Change is the name of the game for DCU Chapter One: Gods and Monsters, which is set to shake up the DC universe as we know and love it. DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran unveiled their brand new slate last year, and with Creature Commandos on the horizon, it's set to kick off imminently.
The first chapter of the new DCU will consist of five movies and five TV shows. The first movie is Superman, starring David Corenswet as the Man of Steel, which is set to hit theaters next year. Then, the future brings with it a string of exciting upcoming DC movies and shows featuring the likes of a new Batman movie, a Green Lantern series, and much more.
Now, if you're wondering why you won't find The Penguin or The Batman 2 below, that's because they're part of their own continuity. The same goes for Joker: Folie à Deux, which is also in its own universe.
For everything else, head to the below for the full lowdown on DCU Chapter One: Gods and Monsters.
DCU movies
Superman
Release date: July 11, 2025
Superman will mark the first movie in the new slate and will be released globally on July 11, 2025. Written and directed by James Gunn, it will focus on a younger Superman entering a world full of heroes.
"This is really the start of the DCU," Safran said in a statement, per Deadline. "It’s not an origins story, it focuses on Superman's balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. He's the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way, he's kindness in a world that thinks of kindness as old fashioned."
David Corenswet will play Kal-El, while Rachel Brosnahan is getting her journalist cap on as Lois Lane. Nathan Fillion will play Guy Gardner/Green Lantern, Edi Gathegi is Mister Terrific, Isabel Merced will portray Hawkgirl, and Anthony Carrigan is Metamorpho. If we didn't know any better, we'd say Gunn is putting together a mini-Justice League already. House of the Dragon's Milly Alcock is also likely to appear as Superman's cousin Kara, AKA Supergirl. Speaking of...
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow
Release date: June 26, 2026
We'll be getting a new Supergirl project as well. This time around, it's a movie described by DC as a "science fiction adventure". With that title, it's likely to be based on Tom King's comic book series of the same name, as it introduces a "Supergirl viewers are not used to seeing". Superman's titular cuz, Kara Zor-El, will be played by Milly Alcock.
"We see the difference between Superman, who was sent to Earth and raised by loving parents from the time he's an infant," Gunn told Variety. "Versus Supergirl, who was raised on a rock chip off of Krypton, and watched everyone around her die and be killed in terrible ways for the first 14 years of her life."
Supergirl was played by Melissa Benoist as part of The CW's Arrowverse franchise, before the show was canceled in November 2021. A DCEU version, played by Sasha Calle, recently graced our screens in The Flash.
The Brave and the Bold
Release date: TBC
DC is also introducing its live-action Batman and Robin in a new movie called The Brave and the Bold, directed by The Flash's Andy Muschietti. This is based on Grant Morrison's comic series about father and son.
"Assassin, murderer who Batman takes on, who is Batman’s actual son that he doesn’t know exists for the first 8-10 years of his life… it's a strange father and son story about the two of them and based on Grant Morrison’s run of the Batman," Gunn explained to Deadline about the movie.
Swamp Thing
Release date: TBC
Despite being announced in 2023, information on the new Swamp Thing movie is still limited, but it will focus on the origins of the mysterious DC character. From what's been revealed so far about this one, it's expected it will be tonally darker than the other DC projects. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny director James Mangold is reportedly circling the project. If you want to find out more about this iconic character ahead of the new DC movie, you can read our list of the 10 best Swamp Thing stories of all time.
The Authority
Release date: TBC
Another new upcoming movie from DC Studios is The Authority, which will see WildStorm characters joining the DCU. We don't know what form the group will take, but we do know it'll have links to Superman and see The Authority taking "matters into their own hands to do what they believe is right," per the official synopsis.
"Whether that means killing people, destroying heads of state, changing governments, you know, whatever they want to do to make the world better," Gunn previously explained, while Safran likened the morally complex team to Jack Nicholson's character in A Few Good Men.
DCU TV shows
Creature Commandos
Release date: December 5, 2024
Creature Commandos is a new seven-episode animated series about Amanda Waller creating a black ops team of monstrous prisoners. The show will be the first project of the new DCU, premiering on Max in December 2024.
The cast has since been revealed by Collider: Frank Grillo is Rick Flag Sr, Maria Bakalova will voice Princess Ilana, David Harbour is Eric Frankenstein, Indira Varma is the Bride of Frankenstein, Alan Tudyk is Doctor Phosphorus, Steve Agee as John Economos, and Zoe Chao will voice team scientist and mermaid Dr. Nina Mazursky. They will be joined by Sean Gunn pulling double duty as Weasel and G.I. Robot.
The Witcher's Anya Chalotra will play villain Circe, while Viola Davis is expected to reprise her role as Suicide Squad boss Amanda Waller.
Peacemaker season 2
Release date: TBC 2025
We don't know a whole lot about Peacemaker season 2 just yet, besides the fact that it's on the way, and it'll be canon to the new DCU.
"James and Peter actually both called me and said, 'You know what, we want to take some time to do this right. But it's just going to take a little time,'" star John Cena revealed of the long wait between season 1 and 2. "So it was crazy to know we did something people want, they want more of it, let's do it again," he continued. "And everybody's like, 'No wait, we just got to do a few things first. And we have this whole plan, and it's all going to work together. So if you just trust us, we'll be okay.' And it seems like forever ago, now that we're filming every day, it seems like it will be just right around the corner that we're watching season 2."
Waller (more on that below) will take place after season 2, so expect some connective tissue between the two projects.
Paradise Lost
Release date: TBC
Paradise Lost is a new Wonder Woman TV prequel series set in Themyscira. This is the home of the Amazons and the birthplace of Wonder Woman.
"It's going to be a Games of Thrones-ish story about Themyscira, the home of the Amazons and the birthplace of Wonder Woman. This drama is really about the political intrigue behind the society of all women. How did that come about?" Safran said in a statement.
"What's the beautiful truths and the ugly truths behind all of that and what’s the scheming like between all the power players in that society?" Gunn added.
Booster Gold
Release date: TBC
Booster Gold is a series based on, you guessed it, time traveling 'hero' Booster Gold. Per the synopsis, he will use "basic technology from the future to pretend to be a superhero in the present-day."
In the comics, Booster Gold is Michael Jon Carter, a football star from the 25th Century. He travels back in time and, equipped with his robot Skeets, is able to use his knowledge of events and high-end technology to gain the upper hand.
Waller
Release date: TBC
Waller has been confirmed as a new DC spin-off show, featuring Davis' Amanda Waller in the lead role. The series will pick up in the aftermath of Peacemaker season 2, as Gunn has confirmed.
"I’m working on Superman, so we can't do Peacemaker season 2 [yet]. We’re working on Waller in between," Gunn revealed (H/T Deadline), announcing that all of the main Peacemaker cast will star in the series. Watchmen's Christal Henry and Doom Patrol's Jeremy Carver are writing the show.
Lanterns
Release date: TBC
Described as a "enormous TV event series", Lanterns will follow intergalactic cops John Stewart and Hal Jordan. It will be a mystery show described as a superhero take on True Detective. According to the DC Studios bosses, this will also "play a really big role leading us into the main story that we’re telling across our film and television."
Lanterns has recently been ordered to series on HBO with True Detective: Night Country writer Chris Mundy serving as showrunner. Damon Lindelof of Lost and HBO's Watchmen fame will be writing on the series alongside award-winning comic writer Tom King. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Josh Brolin passed on playing Hal Jordan.
If you need to catch up, here's how to watch the DC movies in order. Then fly on over to the heaving list of new superhero movies coming your way.
