Most of the DC Universe movies do not have release dates officially announced, but here is a prediction for when each film will hit theaters. New DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran unveiled their plan for the DC Universe slate in early 2023 by announcing five movies and five shows that are in development. The Chapter 1 unveiling brought word of Superman: Legacy, The Authority, The Brave and the Bold, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, and Swamp Thing. Since these movies are still years away from being released, most of the details about them were not revealed as part of the initial announcement.The first DC Universe movies come after the final ones made by the studio's previous regime release. This includes Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom releasing in December 2023, while Joker: Folie à Deux releases in October 2024. It is also confirmed that Matt Reeves' The Batman - Part II hits theaters in October 2025. The DC Universe movies' release dates have mostly been kept a secret, as Gunn says DC Studios will not announce projects with set release dates. However, he did tease that two films will be released each year, which helps give a rough idea of when each DC Universe movie release date could be.
Superman: Legacy's Release Date Is Confirmed For 2025
The one DC Universe movie with a confirmed release date is Superman: Legacy. Written and directed by James Gunn, the film is set to relaunch Superman in the franchise as Henry Cavill is not returning and a new actor will portray Clark Kent. Superman: Legacy's release date is confirmed as July 11, 2025. That date means over 12 years will have passed since the last solo movie starring Superman, 2013's Man of Steel. The film is not an origin story for Superman, but it will explore his attempts to balance his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing.
The Superman: Legacy release date has an unexpected special meaning for director James Gunn. July 11th is his father's birthday. Gunn tragically lost his father in 2019. Superman: Legacy will release on what would have been James Gunn's father's 84th birthday. The director has mentioned how close he was to his father and how he helped support his interests in comics. With Superman: Legacy grappling with how the character's Kryptonian parents and human parents shaped who he is, the relationship between a father and son could be prominently featured, honoring Gunn's father's legacy in the process.
The Authority's Release Date Could Come In 2026
The next DC Universe movie release date could belong to The Authority in 2026. The reasoning behind this prediction is based on how Gunn talked about the project during the initial slate announcement. He mentioned that it was a passion project for him and that he and an unnamed writer have been working on the script. DC Studios Architects like Jeremy Slater (Moon Knight) or Drew Goddard (Deadpool 2) could be put in charge of writing the screenplay after working with Gunn on the outline. The Authority's script already being in the works in 2023 makes a 2026 release realistic barring any setbacks.
As for when exactly in 2026 the DC Universe movie's release date could be, late June might make the most sense. The Authority represents a shot by DC Studios of bringing obscure characters to the big screen, but the power levels of its anti-heroes should help intrigue audiences. A late June release date for The Authority means that it will not have to try and garner attention from audiences in the weeks or months leading up to Avengers: Secret Wars, which releases in May. DC Studios would be smart to avoid closely competing with a likely box office juggernaut, but releasing six to eight weeks later would be enough.
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow Can Be DC Universe's Other 2026 Movie
The next DC Universe movie release date prediction is that Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow will arrive in 2026 too. The film is based around Tom King's comic run of the same name and will explore the character's darker origin story. King is working with DC Studios to write the script already, meaning that Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is making great progress this early on. Since Gunn wants two DC movies released per year, showcasing Superman's cousin in this fashion would be a natural way to expand the franchise. The new Superman actor could even cameo, but it is not known if The Flash's Sasha Calle will return as Supergirl.
DC releasing Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow in 2026 might mean that an October date is selected. The month has become a hot spot for releasing superhero movies that surprise at the box office. This includes recent hits like Venom, Joker, and Venom: Let There Be Carnage. DC Studios is hoping to keep the trend going with Joker: Folie à Deux and The Batman 2. As a result, it would make sense that the studio continues to carve out a place for itself in October and get audiences used to seeing new DC Universe movies releasing that month. It also allows four months to pass since our proposed The Authority release.
The Brave and the Bold's Release Might Wait Until 2027
Relaunching Batman in the DC Universe might be a priority for the studio, but The Brave and the Bold's release date could need to wait until 2027. The movie will introduce another new live-action Batman actor as Ben Affleck is not returning, and Robert Pattinson's version is remaining separate. The Brave and the Bold does not currently have any confirmed creatives involved, which means that work on the film might not have fully begun - despite Gunn having a plan for the film that includes introducing Damien Wayne. The biggest reason for this DC Universe movie's release date prediction is The Batman 2, though.
The decision to have The Batman franchise continue while the DC Universe introduces a new Batman means that Matt Reeves and James Gunn are coordinating plans. This includes an effort to make sure that they do not release two different solo Batman movies too close to each other. The Brave and the Bold releasing in June 2027 means that nearly two years will pass after The Batman - Part II before another solo Batman film arrives. This creates a substantial gap between them and can set up an expectation that audiences can see a new film starring Batman every other year.
James Mangold's Swamp Thing Movie Can Release In 2027
Swamp Thing's release date is likely to wait until 2027 - if not 2028 even. It has been confirmed that the origin story for Swamp Thing will be written and directed by Logan's James Mangold. However, he has an incredibly busy slate of upcoming projects that Swamp Thing must fit into. After releasing Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Mangold is making a Bob Dylan biopic starring Timothée Chalamet. He has also been announced to be writing and directing Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, which he will develop simultaneously with Swamp Thing.
Mangold's schedule could line up perfectly for Swamp Thing to be the second DC Universe movie released in 2027. His Bob Dylan biopic is expected in 2024, giving him a few years to develop his DC movie and Star Wars movie. Lucasfilm has planned release dates in December 2025, 2027, and 2029, but the priority of telling the origin of the first Jedi compared to bringing back Rey and doing The Mandalorian's movie might not be as great. That could make Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi the 2029 Lucasfilm release, giving Mangold plenty of time to make Swamp Thing for an October 2027 release.
