The DC Extended Universe, better known to fans as the DCEU, brings your favorite superheroes from the pages of DC Comics to the silver screen. All of the movies take place in the same shared universe.
The live-action superhero franchise officially began in 2013 with Man of Steel. The film introduced Henry Cavill as Superman, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, and Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor.
The next movie was Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in 2016. Ben Affleck first appeared as Batman and Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman. The next movie, Suicide Squad, followed a group of super villains tasked with saving the world.
In 2017, Gadot starred in a solo Wonder Woman movie. The latest film was Justice League, which finally brought Batman, Wonder Woman, Cyborg, Aquaman, and the Flash together.
Justice League, unfortunately, had a less-than-stellar performance at the box office. Many fans are wondering which DC movie are still being made and which are in jeopardy of being cancelled. There is also a lot of fan speculation and rumors floating around, making it even more difficult to know which movies are actually being made.
Here are the 15 DC Movies That Are Currently In Development (And 5 That Are Rumored).
In development: Nightwing
Dick Grayson has been an important part of the DC mythos since the 1940s. He was the very first person to serve as Batman's iconic sidekick Robin, the Boy Wonder. He later struck out on his own and emerged from Batman's shadow as the superhero Nightwing.
Now the fan-favorite character is finally getting his own live-action move. Chris McKay has signed on as director and Bill Dubuque as the screenwriter. Pre-production will start as early as February 2018.
McKay was the director of The Lego Batman Movie, so he already has some experience with the character.
There is no word yet on who will play the titular character. Whoever plays Nightwing will have to be incredibly athletic and charismatic. McKay is reportedly holding an open casting call.
In development: Deathstroke
Joe Manganiello briefly appeared as Slade Wilson, better known as the mercenary Deathstroke, in the post-credits scene of Justice League. He is one of the most formidable villains in the DC universe and a frequent adversary of the Teen Titans, Batman, and the Justice League. But how will he fit into the DCEU?
A Deathstroke solo film is currently in development. Gareth Evans is reportedly going to write and direct the film.
The character was initially going to be the main villain for The Batman film. Ben Affleck was originally directing, but has since stepped down and handed the reins to Matt Reeves. Reeves is rewriting the script to better match his vision, so it is unknown if Deathstroke will still have a major role in the film.
Rumored: Teen Titans
Nightwing is the founder and leader of superhero team the Teen Titans. Deathstroke also has strong ties to the team. He is one of their primary villains and occasionally an ally.
Since both characters have films in development, it has sparked speculation among fans that the Titans could join the DCEU. Fans have been dying for a live-action film adaptation for years. A live-action Titans television series is already in the works.
The series is premiering on DC's online streaming service later this year. So far, Brenton Thwaites is playing Dick Grayson, Anna Diop is Starfire, Teagan Croft is Raven, and Ryan Potter is Beast Boy.
And if a Teen Titans movie does ever happen, acclaimed director Paul Thomas Anderson has already expressed interest making one.
In development: Wonder Woman 2
DC's Wonder Woman was a smash hit with fans and critics, with a whopping 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It made over $800 million at the worldwide box office, making it one of the highest-grossing solo superhero movies ever released.
Its sequel is scheduled to start production in the summer of 2018 and the movie is set to be released in December 2019.
Patty Jenkins is returning as director. She has promised that the second Wonder Woman movie is going to be totally different than the first. While its predecessor was set during World War I, this film will be set in the 1980s towards the end of the Cold War.
Chris Pine will also return as Steve Trevor, though the extent of his role is currently unknown.
In development: Cyborg
A solo Cyborg movie is set to be released in the spring of 2020. Ray Fisher will return as Victor Stone and Joe Morton will reprise his role as Silas Stone, Victor's father.
Not much is known about the plot at this point. There is not a director or a screenwriter attached to the project yet. It is possible that the movie will show Cyborg's origin story, which was briefly shown in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Fisher has said the movie will have an intimate angle focusing on the character. In an interview with ET, Morton said "It will be about him and I, and about the family that he came from, how he becomes the Cyborg, et cetera. But from whence he came, as well."
Rumored: Hawkman (and Hawkgirl)?
Katar and Shayera Hol are aliens from the planet Thanagar. They fight crime on earth under the names Hawkman and Hawkgirl (or sometimes Hawkwoman). Their artificial wings, armor, and maces are made from Nth metal.
The special metal, which is native to their home planet, allows them to defy gravity. The Hawks live in Midway City, which appeared in the DC film Suicide Squad. Since their hometown exists, it is possible that the Thanagarians will appear in the DCEU.
The characters have been in several DC shows, including Carton Network's Justice League animated series, Smallville, and the Arrowverse. However, making a solo Hawkman film would be incredibly challenging.
Not only is he a lesser known character, but his backstory has been inconsistent and confusing throughout DC's history.
In development: Green Lantern Corp
After the disastrous Green Lantern movie starring Ryan Reynolds, it seemed unlikely that we would get a solo movie of the character any time soon. Nevertheless, a DCEU Green Lantern film is in fact being made.
Unlike the 2011 movie, this movie will focus on the Green Lantern Corps rather than just one protagonist. Hal Jordan and John Stewart are confirmed to appear.
The movie is premiering in 2020. Very little is known about the plot so far. No word yet on if the other lanterns of Earth, like Guy Gardner, Simon Baz, Kyle Rayner, and Jessica Cruz, will be in the movie. It is also not known if the film will be primarily set on Earth, Oa, or in another sector of space.
In development: Batgirl
Several Gotham heroes are appearing in the DCEU. Batman and Nightwing will both have solo movies-- and a solo Batgirl film is currently being planned. This will be the second DC film starring a female superhero.
Joss Whedon is writing and directing. The movie is scheduled to begin production next year. Few details have been released. Whedon may be taking inspiration from the New 52 Batgirl series by Gail Simone.
No word yet on who will play Barbara Gordon, the daughter of Gotham City's police commissioner who becomes a vigilante inspired by Batman. Lindsay Lohan and Hailee Steinfeld have both expressed interest in the role.
Elle Fanning, Olivia Cooke, Bella Thorne, Emma Roberts, Katherine Langford, Naomi Scott, Margaret Qualley, Jane Levy, and Haley Lu Richardson are reportedly on the shortlist.
In development: Flashpoint
Ezra Miller's solo movie was originally entitled The Flash. However, after several different screenwriters and directors, it is now titled Flashpoint. This is also the title of a well-known storyline in the comics.
Barry Allen travels through time and changes the entire world. He wakes up in a world where he is not the Flash, Wonder Woman and Aquaman are at war with each other, and Bruce Wayne is not Batman. Instead, Bruce died and his parents survived. Thomas Wayne became Batman and Martha Wayne became the Joker.
DC Films co-chairman Geoff Johns said the Batman story will be featured in the movie. There are also reports that Wonder Woman and Aquaman will appear.
If it does indeed adapt the story from the comics, the film could potentially reboot the entire film universe.
Rumored: Swamp Thing
There were two movies starring Swamp Thing in the 1980s. But many fans are dying to see a Swamp Thing movie with today's movie technology. A few years ago, director Vincenzo Natali was working on a movie that was ultimately scrapped. He released the first four pages of the planned film on Twitter.
There are currently no plans for a solo Swamp Thing film. However, the character is set to appear in Justice League Dark, along with John Constantine, Jason Blood/Etrigan The Demon, The Spectre, Madame Xanadu, Deadman, and Zatanna Zatara.
Justice League Dark is reportedly not going to be an origin story. This means that all of the characters are already established in the universe. So if the movie does well, then it is possible that the characters - including Swamp Thing - could get their own solo movies.
In development: Suicide Squad 2
Suicide Squad may have gotten some terrible reviews, but it was insanely profitable. So it is no surprise that a sequel is in the works. Production is expected to begin in the fall of 2018 and it is scheduled to hit theaters in 2019.
Gavin O'Connor-- known for Miracle, Warrior, and The Accountant-- is writing and directing. Margot Robbie will return as Harley Quinn, Will Smith will reprise his role as Deadshot, Jai Courtney is returning as Captain Boomerang, and Jared Leto will be back as the Joker.
There are no details about the plot for the sequel. At the end of the first film, the Joker busted Harley out of Belle Reve. It is unclear if all of the villains escaped as well.
In development: Aquaman
A solo Aquaman movie starring Jason Momoa will hit theaters in North America on December 21, 2018. It is set after the events of Justice League. Arthur Curry must fight to retain the Atlantean throne from various threats.
James Wan is directing the movie, Will Beall is in charge of the screenplay, and Wan and Geoff Johns are in charge of the story. Nicole Kidman is going to be Queen Atlanna, Aquaman's mother, while Temuera Morrison is playing Thomas Curry, his father.
Amber Heard is playing Mera and Patrick Wilson is playing Orm, Aquaman's brother who becomes the villain Ocean Master. Meanwhile, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is playing Black Manta, and Dolph Lundgren is playng King Nereus.
Ocean Master will be the film's primary antagonist, according to Wan.
In development: Harley Quinn
Margot Robbie's portrayal of Harley Quinn is so popular that she is slated to appear in not just one, but several upcoming DC movies. In addition to the Suicide Squad sequel, there will be a solo Harley Quinn movie, a film starring the Joker and Harley, and Gotham City Sirens, which will feature the other female Gotham villains, Poison Ivy and Catwoman.
It is unclear which will film come first, and there are rumors that Gotham City Sirens may not happen. In Robbie's words: "There’s a lot going on right now and I’m not sure."
"I, honestly, I don’t think anyone knows what’s going to be the next thing to happen. But I think everyone’s keen to get Harley back on screen, so everyone is working on lots of different versions of what that could be," she said.
Rumored: Booster Gold
Back in 2015, Arrowverse executive Greg Berlanti said that he was directing and producing a Booster Gold and Blue Beetle team-up film. Then, in 2016, Berlanti announced that he was working on a solo Booster Gold movie. Zack Stentz, who worked on the screenplays for X-Men: First Class and Thor, is supposedly working on the script for that film.
Booster Gold is a sarcastic, egotistical time-traveling superhero. He could add some lightheartedness to the often grim DCEU. However, Berlanti said the movie will not be in the same universe as the other DC movies and would be a standalone film.
We have not heard a word about the film from Berlanti or Stetz since 2016. Warner Bros. has not put the film on its official slate of upcoming films.
In development: Shazam!
Shazam is a key member of the Justice League. He did not appear in the first Justice League movie, but a solo film is hitting theaters on April 05, 2019. Henry Gayden is working on the script and David F. Sandberg is directing.
The hero is actually a young boy in foster care named Billy Batson. who is granted supernatural powers by an almighty wizard. All he has to do is say the word "Shazam!" He gains the Wisdom of Solomon, the Stamina of Atlas, the Power of Zeus, the Courage of Achilles, and the Speed of Mercury.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is playing one of Shazam's primary foes, Black Adam. However, Johnson is not appearing in the Shazam movie. This suggests that perhaps the movie will be an origin story.
In development: Deadshot
In 2016, it was reported that a Suicide Squad spinoff centering on Deadshot is in development. Will Smith is reprising his role as Floyd Lawton, the world's deadliest marksman.
Smith is also returning as Deadshot in the Suicide Squad sequel. So will the Deadshot solo movie be set after the events of Suicide Squad 2? Will Batman appear? Any of the other characters from Suicide Squad? Will Lawton return to a life of crime or will he try to turn things around for his daughter's sake?
Sadly, nothing else is known about the movie. In fact, it is possible that the Deadshot spinoff may not happen since there have been no updates and Smith's busy schedule would make it difficult. However, as of now, the movie is officially still in development.
In development: Black Adam
Dwanye "The Rock" Johnson is playing Black Adam, the archenemy of the hero Shazam. However, he will not appear in the Shazam solo movie. But, he might be introduced in the Suicide Squad sequel and it is confirmed that he will star in his own solo film.
Johnson says that the film will be based on The New 52 depiction of the character, which is more of an anti-hero than a straight up super villain. Black Adam grew up as a slave in the fictional DC country Kahndaq and uses his powers to protect his people from cruelty.
Johnson also says that there will be a fight between Superman and Black Adam in the DCEU, but it is not clear if this will happen in his solo film or in another movie.
In development: Birds of Prey
The Birds of Prey is a team of female superheroes. It typically includes Barbara Gordon, Black Canary, and the Gotham City based hero Huntress. Other female characters like Big Barda, Gypsy, Hawkgirl, Manhunter, Misfit, Hawk, Dove, Power Girl, Vixen, Katana, Catwoman, and Poison Ivy have also been members at times.
A Birds of Prey movie is currently in development. Several prominent female DC characters will be introduced to the DCEU in the movie. Though the plot is not yet known, it will feature several female superheroes and villains.
Margot Robbie will appear as Harley Quinn and serve as producer. None of the other characters have been cast yet. Christina Hodson is working on the script. Hodson is also working on a Bumblebee spinoff movie for the Transformers franchise.
In development: Lobo
Lobo is a ruthless intergalactic mercenary and bounty hunter. He is effectively immortal and invulnerable, and his strength is so great it even rivals Superman's.
His name literally means "one who devours your entrails and thoroughly enjoys it." He wiped out every other member of his species and travels the galaxy collecting bounties. Lobo is a formidable villain.
But he is not a senseless killer and operates by a strict code of honor. He often crosses paths with the heroes of the Justice League, sometimes as an adversary, sometimes as an ally, and sometimes as an utter nuisance.
Jason Fuchs, the Wonder Woman screenwriter, is reportedly working on a script for a standalone Lobo movie. Sadly, there have not been any updates in a while.
Rumored: Green Arrow
Green Arrow is the star of a hit show on the CW. Arrow's success inspired more DC shows, creating the so-called Arrowverse. He was also prominently featured in the show Smallville.
However, will the character ever debut on the big screen? He clearly has a dedicated fanbase. With more and more DC characters joining the DCEU, many Green Arrow fans are eagerly awaiting his arrival. Fans have even campaigned for Charlie Hunman to play Oliver Queen.
Alas, there are no confirmed plans. Screenwriter Justin Marks and David S. Goyer actually attempted to make a Green Arrow movie in the early 2000s. The script was titled Green Arrow: Escape from Super Max. Development stalled and eventually ceased. But could the movie be revisited and retooled for the DCEU? Only time will tell.
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Can you think of any other DC movies that are either in development or rumored? Sound off in the comments!