, James Gunn, and Peter Safran have been brought in to right the ship. And they have a tough job ahead of them.
Their first moves were centered around clearing the old universe out. With the shocking firing of Henry Cavill as Superman following a tease in Black Adam, Patty Jenkins walking away from Wonder Woman 3 and dealing with the Ezra Miller situation, it’s clear that the Synderverse, the colloquial name given to the DCEU named after Zack Synder and his vision, was dead.
And, after waiting for what felt like forever, Gunn has finally revealed the first part of the first chapter of his story, titled Gods and Monsters. Consisting of animation, live-action TV shows, and films, these ten projects will be the start of a new era, the Gunnverse.
Gunn wants all the games, films, and TV to tie into a larger canon, like Star Wars. There will be a singular narrative told across each film, and anything not part of the main canon will be called a DC Elseworlds story, their version of the multiverse. His DC reboot has echoes of Disney casting out the Star Wars Extended Universe, which has upset some fans, but is ultimately what’s needed for the universe to succeed.
Before you start reading, you may want to keep our Marvel TV Shows and Movies 2023 and Beyond handy too.
Upcoming DC Movies and Shows in 2023 and Beyond
Here is the schedule of upcoming DCU projects in 2023 and beyond. The dates may change depending on whether projects are brought forward, delayed or outright canceled.
Superman and Lois Season 3 (March 14, 2023)
Superman and Lois will return for a third season on The CW, with the following plot synopsis being shared:
“Clark and Lois are now working at the Smallville Gazette together and enjoying small-town life.
“But the Kents’ romantic bliss only shines a light on how isolating ‘the secret’ can be, as Chrissy (Sofia Hasmik) struggles to balance a new love interest and her friendship with Lois.
“However, Lois’ own work-life balance is put to the test when an undercover assignment reveals a deadly foe that promises to change the Kent family forever. Superman would move heaven and earth for his family, but with a villain this merciless, even that might not be enough.
“Meanwhile, the Kent boys find themselves being pulled in opposite directions as Jordan (Alex Garfin) discovers what a superhero identity really means and Jonathan (Michael Bishop) searches for purpose beyond the football field.”
The trailer sees Lois going missing and the Daily Planet headquarters crumbling.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods (March 17, 2023)
Shazam (actually, he should be called Captain Marvel, but that’s a story for another feature) was a bit of a surprise for DC as the comedy superhero romp became a real hit with audiences. The likeable character is back with Zachary Levi and Asher Angel, and there is no doubt that the stakes will be ramped up for this second outing. The trailer shows off the Daughters of Atlas, the villains, and you can check it out right here.
Titans Season 4 Part 2 (April 2023)
Fans of the Titans were dealt a disappointing blow when they heard that season four, part two, will be the last bit of the Titans story to come out. According to director Nick Copus, this will be sometime in April, though no official release date has been provided. It isn’t James Gunn‘s fault, as he took to Twitter to say that the cancellation decision predated his taking over DC.
The Flash (June 16, 2023)
More controversy surrounds the long-awaited feature film debut of The Flash, all due to the bizarre series of events centered around the behavior of the film’s lead Ezra Miller. Michael Keaton is set to appear in the feature, donning the Batman costume again. As well as this reveal, the film will feature Supergirl and will reset the current DCU ready for James Gunn.
The trailer featured a bonkers amount of things, with two Barrys, the return of General Zod, and perhaps even a quick glimpse at Christian Bale’s Batman? When this film comes out, it’s sure to be an amazing watch
Blue Beetle (August 18, 2023)
This property was originally slated for a TV release, but it looks, at the time of writing, that this will indeed be a theatrical release. This incarnation of the Blue Beetle will be in the form of Jaime Reyes, and the teenager will find the alien artefact that allows him to change into the Beetle and fight crime. Taking on the role is Xolo Maridueña, and other names attached to the film include George Lopez and Susan Sarandon.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (December 25, 2023)
Well, Aquaman did fine as far as the box office goes, but there has been a lot of controversy behind the scenes for the follow-up. The whole Amber Heard situation put the brakes on the production, and it seems that the film’s schedule was delayed for over a year.
Gotham Knights (2023)
Coming hot off the heels of the 2022 video game, Gotham Knights will now be a TV show. Bruce Wayne is dead, and without the Dark Knight to protect it, Gotham has become a powder keg. Bruce Wayne’s adopted son, Turner Hayes, played by Oscar Morgan, forms an unlikely alliance with the children of Batman’s villains to clear their parent’s names from Batman’s murder. But the District Attorney Harvey Dent, played by Misha Collins, is hot on their heels with the GCPD. This show will air on The CW at some point this year.
Doom Patrol Season 4 Part 2 (2023)
Along with Titans, Doom Patrol has also been canceled. The fourth season will get its conclusion later in the year, but there’s no release date as of yet.
Harley Quinn Season 4 (2023)
Season three of the animated Harley Quinn series ended with a tease for a possible season four, and Warner Bros. Discovery has confirmed that the hit animated show will be returning for a season four. A release date hasn’t been provided yet, but the company has said it will come out this year.
Joker: Folie à Deux (October 4, 2024)
Joker: Folie à Deux will be the follow-up to the 2019 film Joker, a dark and melancholic take on the origins of the comic book supervillain. Lady Gaga has been cast as Harley Quinn. Director Todd Phillips has confirmed this film will be a musical, a new take on a comic book film. The title perfectly reflects the mental health interpretation with folie à deux being defined as an identical or similar mental disorder affecting two or more individuals. It’s not clear how this will manifest. Brendon Gleeson will also appear, but his character hasn’t been confirmed yet.
Superman: Legacy (July 11, 2025)
The official start to the first Chapter of the new DCU, James Gunn, has confirmed that he will be writing the film and that it won’t be an origin story for the Man of Steel.
The Batman Part II (October 3, 2025)
The second installment of Matt Reeves and Robert Pattinson’s Batman franchise. Very little is known about the project at this point, but it will likely pick up on the Joker tease at the end of the first film.
Peacemaker Season 2 (On hold)
James Gunn turned his sights on Peacemaker, spinning off into his own show on HBO Max. Violent, funny, and with a sideways look at superheroes and vigilantism, Peacemaker falls into the same category of super fare as The Boys and Deadpool but still manages to hit the feels when it has to. There is no official release date for this project, and it wasn’t touched on in Gunn’s future plans.
The Penguin (TBA)
After his performance in The Batman, there was a lot of speculation about the Matt Reeves TV spin-off featuring Oswald Cobblepot, but despite the popularity of the character, it seems that the show is held up in development, and it doesn’t look like we will see this show in 2023.
Constantine 2 (TBA)
Keanu Reeves will be returning as the demon hunter John Constantine, after eighteen years after the original film came out. Frank Lawrence will direct the film, and Akiva Goldsman will write the screenplay. Plot details are tight, and a release date unclear.
Creature Commandos (TBA)
The unofficial start to the first chapter will be an animated series focusing on the Nazi fighting creatures of Creature Commandos. They will be brought into the modern era, and James Gunn is looking for voice actors who will be able to play the characters in live action. It will be seven episodes long.
Waller (TBA)
Instead of a season two for Peacemaker, Waller will be a spin off on the show following Amanda Waller (Viola Davis), as she leads a morally dubious government task force. It is being written by Christal Henry (Watchmen) and Jeremy Carver, the creator of the Doom Patrol TV series.
Lanterns (TBA)
There will be multiple Green Lanterns featured in the upcoming Lanterns TV show, but it will mainly focus on Hal Jordan and John Stewart, as they try to solve a mystery on Earth. This mystery will no doubt play heavily into the future of the DCU.
The Authority (TBA)
This film will be based on a rather extreme group of superheroes who think the world is going wrong, so take it into their own hands to fix it. They will be morally grey, and were first introduced to DC comics in the 1990s by now Head of DC publishing Jim Lee.
Paradise Lost (TBA)
This TV show will focus on Wonder Woman’s home of Themiscyria, but before the hero is born. It will be a Game of Thrones type political thriller, with plenty of scheming and plays for power.
The Brave and the Bold (TBA)
This film will introduce the DCU’s version of Batman, and it will bring along the Bat family. It will introduce Bruce Wayne’s son Damian Wayne, who is a murderous teen raised by assassins. He is also the DCU’s version of Robin. The film will be based on the Grant Morrison comics run on the character.
Booster Gold (TBA)
Booster Gold will centre around a lesser known DC hero, first introduced in the comics in 1986. He is from the future and a bit of a loser, so he takes some basic future technology and travels back to the past and is a hero. James Gunn has explained that this will be an exploration of Imposter Syndrome, but as a superhero.
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (TBA)
This sci-fi epic will be based off the Tom King comics mini series, and will feature a much different take on the character than seen before. Unlike the happy Superman, who was raised on Earth by a loving family, this Supergirl is much darker. She has watched everyone she loved be killed in horrible ways, thus making her a more jaded character.
Swamp Thing (TBA)
To close out the first part of the first Chapter there will be a horror film centering on the DC villain known as Swamp Thing. He is a plant/elemental creature in the DC universe and has already appeared in video games, and has already had his own TV series in 2019 called Swamp Thing.
And so, that’s the list of the Upcoming DC Shows and Movies in 2023 and Beyond. We will be sure to keep this updated!
