Warner Bros. has released a few DC films since Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), including Wonder Woman 1984 and Zack Snyder's Justice League, and here are all the DC movies coming up over the next few years. It's been several years since Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn became the breakout character of the (unofficially named) DC Extended Universe. Her debut in 2016's Suicide Squad left audiences wanting to see more of her and that finally happened in Birds of Prey and once again in James Gunn's The Suicide Squad, both of which were a showcase for the character.
Following the debut of Birds of Prey in February 2020, the global pandemic derailed what would have likely been a fruitful year for the DCEU. After several months of production shutdowns and delays, however, executives at Warner Bros. decided to release their films simultaneously to theaters and HBO Max. This affected Wonder Woman 1984 and The Suicide Squad, in particular (Snyder's Justice League was an HBO Max exclusive).
DC has announced an ambitious slate of upcoming films that, unlike the MCU, appear to be more comfortable being a bit less connected to each other (and that's okay). So far, the studio has got a strong mixture of sequels, first solo outings for familiar characters, and a few new faces to introduce in the coming years. Here are all the upcoming DC films slated for release over the next few years, including the movies exclusive to HBO Max.
The Batman - March 4, 2022
Robert Pattinson is jumping back into blockbusters after years of indie movies to play Bruce Wayne and his masked alter-ego in The Batman. The film is directed by Matt Reeves from a screenplay by him and Peter Craig, and the film's ties (or lack thereof) to the shared universe DC has created are pretty loose as it's been confirmed it doesn't exist in the DCEU's main continuity. Regardless, the movie is expected to breathe new life into familiar Batman characters with Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman, Paul Dano as Riddler, Colin Farrell as Penguin, Jeffrey Wright as Jim Gordon, and Andy Serkis as Alfred all being a part of The Batman's story. Filming wrapped in March 2021 after a months-long production delay due to the pandemic. After a couple of release changes, The Batman is expected in theaters in March 2022, though fans should expect the first trailer to release during the DC FanDome event in October 2021.
DC Super Pets - May 20, 2022
DC Super Pets will bring an animated, pet-filled adventure to the screen in 2022. The script is being written by Jared Stern, who previously tackled an animated DC film with The Lego Batman Movie. In addition to writing the movie, Stern will also direct the theatrical release. The roster of animals for DC Super Pets is confirmed to include Krypto the Superdog and Ace the Bat-Hound. Dwayne Johnson will voice Krypto and Kevin Hart will voice Ace, with the rest of the voice cast including John Krasinski, Keanu Reeves, Vanessa Bayer, Natasha Lyonne, Kate McKinnon, Diego Luna, and Jameela Jamil.
Black Adam - July 29, 2022
It's been more than a decade since Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson joined the DC universe to play Black Adam, and he'll finally make his debut in 2021. Initially set to be the villain of Shazam!, the decision was made to give Johnson a solo film of his own first. Black Adam is directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and will begin filming later this year. Seeds of Black Adam's origin have already been planted, but Black Adam will shed more light on the anti-hero. In addition to telling his story, the movie is also set to introduce the Justice Society of America. It is expected to feature members like Hawkman, Atom Smasher, and, according to recent reports, Cyclone as well.
The Flash - November 4, 2022
The long-gestating solo film for Ezra Miller's Flash has finally, after several years of delays and changes, begun filming. Set for a release in the fall of 2022, The Flash will arrive more than four years after its original release date was set. After all of the delays and director changes, though, IT director Andy Muschietti is helming the film now with the script being written by Birds of Prey's Christina Hodson. The story is also still going to be loosely based on the Flashpoint comic, with the film including Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck's iterations of Batman. Ray Fisher's Cyborg is no longer a part of the film, with Billy Crudup having to drop the role of Henry Allen, which is now being played by Ron Livingston. But in addition to two Batmans, Sasha Calle joins The Flash as Supergirl, Kiersey Clemons will reprise her Justice League role as Iris West, and Maribel Verdu was cast to play Nora Allen.
Aquaman 2 - December 16, 2022
Jason Momoa will return to star as Arthur Curry in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, which has officially begun filming and will be out in 2022. The film is once again going to be directed by James Wan and will likely explore Arthur's life as the king of Atlantis. Cast members like Patrick Wilson (Ocean Master) and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Black Manta) have confirmed their return in the sequel, with Amber Heard (Mera), Dolph Lundgren (King Nereus), and Temuera Morrison (Thomas Curry) also set to reprise their roles.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods - June 2, 2023
After his biggest comic foe debuts, Shazam will return to the big screen in 2023 to headline his sequel. Officially titled Shazam! Fury of the Gods, the sequel will once again be written and directed by David F. Sandberg and star Zachary Levi as Shazam and Asher Angel as Billy Batson, the teenager who transforms into the superhero. Exact plot details have yet to be revealed, but it's been confirmed Rachel Zegler, Helen Mirren, and Lucy Liu are joining the sequel as the daughters of Atlas, with the latter two specifically revealed to be stirring up some trouble for Shazam and his family of superheroes, which includes Meagan Good as Darla, Grace Fulton as Mary, Ross Butler as Eugene, and D.J. Cotrona as Pedro.
Other Upcoming DC Films
Birds of Prey really showcased the kinds of DC films that Warner Bros. could be making. While the film was primarily focused on Harley Quinn's personal journey after parting ways with the Joker, the rest of the titular characters certainly made a name for themselves. That ultimately led to a Black Canary spinoff movie starring Jurnee Smollett, reprising her role from Birds of Prey. Unlike the previous DC projects, however, Black Canary will be exclusive to HBO Max. Lovecraft Country showrunner Misha Green, who worked with Smollett on the series, will write the script. The standalone film will reportedly be set after the events of Birds of Prey. With the film still in early development, it's unclear when it will debut on HBO Max, but a late 2023 release could be in the cards.
Elsewhere in the world of DC, Batgirl and Blue Beetle are also headed for HBO Max. Batgirl will star In the Heights' Leslie Grace as Barbara Gordon, with the film being directed by Bad Boys for Life's Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah from a script by Birds of Prey's Christina Hodson. J.K. Simmons, who played Commissioner Jim Gordon in both Justice League movies. The film doesn't yet have a release date, but it's expected to arrive on HBO Max at some point in 2022. Meanwhile, Blue Beetle will be directed by Angel Manuel Soto from a screenplay by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer. Cobra Kai star Xolo Maridueña will reportedly play the titular role. The film will center Jaime Reyes' iteration of Blue Beetle, who began appearing in DC Comics in 2006. Filming is expected to begin in early 2022 and, while there is no confirmed release date for Blue Beetle, it might land on HBO Max in late 2022 or at some point in 2023 at the latest.
