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The DCU Chapter One: Gods and Monsters is James Gunn and Peter Safran's plan for the new DC universe, and it's well underway.
Officially kicking off with 2025's Superman, the DCU's second and latest movie, Supergirl, has finally hit the big screen, and that means the old DCEU timeline has been fully put to bed as we go down this new superhero era. Looking ahead, we have the TV show Lanterns on the horizon, the Batman spin-off Clayface in October, and also a sort-of-sequel to Superman, Man of Tomorrow, which will see Supes teaming up with his biggest nemesis, Lex Luthor. Supergirl has teased a bunch of timeline things as well (which you can read more about in our Supergirl ending explained guide), so you'll need to keep track of all the upcoming DC movies and shows on the way to stay on top of all the storylines.
That's where we come in. Below, you'll find our ultimate guide to DCU Chapter One: Gods and Monsters, from the film and TV shows that have already been released, to everything that's still on the way. But you won't find anything about The Batman 2 or any other Elseworlds films that exist outside of main DCU continuity here: we're sticking strictly to the DCU. So, for everything you need to know, read on, friends!
DCU movies
Superman
Release date: July 11, 2025
Superman has been released and marks the first movie in the new slate. Written and directed by James Gunn, it follows a younger Clark Kent as a reporter at The Daily Planet, and it looks at how he balances his Kryptonian and human heritage in a world full of heroes. "This is really the start of the DCU," Safran said in a statement, per Deadline, before the film was released. "It's not an origins story; it focuses on Superman's balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. He's the embodiment of truth, justice, and the American way, he's kindness in a world that thinks of kindness as old-fashioned."
David Corenswet plays Kal-El, while Rachel Brosnahan is Lois Lane. Nicholas Hoult is donning the bald cap to become Lex Luthor (the movie's main villain), while Nathan Fillion plays Guy Gardner/Green Lantern, Edi Gathegi is Mister Terrific, Isabel Merced portrays Hawkgirl, and Anthony Carrigan is Metamorpho. For more information on this one, you can read our Superman review or our Superman ending explained guide if you want to see where the DCU could be heading next.
Supergirl
Release date: June 26, 2026
Supergirl is based on Tom King's comic book series 'Woman of Tomorrow' and introduces a "Supergirl viewers are not used to seeing". Superman's titular cousin, Kara Zor-El, is played by House of the Dragon's Milly Alcock, while Cruella helmer Craig Gillespie is in the director's chair.
"We see the difference between Superman, who was sent to Earth and raised by loving parents from the time he's an infant," Gunn told Variety. "Versus Supergirl, who was raised on a rock chip off of Krypton, and watched everyone around her die and be killed in terrible ways for the first 14 years of her life."
The movie sees Kara Zor-El go through a whole load of character development as she teams up with a young girl called Ruthye to hunt down the loathsome Krem. Shifting from a party-loving free spirit to a superhero in charge of her powers by the end, the movie also subtly sets up Man of Tomorrow, where we'll see Kara next.
Clayface
Release date: September 11, 2026
The third movie in the DCU is set to move away from former citizens of Krypton and change the pace entirely: things are about to go full body horror with a new Clayface film, which has been likened to David Cronenberg's The Fly. Directed by Speak No Evil helmer James Watkins and co-written by Mike Flanagan, Tom Rhys Harries plays the shapeshifting actor, while Naomi Ackie plays the rogue scientist who turns his body into clay.
The first trailer for the film teases a full-on body horror, and it's gross enough to make you queasy. Clayface the character also appears in Creature Commandos, which has caused some confusion, though we'll just have to wait and see how it all fits together when the film arrives this fall.
Man of Tomorrow
Release date: July 9, 2027
The follow-up to Superman isn't a sequel, per se, at least according to James Gunn. David Corenswet and Nicholas Hoult will return as the Man of Steel and Lex Luthor, though, and some new concept art (featuring Lex in some new armor) suggests that the pair could be teaming up – although it looks like there'll still be some conflict between them, naturally…
The movie has begun filming but we still don't have much to go on yet, other than a possible link to a comic book story of the same name by Alan Moore that follows Supes' last days on Earth.
The Brave and the Bold
Release date: TBC
DC is set to introduce its live-action Batman and Robin in a new movie called The Brave and the Bold, directed by The Flash's Andy Muschietti. Gunn described Damien Wayne, AKA Robin, as "a little son of a bitch" to Deadline, and an "assassin, murderer who Batman takes on, who is Batman’s actual son that he doesn’t know exists for the first 8-10 years of his life… It's a strange father and son story about the two of them and based on Grant Morrison’s run of the Batman," he added.
The film will be written by The Flash scribe Christina Hodson, reuniting her and Muschietti. Gunn has also indicated that we won't get two Batman movies in the same year, so, thanks to The Batman 2, we won't see The Brave and the Bold until at least 2028.
Swamp Thing
Release date: TBC
Despite being announced in 2023, information on the new Swamp Thing movie is still limited, but it will focus on the origins of the mysterious DC character. From what's been revealed so far about this one, it's expected it will be tonally darker than the other DC projects. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny director James Mangold is directing, and he described the movie as a "simple, clean Gothic horror" and "just a standalone" film. "I’m not that interested in being handcuffed by so much lore at this point that it's almost immovable and you can't please anybody," he said.
However, like The Brave and the Bold, this project is also now on the backburner, with Gunn saying that he and Mangold "talk about it occasionally." If you want to find out more about this iconic character ahead of the new DC movie, you can read our list of the 10 best Swamp Thing stories of all time.
The Authority
Release date: TBC
Another new upcoming movie from DC Studios is The Authority, which will see WildStorm characters joining the DCU. We don't know what form the group will take, but we do know it'll have links to Superman and see The Authority taking "matters into their own hands to do what they believe is right," per the official synopsis.
"Whether that means killing people, destroying heads of state, changing governments, you know, whatever they want to do to make the world better," Gunn previously explained, while Safran likened the morally complex team to Jack Nicholson's character in A Few Good Men. This is another movie that's on the DCU back burner right now, with Gunn saying it's "had a hard time coming along," and "hasn't been much of a priority."
Wonder Woman
Release date: TBC
James Gunn recently revealed that a new Woman movie is being written. The upcoming film is separate from Paradise Lost, a Wonder Woman TV series that was previously announced during the initial rollout of DCU: Chapter One. Paradise Lost will focus on the Amazon island of Themiscyra. Gunn also confirmed that no one has been cast as Wonder Woman just yet, meaning that Gal Gadot, much like the previous DCEU actors, will not be returning.
DCU TV shows
Creature Commandos season 1
Release date: December 5, 2024
Creature Commandos is an animated series that follows a black ops team of monstrous prisoners assembled by Amanda Waller. Season 1 was the first project of the new DCU, premiering on Max in December 2024, and season 2 is now on the way (although we don't have a release date just yet).
Frank Grillo is Rick Flag Sr, Maria Bakalova voices Princess Ilana, David Harbour is Eric Frankenstein, Indira Varma is the Bride of Frankenstein, Alan Tudyk is Doctor Phosphorus, Steve Agee as John Economos, and Zoe Chao voices team scientist and mermaid Dr. Nina Mazursky. They're joined by Sean Gunn pulling double duty as Weasel and G.I. Robot. The Witcher's Anya Chalotra plays villain Circe, while Viola Davis reprises her role as Suicide Squad boss Amanda Waller.
Peacemaker season 2
Release date: August 21, 2025
Peacemaker season 2 recently wrapped and largely revolved around Rick Flag Sr.'s quest for revenge against Peacemaker after the latter killed the former's son in The Suicide Squad. This season is canon in the DCU, too, and introduced Salvation (a prison for metahumans) that will no doubt be seen in future movies like Man of Tomorrow.
James Gunn has teased that Peacemaker will continue to be a big part of the new DCU going forward. However, no Peacemaker season 3 has been confirmed just yet. Considering the Peacemaker season 2 ending, though, we are sure that he and Superman will have another crossover soon. Possibly, we'll see him in Supergirl as well. Stay tuned for updates!
Lanterns
Release date: August 16, 2026
Described as an "enormous TV event series", Lanterns will follow intergalactic cops John Stewart and Hal Jordan, played by Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler. It will be a mystery show described as a superhero take on True Detective. According to the DC Studios bosses, this will also "play a really big role leading us into the main story that we’re telling across our film and television." That's definitely the vibe of the first full trailer.
True Detective: Night Country writer Chris Mundy is serving as showrunner, while Damon Lindelof of Lost and HBO's Watchmen fame will be writing on the series alongside award-winning comic writer Tom King. "Talking tone, it looks and feels rooted. You meet two guys, but there is wit and comedy to it that you would not expect in True Detective," director James Hawes said.
Waller
Release date: TBC
Waller has been confirmed as a new DC spin-off show, featuring Davis' Amanda Waller in the lead role. The series will pick up in the aftermath of Peacemaker season 2, as Gunn has confirmed. All of the main Peacemaker cast will star in the series, and Watchmen's Christal Henry and Doom Patrol's Jeremy Carver are writing the show, but as of February 2025, Safran said that scripts "still haven't been able to land."
Paradise Lost
Release date: TBC
Paradise Lost is a new Wonder Woman TV prequel series set in Themyscira. This is the home of the Amazons and the birthplace of Wonder Woman.
"It's going to be a Game of Thrones-ish story about Themyscira, the home of the Amazons and the birthplace of Wonder Woman. This drama is really about the political intrigue behind the society of all women. How did that come about?" Safran said in a statement. "What's the beautiful truths and the ugly truths behind all of that and what’s the scheming like between all the power players in that society?" Gunn added.
Booster Gold
Release date: TBC
Booster Gold is a series based on, you guessed it, time-traveling hero Booster Gold. Per the synopsis, he will use "basic technology from the future to pretend to be a superhero in the present day."
In the comics, Booster Gold is Michael Jon Carter, a football star from the 25th Century. He travels back in time and, equipped with his robot Skeets, is able to use his knowledge of events and high-end technology to gain the upper hand. There isn't much info about this show out there just yet, other than Safran saying that an unnamed showrunner hasn't been available to work on it, so the studio "had to pivot."
If you need to catch up, here's how to watch the DC movies in order and our ranking of the best Superman movies, then fly on over to the heavy list of new superhero movies coming your way.
