The DCU's weirdest project might have cast its lead, and, to be honest, I still can't believe this is happening.

The TV show will focus on Jimmy Olsen, Superman's pal played by Skyler Gisondo, and also, for some reason, supervillain Gorilla Grodd.

According to Deadline, Scream 7's Jimmy Tatro is in talks to play the ape, whom DC describes as "a hyper-intelligent telepathic ape who has sought to rule both the simian and human worlds, though the Flash has frequently thwarted his plans."

If you're wondering just what that has to do with Jimmy, it's because the show, apparently called DC Crime (though James Gunn has denied that's the title) is going to be like a true crime docu-series hosted by Jimmy. So, the first season is set to focus on Gorilla Grodd.

The news comes after Supergirl cratered at the box office, earning less money than notorious flop Morbius in its opening weekend. The film also debuted to the DCU's first rotten Rotten Tomatoes score, a feat that took the MCU 13 years and 26 movies.

"While Supergirl didn’t meet our box office expectations, it’s just one component of a broader, long-term strategy at DC Studios that we remain confident in," said DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran.

Next up for the DCU is Lanterns, a buddy cop show focusing on Hal Jordan and Jon Stewart of the Green Lantern Corps. That arrives this August 16.

In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and shows for everything else the DCU has in store.

It feels a little ridiculous to talk about the new movie Supergirl and not discuss the titular character. But with the latest DCU flick now in theaters, all eyes won’t just be on the Maid of Might – they'll be on the Main Man, Lobo, played by Jason Momoa. And thankfully, the actor's long audition as Aquaman in the DCEU properly prepared him for the role Momoa was born to play.

Is that unfair to say about a role Momoa played multiple times, in multiple movies (and TV shows)? Perhaps. Except, ever since the actor was announced as playing Arthur Curry way back in 2014, it seemed like an odd fit. Sure, he had played a ruler before on Game of Thrones, but the monosyllabic Khal Drogo was a far cry from any iteration of Aquaman we had seen before in the comic book source material, let alone his appearances in animated TV shows and live-action on Smallville.

Yet Momoa proceeded to make the role his own from a blink-and-you'll-miss-it appearance in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, all the way through the cockroach-crunching end of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. But the problem was that Momoa bent Aquaman his way into a brash, joke-slinging bad-ass who shouts "my man," gets into bar fights, and is more Momoa than Curry.

That may not entirely be an issue, because Momoa was one of the highlights of the controversial DCEU/Zack Snyder era, despite his every move seeming to be designed to specifically push back at anyone who made fun of Aquaman for talking to fish. This Aquaman was cool. He was a muscle-bound beefcake. He drinks and fights, and if you say he's anything less than rad, he will beat you up. But it also, curiously, seemed antithetical to what Aquaman is supposed to be.

Ride or die

Which is why this all makes a lot more sense once you realize Momoa was merely paving the way for Lobo. Unlike his Fast & Furious franchise cohort Dwayne Johnson – who attempted his own hostile takeover of the DC cinematic franchise and took Henry "I would just love to play Warhammer 40k if you don't mind" Cavill down with him – Momoa managed to pivot one of the more successful turns in the DCEU into his dream role in the DCU. Reportedly, the very morning James Gunn and Peter Safran were announced as the new heads of DC Studios, Momoa texted Gunn two words: "Fucking Lobo." And Gunn somehow interpreted that mysterious text correctly and agreed, stating that he thought Momoa should have been Lobo for years.

It's clear that through the auditions for Batman and casting as Aquaman, what Momoa really wanted was Lobo. And it's such a better fit, as Momoa basically is Lobo, without the immortality and bloodthirstiness. The Czarnian bounty hunter, created in 1983 by Roger Slifer and Keith Giffen, is what it says on the tin, but it wasn't until the ‘90s that the character found his niche as a commentary on the over-the-top dark and gritty superhero trend kicked off in part by characters like Wolverine at Marvel and Batman at DC. Momoa himself is like a walking, talking human parody, with his scraggly beard, wild hair, and 6'4 height. He's a wild man who looks like he'd accept an invitation to party any day, any time.

That's Lobo, and that's exactly what Momoa captures on screen with Supergirl. Yes, he physically looks like the character walked off the comic book page, thanks only in small part to black and white makeup, red eyes, and sharp teeth. But honestly, Momoa's inherent physicality does the majority of the work. And his delivery, delighted to see ultra-violence, taking no guff, and coaching a young girl to kill people, feels so much more natural coming out of Lobo than any of Momoa's dialogue did with Aquaman.

The main event

Lobo's the perfect loose cannon running through the new DCU movie, and given his relatively scant screen time, the next question is: when will we see Lobo again? A lot of that potentially depends on how Supergirl does at the box office this weekend – all signs point to "not great" – but Momoa has taken the Lobo ball this far, it's hard to believe his dreams of being the Main Man will stop here, particularly as the actor has the strength of will that would make a Green Lantern jealous.

It's entirely possible Lobo could stop by in the already filming Man of Tomorrow, whether in a cameo or another expanded supporting role, a la Supergirl. But it's tricky to say beyond that because, given James Gunn's laudable unwillingness to greenlight projects before scripts are ready, there are… Not a lot of projects greenlit.

One option? The in-development Wonder Woman reboot, which boasts Supergirl writer Ana Nogueira as screenwriter. While it would be a little weird to see Lobo only pop up as a supporting character in movies with a main, female character, given Nogueira already figured out a way to fuse Lobo into the story from comic book creators Tom King and Bilquis Evely, who is to say she couldn't do the same for Diana?

Lobo would also fit well in the already filmed Lanterns on HBO, given Lobo often tangles with the GLs in the comics. Or he could show up in whatever is following up on the prison planet plotline of Sanctuary from Season 2 of Peacemaker… We've already seen Lobo in jail once, and John Cena is yet another ex-pat from the Fast & Furious franchise Momoa could tangle with. Heck, they were supposed to be in a movie called Killer Vacation together, which we haven't heard a peep about since 2022. So this might be a way of finally getting the duo to team up.

Look, wherever Momoa goes as Lobo next, this is already a much more natural fit than Aquaman, and it's likely audiences will respond positively (regardless of the Supergirl movie's box office fate). So let’s make sure it isn't another decade before we get to see mo' Momoa in the role he was meant to play. Ya bastiches.

Supergirl is in theaters now. For more, dive into our spoiler-free Supergirl review, or catch up on the DCU to date with our guide on how to watch DC movies in order.

An animated series based on the best-selling comic Absolute Batman is in the works at Warner Bros and DC Studios – and the era of 'reimagined' Bruce Waynes is truly upon us.

Absolute Batman, created by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta, is a monthly superhero comic that stars a 24-year-old, blue-collar Bruce Wayne who works by day as a civil engineer and still has one living parent. The comic has been widely celebrated as a reimagining of the Batman mythos. You can check out the official series logo below.

The series was announced at the 2026 Annecy International Animation Festival, alongside a Joker anime and another animated series based on Krypto the Super Dog. This means there are a total of eight animated DC Studios shows, including My Adventure With Green Lantern, Starfire! Super Powers, Miata Miracle, and the already-airing Creature Commandos. Of the eight projects, it appears that Creature Commandos is still the only one canon to the DCU.

In this particular reimagining, Alfred Pennyworth, who narrates the series, is an M16 agent, the Joker is a billionaire, and villains like Catwoman, Riddler, and Killer Croc are some of Bruce's childhood friends. The latter of which is due to the fact that he grew up poor in Crime Alley (the street where Bruce's parents were killed in the original comic), rather than living in a mansion and mingling with other affluent families.

"Can’t even begin to tell you guys how excited Nick and I are to be working on this," Snyder wrote on Twitter. "So grateful to Warner Brothers animation and DC Studios!"

Absolute Batman does not yet have a release date. For more, check out our list of all the upcoming DC movies and shows.

Back in 2003, FOX aired the first season of Arrested Development, featuring Will Arnett as Gob Bluth, a member of The Alliance of Magicians. While Gob was relatively normal (looking, at least), the rest were dressed like absolute freaks, which contrasted wildly with their slogan: "We Demand To Be Taken Seriously." It's a motto that, without irony, often spills out into superhero fandom, and has played out with fans of DC's Snyder-verse, which took a dead serious, mythological approach to the comic book heroes.

Shockingly, while many likely expected James Gunn's rebooted DCU to go in the other direction, with rare exceptions it's been more extreme, more violent, and far more sexual than the previous iteration, catering to an aging fanbase that craves what they perceive to be the trappings of adulthood while grasping desperately at the last vestiges of their childhood. The antidote to this disparity between source material and fan desires? My Adventures With Superman, which returns for its third season on Adult Swim and HBO Max, and shows exactly what all of James Gunn's DCU should be; yet decidedly is not.

First airing in 2023, My Adventures With Superman stars Jack Quaid as Clark Kent/Superman, initially introduced as an intern at the Daily Planet. Along with fellow interns Lois Lane (Alice Lee) and Jimmy Olsen (Ishmel Sahid), the Shonen anime-inspired series rebuilds the Superman mythos from the ground up (where else can you find Chris Parnell as a dangerously sexy Deathstroke?), expertly mixing heart and humor with big action sequences, reinvented villains and origins, and even new powers for Superman that draw heavily from Eastern comics and animation instead of Western. The result is something that feels fresh, new, and decidedly modern, while not ignoring the core of what has made Superman one of the most popular and recognizable characters in the world since 1938.

It's on, like Krypton

To loop this back to the Alliance of Magicians, there's a reason this show airs at Midnight during Adult Swim's Toonami block… It doesn't take itself seriously, featuring wall-to-wall jokes ranging from recurring audio cues (every time Jimmy says the name of his startup news app Flamebird, a bird cry is heard in the distance) alongside deeply felt twists and epic action beats as Clark discovers his darker-than-in-the-comics origins. My Adventures With Superman knows how to be both silly and earnest, often in the same scene; and the whiplash of tones works because of how well modulated the scripts are, and how razor-focused they are on the main trio of characters – now a quartet in season 3, thanks to the addition of Kara Zor-El (Kiana Madeira).

Contrast that with Superman on the big screen from James Gunn, a hyperkinetic ode to Silver Age comics that has its charms, but also features oddly modulated commentary on the modern world alongside superheroes gleefully murdering people. Or to talk about an upcoming release, how about the My Adventures With Superman version of Supergirl, who spent most of her life brainwashed and corrupted by Brainiac (Michael Emerson) and now spends season 4 obsessed with hot dogs and dating, singing and dancing, and still brings a mean punch. Meanwhile, the big screen version of Supergirl played by Milly Alcock is a drunken mess who – spoilers for the book by Tom King and Bilquis Evely – goes on a mission of revenge after Krypto the Superdog gets shot with a poisoned arrow and seems likely to die. Hot dogs or dead dogs… Which would you rather watch?

In fact, to dig deeper into Gunn's DCU, most of it is for the "We Demand To Be Taken Seriously" fans to the exclusion of nearly anyone else. The Suicide Squad featured sex scenes, profanity, and massive amounts of violence. Creature Commandos highlighted nude, animated monster sex. This fall brings Clayface, a likely R-rated body horror movie. Lanterns is on HBO, and while we don't know the exact content yet, it is intended to be True Detective with superheroes; i.e. dark, twisted, and potentially also full of nudity and sex. And Peacemaker? Full frontal nudity and orgies, alongside wall-to-wall profanity and graphic violence.

Blue world order

None of this is an aspersion on the quality of Gunn's productions – and for a point of clarity, My Adventures With Superman is also produced by Gunn's DC Studios, so it's not like he's in a battle for control of the future of DC superheroes with a rogue animated series or anything. But the carefully curated nature of the DCU that has Gunn not producing any scripts before they're 100% done, while laudable, has front-loaded the rebooted franchise with fare almost exclusively appropriate for adults that does not open the door for new fans, or those who are superhero-curious. Superman came the closest, but any DCU follow-ups – with Supergirl potentially included – aren't appealing to the same crowd.

My Adventures With Superman, technically classified as an "Elseworlds," so not connected in any way to the live-action shows and films (or Creature Commandos and the upcoming, also likely extremely adult, based on the source material Mister Miracle), lays out the welcome mat that the DCU eschews. It feels exceedingly dumb to say, "hey did you know anime is popular," but it is, and taking the characters of Superman and his amazing pals to where the non-aging audience lives means these stories can continue for another generation, and perhaps more.

Add in the upcoming My Adventures With Green Lantern spinoff – another direct contrast with the blunt instrument of Nathan Fillion's bowl-cut Guy Gardner, and the adult shenanigans of Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) on Lanterns – and you have a path forward that Gunn should have taken, but instead he walked backwards.

It's not too late, though, for Gunn to look at the approach My Adventures With Superman has pioneered and adapt that for the big and small screen of the DCU. And all it would take is for Gunn to embrace another Gob Bluth catchphrase: "I've made a huge mistake."

My Adventures with Superman season 3 is streaming now on HBO Max. For more, here's everything still to come in DCU: Chapter One, or here's our rundown of the best anime to watch in 2026.

Lanterns will have two timelines, one of which is set 10 years in the past – which means the TV show will be the first story on the new DCU timeline.

The 2016 timeline looks to be the main story. It involves a shooting in Nebraska, which Hal Jordan is investigating with new recruit John Stewart. This is the plot line teased in the show's trailers and promotional material, but it looks like the action will also cut to 10 years later "to something else" happening in 2026.

"That becomes a second mystery that we know is down the road for us," showrunner Chris Mundy cryptically told Entertainment Weekly. "So eventually two different mysteries get worked out over the course of the show."

When the show's first trailer hit the internet earlier this year, fans weren't happy with its beige tone and lack of superpowers on display, but Mundy has doubled down on his desire to keep the show grounded.

"We wanted to tell an on-the-ground story, and that has a couple of different mysteries inside of it," he added. "What we have going for us is that it's a Green Lantern story. They can conjure anything from the ring. They do go off the planet. There's all these other powers that they have. We wanna use everything that's great about the mythology of the Green Lanterns, but at the same time, we wanted it to feel like an upscale mystery, a very emotionally tangible story about these people that are in it.”

Lanterns arrives on HBO on August 16. In the meantime, get up to speed with the rest of the DCU Chapter One with our guide to all the other upcoming DC movies and shows.

What once felt like an outside shot now seems more likely than ever as The Penguin season 2 has received a pre-production milestone.

The Writers Guild of America site now has details for the names attached to The Penguin season 2. Showrunner and executive producer Lauren LeFranc is listed as returning for the project, while Semi Chellas (perhaps best known for writing several episodes in the latter half of Mad Men) is onboard as consulting producer.

Originally envisioned as a limited series that bridged the gap between The Batman and The Batman 2 as Colin Farrell's Oz Cobb wormed his way up the Gotham criminal food chain, The Batman director Matt Reeves revealed last year that they were "in discussions" to continue the story.

"Lauren [LeFranc] is thinking hard and we're talking, so we'll see. We love the show, and we think our cast is so incredible," Reeves told Variety. "The work that Lauren and the writers did was incredible. Our passion was in it, but never in our wildest dreams could we imagine it would have been received in the way that it was."

The Batman fans are certainly feasting today. While The Penguin season 2 isn't a surefire certainty, the WGA listing is a crucial step on the way to get the wheels turning on a follow-up to the HBO series.

Speaking of turning wheels, Matt Reeves has posted snow tires from a screen test of The Batman 2, confirming that the sequel will be set in a snowy Gotham. No sign of Mr. Freeze just yet.

Oz Cobb returns in The Batman 2, with Colin Farrell revealing it takes place just "a few weeks" after the original – despite a five-year gap between the two movies.

The Batman 2 hits cinemas on October 1, 2027.

The Batman 2 is an Elseworlds project, but for more on James Gunn and Peter Safran's own universe as part of DC Studios, check out our guide to DCU Chapter One.

For the first time in nearly two decades, an official Justice League tabletop RPG set in the DC universe is swooping to the rescue – and it's being worked on by non other than comic book legend Mark Waid.

Announced ahead of its crowdfunding campaign launch in July 2026, the Justice League Unlimited Roleplaying Game allows players to either "create a unique hero or assume the identity of established characters." While you'll find a few superhero systems amongst the best tabletop RPGs (including Marvel Multiverse Roleplaying Game and an upcoming Invincible RPG), none of those feature Mark Waid, the writer behind iconic comic books like Kingdom Come, a seminal Daredevil run, Superman: Birthright, and Justice League itself.

The Justice League TTRPG isn't just about beating up bad guys and stopping bank robbers, though. According to the press release, its "narrative delves into the profound responsibility of bearing this mantle. In the beginning, players will answer five fundamental questions, the League's 'Tacit Clauses,' which define each character's moral code." As you'd expect from a comic book-inspired game, those origin stories are key parts of your adventure; you choose your heritage from options like Amazonian or Kryptonian and decide the archetype you'd like to embody. That ranges from the hopeful, Superman-esque Champion of Tomorrow or the fear-inducing, Batman-inspired Dark Knight.

In terms of gameplay, the Justice League Unlimited Roleplaying Game puts an emphasis on fast-paced combat, time-sensitive sections where you're fighting to save civilians, "Interlude Moments" that encourage exploring your character's personality or relationships, and the ominous-sounding Crisis Die. This "unleashes catastrophic events that alter history’s course, such as an unforeseen alien invasion, the loss of powers, or the arrival of a time traveler."

The CEO of publisher D20 Culture, Peterson Rodrigues, says that "working with comic legend Mark Waid to create something new in this universe has been such an honor. With the Justice League Unlimited Roleplaying Game we are really pushing our work to new heights to create an original and bold system for players to immerse themselves in the tales of the Justice League, we cannot wait to bring this to audiences across the world."

Meanwhile, Wait adds that tabletop RPGs "have such an amazing opportunity to bring new stories to fans and allow them to experience these beloved worlds and characters in a whole new way. Approaching Justice League Unlimited Roleplaying Game my priority has been to set up a new story that fits authentically into this canon and builds upon it to provide a narrative playground for players to make their own."

We don't have a release date for the Justice League Unlimited RPG yet, but you can find out more via the game's Gamefound page.

Want something new to play? Try the best board games, or the best card games.

James Gunn has confirmed Lanterns is set to premiere on August 16 on HBO Max. The show is the next in DC Studios heads' Gunn and Peter Safran's DCU Chapter One and arrives just after Supergirl's cinematic release in June.

The release date had already been rumored after a new trailer was released yesterday on DC's YouTube channel. In it the August date was confirmed but it was quickly pulled offline. It seems someone might have jumped the gun on the announcement as it's now back up, complete with the August 16 date confirmed at the end.

Alongside the date announcement, Gunn shared a new image from the show as well. This shows a close up of a ring colliding with the actual green lantern. "Beware my power, Green Lantern's light," Gunn captioned the image.

Created by Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King, Lanterns follows intergalactic peacekeepers, the Green Lanterns. This series focuses on two of the peacekeeping corps, seasoned Lantern Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and new recruit John Stewart (Aaron Pierre), as they investigate a murder in Nebraska.

Billed as having a bit of a True Detective vibe, showrunner Mundy previously described it as being "as much of a buddy cop show as a superhero show." He told Men's Health: "Our show is in a lot of ways about replacement – when should someone step aside and when is it time for the next person to take the reins? That push and pull between those two characters is really important."

For more on all things DC, check out our guides to all the upcoming DC movies and shows, as well as our breakdown of how to watch the DC movies in order.

The DCU is, as they say, booked and busy. James Gunn and Peter Safran's fledgling universe at DC Studios currently contains Creature Commandos, Peacemaker, and Superman – with Supergirl and Clayface still to come this year.

But what of the lesser-heralded titles, including a Booster Gold series and a Themyscira-set Paradise Lost that Safran once described as featuring a "Game of Thrones-ish story"?

Replying to a fan on Threads enquiring about the projects, Gunn wrote, "[Booster Gold] is in development. [Paradise Lost] is in extreme development."

Reading between the lines, it appears a Paradise Lost announcement – be that casting or otherwise – could be forthcoming, though Booster Gold is a little more off into the future.

Paradise Lost will be set on Wonder Woman's home and aims to dig into the political machinations of the warrior-filled island.

"This drama is really about the political intrigue behind the society of all women. How did that come about?" Safran posited years back at a DCU slate.

Booster Gold, a series about the titular hero sent back in time, has had a stop-start history, supposedly being put on the backburner last year before being revived once more in July.

Gunn also offered a reason as to why one initial DCU project, The Authority, never saw the light of day.

"The script wasn't quite there but more importantly it didn't work in terms of the larger DCU both in terms of the story and practical concerns. Maybe some day. Not soon," Gunn revealed of the adaptation of the battle-hardened wet work super group.

For more on what Gunn and Safran have cooking up, dive into our complete guides to upcoming DC movies and DCU Chapter One.

Primer co-creator Tom Krajewski has hinted that an animated series based on the colorful teen hero could be in the works at DC Studios.

A DC fan account recovered a conversation from December 2025 between the comic book writer and another IG user, which is still available in the comment section of the first pinned post on Krajewski's personal Instagram account. A fan wrote, "They definitely need to make an animated series about Primer. She could be DC's equivalent to Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur show." Krajewski replied, "Strong agree! And maybe we already are..."

Primer was first released as a graphic novel back in 2020, and introduces a teen artist named Ashley Rayburn who stumbles upon a set of body paints (developed for the military) that, when applied to the wearer, grant them a pretty wild range of special powers (sort of like the opposite of Miss Goldenweek's evil body paint powers in One Piece). There's also an arc in the comics where she wants to join the Teen Titans.

Because Primer is aimed at a middle-grade audience (i.e., 8-12 years old), it's possible that the animated series would differ from the rest of Gunn's very adult projects and be created for a much younger audience, similar to the way Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur show is rated TV-Y7, indicating an audience of ages seven-years-old and up. Given that Gunn likes to spotlight underrated superheroes, a Primer series is not out of the realm of possibility.

Next up for DC is Supergirl, which hits theaters on June 26. For more, check out our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and shows that are currently in the works.

We've heard precious little about DC's Jimmy Olsen spin-off, but a co-showrunner on the upcoming series has broken cover to tease a little about what to expect from Superman's Pal.

Speaking to The Direct, Dan Perrault pointed to his work with fellow showrunner Tony Yacenda on acclaimed Netflix mockumentary American Vandal – among other projects – as a key reason why he's a promising fit for the show, led by Skyler Gisondo.

"We've worked in this crime mystery comedy for a very long time... There's definitely tools from that toolkit that we can apply here that I don't think has been seen in the superhero genre thus far," Perrault said.

Little else is known about Jimmy Olsen's next steps in the DCU, not even the name of the Daily Planet reporter's standalone series.

Perrault remarked, "We were tossing around some names last week. We really like, honestly, multiple of them, but all I can say is that it's not called 'Untitled Jimmy Olsen show.'"

Previously, there had been whispers of a show called 'DC Crime' (supposedly featuring 'reluctant rizz god' Olsen) doing the rounds. That was quickly and definitively debunked by DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn, who said, "There has never been a project called 'DC Crime' in development… I don't know where that [rumor] came from but it's weird."

Elsewhere in Metropolis, Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow is set to begin filming shortly. David Corenswet's Superman, Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor, and Rachel Brosnahan's Lois Lane will be joined by Brainiac actor Lars Eidinger and John Stewart actor Aaron Pierre.

A Supergirl movie is also on the way, with the June 31 release being prefaced by tonnes of Puppy Krypto marketing – not that we're complaining.

For more, check out our guides to upcoming DC movies and DCU Chapter One.

Lanterns co-creator Damon Lindelof has clarified his recent comments poking fun at the 'Green' in Green Lantern.

"I made a dumb joke on a comedy podcast. I’m not going to bob and weave about context, the joke was dumb, the fandom is not. I owe them an explanation and a genuine reflection of my actual feelings," began on Instagram.

While including a throwback to wearing a Green Lantern shirt during 2004's Comic-Con, Lindelof not only walked back his words ("Green is awesome") but paid tribute to those he worked alongside for the DCU series.

"It would be a betrayal to everyone I worked for and alongside to say anything other than I was absolutely honored to be a part of the team that manifested the incredible construct that is Lanterns… because it was," Lindelof wrote. "I was sloppy and careless with my words, ironic considering I care so much about Hal, John and the entire Corps. I can and will do better to be worthy of the oath… until then, I’ll let the show speak for itself and I can’t wait for you all to hear what it has to say."

Speaking on the Lovett or Leave It podcast, Lindelof joked, "It's called Lanterns, cause we all agreed the 'Green' is stupid. So now it's just Lanterns."

That, inevitably, led to an uproar among the Green Lantern community – chief among them comic writer Grant Morrison.

"TV writer/producer Damon Lindelof's comments notwithstanding, the 'Green' in 'Green Lantern(s)' is not 'stupid'," Morrison wrote on their Substack. "Why does a writer attach himself to this kind of narrative if he thinks it's fundamentally 'stupid'? You don't hand CSI scripts to patronising writers who condemn forensics experts and their haircuts as 'stupid', so why hire people who are ashamed and in denial about the comic book material they've been assigned to develop?"

Remarkably, this isn't the first time Lindelof has found himself in hot water with a legendary comic book writer.

Upon starting work on his Watchmen sequel for HBO, Lindelof reached out to creator Alan Moore. Lindelof then posted a five-page open letter on Instagram, detailing his intentions for the series, as well as pre-emptively apologising to Moore.

For his part, Moore revealed years later that he sent a curt reply to Lindelof's overtures.

Moore told GQ, "I explained that I had disowned the work in question, and partly that was because the film industry and the comics industry seemed to have created things that had nothing to do with my work, but which would be associated with it in the public mind. I said, ‘Look, this is embarrassing to me. I don’t want anything to do with you or your show. Please don’t bother me again.'"

Lanterns, meanwhile, is set for release on HBO in August. It stars Aaron Pierre as John Stewart and Kyle Chandler as his reluctant mentor Hal Jordan as they investigate a mystery on Earth. The first trailer was released earlier this month, but proved divisive among fans for its muted color palette.

For more, check out our guide to upcoming DCU movies.

The first trailer for DC's Lanterns has generated mixed reactions from fans of the venerable Green Lantern franchise, and one of the character's biggest name comic writers is joining the chorus of those left unimpressed, as legendary scribe Grant Morrison has weighed in on the side of those who want something less grounded.

Judging by the trailer, Lanterns seemingly eschews much of the Green Lantern's larger-than-life spacefaring elements for a rural murder mystery. Given that Morrison wrote one of the most psychedelic, star-spanning Green Lantern runs, it's not so surprising that they're underwhelmed by the trailer.

"'Green Lanterns' is a much more evocative and dramatic title than 'Lanterns', (just as 'Raise the Red Lantern' is a better movie title than 'Raise the Lantern'), and anyone who can't grasp why that is shouldn't be anywhere near superhero stories," Morrison writes in their newsletter. "The show might even be good, but how much better could this stuff be if studios were willing to hire the right people for the job instead of phoning their embarrassed friends to water the source material down? Hollywood will die of insularity and inbreeding."

Lanterns showrunner Damon Lindelof has offered a bit of tongue-in-cheek explanation for why the name of the show drops the 'Green' from the comic, calling the original name "stupid" on the Lovett or Leave It podcast. "It's called Lanterns, cause we all agreed the 'Green' is stupid," Lindelof quips. "So now it's just Lanterns."

The comment has generated quite a bit of controversy among fans left cold by the trailer's lack of cosmic action. However, it is worth noting that Lindelof seems to be saying this in jest, especially considering he's wearing a green shirt in the clip.

Nonetheless, Morrison gives a voice to many fans' frustrations with the bits of Lanterns we've seen so far, which have framed the story as a far more down-to-earth, buddy cop style narrative.

"TV writer/producer Damon Lindelof's comments notwithstanding, the 'Green' in 'Green Lantern(s)' green is not 'stupid'. Why does a writer attach himself to this kind of narrative if he thinks it's fundamentally 'stupid'? You don't hand CSI scripts to patronising writers who condemn forensics experts and their haircuts as 'stupid', so why hire people who are ashamed and in denial about the comic book material they've been assigned to develop?" Morrison says.

"Why don't they turn down jobs they're not suited for? It's not like he needs the money, and Lindelof has proven that he can come up with his own ideas. What is this jockish dismissal of superhero conventions intended to prove anyway?" they continue. "Does Lindelof imagine it makes him seem less nerdy? It's a bit too late for that, so what's it all about? The only people who give a fuck about the Lanterns TV series are Green Lantern fans. Why alienate them at the start? That feels more like 'stupid'."

We'll have to wait and see just how deep Lanterns dives into the larger Green Lantern mythos. While the trailer has very little in the way of what most fans would expect of a Green Lantern adaptation, James Gunn has proved to be unshy about leaning into the concept of the Green Lantern in the larger DCU through Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner, who had a key supporting role in Superman.

Aaron Pierre's John Stewart is now expected to appear in Gunn's Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow, so I've got a little faith that Lanterns will ramp up to its more usual style across its episodes. That said, I agree with Morrison that it feels like DC in particular should be well past the idea of distancing its in-universe properties from outright superhero elements.

Shows like Marvel's Wonder Man and DC's alt-continuity series Penguin prove that the idea of stripping back the superhero elements on a conceptual level still has legs, but it's a bit different when it's a character like Green Lantern who has a well-established setting in space.

Lanterns premieres in August on HBO Max. While we wait, stay up to date on all the upcoming DC movies and shows that are currently in the works.

James Gunn's Man of Tomorrow is shaping up to have even more DC heroes in the mix as Aaron Pierre has signed on to the Superman sequel, following his leading role as Green Lantern John Stewart in the upcoming Lanterns streaming show.

This makes John Stewart's next appearance official (via Variety), and seemingly confirms that he'll be a full-fledged Green Lantern by the time Lanterns wraps up. The series follows Stewart as he trains to replace Hal Jordan as Earth's protector.

Interestingly enough, the trailer for Lanterns indicates that Hal doesn't know Nathan Fillion's GL Guy Gardner who appears in Superman and who will also show up in Lanterns, so we'll have to find out what that means for the DC Universe.

Man of Tomorrow brings back David Corenswet's Clark Kent/Superman and Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor as unlikely allies working together to stave off an invasion by the villainous Brainiac, played by Lars Eidinger. Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane), Skyler Gisondo (Jimmy Olsen), Sara Sampaio (Eve Teschmacher), Isabela Merced (Hawkgirl), and Maria Gabriella de Faria (The Engineer) round out the cast.

John Stewart makes total sense as the main Green Lantern of the DC Universe (though Guy Gardner is likely to have something to say about it). As a character, John Stewart debuted all the way back in 1972's Green Lantern #87 by legendary creators Denny O'Neil and Neal Adams. But his popularity boomed in the early '00s as the main Green Lantern of the animated Justice League series and its follow up Justice League Unlimited, making him the best known GL to a whole generation of fans.

Lanterns premieres in August on HBO Max. While we wait for Man of Tomorrow to hit theaters on July 9, 2027, you can stay up to date on all the upcoming DC movies and shows that are in the works.

DC has unveiled the first trailer for Lanterns (after it leaked online first…), and fans seem skeptical of the DCU's next small-screen outing.

For one thing, the trailer is overwhelmingly beige in its color scheme – including in its first tease of the Green Lantern suit. There's also not a whole lot of superhero-y business going on.

"Guys, I think we may have been too harsh on Ryan Reynolds Green Lantern suit," one fan wrote on Twitter, referring to the infamous 2011 Green Lantern movie.

In plainer terms, another asked, "Where's the green, dawg."

"They really named him Green Lantern and dressed him like he works at UPS," said someone else.

"This might just be the ugliest and sauceless comic suit ever made," was another person's judgement. Ouch.

Others took a more balanced approach, though. "I'm going to wait and reserve judgment until I see the costume all lit up and on an actor," one fan posted.

"As soon as he puts the ring on. It’ll light bright green, calm down," said another.

The show will follow Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler), a veteran member of intergalactic peacekeeping organization the Green Lantern Corps, as he trains up new recruit John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) while they investigate a murder in Nebraska.

DCU boss James Gunn has previously compared the show to True Detective, which would explain its more grounded feel, and The Leftovers showrunner Damon Lindelof is on board as co-creator.

Lanterns premieres on HBO in August 2026. In the meantime, get up to speed with the rest of the DCU Chapter One with our guide to the other upcoming DC movies and shows on the way.

The first trailer for DC's Lanterns HBO streaming show has now been officially released after leaking early online, and it's more notable for what it doesn't show than what it does. Specifically, there's a serious lack of Green Lantern action in the trailer, with just a few small glimpses that hint at the superhero mythology of the GL Corps.

The trailer focuses on Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) as he attempts to train John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) as his successor while they investigate a strange mystery in a small, rural American town.

Here's the trailer:

It's as disconnected from the spacefaring comic adventures of the Green Lantern as it sounds, with essentially all the footage consisting of Hal and John arguing about whether Hal is washed up while they walk around in plain clothes.

The only hints of the Green Lantern we get are a peek at the ring, which was previously shown in a first look, what appears to be Hal Jordan's uniform (which is far more brown than black and green like the traditional GL costume), and Hal flying without any visible effect from the ring.

It's a little surprising that DC Studio is playing this one so close to the chest, as we've already seen plenty of Green Lantern action thanks to Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner in Superman. In fact, that's been one of the most appealing aspects of the DCU so far - its willingness to dig into the superhero side of its stories without holding anything back.

I'm a little skeptical of Lanterns, going off the trailer. Green Lantern is one of DC's most cosmic heroes, and though Hal and John spend plenty of time on Earth in comics, I'm hoping there's something a little deeper and more fantastic waiting in the wings.

Lanterns premieres on HBO Max sometime this year, though no specific date has been announced. In the meantime, stay up to date on all the upcoming DC movies and shows in the works.

Cristin Milioti's captivating performance as the unhinged Sofia Falcone in The Penguin season one was one of the highlights of a series packed with excellent performances. Despite the show's success with critics and fans alike, even she doesn't know if there will be a Penguin season 2.

"There's no official word on anything. I would love nothing more, truly," Milioti tells actor Topher Grace in a Deadline interview. "I hope. Fingers crossed."

Milioti's performance landed her numerous acting nominations along with wins at the Primetime Emmys and the Critic's Choice Awards. Though Sofia Falcone is ultimately the antagonist of The Penguin, Milioti brings a level of righteous intensity and ultimately relatable urge for vengeance that makes her one of The Batman universe's best characters.

Unfortunately, though Colin Farrell's Oz Cobb/The Penguin does play a role in 2027's upcoming sequel The Batman Part II, Milioti says Sofia Falcone is "definitively not in the film, which is a bummer." It's a bummer indeed, and I'm certainly feeling the sting of the confirmation that Milioti's Sofia Falcone might not get any more screentime.

Fans have been vocal about desiring a second season of The Penguin, but it seems we won't get many updates on whether it's in the cards until after The Batman Part II. The sequel's 2027 release date is also complicating matters for DC Studios' burgeoning DC Universe, which has its own parallel continuity separate from The Batman, as co-CEO James Gunn recently confirmed that they won't be bringing in their own Batman until after the Robert Pattinson-led movie arrives.

While we wait for The Batman Part II, stay up to date on all the upcoming DC movies and shows that are in the works.

James Gunn has confirmed that the upcoming animated Mister Miracle show will be canon to the DCU – and that means supervillain Darkseid is likely on the way.

"This is DCU canon?" one fan asked in response to a now-deleted Mister Miracle post on Threads. "Indeed," Gunn replied.

The show will follow Scott Free, AKA Mister Miracle. In the comics, he's the son of Highfather, the ruler of New Genesis, but was adopted by Darkseid and raised in Apokolips. He eventually escapes Apokolips and heads to Earth, where he becomes Mister Miracle.

Comic book writer Tom King is on board as showrunner, but no one has been cast to voice Scott or his love interest Big Barda yet.

As for Darkseid, a live-action version of the character appeared in the DCEU in Zack Snyder's Justice League. Ray Porter played the supervillain, whose aim is to harness the Anti-Life Equation, which would eliminate hope and free will in the multiverse

An animated version may be the only iteration of Darkseid that we see in the DCU for now, though – or, if he does crossover into live-action, it seems he won't have a major role. "Aspects of Darkseid and Thanos are obviously very similar," Gunn said last year. "They look very similar, and because of that, I think that to give you probably more of an answer than you expected, using Darkseid as the big bad right now is not necessarily the thing, for a lot of reasons."

Mister Miracle doesn't have a release date yet. While we wait for more updates, get up to speed with the rest of the DCU Chapter One with our guide to all the other upcoming DC movies and shows.

When Peacemaker returned to our screens for another season, retcon and all, it also brought back one of the wackiest heroes that James Gunn has ever written – and just when you thought he couldn't get any weirder... Gunn decided to do us a solid and give us two of them.

In the comics, Vigilante is DC's answer to Daredevil: attorney by day, masked crimefighter at night. In the DCU, however, he's more like DC's answer to Deadpool. Adrian Chase is the asexual sociopath to Wade Wilson's overly horny, pure-of-heart hero. Peacemaker season 2 explores the multiverse, with each character meeting their alternate reality counterpart, with some interactions more heartbreaking than others.

The best one, by far, is when Vigilante meets Vigilante-2, and it's this scene that goes down as my favorite joke of 2025 – probably because it's as absurd as it is wholesome, and with a delivery that can't be matched.

We Spider-Man-memed!

In Peacemaker season 2 episode 6, the 11th Street Kids use Adrian Chase's basement (where he has that fun little secret room of his) to open the portal to an interdimensional space known as the Quantum Unfolding Chamber. With the door wide open, Vigilante-2 walks into the secret room. Chase immediately draws his gun, but his counterpart quickly takes off his mask.

Vigilante-2: "It's me! I'm you from another dimension. My keys worked to get in here!"
Vigilante: "Are you fucking kidding me?"

The two then excitedly point at each other and shout, "We Spider-Man-memed!" The reference to the popular Spidey pointing meme means that Spider-Man is recognized as a fictional character in the DCU – and there's something so delightfully nerdy about that. The scene goes on from there, with the two bonding over their interests and talking about what Peacemaker-2 is like... But I've watched the moment of their initial meeting upwards of 50 times.

I know that explaining a joke technically no longer makes it funny... but it's Stroma's delivery of, "Are you fucking kidding me?" that makes this the best joke of the year. It's the quick switch from murder face to sheer delight in just a few seconds – and the way that smile goes teeth first, making it completely and utterly wholesome... which is especially funny given the fact that Vigilante definitely has Antisocial Personality Disorder.

"At the end of the day, James’ writing defines that character," Stroma previously told Gizmodo. " And then when you’re acting, you get to come up with your own inner monologue and try to figure out what it is that Vigilante is really thinking."

"It’s very fun to play a character where you can create anything in your head and see how it fits in with everyone else."

Another Adrian

It's hard to imagine anyone else playing Adrian Chase, especially given the childlike wonder and whimsy Stroma gives to such an R-rated and often ruthless character. As it turns out, the role originally went to Chris Conrad –who you might recognize as Julie's love interest in The Next Karate Kid, or as Johnny Cage in 1997's Mortal Kombat Annihilation. In 2021, it was announced that Conrad had left Peacemaker due to "creative differences," despite filming five episodes – including part of the season finale.

"He's an incredibly talented guy, but we were on different pages about certain things, and I don't think he wanted to continue on the series in the long run," Gunn previously told ScreenRant. Stroma initially came in and re-did the ADR for some of Conrad's masked scenes, before going on to reshoot them completely.

Peacemaker's Vigilante is nothing like the serious, straightforward crimefighter (and district attorney) we know from the DC comics... and thank goodness for that. My favorite Vigilante joke from Peacemaker season 1 is when he and Chris are in the car, and Chris is looking at Adrian's most recent Google searches. "'Taylor Swift sexy butt'?" he reads out loud. Adrian replies, "What? Oh, no, um, that's just because I wanted to see some pictures of her sexy butt." No notes on that delivery.

Honorable mentions:

The Snowman sequence, The Naked Gun: I’m still in disbelief that director Akiva Schaffer had never watched the Jack Frost horror movie where a snowman wields a knife, or the Jack Frost kids movie starring a post-Batman Michael Keaton who enters purgatory as — yep, you guessed it — a snowman.

Erik finds out the truth about his dad, Final Destination Bloodlines: This movie has no business being as funny as it is, but the ad-libbed line, “Is that why he always wanted to play catch?!” gets me every time.

Dreux and Alyssa try to get a loan, One of Them Days: It’s the woman behind the desk who starts laughing hysterically to the point of tears after seeing Dreux’s credit score that makes it one of the best (and sadly one of the most relatable) scenes in the whole film.

A tray of seven hot dogs, Weapons: It's a peculiar number of hot dogs to set out for a small lunch of just three people, sure, but it's also a reference to a Whitest Kids U'Know sketch starring Zach Cregger's late best friend, Trevor Moore.

Peacemaker season 2 is streaming now on HBO Max. For more, check out our list of the best HBO Max shows.

The first teaser for HBO Max's Lanterns has arrived as part of a compilation of the streamer's upcoming releases, and though it's only 11 seconds long, it still manages to squeeze in a bit of thrill ride. Lanterns, based on the Green Lantern Corps, centers on Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) training his successor, John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) to use his power ring. Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner will also appear.

Here's the teaser, which starts at the 1:35 mark:

The all-too-brief clip shows Hal Jordan and John Stewart racing along a mountain road in a car. Hal tells John that he won't be ready to be a full-fledged Green Lantern until the power ring itself decides he is, setting it on the dashboard of the car… then he straight up leaps out of the driver's seat, sending the vehicle straight off a cliff. And that's where the teaser leaves us.

Short though it may be, the Lanterns teaser is remarkably effective. Not only does it show exactly the kind of persona Hal Jordan is - a reckless daredevil - but it also immediately has me wanting to know what happens next. I assume John will be able to use the ring to escape, but I sure do want to see that happen. It also sets up the relationship between Hal and John, establishing the chemistry the pair will have onscreen.

Green Lantern has had a tough record with audiences, with 2011's Ryan Reynolds starring film landing with such a thud among audiences and critics alike that it has essentially become a meme, with Reynolds himself poking fun at the movie.

Lanterns premieres on HBO Max in early 2026. In the meantime, stay up to date on all the upcoming DC movies and shows in the works.

DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has once again taken to the internet to debunk more falsehoods, this time around the upcoming show Lanterns.

After images of Aaron Pierre's John Stewart and Kyle Chandler's Hal Jordan started circulating online, showing both characters using their rings, Gunn confirmed that neither picture is real. "Nope, that's AI," he wrote on Threads, effectively shutting down speculation.

So far, Lanterns only has a first look picture to go off, showing John Stewart and Hal Jordan walking down a road together. A trailer was recently revealed behind closed doors, showing Hal mid-flight, bickering between Hal and John, and a reference to unusual Green Lantern Corps member Ch'p.

Lanterns is officially coming in summer 2026, though a firm release date hasn't been revealed yet.

According to showrunner Chris Mundy, the show is "as much of a buddy cop show as a superhero show." So, we can expect Hal and John's partnership to be the focus.

"Our show is in a lot of ways about replacement – when should someone step aside and when is it time for the next person to take the reins?" Mundy explained. "That push and pull between those two characters is really important. So much of the power that John has is by not taking the bait, understanding that you lose your power if you’re yelling and screaming."

Next up for DC is Supergirl, which arrives on June 26, 2026. While you wait for that and Lanterns, fill out your watchlist with our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and shows.

The first teaser for upcoming DCU series Lanterns has reportedly been revealed behind closed doors, and it mixes a little of what we already know about the Green Lantern show with a sprinkling of James Gunn-style comic book deep cuts.

According to Brazilian outlet Omelete, Lanterns was shown at an HBO Upfront presentation. In the trailer, Aaron Pierre's John Stewart is shown alongside Kyle Chandler's Hal Jordan, but Hal is acting as a "substitute" for the Green Lantern who was meant to be mentoring John.

Described as Western in tone, the trailer also dips into Hal and John's bickering dynamic, as well as showcasing Hal Jordan mid-flight.

In a curious moment, a reference to Green Lantern Corps member Ch'p is dropped. For the uninitiated, Ch'p (who first appeared in 1982's Green Lantern #148) is a squirrel-like alien from the planet H'lven who does battle with extraterrestrial forces, all while wielding the power of the Lantern ring. And we thought Rocket Raccoon was strange.

Lanterns, created by Chris Mundy, Lost's Damon Lindelof, and comic writer Tom King, also stars Kelly Macdonald and Nathan Fillion, who reprises his role as Guy Gardner from this year's Superman.

Speaking about his excitement on Lanterns prior to filming, John Stewart actor Aaron Pierre told GamesRadar+, "What I can tell you is that everyone involved is absolutely elite in their respective fields. Everyone is deeply passionate and wants this to be the very best version of itself...This is such a beloved character and there's such a beautiful energy surrounding the project."

That's some bad news for DCU fans hoping to take flight with this Green Lantern pairing, however. The HBO series has reportedly been delayed until late summer 2026, with Supergirl premiering in theaters next July.

For more on all that and what else is to come in DC Studios' future plans, check out our guide to DCU Chapter One. Then, relive both the DCU and DCEU with our guide on how to watch the DC movies in order.

DC Studios has already introduced one Green Lantern in Superman's Guy Gardner, and as it turns out, fans won't have to wait long to meet even more members of the vaunted Green Lantern Corps as HBO Max has officially set a summer 2026 release window for its Lanterns streaming series.

HBO Max CEO Casey Bloys shared the update in a presentation (via The Wrap), confirming that Lanterns will premiere next summer, though a specific release date has yet to be announced.

Lanterns stars Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre as John Stewart, arguably the two most famous Green Lanterns from comics. The series is said to be something like a superhero version of True Detective, with the two GLs investigating some kind of Earth-bound mystery.

Lanterns is created by showrunner Chris Mundy, known for his work as a producer on True Detective: Night Country, with Damon Lindelof of Lost fame and comic writer Tom King serving as executive producers and co-writers for the show.

In comics, the Green Lantern Corps is a massive intergalactic peacekeeping force with agents patrolling different sectors all across the universe using special rings that create energy constructs based on the thoughts of the user. Hal Jordan, John Stewart, Guy Garder, and Kyle Rayner are the most famous Green Lanterns of Earth, with hundreds of other GL's serving throughout the DC Universe.

Lanterns will run for eight episodes, and is likely to premiere after the release of Supergirl on June 26, 2026. For more, stay up to date on all the upcoming DC movies and shows in the works.

James Gunn's Superman is getting a TV spin-off starring Skyler Gisondo, reprising his movie role as Superman's pal, Jimmy Olsen (via THR). The show will be created by American Vandal showrunners Dan Perrault and Tony Yacenda, with the focus on Jimmy Olsen and the rest of the Daily Planet gang investigating stories involving supervillains.

That said, the aforementioned "Daily Planet gang" reportedly does not include David Corenswet's Clark Kent and Rachel Brosnahan's Lois Lane, which makes sense as they're undoubtedly busy filming Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow. It seems everyone else could be on the table - and I personally wouldn't rule out at least a cameo from Clark and Lois.

The first season of the Jimmy Olsen show will focus on a classic DC villain, Gorilla Grodd. Created all the way back in the early days of the Silver Age DC Universe in 1959's The Flash #106 by writer John Broome and artist Carmine Infantino, Grodd is a super-intelligent gorilla with psychic powers who aims to conquer the hidden kingdom of Gorilla City and then the world.

Jimmy Olsen has often taken a starring role in comics, with his own title, Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, publishing off and on from the '40s until the present day. Jimmy's classic adventures have usually centered on the cub reporter suffering bizarre outcomes from encounters with sci-fi plots, such as temporarily gaining super powers, or becoming a 50-foot-tall man-turtle hybrid kaiju.

With that level of eccentricity potentially on the table, it makes total sense to bring in Grodd, who is one of DC's weirdest cult-favorite villains.

Personally, this is exactly the kind of thing I want to see as a Superman spin-off - a humorous, slightly wacky adventure centered on some of the less obvious corners of the DC Universe. Gisondo also makes sense as a lead for a big budget show thanks to his TV experience, which includes the recently wrapped Righteous Gemstones.

While we wait for more details, make sure to stay up to date on all the upcoming DC movies and shows in the works.

In a potential shake up to the DC slate, it sounds like Lanterns could actually arrive after Supergirl, according to the latest update.

As spotted by the Green Lanterns Podcast, The Hollywood Reporter indicated earlier in October that Supergirl would arrive before Lanterns while discussing Peacemaker season 2. "The finale will mark the last of the Gunn-verse we'll see until June's Supergirl," said the publication's newsletter.

The podcast reached out for clarification, and, according to the email exchange the podcast shared, THR confirmed that Lanterns is now expected after Supergirl.

This is a slight change to what was already known about Lanterns' potential release schedule. In February, James Gunn and his co-CEO Peter Safran indicated that Lanterns would arrive in early 2026, per Deadline. Supergirl is coming on June 26, so it would seem Lanterns has been shifted back by a few months.

Of course, since Lanterns never officially had a release date, this isn't strictly a delay. Things also might shift again, and nothing has actually been confirmed by DC Studios.

Lanterns stars Aaron Pierre as John Stewart and Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan. "Our show is in a lot of ways about replacement – when should someone step aside and when is it time for the next person to take the reins?" showrunner Chris Mundy said recently. "That push and pull between those two characters is really important. So much of the power that John has is by not taking the bait, understanding that you lose your power if you’re yelling and screaming."

While you wait for the next DC project, check out our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and shows to get up to date on absolutely everything that's on the way.

Lanterns may be the next small-screen installment in the DCU, but it's not just a superhero show, says its showrunner.

It's "as much of a buddy cop show as a superhero show," Chris Mundy told Men's Health, which makes sense as it follows Green Lantern Corps double act Hal Jordan and John Stewart, played by Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre. Hal is a veteran peacekeeper, who's training up new recruit John as the pair investigates a murder in Nebraska.

"Our show is in a lot of ways about replacement – when should someone step aside and when is it time for the next person to take the reins?" Mundy continued. "That push and pull between those two characters is really important. So much of the power that John has is by not taking the bait, understanding that you lose your power if you’re yelling and screaming."

Despite the next title in DC Studios' roster, we've seen relatively little of the show in marketing material so far – and DC boss James Gunn recently admitted he didn't know when that would change.

"I've seen the peek, I think, or at least where it is now, but I have no clue when that's planned to be shown. With HBO, my expertise so far as that goes, my knowledge of marketing is primarily based around films," he said. "I'm equally involved with the actual materials that you're seeing for the television shows, but in terms of the scheduling, I'm not as knowledgeable as I am with film."

Lanterns is set to premiere on HBO in early 2026. While we wait for a more specific release date, get up to speed with the rest of the DCU: Chapter One with our guide to the other upcoming DC movies and shows on the way.

With Peacemaker (John Cena) left stranded after his second season, it's onward into the further adventures of the DC Universe, with the Lanterns being the next on the list. Aaron Pierre is wielding the ring of the Green Lantern Corps as John Stewart, accompanied by the greatest of them all, Hal Jordan, played by Kyle Chandler, in the next chapter of the DCU that will be making its way onto HBO Max. Just don't ask the head of DC Studios, James Gunn, when we'll be getting our first glimpse of it, because not even he has the answer.

During an appearance on BobaTalks, Gunn revealed that he had taken a look at the impending adventure with two of the toughest members of the GLC, but couldn't clarify when the rest of the world would.

"I've seen the peek, I think, or at least where it is now but I have no clue when that's planned to be shown. With HBO, my expertise so far as that goes, my knowledge of marketing is primarily based around films. I have a lot of experience going through the marketing of many films and seeing things that work, seeing things that don't work, and I'm so involved in all that," Gunn explained. "I'm equally involved with the actual materials that you're seeing for the television shows, but in terms of the scheduling, I'm not as knowledgeable as I am with film."

But while Gunn couldn't nail down a date as to when these legendary ring slingers would light up in the show's first teaser, he assured that Stewart and Jordan would play a significant part in the DCU beyond the approaching debut season.

"They're important characters, and so that by itself is important, without anything else, just like Peacemaker is an important character, still. And so there's that, but there's also other things that go far into the future in terms of what happens with that show."

That show will be touching down on HBO Max early next year. For every other upcoming DCU story heading our way, check out our detailed list here.

Aaron Pierre, who plays John Stewart in the upcoming DC TV show Lanterns, has given an update on the show.

"We recently wrapped Lanterns. It was an enormous shoot. It was of a grand scale in every sense of the word," Pierre told Esquire, before sharing his gratitude about the experience.

Pierre also shared his thoughts on the Green Lanterns Corps themselves, and just what makes them relatable.

"One of the things that I love the most about the Lantern Corps is that, yes, they are heroes. Yes, they are celebrated and championed as such, but they embrace their flaws in a way that is beautiful. That makes them extremely relatable. We would often have this conversation on set. I feel like, knowing what I know and what we've done with this season, even if I wasn't part of it, I would watch it and say, 'I know those guys. In real life, I know those guys,'" he explained.

"That's a really beautiful thing, that there's an access point to these heroes," he continued. "There are multiple access points to these heroes, because they are flawed and they embrace their flaws and they don't shy away from their flaws. They do their best to redeem themselves actively, consciously. When you watch it, it almost makes you go, 'You know what? If I can just figure out where to get my application, I could be in the Green Lantern Corps. The training would be intense, and the responsibility would be enormous, but I might be able to just apply for this and have a go.' There's just a relatability to it that is beautiful. Hopefully that resonates with everybody."

Along with Pierre, Lanterns will star Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner (returning from Superman and Peacemaker season 2), and Ulrich Thomsen as Sinestro. Other cast members include Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, and Laura Linney.

The show will follow Hal Jordan, who is approaching retirement, as he trains new Lantern Corps recruit John Stewart.

Lanterns is set to release in 2026, along with the next DC movie, Supergirl. You can keep up to date with our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and shows for everything else the studio has in store.

The final episode of Peacemaker season 2 left John Cena's hero in a difficult situation, and now fans are sharing their best theories on how he will survive – and how that might set up not only the show's future, but also the DCU's.

Spoilers for the Peacemaker season 2 ending follow.

The season finale sees Rick Flag Sr (Frank Grillo) finally taking revenge against Peacemaker following the death of his son, Rick Flag Jr, in The Suicide Squad. Earlier in the episode, Rick finally finds a dimension with an Earth-like atmosphere and a planet, nicknamed Salvation, which he will use to remove all metahumans from Earth.

In the final moments, ARGUS kidnaps Chris and uses him as a guinea pig for Salvation. Stuck on this strange new planet, Chris hears monstrous screaming. So, how is he going to survive?

That's the question that DC fans have been trying to answer on Reddit this week. "He's stuck on an entire planet with no suit, no helmet, no powers and surrounded with demon animals… I'm really interested to see what happens on forward from this but I'd like to hear you guys' opinions," wrote a user, prompting hundreds of responses.

Since this is set to be a planet filled with huge monsters, a lot of fans are convinced that Peacemaker "most certainly will befriend some sort of animal/creature" to help him survive. After all, his relationship with his pet eagle Eagly proves he is good with animals. "The prime eagle from that planet will save him, but it is Pterodactyl sized," suggested one Redditor.

"He is gonna be Warlord. Its basically a John Carter of Mars type story with swords and sorcery. I bet that's what they lean into," suggested another one, while others think the hero will have some much-needed help. "I think there will be a insider on Flagg's team that thinks what he is doing is wrong and they will sneak Chris some equipment and supplies," offered a user.

Now, a few Peacemaker fans have plenty of faith in Chris, and believe he will be just fine, even if surrounded by giant monsters. "It's highly likely Auggie had abandoned Chris in the wilderness several times during his childhood and adolescence. Chris knows how to survive," said one, while another replied: "Absolutely this. When we see him again he will have shelter, clothes and some huge monster ribs cooking over a fire."

For more about the DCU's future, check out our guides to upcoming DC movies and DCU Chapter One.

Multifaceted actor and modern-day Elvira David Dastmalchian wants to play Morbius in the MCU, but he also wouldn't mind taking on a couple of spooky-ooky DC villains.

"Since I was a little boy, I always wanted to be a vampire, and I am an actual real vampire, but to play one in, like, a fictional setting that sprung from the pages of a comic book," Dastmalchian tells GamesRadar+ in an exclusive interview at NYCC. The actor, coming hot off playing the Gemini Killer in Dexter: Resurrection and starring as the strangely likable Gurathin in Apple TV's Murderbot, has no intention of taking a break any time soon. "It was either like Tomb of Dracula when I was a kid, or Morbius the Living Vampire. And I always loved Spider-Man, and I was always a big Marvel [fan]."

Dastmalchian's lifelong love of comics has also led him to pen several graphic novels, including DC Horror Presents... #1 and DC Horror Presents: Creature Commandos, and Web of Venomverse: Fresh Brains: #1 and Venom: Black, White, & Blood for Marvel. His most personal project, Through, is set for a March 2026 release.

"What I loved most about Marvel was the heroes, and I just feel like Marvel had some of the coolest antiheroes," Dastmalchian explains. "I just thought figures like Blade, Ghost Rider, and Morbius were just so cool. I just thought DC had the best villains and Marvel had the best heroes. When I was a kid, I used to do my own mash-up comics. And I'd have, you know, like, the Avengers versus the Legion of Doom or the West Coast Avengers versus a bunch of weird DC villains."

"But I think Morbius is, to me, a really interesting metaphor for addiction and some of the more difficult elements when wrestling with the different parts of ourselves psychologically that take over. Especially anger parts, self-destructive parts, or uncontrollable parts of ourselves. So I just thought, I'm not smart enough to be a doctor, but I can play one. That would be a great role. I love vampires. Never in a million years would I have said if I could pick what, you know, what superhero or villain I want to play, that I would ever have picked Polka-Dot Man. I never in a million years would have thought of that character. But then you get to go play some wonderful, beautiful, complex character like that."

We were supposed to meet Morbius in 1998's Blade, as the original ending was meant to set him up as the villain for Blade 2. Ultimately, the Living Vampire wouldn't make his official big screen appearance until 2022, when Jared Leto portrayed the antihero in the critically panned Sony Marvel movie. As it stands, Morbius has yet to be introduced into the MCU, and Dastmalchian has already made his MCU debut as shape-shifting bleep-blorp Veb in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, a role that the actor says helped him "learn a lot about how to act and transform my body." However, Veb does make it out alive at the end of the film...though it's always possible that the actor could play Morbius in another universe that isn't Earth-616.

"I love characters where I get to do lots of prosthetics and makeup, and I always wanted to be Lon Chaney as a kid," he continues. "And James [Gunn] knew that about me when we were doing Polka-Dot Man. That was really cool. It was like Elephant Man with Christmas lights strung throughout his body."

In James Gunn's The Suicide Squad, Polka-Dot Man has a pretty tragic death (after stealing our hearts with his tragic backstory, mind you). Though The Suicide Squad is canon to the new DCU, Gunn has said that any actor who has already appeared in one of his pre-DCU projects can, in fact, go on to play another character. If Dastmalchian can't play Morbius...is there a villain he'd want to play in the DCU?

"There's always been something really appealing to me about Solomon Grundy," the actor says, without any hesitation. "I think that there's this deep dark sadness within that character that is, and he evokes all the stuff that I love about, like, Southern Gothic horror, Halloween. I could see me just charging through Gotham on a dark Halloween night. I think J. Crane is a great fucking character who's the flip side of all the work that I care about when it comes to psychology and psychiatry. And imagine taking that and manipulating it for your own benefit."

Solomon Grundy (who first appeared in All-American Comics #61 back in 1944) is a reanimated corpse who comes back to life after being thrown into Slaughter Swamp. He's a classic Golden Age villain...who became a popular internet meme because of a Cartoon Network edit of a Super Friends episode where he angrily demands a new pair of pants. Dr. Jonathan Crane, aka Scarecrow, was portrayed by none other than Cillian Murphy in Batman Begins. If we're thinking in terms of universes, Solomon Grundy seems like more of a fit for the campier, David Corenswet-led DCU, with Scarecrow fitting more into Elseworlds, which is the universe that Robert Pattinson's Batman and Colin Farrell's Penguin coincide in. I say we petition Gunn to let Dastmalchian do both.

"Sometimes I'm like, there's no way I'm ever gonna get to be in another superhero thing, 'cause I've gotten to do so much fun stuff in all the worlds, but you never say never," he continues. "You never know what could happen. Think about what Doug Jones did with Abe Sapien [in 2004's Hellboy], and I'd love to take a crack at Abe."

Dastmalchian has a plethora of non-superhero-related projects coming up, including Netflix's live-action One Piece series, as well as Legendary's live-action Street Fighter movie. In One Piece, the actor portrays wax-wielding villain Mr. 3, who is able to turn living humans into terrifying wax statues. In Street Fighter, Dastmalchian plays none other than M. Bison, the video game franchise's main antagonist and the megalomaniac at the center of powerful criminal organization Shadaloo. Not to mention Dust Bunny, directed by Bryan Fuller, had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September. Needless to say, the actor – and part-time talk show host – is booked and busy. A new season of Grave Conversations, where Dastmalchian interviews everyone from Hollywood darlings like Matthew Lillard and Joel McHale to filmmakers Mike Flanagan (and, of course, James Gunn) about their end-of-life plans, is getting ready to hit YouTube soon.

One Piece season 2 is set to hit Netflix sometime in 2026, while Street Fighter is slated for an October 16, 2026 release date. For more, check out our list of the best Netflix shows to stream right now.

DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has responded to criticism of the divisive Peacemaker season 2 finale.

After being asked by a fan on Threads whether he had seen the criticism of the finale and the show, the terminally online Gunn replied, "Definitely! Not everyone can love everything. I love the episode but I understand not everyone does, which is completely fair."

Currently sitting at a series-low 6.7/10 rating on IMDb, the Peacemaker season 2 finale was derided by viewers for its lack of big-time reveals, while also racing through certain character arcs.

As a counterpoint, Gunn also wrote on Threads, "I don't get that people don't think there aren't big reveals here, including Checkmate and Salvation."

As the writer-director alluded to, the Peacemaker season 2 ending was filled with various setups that made good on Gunn's claim that the season was a "prequel" to 2027's Man of Tomorrow. Not least of all is the emergence of Salvation, an alternate dimension that Rick Flag Sr. plans to use to house all of Earth's metahumans.

In a recent Q&A, Gunn won't expect fans to know all of that going into the Superman sequel. He said (via Variety), “I’m not expecting people to go into Man of Tomorrow and know what Salvation is. You’ll find out anything you need to know about metahumans disappearing through that movie.”

Next up for the DCU is Supergirl, which hits cinemas on June 26, 2026. For more, check out our guides to upcoming DC movies and DCU Chapter One.

There were several big-name cameos in Peacemaker season 2, but there was one that you almost definitely didn't spot: Peacemaker writer-director James Gunn sneaking into the background of one pivotal scene.

In a crowd scene at Foxy Shazam's concert during a Peacemaker season 2 ending montage, you might notice the distinctive grey hair and glasses of a certain director. Thankfully, a Twitter user managed to capture the moment for posterity, which you can see below for yourself.

This isn't just an extra who happens to look like James Gunn, either. The DC Studios co-CEO confirmed it was him on the latest episode of Peacemaker: The Official Podcast, while Economos actor Steve Agee and the two members of the band Nelson were also milling about in the scene.

"I just said, 'Come on guys, let's all come out.' The whole crew came out there, a lot of our PAs went out there. We were all just dancing around."

Gunn also presciently noted, "If you look in the very back, somebody might be able to freeze frame and find us back there."

Peacemaker season 2 also featured a cameo from Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor ahead of his reappearance in Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow. In the HBO Max series, he entered into an uneasy partnership with Rick Flag Sr., a move that ultimately led to John Cena's Peacemaker being stranded on the alternate dimension of Salvation, a would-be prison for all of Earth's metahumans.

Discover more about the DCU with our guides to upcoming DC movies and DCU Chapter One.

The finale of Peacemaker season 2 is here, and it sets up the next chapter for Chris Smith and his allies with some plot developments that directly reference comics. We'll get into what happened and how it ties into DC's comic history, but first, be warned that we'll be getting into major spoilers for Peacemaker season 2, episode 8.

Turn back now if you want to avoid Peacemaker season 2 spoilers

For those still with us, here's what went down. Teaming up with Luthor (who is working from behind the scenes), Rick Flag Sr. manages to use Peacemaker's Quantum Unfolding Tunnel to find an alternate dimension that seems inhabitable for humans.

Revealing that it's all a plan to build an extra-dimensional prison for metahumans by sending them to another world, Flag unveils his name for the newly discovered dimension: "Salvation."

Salvation Run

For longtime DC comic readers, that immediately calls to mind the 2007-2008 comic limited series Salvation Run by writers Bill Willingham and Lilah Sturges and drawn by artists Sean Chen, Walden Wong, Joe Bennett, and Belardino Brabo.

In Salvation Run, Lex Luthor, the Joker, and many of DC's top villains are sent to a far-off planet that is survivable to humans by Amanda Waller and Rick Flag Jr. Through the course of the story, a Lord of the Flies style drama unfolds in which cliques are formed, brutal conflicts ensue, and mysteries are discovered across the planet.

There's another twist - hiding among the villains in the guise of Batman villain Blockbuster is none other than Martian Manhunter, the shapeshifting Justice League mainstay who DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has also heavily hinted is already lurking somewhere in the DC Universe.

Ultimately, it turns out that the planet the villains have been sent to isn't a simple, uninhabited world - it's a training ground for the minions of Darkseid, the megalomaniacal ruler of Apokalips.

When an army of Darkseid's vicious Parademons arrive, Luthor winds up rallying the villains to work together to take them down and use their Boom Tube technology to portal home.

Is Darkseid on the way?

Though Gunn has stated that, while he's taking inspiration from Salvation Run, he doesn't necessarily plan to adapt its specific plot points, it's hard not to imagine what may be possible, especially with the potential that Martian Manhunter may be in the mix.

And with Peacemaker seemingly left to his own devices with some kind of monsters closing in, we already know there's something sinister lurking on Salvation.

There's also the possibility that Peacemaker's Quantum Unfolding Chamber is actually related to Boom Tube technology, the portal system used by Darkseid and the other New Gods, both villainous and heroic, to traverse between worlds.

The fact that it actually does cause a kind of booming explosion whenever it's activated could be a clue to its nature. Meanwhile, in Salvation Run, a Boom Tube is the exact method of conveyance used to transport the villains to their prison planet.

And of course, there's the impending Mister Miracle animated series which will deal directly with Darkseid and the New Gods, so they're certainly floating around in the margins of the new DC Universe.

Whatever happens next, it's looking like the next chapter in Peacemaker's story will involve trying to survive among metahuman villains on a hostile alien world. While we wait to find out more, stay on top of all the upcoming DC movies and shows in the works.

James Gunn had long teased that there would be major cameos in the Peacemaker season 2 finale, but this one probably would have broken the internet.

As revealed to IGN and other assembled press during a recent virtual press conference, one of the locked doors in the Quantum Unfolding Chamber would have seen a certain fourth-wall-breaking Marvel character pop up for an unlikely crossover.

"Yeah, I wanted them to open the door and see Deadpool in a room," Gunn said. "I talked to Ryan Reynolds about it and we’d have had to go through some pretty, pretty big hoops to do that. He wanted to do it."

Gunn joked, "That’s all anybody’s going to talk about now is fucking Deadpool in the other room."

The MCU's Merc with a Mouth may not have appeared in the DC Studios project, but there was plenty else to discuss during the Peacemaker season 2 ending – including some surprising setup for Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow.

One moment in particular involved John Cena's Peacemaker being trapped in 'Salvation', an alternate dimension that will be used to contain some of Earth's most powerful and deadliest metahumans.

That certainly came as a gut-punch after Chris reconciled with Harcourt and formed a new agency, Checkmate, with his found family. Gunn himself even revealed that was the original endpoint for the second season, but a conversation with DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran ultimately made him include the scene involving Peacemaker's kidnapping and incarceration. Maybe Deadpool could lend him a hand?

For more, here's what Gunn has to say about the chances of Peacemaker season 3. Then take a look ahead to what's next in the DCU with our guide to upcoming DC movies.

Waiting for Peacemaker season 3? James Gunn seemingly has some bad news, but does confirm John Cena's character is still a major part of the DCU's future. [Update: the previously deleted quotes are now back online]

During a recent press conference interview with Gunn (via Deadline), the DC co-CEO and Peacemaker creator made it clear that, if Peacemaker season 3 ever happens, it won't be anytime soon. "No, this is about the wider DCU and other stories in which this will play out right now," Gunn said. "That doesn’t mean that there won’t be. I don’t want to never say never, but right now, no, this is about the future of the DCU. It’s an important character."

Whatever the future holds, right now it appears that a third season of the HBO Max series isn't in the works. Previously, Gunn had confirmed there were immediate plans for Peacemaker over the horizon in the DCU.

Now, that's been upgraded over on Threads to Chris Smith being "instrumental" to the next story Gunn is trying to tell, which appears to be a loose adaptation of DC miniseries Salvation Run, a Lord of the Flies-esque adventure involving several villains vying for survival on a hostile planet called Salvation.

Whatever happens next, it's clear that the Peacemaker season 2 ending will roll directly into the Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow. After all, we can't imagine Lex Luthor – who is confirmed to appear in the 2027 movie – will be all too pleased with Rick Flag's plans, nor would a certain Last Son of Krypton…

For more on DCU's (confirmed) plans, we have a complete guide to DCU Chapter One: Gods and Monsters. Then, discover what James Gunn had to say when we asked him about DC's video game plans.

James Gunn says Peacemaker season 2 wasn't going to end with the Salvation twist, but one conversation made him change his mind.

Spoilers for the Peacemaker season 2 ending follow. You have been warned.

As revealed on the final episode of Peacemaker: The Official Podcast, the season 2 finale originally ended with the Checkmate reveal. As the 11th Street Kids – complete with Eagly, Fleury, Judomaster, and Sasha Bordeaux – walked out of their new agency in triumphant fashion, things were looking bright for the DCU's new covert group.

"The first draft ended there. I gave it to [DC Studios co-CEO] Peter Safran and I said, 'I had another thing I wrote that I put on the ending' and he's like, 'What?'" Gunn recalled.

From there, a final final scene was added, which sees John Cena's Chris Smith kidnapped by Rick Flag Sr. and ARGUS. As revenge for his son, Rick Flag Jr. (check out The Suicide Squad for a slightly non-canon explanation of what went down there), Rick banishes Chris to Salvation, a world designed to keep metahumans away from meddling in Earth's affairs. As the door to the dimension evaporates, Chris is left alone – or so he thinks. In the distance, a fearsome growl gets his attention..

"We knew Salvation was a part of our future, I didn't know I was going to put it here – we knew it was part of the DCU plan. I told him what it was and [Peter] goes, 'Oh, you've gotta put that in there."

What that means for Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow and beyond is anyone's guess, though Gunn has previously described Peacemaker season 2 as a "prequel" to the 2027 film and makes reference in the podcast to Salvation being the "beginning" of a larger DCU arc.

For more, check out our guides on DCU Chapter One and upcoming DC movies.

The latest Peacemaker season 2 post-credit scene has left fans a bit shocked, but the moment could have gone further if James Gunn hadn't intervened. The DC Studios boss has revealed there was an even "worse" version of the scene that we will (hopefully) never get to see.

In this week's post-credits scene, the DC show briefly returns to Superman's Sydney Happersen (played by Stephen Blackehart) in the lab, where he is still surrounded by guards.

"You may want to turn around," he warns them. "I'm gonna use my spare time here to get back on PornHub. I'm about to drown this whole keyboard." When the guard doesn't respond, Happersen adds, "Your funeral." He then proceeds to spit on his hands and finishes off by saying, "Showtime!"

Commenting on the episode live on Threads, Gunn said of the Peacemaker season 2 scene: "Truly the foulest post-credits ever. And it was way, way worse before I cut it down!"

He didn't offer more details about what was left out of the scene or what the previous version looked like. But, honestly, we'd rather not play scenarios in our heads. We recommend you don't either.

The DC series starring John Cena returned to the small screen last August, following the success of Superman in cinemas over the summer. Now, there's only one episode left of the new season, and its final trailer promises to feature game-changing events for the DCU. The new batch of episodes has surprised fans every week, from that unexpected alternate dimension twist to Nicholas Hoult's cameo as Lex Luthor.

Peacemaker season 2 will wrap this Thursday on HBO Max in the US and Sky/NOW in the UK on Friday. For more, check out our Peacemaker season 2 release schedule and see our guide to DCU Chapter One to see everything Gunn has in store for us.

Next up in the DCU is Supergirl, which is flying to cinemas on June 26, 2026.

Peacemaker season 2 has been promising serious multiversal mayhem since its very first episode, when Chris stumbled across a reality where his father was still alive. Now, the promo for the upcoming finale has confirmed we'll be encountering a whole bunch of different worlds before the chapter closes out – and some of them look more inviting than others...

The trailer, which you can watch above, opens with Peacemaker (John Cena) in prison, after giving the Quantum Unfolding Chamber's gateway device to Flag Sr (Frank Grillo) and giving himself up at the end of the previous installment. "There's some people here who wanna visit," a guard tells him, handing Peacemaker a note with the names Emilia Harcourt, Leota Adebayo, Adrian Chase, and John Economos on it.

"I don't wanna see anyone," the eponymous anti-hero replies gruffly. "I'm the Angel of F***ing Death."

Elsewhere, Flag is unrolling a full-scale operation to explore the dimensions behind the doors at the QUC. We get glimpses of a candy-themed world that wouldn't look out of place in Willy Wonka's chocolate factory before seeing a burning hellscape ruled over by giant spiders with human skulls on their backs. I know which one I'd rather pay a visit.

"Do we even know what we're looking for?" Economos (Steve Agee) says to Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) in a later scene. "Resources, new ground for overpopulation..." she replies.

"When has anything we've ever done actually been for the good of the people?" Economos answers back, as Harcourt looks down at the floor in guilt. Looks like we're in for some emotional drama on top of the sci-fi shenanigans.

Peacemaker airs every Thursday on HBO Max in the US and Sky/NOW in the UK. Never miss an episode with our Peacemaker season 2 release schedule or for more, check out our guide to DCU Chapter One.

DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has shared that he checked in with Adebayo actor Danielle Brooks ahead of the big Peacemaker season 2 twist.

If you're up to date on the show, then you'll know that (spoiler alert!) in episode 6, it was revealed that the seemingly idyllic alternate universe Chris has escaped to is, in fact, Earth X – a version of reality where the Nazis won World War 2.

The twist is revealed in a horrifying moment where multiple people on the street, including Chris's brother Keith, begin chasing after Adebayo because she's Black. At the same time, Chris discovers an American flag with a swastika in the corner.

"Listen, we're dealing with a very sensitive subject. We're dealing with racism and at the same time, there's humor in this episode," Gunn told GQ. "And so, you're dealing with something very delicate and yet we're not being delicate about it – but I don't think we're not being delicate in a non-thoughtful way. I think we're being thoughtful about it. When I was first writing the episodes and I first finished the episode, I sent it to Danielle Brooks and we had a big conversation. I wanted to make sure she was okay with everything."

The biggest clue that something isn't right is the fact that the entire cast, including background actors, are white on Earth X. The twist was heavily theorized in the run-up to the episode, to the point that Jennifer Holland, who plays Emilia Harcourt, had the plot point guessed to her face in the middle of an interview (and kept an admirably straight face).

The show continues weekly, and you can keep up to date with our Peacemaker season 2 release schedule. For more, check out our Peacemaker season 2 review for our verdict on the show, or see everything the DCU has in store with our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and shows.

Thanks to The Fantastic Four: First Steps, we know that Marvel Comics exists in the MCU. Apparently, Marvel also exists in James Gunn's new cinematic DC Universe, and the DC Studios co-CEO even has an idea of who would have directed his films in that reality.

In a conversation with Brandon Davis, Gunn confirms that Peacemaker season 2 episode 6's reference to the "Spider-Man meme" when Vigilante meets his alt-reality self is indeed a somewhat joking hint that the Marvel Universe exists as a fictional concept within the DC Universe.

Still, Gunn says that he himself does not - and that another director entirely would have directed the Guardians of the Galaxy films in the DCU.

"No. I think Edgar Wright directed Guardians of the Galaxy, and he did a better job than me," Gunn laughs.

At the same time, Gunn made reference to the character Batman in the Guardians of the Galaxy Christmas Special, meaning that he's also responsible for the existence of a fictional DC Universe with the MCU, making a spiritual (if somewhat tongue-in-cheek) crossover between the Big Two superhero film studios.

"I've created DC in the Marvel Universe. And I've created Marvel within the DC Universe," Gunn says. "Pretty Cool."

The tradition of unofficial crossovers between DC and Marvel Comics goes back to the late '60s, when the Avengers fought a group called the Squadron Sinister (later the Squadron Supreme) comprised of thinly veiled pastiches of the Justice League, while around the same time, the Justice League took on a team known as the Champions of Angor (later renamed the Retaliators) who were based on the Avengers.

The companies have had some official crossovers over the years, all the way back to the first Superman/Spider-Man crossover comic in 1981, with crossovers continuing through the '90s. This spurred a series of Marvel Vs. DC limited series, as well as 2003's JLA/Avengers, a crossover that was first proposed back in the early '80s.

Marvel and DC are actually in the midst of a crossover right now, with Batman and Deadpool headlining a pair of anthology comics that include multiple back-up stories featuring further meetings between other heroes from each respective universe.

Peacemaker is currently releasing new episodes weekly on HBO Max. Stay up to date on everything you need to know about all the upcoming Marvel movies and shows and upcoming DC movies and shows.

James Gunn has given a cryptic tease about the future of the DCU – and it seems like DC Studios is showing no signs of slowing down behind the scenes.

"Right now, there's actually two really cool film scripts that I'm hoping to take to the next level that we have general plans for, and I'm excited about both of those," Gunn said in a new interview with GQ.

"And then I'm excited about one TV project in particular. I don't know why we're not greenlighted on that already – it's just figuring out the budget. So there's a couple of things that are very present that I'm excited about. Dealing with getting Supergirl into shape, all these other things."

On the big screen, Supergirl and Clayface movies are currently set to be released next year, and Superman not-a-sequel Man of Tomorrow will follow in 2027. There are also plenty of other films that have been announced but are still in development, so one of these could be the scripts Gunn is referring to: there's Batman flick The Brave and the Bold, The Authority, Swamp Thing, and a Wonder Woman movie, to name just a few.

As for small screen fare, Peacemaker spin-off Waller and Wonder Woman prequel Paradise Lost are currently in development, as well as animated shows about Blue Beetle and Mister Miracle.

With so many announced projects seemingly stalling with little to no updates since the DCU Chapter One slate was first unveiled back in January 2023, let's hope this is a sign that some of those movies and shows might finally be moving a step closer to hitting our screens.

The latest installment in the DCU is Peacemaker season 2, which is airing weekly on HBO Max in the US and NOW in the UK. Make sure you never miss an episode with our Peacemaker season 2 release schedule or, for more, check out our Peacemaker season 2 review.

With Marvel Zombies out on Disney+, hot on the heels of Eyes of Wakanda, one thing is clear: Marvel’s animation output, at least the way it’s rolling out right now, isn’t working. And if Marvel wants it to start working, one clear place they could look for inspiration isn’t to the MCU, which is dealing with its own problems… It’s to DC’s animated output, instead.

This isn’t necessarily a knock on quality. Eyes of Wakanda had some interesting ideas, beautiful animation, and great voice acting. Marvel Zombies is a belated but fun continuation of the What If…? Season 1 episode, with some truly gross zombie moments and a dark ending that doesn’t hold back from the disturbing depths of the genre.

But overall, Marvel Studios’ animated output has been sporadic, at best. Other than three seasons of What If…?, there’s just not much that has come out from the studio on any sort of consistent basis. The first season of X-Men ‘97 thrilled fans back in 2024, but as of now, the release date for a second season is TBA (not to mention the behind-the-scenes turmoil caused by the firing of showrunner Beau DeMayo). Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man was also well-received earlier this year, and is also TBA on when the second season will premiere (though likely some time in 2026, and a third season has been picked up, as well).

While anticipation was high for Marvel Zombies when it was announced in 2019, and Eyes of Wakanda in 2021, both turned out to be four-episode series, released in one day, after hopping around the schedule multiple times. We won’t get too in the weeds here about binge drops versus weekly releases, but announcing three different release dates in the span of a few weeks for Eyes of Wakanda, and then shunting Marvel Zombies from a spooky October date to late September doesn’t exactly suggest Disney/Marvel were confident in either series.

Out of sight

There’s likely a good reason for this: the shows aren’t being viewed that much. Disney Plus generally doesn’t share streaming numbers for its shows unless they do really well, by whatever standards they’re judging them on. And none of the Marvel animated series, even the breakthrough hit X-Men ‘97, have popped up on Nielsen’s Top 10, which ranks shows independent of Disney’s self-reported “numbers.” Point being, though we don’t know by what standard Disney considers a show a success, we do know that exactly zero of the animated shows put out by Marvel Studios Animation have been a runaway success in terms of TV viewership.

So what’s a studio to do? They could keep plugging away, the way they have been, but it clearly isn’t working in a sustainable way to hold on to viewers, or to help spur excitement about the animated output. But rather than looking at them as failures, there’s a glimmer of hope in Marvel Zombies and Eyes of Wakanda. Both were, laudably, episodic TV shows that leaned into the format, telling an overarching story while also giving us clear, 30ish-minute stories. But even as they did lean into a four-act structure, there’s an argument to be made that they might have been more successful and less confusing in terms of roll-out as direct-to-Blu-Ray/streaming animated movies.

Disc world

To be clear, Marvel has done this before. From 2006 to 2011, eight direct-to-home-video movies were released, including titles like Ultimate Avengers, Planet Hulk, and Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow. The mostly PG-13 movies had a mixed critical response but generally did well enough financially – the final movie, Thor: Tales of Asgard, was the lowest-grossing at a reported $3.1 million. But you can probably intuit what happened with the program: 2008 led to the rise of the MCU, and other film properties fell by the wayside.

Contrast that with DC’s animated direct-to-home video program, which has been thriving for nearly two decades. While DC and Warner Bros. have a healthy TV series animated slate as well, they’ve cultivated a healthy fanbase for their movies. Some of those have been originals, like the recently released Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires. But far more have been direct or loose adaptations of some of the greatest DC Comics storylines of all time, like Watchmen, Batman: The Long Halloween, Dark Knight Returns, and many, many more.

What works about these DC features is two things: one is the regularity of their release, and the other is the low-key nature of the films themselves. On the former, since 2007, there have been three animated movies released a year from the division, and starting in 2019, that has increased to four a year. On the back end, that allows multiple projects to be in the air at the same time. And not to get all corporate, but for viewers, it keeps the product rolling out with regularity, versus one season of a TV series every few years. Even if you’re not interested in one of the movies, there’s another one on the way a few months later.

But it’s the latter point that is arguably more important to the future of Marvel Studios Animation. Sure, there are hyped up releases from DC such as the three-part (and generally maligned) Crisis on Infinite Earths adaptation. But for the most part, there’s a relaxed nature to the release of these movies that takes a bit of the pressure off each one individually. They’re the sort of movies you casually flip on, on a Friday night, rather than appointment viewing. Contrast that with Eyes of Wakanda or Marvel Zombies, which are framed as appointment viewing, but keep changing the appointment date. It’s discouraging, rather than encouraging.

Keep it classic

There’s an opportunity here to realign the way Marvel is dealing with its animated output based on the fact that the strategy, and the whole of the MCU, isn’t really working right now. Yes, having one big connected story worked for 15 years. But now, nobody is going to mind if Marvel keeps plugging away at the live-action movies, while aping what DC has been doing on the animated side. Specifically, just like DC, there are innumerable classic Marvel Comics storylines that would be great for an adaptation – and weren’t burned off during the earlier, Lionsgate era of direct-to-DVD movies.

How about an adaptation of the Spider-Man story, Kraven’s Last Hunt? Or an Iron Man Demon in a Bottle animated movie? Heck, you could even do a more direct adaptation of Infinity Gauntlet, or the Winter Soldier storyline from Captain America and get those MCU lookie-loos, while having an entirely different story than that seen in the live-action movies. And in between those, you could also have more original stories like Marvel Zombies and Eyes of Wakanda, with the pressure taken off. With this sort of plan, rather than dropping four episodes of Eyes of Wakanda every few years, Marvel's animated output could benefit from a more regular TV release schedule.

So, how about it, Marvel: let’s get back to the era of animated movies, versus struggling to release animated shows. Your fans and your animators will thank you. Oh, and please announce the release date for X-Men ‘97 Season 2 while you’re at it.

Marvel Zombies is streaming now on Disney Plus. For more, check out our Marvel Zombies review, or if you've seen the streaming series, dive into our Marvel Zombies ending explained.

Filmmaking may look easy, but you often forget just how many moving parts directors have to keep track of. Case in point: an unlikely continuity issue reared its ugly head on the latest episode of Peacemaker season 2 – and it involves drugs. Lots of drugs.

Spoilers for Peacemaker season 2, episode 6 follow.

Prior to Harcourt, Adebayo, Vigilante, and John Economos' foray into what we now know as Earth-X, the gang heads to Vigilante's hideout in his parents' basement. There, they find the mother of all Beanie Baby collections and a cocaine bust that would make most police departments weep.

Unfortunately for the team, they end up with plenty of the powder all over their clothes. That became even more of an issue for Peacemaker creator and director James Gunn. As revealed in his blow-by-blow account of the episode on Threads, it became somewhat tricky to keep track of.

"Keeping the proper amount of cocaine on the actors for the rest of the episode was a major pain in the ass," Gunn revealed. Economos actor Steve Agee even shared a photo of himself posing alongside bricks of 'cocaine' on-set, quipping, "James Gunn let Jennifer Holland and I keep most of the cocaine."

DC's liberal use of the white stuff is a marked contrast to Marvel. Infamously, Kevin Feige wanted a mention of cocaine removed from Deadpool and Wolverine. Of course, director Shawn Levy and star Ryan Reynolds turned that mandate on its head for a fourth-wall-breaking gag.

"We went home and literally wrote the joke about Feige requesting no cocaine, and it became one of the first jokes that we wrote," Levy said on the Happy Sad Confused podcast.

For more on all things DC, check out our guides to DCU Chapter One and upcoming DC movies.

Then get more out of the ongoing season of Peacemaker with our breakdowns of Peacemaker season 2 Easter eggs and Peacemaker season 2 post-credits scenes.

After Peacemaker season 2 episode 6's big Superman cameo, fans are wondering whether the DCU could already be going the way of the MCU and making its TV shows "homework."

Last week's installment of the show saw Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor make a cameo after Rick Flag Sr. pays him a visit at Belle Reve. The pair make a deal: the ARGUS boss will transfer him to a prison with no metahumans if Lex can provide him with equipment to help him catch Peacemaker.

"Peacemaker is officially homework!" wrote one fan on Twitter. "It's just funny seeing the hypocrisy. Of course they're going to inform the audience about what happened in the shows and movies in between. Just like how Marvel informs viewers of what happens in between their shows and movies. But hey, it's 'homework', right?"

"Bro didn't even have two movies out before starting going the route that killed the mcu. Let see how long it takes," someone else replied.

"But the thing is that homework is not supposed to be good," another fan argued. "If it’s all connected and all good, then it’s enjoyable why would it be seen as homework."

"Showing the context for 'he made a deal with Argus while he was in prison' is pretty different from setting up 2/3 of The Marvels in 2 separate TV shows and making people think Secret Invasion will also be important," added someone else, referring to WandaVision and Ms. Marvel introducing two of the main characters in 2023's The Marvels.

Homework or not, there are more DC cameos to come before Peacemaker season 2 wraps up – which we know thanks to James Gunn letting it slip during the Superman director's commentary.

Peacemaker season 2 is releasing weekly on HBO Max in the US and NOW in the UK. Make sure you never miss an episode with our Peacemaker season 2 release schedule or, for more on the DCU Chapter One, check out our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and shows.

It turns out Peacemaker season 2 didn't find a particularly inventive way to reference a Creature Commandos character after all.

The following will contain spoilers for the latest episode, so turn back now if you're not up to date!

In episode 6, Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor makes a cameo in Belle Reve prison, meeting with Frank Grillo's Rick Flag Sr. During the scene, Lex says – and excuse our language – he's "listening to a bear-sized man with dragon skin butt-fucking a glowing twink with cartoon eyes in a cell beside me every night."

Many DC fans guessed the glowing cartoon eyes belonged to none other than Creature Commandos character Doctor Phosphorus, but James Gunn has debunked the speculation. "It definitely isn't Phos," Gunn wrote on Threads, without offering up an additional clue about who this person might be – if indeed it's anyone we know at all.

It looks like Lex won't be behind bars for long, though, as he'll be making an appearance in Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow. From what Gunn has hinted so far, Lex will have to team up with his nemesis, Superman, to fight Braniac. How that works out is anyone's guess.

In the meantime, Peacemaker is continuing weekly, and you can check out our Peacemaker season 2 release schedule to keep up to date (especially since that huge twist left us all on an agonizing cliffhanger).

For even more on the show, check out our Peacemaker season 2 review, or just check out our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and shows for everything that's on the way at a glance.

Matthew Lillard wants James Gunn to put him in the DCU – and we are so here for it.

"I have wanted to be in a superhero world. I've wanted to be in [DCU]. If anyone's curious: if you run into James Gunn, tell him I'm available," Lillard told the crowd at Los Angeles Comic Con (via ScreenRant), after confirming his upcoming appearance in Daredevil: Born Again season 2. "James Gunn wrote Scooby-Doo 1 and 2; he's one of my dear friends. I keep waiting for that invitation. I don’t know if it’s lost in the mail."

Continued Lillard: "Playing a superhero...to be in that world...The stakes are really high. I like really high stakes. I'm not really the guy you hire for an office drama."

Gunn wrote the first-ever live-action Scooby-Doo movie, which hit theaters in 2002, and its 2004 sequel, Monsters Unleashed. Lillard plays none other than Shaggy Rogers, member of the Mystery Gang and Scoob's owner and best friend. After taking some time off from the character, Lillard signed on to become the main voice actor for Shaggy following the death of legendary actor Casey Kasem (who originated the voice of Shaggy as well as Robin/Dick Grayson in the first-ever animated Batman series) in 2009.

There's still no news as to who Lillard will be playing in Daredevil: Born Again, though the appearance does make him part of the MCU. However, Lillard implied during the LACC panel that his character is not a superhero, saying, "I don't wear any Lycra. I know you're sad." It also sounds like the actor, who is known for his extremely wide acting range, wants a bigger, proper superhero role in the DCU – with fans noting that he would be a pretty great Riddler.

Lillard returns as William Afton in Five Nights at Freddy's 2, which hits theaters on December 5. Daredevil: Born Again hits Disney Plus in March 2026.

For more, check out our list of all the upcoming DC movies and shows you need to know about.

If only there were a character specially designed to kill Nazis making a surprise appearance in the final two episodes of Peacemaker season 2. That'd sure be handy, wouldn't it? Well, unfortunately, James Gunn has broken the bad news to Entertainment Weekly after this week's episode that Nazi-killing, GI Robot, who Sean Gunn voiced in the animated series, Creature Commandos, won't be acting on his primary function any time soon, as much as we'd love to see him do so.

"The answer to that question, which, this is going to be all anybody talks about from this interview, is yes, but not necessarily when you think you're going to see him," Gunn explained. "So not necessarily in Peacemaker season 2."

The hope for the character's appearance stems from the shocking twist ending, which revealed that Christopher Smith's (John Cena) plans to start anew on a different Earth have crumbled after learning that this other reality is actually Earth X, a universe where the Nazis won World War II and continued to take over the world. It's why there are swastikas on flags where stars should be, and why Peacemaker's best friend, Adebayo (Danielle Brooks), is now running for her life, having been the only person of color to have wandered into this world clueless to what's happening.

For those who have been keeping a close eye on the show, however, some caught on pretty quickly what the big difference was between this world and our own, and for Gunn, it was something he anticipated early on. "It makes sense. I knew that that was a likely possibility. It's interesting, I showed a lot of people the whole season, people of all different ethnicities, and not a single person noticed it. So when [episode] 6 came, they flipped the fuck out. But everybody that discusses the show online already knew because either they clocked it or someone else clocked it."

So now the truth is out, we can only hope that Smith and the rest of the 11th Street Gang make it out alive as season 2 of Peacemaker continues on HBO Max. As for every other DCU movie and show coming our way, check out our list here.

What do you get for the man who has everything? Well, for Superman aka David Corenswet, a cameo in season 2 of Peacemaker would be nice. Unfortunately, though, according to the showrunner of the DCU show and master mind behind this world of suicidal squads and men of steel, it just wasn't on the cards.

While breaking down the recent appearance of (gasp) Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) in this week's episode of Peacemaker, James Gunn was asked by Variety if we could expect his arch nemesis to swoop in and make an appearance, as well. However, Gunn made it Kryptonian crystal clear there'd be no super surprise.

"No," Gunn assured. "In fact, David was very upset that Nick got to be on the show, and he didn’t. It just didn’t work."

Instead, Gunn spent time getting Peacemaker's latest foe, Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo), and the incarcerated rival of Clark Kent in a room together, which feels like it's bad news for a lot of people in the DCU. "I needed Lex in the show to serve a specific purpose. And actually, what Lex and Rick Flag are up to affects very much what happens in an aspect of Man of Tomorrow," explained Gunn, referring to the Superman sequel, that may or may not include a Braniac. "So all of that is connected."

Could this be the start of a terrifying friendship between two very driven and powerful souls? It certainly sounds like it. "But this relationship between Rick Flag and Lex Luthor is a potentially negative thing for Superman and all meta-humans." We'll have to see what else these two get up to as Peacemaker season 2 continues next week. For every other upcoming DCU story heading our way, head here.

Nothing about Peacemaker season 2 is getting spoiled on Jennifer Holland's watch.

The latest episode of the DC show finally unveiled its massive twist, which was foreshadowed so well that pretty much every fan paying close attention had figured it out in advance. Now, the following will get into spoiler territory, so look away now if you're not up to date!

In the new episode, it's revealed that the alternate reality Chris has been escaping to is none other than Earth-X (though it hasn't been identified by name just yet). That's a bleak version of the world where the Nazis won World War 2, which has been set up by the complete absence of people of color in this world so far. The truth is revealed in a horrifying moment where Adebayo is forced to sprint away from a racist mob, while Chris checks an American flag on a desk and discovers a swastika instead of stars.

But Holland, who plays Emilia Harcourt in the show, was confronted with this very theory in an interview with Brandon Davis days before the twist was revealed.

After Davis explained the theory that this alternate reality could be Earth-X, Holland, without missing a beat, replied: "That's really interesting. Is Earth-X something from the comics that I don't know about?"

Davis explained, and Holland kept up the act. "So that's why people think that Auggie Smith is such a nice guy in this universe," she said. "Wild, that's pretty cool. Episodes six through eight, a lot happens, a lot is revealed, it has a lot of consequences for the future of the DC universe. You only have to wait one more week and you're going to get a little bit more information. The next three episodes are pretty wild."

Unlike notorious spoiler machines Tom Holland and Mark Ruffalo, then, this Holland is staying tight-lipped.

You can keep up to date with our Peacemaker season 2 release schedule, or check out our spoiler-free Peacemaker season 2 review for our verdict on the first five episodees of the show. For even more, see our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and shows.

Peacemaker season 2 certainly reveled in its alternate universe shenanigans this week, poking fun at everything from minor parallel world changes (a bowl of Cheerios, anyone?) to its jaw-dropping conclusion.

DC boss (and Peacemaker's creator/director) James Gunn has revealed that one hilarious moment never made the jump from script to screen, and it involves a makeout session that would have given Vigilante lifelong nightmares.

Spoilers for Peacemaker season 2, episode 6 follow.

As explained on the latest episode of Peacemaker: The Official Podcast, Vigilante's constant amusement at seeing the sights of his alternate universe house wouldn't have involved his closeted father staying with his mother but, instead, something altogether more surreal.

"[In] one of the original scripts, I had [Vigilante] walking by the room. Instead of it being Vigilante's mother with her father, I had Vigilante's mom rolling around on the couch, making out with John Economos. And it was the only time we ever see John Economos in Earth-2 and he goes, 'Oh, my mom is fucking John Economos!'"

On Twitter, Gunn described the scene as one of the "toughest" script changes he had to make.

Of course, the rest of the alternate universe's big rug-pulls were far more serious in nature – as the racist veneer on Earth-X was pulled back to uncover a world filled with Nazis.

Whatever happens next is anyone's guess, though we already know Peacemaker season 2's finale will include at least a handful of characters from Superman. That doesn't even include Lex Luthor, who made a shocking cameo during the latest episode.

Peacemaker season 2 is now airing. For more, check out our guide to DCU Chapter One.