DC Studios' huge plans: The top shocks from James Gunn's new DCU slate

Burbank, California - DC Studios' new head honchos James Gunn and Peter Safran have unveiled an out-of-this-world list of projects planned for the upcoming revamped DC Universe (DCU).

Say goodbye to the DC Extended Universe! James Gunn and Peter Safran's new slate for the franchise has been released.
Say goodbye to the DC Extended Universe! James Gunn and Peter Safran's new slate for the franchise has been released.  © IMAGO / ZUMA Press

Superman Legacy, a separate Batman movie sans Robert Pattison, and an animated TV show titled Creature Commandos. Say what now?

It appears fans can officially bid adieu to the DC Extended Universe as the new execs' plans for the revamped DCU are finally here.

And, boy are they ambitious – and controversial!

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The daring creators' take on the comic book-based universe is a strategy never seen before in the DC world, as the two are combining big heroes with lesser-known characters for their new crop of projects.

"Up, up, and away!" co-CEO Gunn said in a Twitter post which revealed the plans on Tuesday. "As many of you know, DC has been disconnected in film and television for a long time."

Enter Chapter One, Gods and Monsters, the first part of the masterminds' ambitious feat to connect the universe's stories. The releases will drop between 2025-2027, and include five movies as well as new series.

"One of our strategies is to take our diamond characters, which is Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and we use them to prop up other characters that people don’t know," Gunn told Deadline of the new lineup.

Safran added, "To build those lesser known properties into the diamond properties of tomorrow."

What exactly is in store? Here are the top projects fans can look out for in Chapter One of the DCU.

Superman Legacy

The next Superman movie, Superman Legacy, will feature Superman/Clark Kent's battle with his humanity and Kryptonian heritage.
The next Superman movie, Superman Legacy, will feature Superman/Clark Kent's battle with his humanity and Kryptonian heritage.  © IMAGO / Mary Evans

Henry Cavill may be ousted from the Superman franchise – in one of Gunn's first controversial moves – but of course, Superman's story will continue.

Per Safran, the movie Superman Legacy will kick off the revamped DCEU, but he did stress that the flick is not another origin story.

"It focuses on Superman’s balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing," the 57-year-old film producer explained to Deadline.

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"He's the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way. He's kindness in a world that thinks of kindness as old-fashioned."

Superman Legacy will be released on July 11, 2025.

The Brave and the Bold and The Batman Part II

An evil Robin?

Gunn and Safran are taking a big risk with this one, but per the execs, a new Batman flick focusing on Robin is their next spin on the caped-crusader.

Titled The Brave and the Bold, the movie will focus on Batman's relationship with Robin, AKA his son Damien Wayne, who, per Gunn, is a "little son of a b**ch."

The story will dive into an "assassin" and "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," the director explained.

"It's a strange father and son story about the two of them and based on Grant Morrison’s run of the Batman."

For those wondering about Pattinson's take on Bruce Wayne, the chairmen clarified that the Twilight star is safe, and will still star in Reeves' The Batman Part II, coming out October 3, 2025.

Creature Commandos

A new band of misfits is heading to DC.

Creature Commandos, which Gunn penned himself, will be a TV series centered around a group of military super-humans and is based on the comic Weird War Tales #93.

"Animation will lead into live action and back into animation," the Guardians of the Galaxy director dished.

"It's a way to tell stories that are gigantic and huge without spending $50M an episode."

The first season of Creature Commandos will reportedly have seven episodes and feature DC meta-humans including Rick Flag Sr, G.I. Robin, Frankenstein's Bride, and Weasel.

Waller

Viola Davis will reprise her role as the scheming Amanda Waller in the titular series, Waller.
Viola Davis will reprise her role as the scheming Amanda Waller in the titular series, Waller.  © IMAGO / Cinema Publishers Collection

Viola Davis will return as the tough-as-nails and slightly evil bada** boss Amanda Waller.

The upcoming live-action series Waller will serve as a spinoff of the HBO Max show, Peacemaker.

"We're using the same actors, this is a continuation of Peacemaker," Gunn revealed.

"I'm working on Superman, so we can’t do Peacemaker season 2. We’re working on Waller in between."

Much like Waller's predecessor and the fellow superhero sitcom Doom Patrol, it can be assumed that the titular series won't be safe for a younger audience.

Still, it's serving lots to get hyped about.

Now let's see if the new execs in town can pull off the huge turnaround for the franchise – and keep fans onboard, too.

Cover photo: IMAGO / ZUMA Press

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