DC Extended Universe

The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) is an American multimedia franchise and shared universe centering on a series of superhero films, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures and based on characters that appear in American comic books by DC Comics. The shared universe, much like the original DC Universe in comic books and the television programs, was established by crossing over common plot elements, settings, cast, and characters. The films have been in production since 2011, and in that time, Warner Bros. has distributed eight films, with several others in various stages of development. It is the eleventh-highest-grossing film franchise of all time, having grossed over $5.48 billion at the global box office. Its highest-grossing film is Aquaman, which earned over $1.15 billion worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing DC film to date.

The films are written and directed by a variety of individuals and feature large, often ensemble casts. Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Margot Robbie, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, Ray Fisher, and Zachary Levi, among others, star in several films. However, unlike the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the franchise has loosely connected story-lines, with greater autonomy for the filmmakers who create each individual film. The first film in the DCEU was Man of Steel (2013), followed by Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Suicide Squad (2016), Wonder Woman (2017), Justice League (2017), Aquaman (2018), Shazam! (2019), and Birds of Prey (2020). The franchise will continue with Wonder Woman 1984 in 2020; The Suicide Squad in 2021; The Flash and Aquaman 2 in 2022; ''Shazam! Fury of the Gods in 2023; and Black Adam'' on an undecided date. Additionally, the DCEU will expand to streaming television on HBO Max with Zack Snyder's Justice League, a miniseries-format director's cut of Justice League, in 2021, and Peacemaker on an unannounced date.

Etymology
Upon announcement of the film series, the universe was commonly called the "DC Cinematic Universe" by fans and the media, in keeping with the naming convention of the already established Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Keith Staskiewicz, writing for Entertainment Weekly, jokingly coined the term "DC Extended Universe™" in an article about Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice on July 1, 2015. This term and the abbreviation DCEU quickly spread among the press and fans thinking of it as the official name of the franchise over the following years. According to Vulture writer Abraham Riesman, DC confirmed to him in September 2017 that the term was not used internally and they did not consider it official. In 2016, as part of DC Films Presents: Dawn of the Justice League, both Geoff Johns and Kevin Smith referred to the franchise's name as being the "Justice League Universe". During the DC Films panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2018, a video banner displayed the words "Welcome to the Worlds of DC", after showcasing some upcoming films. As a result, some media outlets interpreted this as DC officially naming their shared film universe as the "Worlds of DC". However, in March 2020, Jim Lee called the franchise, the DC Extended Universe at C2E2. The franchise was officially titled DC Extended Universe when the WarnerMedia streaming service HBO Max launched the following May.

Development
In 2002, Wolfgang Petersen was set to direct a Batman vs. Superman film from a script by Akiva Goldsman. Warner Bros. canceled development to focus on individual Superman and Batman projects after J. J. Abrams submitted another draft for Superman: Flyby. In February 2007, Warner Bros. hired husband and wife duo Michele and Kieran Mulroney to write a script for a Justice League film. Christian Bale, who starred as Batman in Batman Begins (2005), was not approached to reprise the role, nor was Brandon Routh, who starred as Superman in Superman Returns (2006). George Miller was hired to direct the film, reportedly titled Justice League Mortal, with Armie Hammer cast as Batman, D. J. Cotrona as Superman, Adam Brody as Flash, Santiago Cabrera as Aquaman, Common as Green Lantern, Megan Gale as Wonder Woman, Hugh Keays-Byrne as Martian Manhunter and Jay Baruchel as Maxwell Lord. The project was put on indefinite hold in January 2008, after failing to secure tax breaks for filming in Australia, as well as the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike preventing progress on the script.

In 2013, a reboot of the Superman franchise, Man of Steel, was set to lay the groundwork for future DC films. The film contained references to other characters in the DC Universe, so if it were a success, it could launch a shared universe. Days before Man of Steel's release in June, it was reported that director Zack Snyder and screenwriter David S. Goyer would be returning for a sequel, which was being fast-tracked by Warner Bros. In July, at San Diego Comic-Con, it was revealed that the sequel would include Batman in a main role, establishing the shared universe. In October 2014, Warner Bros. announced a slate of ten DC films.

While the rival Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) includes television productions, DC's crossover series is a shared continuity for films. Several television series featuring DC characters and storylines have their own shared continuity, known as the Arrowverse. DC's chief creative officer Geoff Johns explained DC's difference in approach to Marvel Studios and their cinematic universe, saying, "We look at it as the multiverse. We have our TV universe and our film universe, but they all co-exist. For us, creatively, it's about allowing everyone to make the best possible product, to tell the best story, to do the best world. Everyone has a vision and you really want to let the visions shine through ... It's just a different approach." In June 2015, Warner Bros. president of creative development Greg Silverman expanded on DC's approach to their cinematic universe, saying, "We ... take these beloved characters and put them in the hands of master filmmakers and make sure they all coordinate with each other. You'll see the difference when you see ... the things that we are working on."

In May 2016, following criticism of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Warner Bros. established a DC Films division with Geoff Johns and Warner Bros. executive vice president Jon Berg as its heads, which oversees production to form a cohesive creative direction for the franchise. DC Films would not be fully autonomous, as Johns reported to DC president Diane Nelson and Berg reported to Silverman. Charles Roven was also moved from his day-by-day producer role on future DC films, which he had served since 2005's Batman Begins, to an administrative executive producer role. In December, Silverman was ousted from his role in Warner Bros., and Toby Emmerich was promoted to president and chief content officer, in his place. By January 2017, Johns and Berg reported to Emmerich. Following the financial and critical success of Wonder Woman in June 2017, Johns stated that moving forward the films will focus on the heart, humor, hope, heroics, and optimism of the characters. As a result of Justice League's underperformance at the box office, Berg left his position by January 2018 and became a production partner with Roy Lee. DC also sought to deemphasize the shared nature of their films, with Diane Nelson stating, "Our intention, certainly, moving forward is using the continuity to help make sure nothing is diverging in a way that doesn't make sense, but there's no insistence upon an overall storyline or interconnectivity in that universe... Moving forward, you'll see the DC movie universe being a universe, but one that comes from the heart of the filmmaker who's creating them."

In January 2018, Walter Hamada was appointed the President of DC Films and co-runner of the DCEU, replacing Berg. The following month, Chantal Nong was named Vice President of DC Films. The pair were hired to oversee the franchise with Johns, as the key production team managers. However, Johns stepped down from his executive roles at DC in June 2018. He created a production company, Mad Ghost Productions, to have a greater hands-on role in various DC media as a writer and producer. After the financial success of Aquaman, Warner Bros. CEO Kevin Tsujihara said the upcoming slate of DC films would be focused on individual character stories instead of interconnectivity.

Man of Steel (2013)


Kal-El / Clark Kent, who arrived on Earth years ago as an infant from Krypton, struggles with why he was sent to Earth. Raised by his adoptive parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent, Clark adopts the persona "Superman", and learns if his abilities are meant to maintain peace or conquer the world.

During story discussions for The Dark Knight Rises, David S. Goyer told Christopher Nolan his idea regarding how to present Superman in a modern context. Impressed with Goyer's concept, Nolan pitched the idea to the studio, who hired Nolan to produce and Goyer to write based on the financial and critical success of The Dark Knight. Zack Snyder was hired in October 2010 to direct the film. In January 2011, Henry Cavill was cast as Clark Kent / Superman. Other cast members included Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Michael Shannon as the villain General Zod, Diane Lane as Martha Kent, Kevin Costner as Jonathan Kent, Russell Crowe as Jor-El, and Laurence Fishburne as Perry White. Principal photography began on August 1, 2011. Man of Steel released in North America on June 14, 2013.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Gotham City-based vigilante Batman travels to Metropolis to preemptively combat Superman, fearing what would happen if the latter is kept unchecked, while another threat endangers humankind.

In June 2013, it was reported that Snyder and Goyer would be returning for a sequel to Man of Steel, which was being fast-tracked by Warner Bros. Nolan was involved in an advisory role as executive producer. In July, at the San Diego Comic-Con, Warner Bros. announced that Superman and Batman would meet for the first time in a cinematic format in the film, which would be the follow-up to Man of Steel and a reboot of the Batman film series. According to Snyder, the film took inspiration from the comic The Dark Knight Returns. Cavill, Adams, Lane, and Fishburne reprised their roles. In August, Ben Affleck was cast as Bruce Wayne / Batman. In December, Gal Gadot was cast as Diana Prince / Wonder Woman, marking the character's first appearance in a live-action theatrical film. Later in the month, Chris Terrio was hired to rewrite Goyer's script. In January 2014, the film was delayed from its July 17, 2015, release date to May 6, 2016, to give the filmmakers "time to realize fully their vision, given the complex visual nature of the story". Later that month, Jesse Eisenberg and Jeremy Irons joined the cast as Lex Luthor and Alfred Pennyworth, respectively. In May 2014, the film's title was revealed to be Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Initial filming occurred on October 19, 2013, at East Los Angeles College, before full Principal photography began on May 21, 2014, in Detroit. Production also took place in Illinois, New Mexico, Africa and the South Pacific. After another date change, the film was released in North America on March 25, 2016.

The film is set 18 months after the events of Man of Steel. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice introduced Ezra Miller as Barry Allen / The Flash, Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry / Aquaman, Ray Fisher as Victor Stone / Cyborg, and Joe Morton as Dr. Silas Stone. The film also introduced Steppenwolf, who served as the main antagonist in Justice League, through a brief scene. The scene was not included in the film's theatrical release, but instead was revealed online by Warner Bros. on March 28, before being included in the Ultimate Edition home video release.

Suicide Squad (2016)
After the death of Superman, a secret government agency recruits imprisoned supervillains to execute dangerous black ops missions and rescue the world from a powerful threat, in exchange for clemency.

In February 2009, prior to the development of the DCEU, Warner Bros. was developing a Suicide Squad film, with Dan Lin producing and Justin Marks writing the script. In October 2014, Suicide Squad was announced by Warner Bros., with David Ayer confirmed as director. In December, it was revealed that Ayer would also be writing the screenplay. The main cast included Will Smith as Deadshot, Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Jared Leto as the Joker, Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang, Jay Hernandez as El Diablo, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Killer Croc, Karen Fukuhara as Katana, Cara Delevingne as Enchantress, Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, and Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flag. Tom Hardy was originally cast as Rick Flag, but dropped out due to scheduling issues with his film The Revenant. Principal photography commenced April 13, 2015, and took place in and around Toronto. Filming concluded August 28, 2015. Suicide Squad was released in North America on August 5, 2016.

The film is set after the events of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Affleck as Bruce Wayne / Batman and Miller as Barry Allen / The Flash made appearances in the film. In a mid-credits scene, Waller meets Wayne in a restaurant and hands him a dossier containing information on future members of the Justice League.

Wonder Woman (2017)


Diana of Themyscira, an Amazon warrior who also is the demigoddess daughter of the god Zeus, uses her talents and abilities in order to help humanity during World War I.

Israeli actress and model Gal Gadot was cast as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman in December 2013 and signed a three-picture deal which included a solo film. In October 2014, Wonder Woman was announced by Warner Bros. In November, Michelle MacLaren was confirmed to direct the film from a screenplay by Jason Fuchs. In April 2015, MacLaren left the project due to creative differences. Later that month, Patty Jenkins was announced as the new director of the film. In July, Chris Pine was cast as Steve Trevor. Other cast members include Connie Nielsen as Queen Hippolyta, Robin Wright as General Antiope, Danny Huston as Erich Ludendorff, Elena Anaya as Doctor Poison, and David Thewlis as Ares. Filming began in November 2015, and was shot in the United Kingdom, France and Italy. Wonder Woman was released in North America on June 2, 2017.

Justice League (2017)
Motivated by Superman's death at the hands of Doomsday, Batman and Wonder Woman assemble a team of metahumans to stop the threat of Steppenwolf, who is in search of three Mother Boxes scattered across Earth.

In June 2013, it was reported that Goyer would be writing Justice League as part of a three-film deal he signed for Man of Steel. In April 2014, it was announced that Snyder would return as director. The film was announced in October as Justice League Part One. In March 2016, it was confirmed that Chris Terrio had written the script, who said that the film would not be as tonally dark as Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. In June, Geoff Johns announced that the title had been changed to simply Justice League. Affleck, Cavill, Gadot, Momoa, Miller, Fisher, Irons, Lane, Adams, Eisenberg, Nielsen, Wright, and Morton reprised their respective roles from previous films. Ciarán Hinds provides the voice and performance capture for Steppenwolf. Beginning on April 11, 2016, filming took place at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden, in England, as well as locations around London and in Iceland. Filming concluded in October 2016. In May 2017, Snyder stepped down from his duties on the film due to his daughter's death; Joss Whedon filled his position on post-production, with additional scenes being written and directed by him. Though Whedon was not officially credited for his role as post-production director, he completed enough additional work for a screenwriting credit on the film. Justice League was released worldwide on November 17, 2017.

Justice League introduced various characters, including J. K. Simmons as James Gordon, Amber Heard as Mera, and Billy Crudup as Henry Allen. Additionally, Joe Manganiello as Slade Wilson / Deathstroke was also introduced in a post-credits scene, teasing an alliance between him and Lex Luthor. Kiersey Clemons as Iris West and Willem Dafoe as Nuidis Vulko were to be introduced but their scenes were ultimately cut from the film.

Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)
The divisive reaction towards the final highlighted cut of Justice League, with Zack Snyder leaving directorial duties and the final cut of the film in the hands of Joss Whedon, has led to an argument comparing the situation to the one experienced by the film Superman II. Both Justice League and Superman II feature a director that was replaced, for different reasons, before completion of a film, which led to a second director coming in and making substantial changes to the tone of each film. Although the reasoning behind each director's departure differs, Richard Donner was able to complete his Superman II cut in 2005. In the belief that Snyder had shot enough material for a finished film, a campaign for a "Snyder Cut" was started to allow Snyder to receive a similar treatment to Donner. Arguments are made that Snyder's vision would be more cohesive to the previous films than the actual theatrical cut, which Snyder has refused to see. Warner Bros. initially remained silent regarding any intention of making a "Snyder Cut".

In March 2019, Snyder confirmed his original cut does exist, and stated that it is up to Warner Bros. to release it. Despite this, in November, Variety reported that Warner Bros. was unlikely to release Snyder's version of Justice League in theaters or on HBO Max, calling it a "pipe dream". In December, however, Snyder posted a photo in his Vero account, which showed boxes with tapes labeled "Z.S. J.L Director's cut", and with the caption "Is it real? Does it exist? Of course it does." On May 20, 2020, Snyder officially announced that HBO Max will be releasing his cut of Justice League on their service in 2021.

Aquaman (2018)


Arthur Curry, a half-Atlantean assistant lighthouse keeper, sets out to lead the underwater kingdom of Atlantis against his half-brother, King Orm, who seeks to unite the seven underwater kingdoms against the surface world.

In June 2014, Jason Momoa was cast as Arthur Curry / Aquaman. By August, Will Beall and Kurt Johnstad were writing competing scripts for the character's solo film. Aquaman was announced in October. In June 2015, James Wan was hired as director, as well as to oversee the screenplay by Johnstad. In November 2015, David Leslie Johnson was hired to write a new script. In July 2016, Beall returned to write the script, based on a story treatment by Wan and Geoff Johns. Johnson worked on a rewrite of Beall's script with Wan and producer Peter Safran. In December 2016, Patrick Wilson was cast as Orm / Ocean Master, the half-brother of Aquaman and the main antagonist of the film. In January 2017, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II was cast in the role of villain Black Manta. Heard reprised her role as Mera from Justice League. Other cast members include Willem Dafoe as Nuidis Vulko, Temuera Morrison as Aquaman's father Tom Curry, Nicole Kidman as Aquaman's mother Queen Atlanna, and Dolph Lundgren as King Nereus. Principal photography began on May 2, 2017, in Queensland, Australia, and wrapped on October 21, 2017. Aquaman was released in North America on December 21, 2018.

The film is set after the events of Zack Snyder's Justice League.

Shazam! (2019)


By speaking "Shazam", Billy Batson, a 14-year-old foster child, can turn into an adult superhero, courtesy of an ancient wizard. He attempts to master his powers and defeat the evil forces controlled by Dr. Thaddeus Sivana.

In August 2014, Dwayne Johnson announced his attachment to a project about the superhero Shazam, formerly known as Captain Marvel. In September, Johnson was revealed to be portraying the antihero Black Adam, Shazam's nemesis in the film, with Darren Lemke set to write the script. In October, Warner Bros. announced Shazam as a film in its upcoming slate. By January 2017, Henry Gayden was working on the script. In July, it was confirmed that David F. Sandberg would direct Shazam!, and that Johnson would no longer appear, instead starring in a Black Adam solo film. Pre-production began in August. By October, Zachary Levi was cast as Shazam, and in November, Asher Angel was cast as Shazam's child-age alter ego, Billy Batson. The film's primary villain is Doctor Sivana, with Mark Strong in the role. Other cast members include Jack Dylan Grazer, Grace Fulton, Jovan Armand, Ian Chen, and Faithe Herman as Batson's foster siblings,   Cooper Andrews and Marta Milans as Batson's foster parents,  and Djimon Hounsou as the wizard Shazam, who gives Batson his powers. The film began principal photography in Toronto on January 29, 2018, and wrapped on May 11, 2018,  with most of the filming taking place at Pinewood Toronto Studios, among other locations around the city. Shazam! was released in North America on April 5, 2019.

The film is set after the events of Justice League. The villain Mister Mind is introduced in a mid-credits scene.

Birds of Prey (2020)
Since the events of Suicide Squad, Harley Quinn has left the Joker. When Cassandra Cain, a young girl, comes across a diamond belonging to crime lord Black Mask, Harley joins forces with Black Canary, Huntress, and Renee Montoya to help protect her.

By November 2016, Birds of Prey, based on the female superhero team of the same name, was in development with Christina Hodson signed on as screenwriter. By April 2018, Warner Bros. selected Cathy Yan as director, with Margot Robbie, Sue Kroll, and Bryan Unkless serving as producers. Robbie reprised her role as Harley Quinn from Suicide Squad. The film is the first theatrical R-rated installment in the franchise and has a smaller budget than most of the other films. In addition to Robbie's starring role, the team roster also includes Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Rosie Perez, Ella Jay Basco, Black Canary, Renee Montoya, and Cassandra Cain, respectively. Black Mask serves as the film's primary antagonist with Ewan McGregor portraying the character, and Chris Messina portraying Victor Zsasz. The film began pre-production in late July 2018. Principal photography commenced on January 15, 2019, in Los Angeles, and lasted until April 15, 2019. In November 2018, Robbie revealed the full title of the film as Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). Birds of Prey held its world premiere in London on January 29, 2020, and was released on February 7, 2020. A week into its release, the title of the film was changed to Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey to give "moviegoers a better understanding of what Birds of Prey is about."

The film is set after the events of Suicide Squad.

Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
Diana Prince comes into conflict with the Soviet Union during the Cold War in the 1980s and finds two formidable foes in the form of the Cheetah and Maxwell Lord.

By June 2017, Geoff Johns and Patty Jenkins had begun work on the story treatment for a Wonder Woman sequel. By July, Johns was working on the script. That same month, the sequel was officially announced at San Diego Comic-Con. Gadot will reprise her role as Wonder Woman. By September, Jenkins signed a deal to return as director, and brought on David Callaham to pen the script with her and Johns. The film takes place in the 1980s during the Cold War. Jenkins said the film, like its predecessor, will be a love story, but with a new love interest. Pre-production had begun by early December 2017. In March 2018, Kristen Wiig was cast to portray the film's primary antagonist, Barbara Ann Minerva / Cheetah, and Pedro Pascal was cast as Maxwell Lord. Production began on June 13, 2018, around the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia. Other filming locations include the Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden in the United Kingdom and the islands of Tenerife and Fuerteventura in Spain. Wonder Woman 1984 is scheduled to be released on December 25, 2020, after its release was delayed twice from an original June 5, 2020 date due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Suicide Squad (2021)


In March 2016, a Suicide Squad sequel was announced to be in development, with Ayer returning as director. Adam Cozad was hired to write the script by March 2017. By July 2017, a new story treatment was written by Zak Penn. In September 2017, Gavin O'Connor was hired as director after Ayer dropped out, as well as co-screenwriter with David Bar Katz and Todd Stashwick. The final draft of the script was completed by September 2018. The next month, O'Connor left the project as Warner Bros. believed the script was too similar to Birds of Prey. In January 2019, the film was re-titled The Suicide Squad, with James Gunn directing, from a new script he wrote. Gunn chose the project over various other films Warner Bros. had in development, including a Superman film. In March, Idris Elba joined the cast. He was initially hired to replace Smith as Deadshot, who dropped out due to scheduling conflicts, but it was later decided that Elba would play a new character so Smith could return in the future. Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Jai Courtney, and Viola Davis will reprise their roles from the first film, while David Dastmalchian, Steve Agee, Michael Rooker, Peter Capaldi, Taika Waititi, Alice Braga, Sean Gunn, Juan Diego Botto, Storm Reid, Pete Davidson, Nathan Fillion, Flula Borg, John Cena, and Joaquín Cosío, among others, will join the cast. Production began on September 20, 2019, at Pinewood Atlanta Studios in Atlanta, with additional filming following in Panama,  for a scheduled release date of August 6, 2021.

The Flash (2022)
Barry Allen attempts to go back in time to prevent his mother's murder which brings unintentional consequences to his timeline.

By July 2013, Greg Berlanti was developing a film that centered around Barry Allen / The Flash. In October 2014, The Flash was announced with a scheduled 2018 release date. The initial script was drafted by Berlanti, Geoff Johns, Chris Brancato, Michael Green and Marc Guggenheim. By April 2015, a story treatment was being written by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Over the next two years, Seth Grahame-Smith and Rick Famuyiwa had individually dropped out as director due to creative differences with the studio. In January 2017, Joby Harold was hired to do a page-one rewrite of the script, which previously had drafts written by Grahame-Smith and Famuyiwa. In July 2017, the title for the film was changed to Flashpoint, based on the comic book storyline, of the same name. Dan Mazeau was brought on as co-writer. In March 2018, John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein were hired to co-direct. The tone of the film is expected to be similar to Back to the Future. Ezra Miller revealed that the plot will involve the Speed Force multiverse. In March 2019, following creative differences with the co-directors' work on the script, Miller was hired to co-write a new draft in collaboration with Grant Morrison. By July 2019, Daley and Goldstein had left the project, while Andy Muschietti and Christina Hodson were hired to replace them as director and screenwriter, respectively. Barbara Muschietti and Michael Disco will serve as producers. In January 2020, Muschietti reaffirmed the film will include elements from the Flashpoint comic book arc. In June 2020, it was reported that Michael Keaton had entered early negotiations to portray an alternate-universe version of Bruce Wayne / Batman, a role he previously portrayed in Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992). In August, Keaton officially signed on, with Ben Affleck also announced to reprise his role as the DCEU version of the character. Keaton disputed these claims on October 21st. September 2020, producer Barbara Muschietti revealed the film would include multiple superheroes and "reset" the DCEU. Filming is expected to begin in March 2021, in London, for a scheduled release date of November 4, 2022.

Aquaman 2 (2022)
In October 2018, James Wan stated that Aquaman intentionally left room for a followup. By December, high pre-release ticket sales and positive reception for Aquaman had convinced Warner Bros. to begin developing a sequel. In January 2019, Warner Bros. confirmed development, with intentions for Wan to return as director. The following month, David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, co-writer of the first film, signed on as screenwriter. In March, Safran said the film will explore the other Seven Kingdoms of Atlantis. Jason Momoa will have a larger creative role in the sequel, having written the story while on-set the first film, and pitched the "mapped out" story to Warner Bros., who were receptive. Patrick Wilson and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II will reprise their roles as Orm Marius / Ocean Master and David Kane / Black Manta, respectively. Production is expected to begin in early 2021, for a scheduled released date of December 16, 2022.

Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)
A sequel to Shazam! entered development in April 2019, with Henry Gayden returning as screenwriter. Director David F. Sandberg and producer Peter Safran are also expected to return. Zachary Levi will reprise his role as the titular superhero, with Michelle Borth reprising her role as Lady Shazam, as a part of her five-picture contract. Production is on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the film is scheduled to release on June 2, 2023. At DC FanDome, it was announced that the title for the sequel would be ''Shazam! Fury of the Gods''.

Black Adam (TBA)
In September 2014, after being considered to play Shazam and Lobo, Dwayne Johnson was cast as Black Adam. The character was intended to be introduced in Shazam!, but by January 2017 the film's production studios had chosen to divide the narrative to focus on Black Adam's origin. Johnson, who is also attached as producer, has stated the two characters will cross paths in a future film. Other DC characters, including the Justice Society of America, will factor into the plot of Black Adam. In October 2017, Adam Sztykiel was hired to write the script. Co-producer Hiram Garcia stated the film will be gritty and violent, similar to the comics. In June 2019, Jaume Collet-Serra was announced as director for the film, with Beau Flynn, Johnson, Hiram Garcia, Dany Garcia, and Scott Sheldon attached as producers. The Justice Society of America will appear in the film, with Noah Centineo and Aldis Hodge cast as Atom Smasher, and Hawkman, respectively. At DC FanDome, it was revealed that Doctor Fate, and Cyclone will also appear in the film. By that September, Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani had wrote a new draft of the script. Filming is expected to begin in Spring 2021. The film is currently unscheduled for release, after it was delayed from an initial December 2021 date.

Other films in development
Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Films have a variety of DC films in varying stages of development:
 * The Amazons: In December 2019, Patty Jenkins announced a Wonder Woman spin-off film, focusing on the Amazon race of Themyscira. Jenkins is attached as executive producer, with the story for the project planned, though she is not sure when production will begin. Jenkins later stated that she and Geoff Johns had written the story, with a story arc that follows the first two Wonder Woman films, and will be followed by the third movie. She further stated she will not direct the film, though she will serve as producer.
 * Batgirl: In March 2017, Joss Whedon was hired to write, direct and produce a film centered around Batgirl. Whedon was to begin production on the film in 2018, but stepped down in February. In April, after impressing Warner Bros. with her work on Birds of Prey, Christina Hodson was hired as screenwriter for Batgirl. By November 2019, Hodson was expected to write the script once she has completed work on The Flash. Warner Bros. is looking for a female director to replace Whedon.
 * Blue Beetle: By November 2018, a film centered around the Jaime Reyes incarnation of Blue Beetle was in development. Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer and Zev Foreman are respectively attached as screenwriter and executive producer.
 * Booster Gold: In September 2015, a film centered around Booster Gold and Blue Beetle was announced to be in development with producer Greg Berlanti. The film's tone was described as a buddy cop film with connections to Justice League (2017). By May 2016, Zack Stentz was hired to script the Booster Gold film, and Berlanti expressed interest in directing. In September 2016, Berlanti said that Booster Gold has "no connective tissue" to other films. The script had been completed by March 2018. According to Berlanti, production would begin once Warner Bros. decides where to place it within the slate of films. In May 2019, Stentz reaffirmed that the film was still awaiting the greenlight from Warner Bros.
 * Cyborg: In April 2014, Ray Fisher was cast as Victor Stone / Cyborg, and Warner Bros. announced a film about the character was in development the following October. Joe Morton is set to reprise his role as Dr. Silas Stone. In November 2017, Fisher stated the film will focus specifically on Cyborg, and that the cast and production team will be diverse. In August 2018, Morton stated that he believed cut Justice League scenes involving Cyborg were going to be reworked into Cyborg, though he was not aware of when production would begin. Fisher has expressed his desire for Snyder to direct the film. Cyborg was scheduled to be released on April 3, 2020, but has been delayed. In April 2020, Fisher confirmed that there continues to be development on the project, stating that the character will develop to be comfortable in his new role as a superhero, and come into conflict with those who have interest in his technological makeup.
 * Deadshot: In December 2016, The Hollywood Reporter noted that a film centered around Floyd Lawton / Deadshot was in development. By September 2018, Will Smith confirmed he would reprise his role from Suicide Squad and that the story is in development. In February 2019, Smith left the role due to scheduling conflicts, and by March Idris Elba was cast to replace him in The Suicide Squad. In April 2019, the character was written out of the teamup film, so that Smith can reprise the role.
 * Deathstroke: In October 2017, a film centered around Slade Wilson / Deathstroke was in development, with Gareth Evans attached as screenwriter and director and Joe Manganiello set to reprise his role from Justice League. Ben Affleck released test footage with Manganiello in costume in August 2016. Warner Bros. greenlit the film after Evans impressed executives with his story pitch, which he described as dark and unforgiving, similar to Korean noir films. However, in October 2018, Evans stated that he is yet to be attached to the project contractually. By April 2020, Evans announced that the project had been delayed, and that he was no longer actively involved with its development. The filmmaker revealed that the story that was developed, was to portray the character's origin.
 * Gotham City Sirens: A film based on the Gotham City Sirens, a team consisting of Harley Quinn, Catwoman, and Poison Ivy, was announced to be in development in December 2016. Ayer signed on as director/co-producer from a script by Geneva Robertson-Dworet. Robbie will reprise her role from Suicide Squad and take the role of an executive producer, while Geoff Johns and Jon Berg will produce. The film's development was postponed in favor of Birds of Prey. In August 2017, Leto was confirmed to reprise his role as the Joker. Despite a busy production schedule on other projects, Ayer continued to work on the film, meeting with Gotham City Sirens creator Paul Dini in August 2018. In January 2020, Ayer confirmed that the project was still on hold, and Robbie stated that she chose to film Birds of Prey first to introduce audiences to lesser-known characters. She stated that she is still "pushing" forward with Gotham City Sirens, and hopes to explore Quinn's relationship with Poison Ivy and Catwoman.
 * Green Lantern Corps: A film based on the Green Lantern Corps was announced to be in development in October 2014. In January 2017, David S. Goyer and Justin Rhodes were hired to co-write the screenplay, based on a story by Goyer and Geoff Johns, with Goyer also serving as producer. Warner Bros. described the film as "Lethal Weapon in space".  In January 2018, Goyer reaffirmed that despite the franchise's leadership shakeup the film was still in active development. By June 2018, Geoff Johns was hired to do a rewrite on the script, in addition to his role as producer. Johns stated that the script draws inspiration from his work on the New 52 Green Lantern comics. Green Lantern Corps was scheduled for release on July 24, 2020, but has been delayed. In July 2019, Christopher McQuarrie said that he had sent a written proposal for the film to Warner Bros. over a year prior, which had ties to the Man of Steel sequel, but he had moved on to other projects due to what he perceived as no movement on further developing the film. By November 2019, Johns was expected to deliver his script to Warner Bros. by the end of the year.
 * Harley Quinn and Joker film: In July 2017, a film centered around Harley Quinn and the Joker was announced to be in development with the working title Harley Quinn vs the Joker, scheduled to begin production after The Suicide Squad. Glenn Ficarra and John Requa will co-write, direct, and produce. In September 2018, Ficarra and Requa announced the script was completed and submitted to Warner Bros., and that production will start after Birds of Prey. The story will explore the relationship of the characters, combining the tones of Ficarra and Requa's previous works Bad Santa and This Is Us.
 * Joker film: In June 2018, a film centered around the Joker entered early development. Leto will serve as an executive producer in addition to reprising his role as the Joker. Warner Bros. intends for the film to "pave the way" for all other Suicide Squad-related projects. Leto will also be involved with hiring the film's production crew.
 * Justice League sequel: In October 2014, Justice League Part Two was announced, with Snyder returning as director. In June 2016, Deborah Snyder revealed that Justice League would not be one film split in two, leaving the sequel untitled. The film was scheduled to be released on June 14, 2019, but production was pushed back to accommodate The Batman. In October 2017, J. K. Simmons stated that work on the script was in-progress, while in December, Variety reported that there were "no immediate plans" for Snyder to direct. By 2019, Warner Bros. had prioritized standalone films over the project, although Patty Jenkins noted she would be open to directing the next Justice League film.
 * Lobo: In September 2009, Warner Bros. announced that a film centered around Lobo was in development. Guy Ritchie and Brad Peyton were attached to direct at different times, while Dwayne Johnson was originally intended to star.  After various iterations, in 2016 Jason Fuchs was hired as screenwriter. By February 2018, Warner Bros. was in discussions with Michael Bay to direct. Fuchs began rewriting the script at Bay's request so the budget could be considerably lowered.
 * Man of Steel sequel: By October 2014, a sequel to Man of Steel was in development. In November 2016, Amy Adams stated that work had begun on the screenplay. In September 2017, Matthew Vaughn announced that he was having discussions with the studio to direct the film. In June 2018, Cavill revealed that he was preparing to reprise the role. By March 2019, Vaughn stated that discussions with Warner Bros. had ended, and he was no longer involved with development of the film. In discussing his work on the project he revealed that it was influenced by a previous trilogy pitch from 2008 that he had co-written with Mark Millar, with Vaughn describing the project as "a massive, uplifting, hopeful thing". In July 2019, Christopher McQuarrie said that he and Cavill had pitched a sequel idea to Warner Bros. over a year prior, with the plot having ties to Green Lantern Corps, but that he had since moved on to other projects due to what he perceived as no movement on the films. Later, Michael B. Jordan had pitched his own take on the character, but was not ready to commit due to an already busy schedule. By November 2019, it was reported that Warner Bros. had entered early negotiations with J. J. Abrams about taking control of the project. In December, Cavill said the future of Superman will be more faithful to the comic book source material. After confirming that though his casting in The Witcher had previously interfered with his availability for the role, he also stated that the same would not be the case with the show's second season. In May 2020, Cavill entered negotiations to reprise the role, although not in a Man of Steel sequel.
 * New Gods: In March 2018, Ava DuVernay signed on to direct a New Gods film, after pitching the idea to Warner Bros. Kario Salem was also hired as the screenwriter. In May 2019, DuVernay announced that she will co-write the script with Tom King. Variety reported the film would take place in the DCEU, although Deadline Hollywood said it would have "no connection" to previous films. By July 2019, King stated that a team of Jack Kirby-material experts has been put together to work on the project, calling the experience "one of the best storytelling experiences [he's] ever had". Darkseid and the Female Furies will appear in the film. The New Gods were previously featured in Justice League, with Ray Porter cast as Darkseid prior to significant changes made during post-production.
 * Nightwing: By February 2017, a film centered around Dick Grayson / Nightwing was in development, with Chris McKay and Bill Dubuque signed on as director and screenwriter, respectively. In February 2018, McKay stated the script was nearing its final draft.
 * Plastic Man: By December 2018, a Plastic Man film was in development with Amanda Idoko hired to write the script. The plot is described as a comedy-action adventure.
 * Static Shock: In August 2020, Reginald Hudlin announced at DC FanDome that a live-action film centered around Static is in development. In October 2020, Michael B. Jordan joined the production team as co-producer alongside Hudlin. The project will be a joint-venture production between DC Films, Warner Bros. Pictures, Milestone Media, and Outlier Society.
 * Supergirl: In August 2018, a film centered on Supergirl, was announced to be in development with Oren Uziel penning the script. Warner Bros. is seeking a female director.
 * The Trench: In February 2019, Warner Bros. announced a horror spin-off from Aquaman focusing on the villainous Trench kingdom. Peter Safran and James Wan are set to produce, with Noah Gardner and Aidan Fitzgerald acting as screenwriters. The film will have a lower production budget compared to other DC-based films. The following month, Safran stated that he expects the film to be released before Aquaman 2.
 * Wonder Woman 1984 sequel: In January 2019, after principal photography on Wonder Woman 1984 was completed, director and co-writer Patty Jenkins stated that the plot for a third Wonder Woman film had been mapped out. She revealed that the story arc for Wonder Woman had been planned over three films, with the third taking place in the present. Jenkins and Gadot plan to work on other projects before proceeding with the sequel.

Television series






Zack Snyder's Justice League
In May 2020, Snyder officially announced that HBO Max will be releasing his cut of Justice League as an exclusive streaming release in 2021. The cut will reportedly cost $70+ million to complete the special effects, musical score, and editing, and will be a four-part miniseries of Snyder's original vision of the film, with each installment being an hour long. There will also be abilities to view the release as a film, as opposed to individual episodes, and to also view it in a 1:33:1 and 1:66:1 aspect ratio along with a black and white viewing option. Snyder stated this version will be non-canonical to the DCEU continuity, but it would exist alongside the films he had created. In September 2020, it was announced that Cavill, Affleck, Gadot, Momoa, Fisher, and Heard will return to their respective roles for additional photography, in order to finish the project. Actors from the DCEU who did not appear in the theatrical cut will appear in the series, such as Harry Lennix as Calvin Swanwick (revealed as Martian Manhunter in disguise), Willem Dafoe as Nuidis Vulko, and Jared Leto as the Joker. Characters who were intended to debut in Snyder's original version of the film before their scenes were cut will also appear in the miniseries, such as Darkseid (portrayed by Ray Porter), DeSaad (portrayed Peter Guinness), Iris West (portrayed by Kiersey Clemons), and Ryan Choi (portrayed by Zheng Kai), as well as Hal Jordan and several Green Lanterns. Sam Benjamin was part of an estimated 20-30 minutes military subplot that was cut from the 2017 theatrical release.

Peacemaker
In September 2020, James Gunn announced that a television series spin-off of The Suicide Squad (2021) centered on Christopher Smith / Peacemaker was in development for HBO Max, with its eight episodes written by Gunn who will direct several of them, and serves as an executive producer alongside Peter Safran. The series will star John Cena, Steve Agee, and Jennifer Holland, who reprise their respective roles as Peacemaker, John Economos, and Emilia Harcourt from the film,  alongside Danielle Brooks as Leota Adebayo, Robert Patrick as Auggie Smith, and Chris Conrad as Adrian Chase / The Vigilante. Filming is expected to occur in Vancouver, Canada from January to June 2021.

Other series in development

 * Justice League Dark: In January 2013, Guillermo del Toro began developing a film centered on the Justice League Dark and submitted a script in November 2014, but was no longer attached by June 2015. In August 2016, Doug Liman joined to direct with the title Dark Universe, alongside Scott Rudin producing and Michael Gilio rewriting the script. Liman left in May 2017 due to scheduling conflicts. and in mid-2017, it was retitled Justice League Dark with Gerard Johnstone polishing the script.  By April 2020, HBO Max and J. J. Abrams' Bad Robot announced that the project would be redeveloped as a series for HBO Max, with Abrams serving as an executive producer.

Expanded setting
In October 2014, Johns explained that DC's approach to their films and television series would be different to Marvel Studios' cinematic universe, stating that their film universe and TV universes would be kept separate within a multiverse to allow "everyone to make the best possible product, to tell the best story, to do the best world." Geoff Johns and Jon Berg were appointed by the studio to co-run the DC Films division and oversee creative decisions, production and story arcs in order to create a cohesive overarching plot within the films. Johns left his position in June 2018 to start his own studio where he will take on a greater hands-on role with film media as a producer and screenwriter. However, he remained with the studio as a co-chairman. Berg was replaced by Walter Hamada as the president of DC Films in January 2018. After the successful release of Wonder Woman (2017), DC Films decided to deemphasize the shared nature of the franchise.

Arrowverse
The DC Extended Universe was retroactively established to have connections to The CW's Arrowverse continuity via the concept of a multiverse, during Part 4 of the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover. Ezra Miller reprised their role as Barry Allen in a cameo appearance alongside Grant Gustin's version of the same character. During their conversation, Miller's Barry Allen gets the idea to call himself "The Flash" from his alternate self and even mentions "Victor". However, despite their cameo, the episode does not confirm the designated Earth for the DCEU characters.

Miller's cameo opened up more possibilities for crossovers between the DC films and Arrowverse. Hamada revealed prior to "Crisis", DC had been structured in a way that the television division had to clear the use of characters with the film division. Now, the company could "really lean into this idea of [the multiverse] and acknowledge the fact there can be a Flash on TV and one in the movies, and you don't have to pick one or the other, and they both exist in this multiverse." Arrowverse creator and executive producer Greg Berlanti agreed, feeling that "moving forward, there’s more opportunity to do more things like this", and was open to more film characters appearing in the Arrowverse.

Other DC films
In August 2020, Hamada revealed that Joker (2019) and The Batman (2022) existed on separate earths from the DCEU, which was centered on the Justice League formed by Wonder Woman, Flash, and Aquaman, as portrayed by Gadot, Miller, and Momoa, respectively.

Timeline
In the DCEU, most events of the film never explicitly make their exact years known. Man of Steel took place after the events of Wonder Woman and Wonder Woman 1984, which are set in 1918 and 1984, respectively. The events of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice occur 18 months after the events of Man of Steel, which follows the consequences and the emergence of aliens and metahumans such as Superman. As the film was originally scheduled to release in 2015, it can be assumed to take place in that year, with Lex Luthor's party being dated November 1st on the invitation, placing Man of Steel in April/March 2014. The film concludes with the death of Superman, which was emphasized in the following ensemble films of Suicide Squad and Justice League. Suicide Squad occurred shortly after Batman v Superman. Sometime later, the events of Justice League happened which feature Superman's resurrection and the subsequent formation of the Justice League. It was followed by Aquaman, which Jason Momoa confirmed took place right after Zack Snyder's Justice League. Aquaman was followed by Shazam!, which occurred on the Christmas season of 2018. Afterwards, the events of Birds of Prey happened in 2020, followed by The Suicide Squad, confirmed to take place in 2021.