The DCEU's upcoming sequels share a theme that could set up the next big Justice League crossover event. Despite some impressive talent behind and in front of the camera, the DCEU currently doesn't have a live-action Justice League lineup secured for future movies. But with Zack Snyder's Justice League concluding the director's plans for the shared universe and Warner Bros. taking the franchise in a new direction that doesn't involve Snyder's plans for Justice League sequels, the DCEU now has more freedom to pursue original storylines and unexpected crossovers.
Superman and Batman, the most essential members of the Justice League and the DCEU as a whole will soon go through a drastic transformation in the form of reboots. Andy Muschietti's The Flash promises to help with that change by featuring the multiverse and revamping the continuity of the entire franchise. Meanwhile, other Justice League characters will go their own ways and focus on their solo adventures. For instance, two direct DCEU sequels that will follow 2020's Wonder Woman 1984 are Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom and Shazam: Fury of the Gods.
The title of the Aquaman sequel suggests Jason Momoa's Arthur Curry will venture into the last kingdom of Atlantis — one which the king doesn't automatically rule after beating his brother Orm in the original film. This offers the opportunity to dive deeper into the intricate lore of Atlantis and its connections to Triton, Atlan, and Poseidon. Meanwhile, the title and plot details of Shazam: Fury of the Gods tease a showdown between the newly suited-up Shazam Family and at least two mythological figures — Helen Mirren's Hespera and Lucy Liu's Kalypso. This brings Shazam and company closer to their mythological origins and could lead to their battle with Black Adam.
The upcoming Black Adam will feature Dwayne Johnson's rogue champion and his ancient Egyptian origins. Black Adam is expected to fight Justice Society heroes such as Hawkman and Doctor Fate, played by Aldis Hodge and Pierce Brosnan, respectively. With so many myth-inspired characters coming to this new era of the DCEU, it would make sense to craft a crossover event where godlike figures battle for the fate of Earth. The battle between Shazam and Black Adam in the DCEU is already highly anticipated by fans, but a live-action adaptation of the Throne of Atlantis storyline where the Amazons fight the Atlanteans is also an exciting possibility.
The DCEU's focus on ancient myths could bring in characters such as Hawkman, Hawkgirl, Doctor Fate, Circe, Deadman, Donna Troy, Lynda Carter's Asteria, and even Cheetah as Justice League members or villains. While Batman and Superman enjoy more freedom to live their own adventures, the DCEU's already established characters can team up and fight against each other. In fact, the future of DCEU crossovers after Justice League could be epic face-off events instead of the typical team-up against one single villain. While not necessarily the only theme the DCEU's next big event could focus on after The Flash's multiverse, ancient mythology could be the motif that brings many different characters together.
