James Gunn and Peter Safran have been steering the DC Studios ship for a little over two years now, and they just dropped some major updates on what’s cooking for the future of the DC Universe. Their vision, titled ‘Gods and Monsters,’ is all about bringing cohesion to a franchise that, let’s be honest, has been all over the place for years. But instead of just talking the talk, they’re finally showing us how it’s all coming together.
The long-term plan? Two live-action films, one animated film, two live-action series, and two animated series per year. But for 2025, it’s looking a little slim—only one new series, Peacemaker Season 2, hitting Max in August. The rest? Well, there are a lot of moving pieces, but Gunn and Safran seem confident that the foundation they’re laying is strong. Here’s where things stand.
Movies: What’s Moving, What’s Stuck, and What’s a Mystery
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow – Filming is halfway done, and Milly Alcock’s take on Supergirl is set to debut on June 26, 2026. Gunn is hyped about the script and director Craig Gillespie’s work so far.
Clayface – The shape-shifting villain is getting his own full-on horror movie, directed by Speak No Evil’s James Watkins, with production kicking off this summer. Expect it to drop September 11, 2026.
The Batman – Part II – Matt Reeves hasn’t turned in a full script yet, but Gunn and Safran love what they’ve seen. Filming should start in late 2025, with an October 1, 2027 release.
Batman: The Brave and the Bold – This one’s still in development, and Gunn himself is deeply involved in crafting the script. Andy Muschietti (The Flash) will be the first to see it, but it’s unclear if he’ll direct. Gunn also shut down any rumors of Robert Pattinson jumping into the DCU—this Batman will be a different one.
Sgt. Rock – The World War II film from Luca Guadagnino (Challengers) is still searching for its lead. Gunn and Safran insist Justin Kuritzkes’ script is fantastic, but they need the right actor to bring it to life.
Swamp Thing – James Mangold is still attached, but this one is in a weird limbo. Safran said, “The ball is really in his court.” Translation? It’s waiting for Mangold to make a move.
Teen Titans – Ana Nogueira delivered a draft, and the team is fine-tuning it. No timeline yet, but it’s still in the works.
The Authority – This antihero team-up film, announced in 2023, has been “messed with” by other projects that took priority. Gunn admitted the script has had a tough road but still believes in the film’s potential.
TV: What’s Getting Made and What’s a Question Mark
Peacemaker Season 2 – It’s locked in for August, with Gunn writing and directing. John Cena, Danielle Brooks and more are back, and things are about to get even wilder.
Lanterns – The long-awaited Green Lantern series starring Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler is set to debut in early 2026. Gunn described it as True Detective meets intergalactic superheroism, and it’ll be a major piece of the DCU puzzle.
Waller – Viola Davis’ Suicide Squad and Peacemaker spinoff has had a rough go. Safran admitted they’ve “taken a couple of cracks at it” but haven’t quite landed it yet.
The Penguin Season 2 – TBD. Colin Farrell crushed his role, but Safran said it’s all up to Farrell (and his makeup team, apparently).
Paradise Lost – The Game of Thrones-style Themyscira series is still happening, but no writer has been announced yet.
Booster Gold – The time-traveling, fame-seeking hero is still on the table. The original showrunner dropped out, but they’re moving forward with someone else.
Blue Beetle Animated Series – The Blue Beetle film’s director and writer are pitching the series now, and it’s close to getting the green light.
Superman Leads the Charge
Gunn’s Superman (July 2025) is deep in post-production, and it’s being treated as the real start of the DCU. A second trailer is already in the works, and Safran said Warner Bros. Discovery is going all in to make this a massive success. “DZ (David Zaslav) loves what we’re doing and has really rallied the entire company behind Superman for this summer,” he explained. Barbie, Wonka, and Kong got the full Warner Bros. treatment—now it’s Superman’s turn.
Gunn and Safran are playing the long game, with a six-year plan in place that supposedly includes an Avengers: Endgame-style culmination. But for now, all eyes are on Superman. If it soars, the rest of the DCU might finally have the solid footing it’s been looking for.
Until then, it’s a waiting game—but at least we’ve got Peacemaker in August and a Green Lantern show on the horizon. For now, that’s enough to keep the hype alive.