The DC FanDome 2021 event offered a number of updates, sneak peaks, and trailers of many upcoming DC Comics films. The first DC FanDome event in 2020 had been born of necessity, with DC Comics and Warner Bros. wanting to release all of the teaser material they had prepared but couldn't release through the usual venues, due to COVID-19 pandemic causing all the major fandom fairs, like San Diego ComicCon, to be shut down or delayed. This led to the creation of the virtual space dubbed the FanDome and a gold-standard digital event devoted to DC Comics that proved so successful they decided to make it into an annual event.
While the most highly anticipated parts of DC FanDome are the film trailers, the event is about far more than movies. DC FanDome covers the totality of the fandom experience, hosting announcements regarding all media based upon the multiverse of DC Comics. This includes live-action television series, animated series, audio plays, video games, and - of course - comic books and graphic novels.
Despite this, DCEU film footage and trailers are still the biggest draw that DC FanDome has to pull in the populace. The first DC FanDome event in 2020 set a gold standard for virtual events that it will be hard for the event to match in its sophomore outing. Then again, few anticipated the first DC Fandome being the smashing success that it was and there is no reason to believe that the 2021 FanDome event will not equal or surpass the original. The following round-up should offer even the most discriminating of DC Comics fans a welcome sampling of chills, thrills, cheers, and hope; all the hallmarks associated with DC Comics.
Black Adam
The first teaser trailer for Black Adam was reportedly centered around the first scene that Dwayne Johnson shot for the film. Coincidentally, it is also Black Adam's first scene in the movie, centering around the ancient anti-hero making an electrifying appearance. The teaser trailer also offered the first glimpse of the film's versions of Dr. Fate (Pierce Brosnan), Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell), and Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo). Black Adam is scheduled to arrive in theaters next summer on July 29, 2022.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
Unfortunately for Aquaman fans, the DC FanDome 2021 segment devoted to Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom did not include any footage from the long-awaited sequel. Instead, the Aquaman 2 teaser trailer showed off some of the concept art for the film, alongside behind-the-scene clips of some of the stunt sequences. Jason Momoa promised that the new film would be "a fun adventure, like it was the first time, but better," while director James Wan revealed that fans could expect a story that was "more mature" and sophisticated than a standard superhero film. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is scheduled for release in theaters on December 16, 2022.
Static Shock
Rumors of a live-action movie based on the Milestone Comics character Static (best known for his animated series Static Shock) have been running around Hollywood for years. However, in the Milestone segment of DC FanDome, Milestone Comics co-founder Denys Cowan and producer Reggie Hudlin confirmed that Michael B. Jordan was producing a Static movie as part of a joint venture between his production company, Outlier Society, and Warner Bros. Pictures. The screenplay is being written by Grand Army writer Randy McKinnon, who is also the screenwriter of the upcoming reboot of The Lost Boys.
The Batman
The first trailer for The Batman was released during DC FanDome 2020 and immediately enthralled Bat-fans all over the world, offering them their first glimpse of Robert Pattinson as the Dark Knight Detective. The second trailer for The Batman was even more revealing, offering the film's first look at The Riddler (Paul Dano), Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz), The Penguin (Colin Farrell), and Alfred Pennyworth (Andy Serkis). The trailer contains a number of Easter eggs related to the comics for viewers to consider as they wait for The Batman's release on March 4, 2022.
The Flash
The first teaser trailer for The Flash movie confirmed rumors that the movie's story seems to be loosely based on the comic book storyline Flashpoint, with The Fastest Man Alive having damaged the timeline after attempting to change his own past. One brief clip shows Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) working alongside an alternate universe version of himself. The clip also confirms the presence of at least one version of Batman, although which Batman it might be is kept in the dark. As with the trailer for The Batman, there are a number of Flash Easter eggs for excited fans to pour over.
Batgirl
While the upcoming Batgirl movie is still in pre-production, DC Fandome 2021 still featured an interview with actress Leslie Grace (who will play Barbara Gordon), screenwriter Christina Hodson and directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah. The brief segment showed some of the series' concept art, which confirmed that Batgirl's costume in the show will have a full cowl and that Barbara's trademark red hair will be present. Grace also spoke about her physical training for the role and how refreshing it was to "read for a female superhero that has grit." No release date has been confirmed for the Batgirl movie, but it is expected to be released to HBO Max sometime in late 2022.
Blue Beetle
DC Fandome 2021 included an update on the upcoming Blue Beetle movie, which is centered around the Jaime Reyes version of the character. The brief segment, which featured director Angel Manuel Soto, screenwriter Gareth Dunet-Alcocer and actor Xolo Maridueña, who will be playing Jaime Reyes. The trio promised that the film would remain true to the Latin American roots of the original comics and that the movie would be fun and humorous, but also emotionally involving and full of action. No video footage was available, but the segment did show off concept art of Jaime's Blue Beetle armor.
DC's League of Super-Pets
DC's League of Super-Pets is still slated to be the first animated original DC Comics movie to be released in theaters. A family-friendly adventure film centered around Krypto the Super-Dog (Dwayne Johnson) and Ace the Bat-Hound (Kevin Hart), the movie will also feature the voices of Vanessa Bayer, John Krasinski, Diego Luna, Natasha Lyonne, Kate McKinnon, and Keanu Reeves. The film will be arriving in theaters on May 20, 2022.
Milestone Media Animated Movie
In addition to the live-action Static Shock movie, Milestone Media is also at work on their first animated film set in the Dakota Universe. The screenplay is being written by Hardware Season One writer Brandon Thomas and will feature the fill line-up of Milestone heroes, including Hardware, Rocket, Icon and Static among others. The animation will be overseen by Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and the movie will be entirely set in Dakota.
Injustice Animated Movie
While the Injustice animated adaptation was scheduled for release on October 19, 2021, just a few short days after DC FanDome 2021, the event still released an exclusive clip from the movie. Set in a world where the Joker triggered an emotional breakdown in Superman that led to the incorruptible champion becoming a fascist dictator in his bid to make sure nobody ever suffered at the hands of a supervillain ever again, the Injustice setting has become one of DC Comics' most popular Elseworlds, spawning two video games and several best-selling comic book series. The brief clip centers around the hunt for the Joker and the tragic moment that leads to Superman's breakdown.
Other Animated DC Comics Films
After Injustice, the next DC animated movie to be released will be Catwoman: Hunted, which is slated for release on February 8, 2022. The teaser trailer reveals that the story will center around Catwoman being caught between Kate Kane's Batwoman, a powerful crime syndicate and Interpol, as she tries to steal a priceless jewel. There will be four other feature-length animated movies released throughout 2022, as well as a new collection of DC Showcase animated shorts. Fans of Matt Ryan's performances as John Constantine will be pleased to know that one of the Showcase shorts is called Constantine: The House of Mystery and will feature Ryan's return to the role. The other films announced at DC FanDome will include a crossover between Teen Titans Go! and DC Super Hero Girls titled Mayhem in the Multiverse, a Green Lantern movie titled Green Lantern: Beware My Power, and a movie centered around Jon Kent Superboy and Damian Wayne Robin, Battle of the Super Sons.
