Thanks to Lanterns, the DCU timeline is now far more complex than it was even a few weeks ago. With the road to Man of Tomorrow in full swing, it's now time to start untangling any temporal confusion before it gets to MCU levels of headache-inducing.
Below, we're here to fill you in on the complete DCU timeline. That accounts for all the DCU films and shows as part of James Gunn's rebooted universe, all in chronological order. We won't be mentioning any DCEU titles (such as Man of Steel or Aquaman), so if you want to know about that particular timeline, then you'll need to head to our guide on how to watch the DC movies in order.
However, those working through DCU Chapter One: Gods and Monsters are in the right place. Join us as we run through the DCU timeline and answer your burning questions. For more information, there's also our guide to upcoming DC movies and our Lanterns review.
DCU timeline
Right now, we're keeping things simple. The DCU timeline is as follows (though completionists may want to scroll down): The bulk of Lanterns comes first, Creature Commandos comes first, then Superman, followed by Peacemaker season 2, and finally Supergirl. On the page, the DCU timeline looks like this:
- Lanterns (2016 scenes)
- Clayface (year unknown)
- Creature Commandos (2024)
- Superman (2025)
- Peacemaker season 2 (2025)
- Supergirl (2026)
- Lanterns flash-forward (2026)
Unlike the MCU, there are currently no exact years and dates attached to when these projects take place in-universe, though it (roughly) equates to a timeframe similar to how they're releasing in real life – i.e. Superman takes place in the summer of a year that could easily be read as 2025.
On the convoluted notion of canon, DC Studios boss James Gunn has mentioned several times that anything referred to from the DCEU in these movies and shows – such as the events of The Suicide Squad or Peacemaker season 1 – are canon, but may be slightly tweaked to fit into the new universe. Case in point is one of Peacemaker season 2's big retcons: the DCU's Justice Gang show up in the season 1 finale, not the DCEU's Justice League.
For those who want a fuller picture of the DCU timeline, there are more aspects we can zero in on. Namely, that there is a six-month jump (give or take) between the events of Peacemaker season 1 and season 2. Each series also takes place multiple years after the Corto Maltese incident (as depicted in The Suicide Squad).
The Peacemaker season 2 premiere also refers to the events of Superman happening that past summer, which suggests the two take place in pretty close proximity to each other, possibly even just a few months.
For wider context, other events on the DCU timeline come into play: Clark Kent first officially became Superman three years before the events of 2025's Superman (as revealed in the opening text of the film). We also know that metahumans have existed in the DCU for 300 years, with superheroes' rich history being typified by a mural of heroes situated in the Hall of Justice.
As for Supergirl, that takes place roughly a year after the events of Superman in 2026. We might even know the exact dates, as Kara Zor-El is 'celebrating' turning 23 at the beginning of the movie, and Supergirl's canonical birthday in DC comics is September 22, though that isn't confirmed in the movie.
Thanks to its premiere, we know Lanterns is set in both 2016 and 2026, with Hal Jordan gaining his Green Lantern ring as far back as 1986.
To make matters even more complicated, James Gunn has already confirmed that upcoming horror movie Clayface is set before Superman, making it the first movie on the DCU timeline. But we don't yet know the year it's set, or whether its placement puts it before Lanterns' 2016 sections on the timeline.
Then there's the small matter of Creature Commandos showing off a possible future, via Circe's vision, of Gorilla Grodd and Princess Alana taking over the Earth – though it remains to be seen whether that comes to pass.
So, for a more complete picture of the confirmed DCU timeline, using Superman as a useful 'zero point' read below:
- Metahumans arrive on Earth (300 years before Superman)
- Hal Jordan becomes Green Lantern (35 years before Superman)
- Kal-El arrives on Earth (30 years before Superman)
- Lanterns (2016 scenes)
- Kal-El becomes Superman in the DCU (3 years before Superman)
- The Suicide Squad (non-DCU, ~ 2-3 years before Superman)
- Peacemaker season 1 (non-DCU, ~ 6 months before Superman)
- Creature Commandos
- Superman
- Peacemaker season 2
- Supergirl
- Lanterns flash-forward scenes
- Circe's apocalyptic vision in Creature Commandos (may not come to pass, year undefined)
For more, check out our guide to the best Supergirl comics, or dive into our Supergirl review.
