Let me level with you for a bit, I am a huge DC Comics fan, but I haven’t enjoyed any of the movies in the DCEU (Or whatever Warner Brothers is calling it now). Wonder Woman is pretty good, but I feel it runs out of steam after the No Man’s Land scene and feels a lot like 2008’s The Incredible Hulk or 2010’s Iron Man 2 by the end. Man of Steel is better than I initially thought in 2013, but it is by no means a good Superman film. Justice League has a lot of flaws, but Superman is probably the best he has been in these movies. And Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad are both awful movies that actively disrespect the source material they both are meant to iconify. I am hopeful for the upcoming Aquaman and am really looking forward to Shazam! And Flashpoint, but those aren’t the only movies WB has announced for the DC Universe, as Warner Bros. has announced not 1, not 2, but over a dozen movies connected to the DC Comics Universe. Today, let’s take a look at DC’s upcoming slate of movies and see how much potential they have.
Aquaman
Release Date: December 21st, 2018.
Director: James Wan
This movie is finished, and will be released with connections to the other films. WB sees no point in cancelling it this close to release and it may be a deciding factor in the future of the DCEU.
Shazam!
Release Date: April 5th, 2019
Director: David Sandberg
Another film that is safe. It’s already filmed and early marketing has begun. Shazam’s (Or, DC’s Captain Marvel’s) first film will be released next year, with hopefully a more comedic tone to it.
Wonder Woman 1984
Release Date: November 1st, 2019
Director: Patty Jenkins
Even without a release date, this movie is safely in the “Coming out” zone. We’ve already seen set photos from the film and there are rumors that there will be some footage at San Diego Comic Con this year. Wonder Woman is also the DCEU’s first (and possibly only) hit film with critics and fans.
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Flashpoint
Release Date: 2020
Directors: N/A
This film currently has no director right now, but I think that this film’s direction will be dependant on if Aquaman and Shazam are successful. Otherwise, this could be the reboot point for DC.
Here’s where it gets fun. We are going to take a look at the announced films from DC and see if they are still going to happen.
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The Batman
Release Date: 2019
Director: Matt Reeves
This one is possibly going to happen, but without Ben Affleck’s involvement. Reeves has been speaking about the film going back to Batman’s early days, which would leave the door open for a new actor to step into the cowl.
Will it be made? Yes, but probably not with Ben Affleck.
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Batgirl
Release Date: TBD
Director: TBD
This was supposed to be Joss Whedon’s DC film, but in February, he left the project. No actor or new director has been announced for the film, but the writer for Bumblebee has been brought on to help write the film.
Will it be made? 50/50, leaning on probably not.
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Birds of Prey
Release Date: TBD
Director: TBD
We haven’t heard much about this, except that it would probably be an R-Rated movie and will not include Catwoman. This is one of the movies that is going to rely on if the next few DC Movies are successful.
Will it be made? In my opinion, No.
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Nightwing
Release Date: TBD
Director: TBD
This hurts to say, but there is no info about this. No cast, no director, no idea if it will happen. This could just be that the film is too far off to know anything, but the announcement of the film with no information doesn’t bode well.
Will it be made? Nope. Not right now.
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Deathstroke
Release Date: TBD
Director: TBD
As of April 2018, the film is still in pre-production, and I’m not 100% sure this won’t happen. We won’t get any information until we hear anything about a Justice League sequel.
Will it happen? Maybe, but not until after Justice League 2, whenever that happens.
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New Gods
Release Date: TBD
Director: Ava DuVernay
Hey, a director attached to one of these. A Wrinkle in Time director Ava DuVernay is in charge of bringing Jack Kirby’s “New Gods” to the big screen. All we know is that it is supposed to be made before Justice League 2.
Will it happen? Yeah, I think so. New Gods is so far off from the main DC Continuity, and if it bombs, it won’t be a big loss for WB.
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Cyborg
Release Date: TBD
Director: TBD
We haven’t heard anything about this film since 2016, I don’t think we will until it is relaunched as a Titans film.
Will it happen? No, at least not as a solo film in the DCEU.
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Gotham City Sirens
Release Date: TBD
Director: TBD
I think that this film will either replace or be cancelled with Birds of Prey. One of them is going to happen, and the most recent we have heard about was with Birds of Prey.
Will it happen? No, probably cancelled to make way for Birds of Prey.
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Suicide Squad 2
Release Date: 2019?
Director: Gavin O’Connor
I put this with the other “Probably not happening” movies, because I’m very unsure if this film will actually happen. We have heard very little from this film.
Will it happen? Maybe, but not in 2019. Maybe 2020/2021
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Harley Quinn Solo Film
Release Date: TBD
Director: TBD
Why? Do we need this film? Is it going to happen? I have no idea, but if everything on this list is made, this would be the 4th film with Harley Quinn in the focus. It seems a bit of overkill.
Will it happen? No idea, possibly not.
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Jared Leto Joker Solo Film
Release Date: TBD
Director: TBD
See above.
Will it happen? No idea, but this was announced less than a month ago, so we will see.
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Green Lantern Corps
Release Date: 2020
Director: TBD
I’m confident that this may happen, for the same reasons that New Gods could happen. The property is so disconnected from the other DC Universe that we could see the film be DC’s answer to Guardians of the Galaxy.
Will it happen? 50/50 Shot, but I’d say it might. Not in 2020 though.
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Lobo
Release Date: TBD
Director: Michael Bay
Okay… This is pretty weird, but we have been hearing a lot about this movie, so everyone should keep their ear to the ground.
Will it happen? Maybe.
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Untitled Joker Origin Film
Release Date: TBD
Director: Todd Phillips
DC is trying to do alternate universe films, and this would be the first one, starring Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker set in the 1980’s. It could be cool, and I’m confident that this one may happen.
So, as you can see, Warner Bros. has been announcing so many movies for the future. This isn’t even including films that haven’t officially been announced, like Man of Steel 2 and Justice League 2. Compared to Marvel, most of these films don’t seem like they are going to happen. With Marvel, the only film that they have ever announced and not made was The Inhumans, which eventually became a failed TV Series. All of these films show that DC needs to get its act together and create an actual slate of movies that they are committed to making, rather than announcing movie after movie with no concrete plan for them.
Jonathan Lancaster, Comics, Movies, and Cartoon Specialist
YouTube: Robin0928 | Twitter: @Robin0928review
