James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy, The Suicide Squad, Peacemaker) and Peter Safran, who are the co-bosses of the not-yet-existent DCU movie/TV/games universe, released earlier this week the first 10 projects of that DCU. None of it will start until 2025, so whether anything that appears before that is "in continuity" is TBD.
In the meantime, WBD (that's Warner Bros. Discovery) has canceled Titans, Doom Patrol, Pennyworth and pretty much every other DC show on HBO Max (except Harley Quinn). But maybe Creature Commandos will make up for that!
Anyway, here's a press release with a lot of links:
DC Studios Co-Chairmen and CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran announced plans for their first 10 film and television projects under the new DC banner they lead across film, television, and animation. Gunn and Safran are designing and implementing a long-term interconnected story for the iconic franchise and characters, and today shared details on “Chapter 1” focused on “Gods and Monsters” with five new films and five television series for HBO Max already in development.
All ten of the new projects are set within the same shared DC Universe and will frequently share characters. Head over to DC.com for all the details from the announcement, deep dives into character and story, a Q&A with Gunn and Safran, and more.
With so many projects on the horizon, and more to come, we’ve pulled some links together to showcase the possible roots of these series and features. Enjoy!
- Get to know DC’s Creature Commandos on DC.com
- Creature Commandos – a seven-episode animated show in which Amanda Waller creates a black ops team out of monstrous prisoners; Gunn wrote all the episodes of the first season
- Get to know Amanda Waller on DC.com
- Waller – starring Viola Davis, this series features Team Peacemaker and will be written by Christal Henry (Watchmen) and Jeremy Carver (Supernatural)
- Get to know Superman, the World’s Greatest Super Hero, the Man of Steel on DC.com
- Superman: Legacy – written by Gunn, the film will hit theaters on July 11, 2025, and focus on Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing.
- Get to know Booster Gold on DC.com
- Booster Gold – Booster Gold uses basic technology from the future to pretend to be a superhero in present day
- Get to know John Stewart and Hal Jordan on DC.com
- Lanterns – this enormous TV event series follows intergalactic cops John Stewart and Hal Jordan as they uncover a dark mystery
- Get to know DC’s The Authority on DC.com
- The Authority – DC’s WildStorm characters will join the DCU as members of The Authority take matters into their own hands to do what they believe is right
- Read all issues of The Authority on DC UNIVERSE INFINITE
- The Authority – DC’s WildStorm characters will join the DCU as members of The Authority take matters into their own hands to do what they believe is right
- Get to know Batman and Robin in an interview with Grant Morrison on DC.com
- The Brave and the Bold – the DCU will introduce its Batman and Robin in this unusual father-son story inspired by Grant Morrison’s comic series
- Read all issues of Grant Morrison’s Batman saga on DC UNIVERSE INFINITE
- The Brave and the Bold – the DCU will introduce its Batman and Robin in this unusual father-son story inspired by Grant Morrison’s comic series
- Get to know Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow on DC.com
- Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow - this science fiction adventure, which will be based on Tom King’s amazing, award-winning recent comics stories, presents a Supergirl viewers are not used to seeing
- Read all issues of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow on DC UNIVERSE INFINITE
- Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow - this science fiction adventure, which will be based on Tom King’s amazing, award-winning recent comics stories, presents a Supergirl viewers are not used to seeing
- Get to know Swamp Thing on DC.com
- Swamp Thing – the film will investigate the dark origins of Swamp Thing
- Get to know The Amazons of Themyscira, aka Paradise Island on DC.com
- Paradise Lost – set in Themyscira, home of the Amazons and birthplace of Wonder Woman, this drama focuses on the genesis and political intrigue of an island of all women
And here's another press release, touting all the books the new stuff is based on, some of which is coming to DC Universe Infinite.
New Comics Coming to DC UNIVERSE INFINITE, and DC UNIVERSE INFINITE Ultra, in February 2023!
Reading lists available from DC.com to give fans insight into DC Studios’ newly announced film and television slate include the Creature Commandos, The Authority, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, and more
New comics available to Ultra subscribers one month after print release include The Flash: One-Minute War Special #1, Batman - One Bad Day: Bane #1 and Batman - One Bad Day: Catwoman #1, Lazarus Planet: Alpha #1, and more
Full list of DC’s comics releasing for all subscribers in February includes Shazam! Fury of the Gods Special: Shazamily Matters #1, Multiversity: Harley Screws Up The DCU #1, Batman - One Bad Day: The Riddler #1, and more
DC.com, and the newly expanded DC UNIVERSE INFINITE digital comic book subscription service, is the place to find the hottest comics, merchandise and more. Fans of Green Lantern, Blue Beetle, Harley Quinn, Batman & Robin, Booster Gold, Swamp Thing, Nightwing, and a legion of other DC Super Heroes, are in for a treat this February when new product drops all month long!
Right off the bat, DC.com has assembled new comic book reading lists to give fans insight into DC Studios’ upcoming “Gods and Monsters” film and television slate. Click through to read comics about DC’s Creature Commandos, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, The Authority, Batman & Robin, Booster Gold, and Saga of The Swamp Thing ahead of their live-action or animation debuts.
Want to get to know John Stewart, slated to be featured in a HBO Max television series alongside fellow Lantern Hal Jordan? Click through for a deep dive into John Stewart’s comic book history!
DC UNIVERSE INFINITE Ultra, which DC added to their digital subscription service in October 2022, gives fans access the latest releases from DC one month after they are available in comic shops. February 2023’s slate of comics available to Ultra subscribers includes recent print releases Lazarus Planet: Assault on Krypton #1, Batman - One Bad Day: Bane #1 and Batman - One Bad Day: Catwoman #1, Batman: The Adventures Continue Season Three #1, Lazarus Planet: Alpha #1, The Flash: One-Minute War Special #1, and more.
With access to over 32,000 comics and graphic novels, and new issues available one month after their release in comic stores, DC is making it even easier to read new comics on DC UNIVERSE INFINITE with the recently launched Ultra tier!
Celebrating Black History Month and available free-to-read to DC UNIVERSE INFINITE registered members (without a subscription) in February are Black Lightning: Cold Dead Hands #1 and #2, Milestones in History #1, The Other History of the DC Universe #1 and #2, and Icon & Rocket: Season One #1.
For all subscribers, the full schedule of comics arriving on DC UNIVERSE INFINITE in February 2023 is below. From DC Speechless! to Batman - One Bad Day: The Riddler, DC has comics for every DC fan to read, with more arriving weekly!
Publishing Tuesday January 31, same day as print for all DC UNIVERSE INFINITE subscribers:
- DC Power: A Celebration (2023) #1
- DC's Harley Quinn Romances (2023) #1
Publishing Thursday February 2 as a DC UNIVERSE INFINITE exclusive:
- DC Speechless! #5
Publishing Tuesday January 7:
- Artemis: Requiem (1996) #6
- Batman: Journey into Knight (2005-2006) #5
- Gen13 (1995-1998) #27
- Justice Society of America (1992-1993) #4
- Stormwatch (1993-1997) #38
- Harley Quinn: The Animated Series: Legion of Bats! #5 —DCUI Early Access
- Batgirls (2021-) #9
- Batman: Urban Legends (2021-) #18
- Blood Syndicate: Season One (2022-) #4
- Dark Crisis: Worlds Without A Justice League - Green Lantern (2022) #1
- DCeased: War of the Undead Gods (2022-) #1
- Future State: Gotham (2021-) #16
- Harley Quinn (2021-) #19
- I Am Batman (2021-) #12
- Naomi: Season Two #6
- Nubia: Queen of the Amazons (2022) #3
- Superman: Son of Kal-El (2021-) #14
- The Jurassic League (2022-) #4
- Wonder Woman (2016-) #790
Publishing Monday January 13:
- Multiversity: Harley Screws Up The DCU #1 —DCUI Early Access
Publishing Tuesday January 14:
- Batman: Journey into Knight (2005-2006) #6
- Captain Marvel Adventures (1941-1953) #124
- Gen13 (1995-1998) #28
- Justice Society of America (1992-1993) #5
- Stormwatch (1993-1997) #39
- Aquaman & The Flash: Voidsong (2022-) #3
- Batman - One Bad Day: The Riddler (2022) #1
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest (2022-) #6
- Batman: The Knight (2022-) #8
- Black Adam (2022-) #3
- Catwoman (2018-) #46
- Dark Crisis: Young Justice (2022-) #3
- DC vs. Vampires: All-Out War (2022-) #2
- DUO (2022-) #4
- Harley Quinn (2021-) #20
- Nightwing (2016-) #95
- Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? (2010-) #117
- The Flash (2016-) #785
Publishing Thursday January 16 as a DC UNIVERSE INFINITE exclusive:
- DC Speechless! #6
Publishing Tuesday January 21:
- Batman: Journey into Knight (2005-2006) #7
- Captain Marvel Adventures (1941-1953) #125
- Gen13 (1995-1998) #29
- Stormwatch (1993-1997) #40
- Whiz Comics (1940-1952) #2
- Stargirl: The Lost Children #4 —DCUI Early Access
- Action Comics (2016-) #1046
- Batman: Fortress (2022-) #4
- Batman: White Knight Presents: Red Hood #2
- DC: Mech (2022-) #2
- Deathstroke Inc. (2021-) #12
- Detective Comics (2016-) #1063
- Fables #154
- Harley Quinn (2021-) #21
- Justice League vs. The Legion of Super-Heroes (2022) #5
- Olympus: Rebirth #1
- Robin (2021-) #17
- Tales of the Human Target #1
- Task Force Z (2021-) #11
- The Swamp Thing (2021-) #16
Publishing Tuesday January 28:
- Batman: Journey into Knight (2005-2006) #8
- Captain Marvel Adventures (1941-1953) #126
- Gen13 (1995-1998) #30
- Justice Society of America (1992-1993) #6
- Stormwatch (1993-1997) #41
- Batman: Gotham Knights – Gilded City #5 —DCUI Early Access
- Shazam! Fury of the Gods Special: Shazamily Matters #1—DCUI Early Access
- DC's Saved by the Belle Reve (2022) #1
- Harley Quinn 2022 Annual #1
- Superman: Warworld Apocalypse (2022) #1
- The Flash 2022 Annual #1
- The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country (2022-) #5
- Wonder Girl 2022 Annual #1
DC UNIVERSE INFINITE subscribers can download comics for unlimited offline reading on their favorite iOS and Android devices. For more information on DC UNIVERSE INFINITE Ultra, download the app from the Apple App and Google Play stores and visit dc.com/Ultra. DC UNIVERSE INFINITE is not intended for children.
I haven't read Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow yet, so I tried to read it on DCI. But it wasn't on the regular tier that I already pay for; I'd have to up my subscription to Deluxe or whatever. I'm unwilling to do that, and will wait for the inevitable reprint. (Hopefully in HC this time.)
Replies
A James Gunn tweet shared some of the books inspiring his DCU plans, and as you'd expect, they are widely regarded as some of DC's best. Here's the tweet:
The books depicted are:
Given that Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is by Tom King, they are certainly leading with some of their most acclaimed writers.
The other five projects have a more muddled provenance.
Creature Commandos began in, what, Weird War? I'm not certain what the lineup was then, as I wasn't collecting Weird War at the time. But it certainly wouldn't include most of the characters we see in the promo art (a different Frankenstein's Monster, for example). I did read the New 52 Frankenstein title, which had the modern S.H.A.D.E. incarnation of Frankenstein's Monster, and was Creature Commandos in all but name, and that's probably more pertinent than '80s war comics. Also, Weasel is in the promotion material for this series, the one from The Suicide Squad that is played by Gunn's brother.
John Stewart famously got his start in Adams/O'Neil Green Lantern/Green Arrow, but again, I don't think the earliest stories are the most pertinent to whatever plans Gunn has. Stewart got his start as the cliched Angry Black Man, before morphing over the decades into a more nuanced (and popular) characterization. Heck, in the '70s Stewart wasn't even a military veteran, which is the cornerstone of his current incarnation. I don't think Stewart's first solo book, Green Lantern: Mosaic, will offer much, either. I'm open to suggestion for what run of books seems most closely aligned with Gunn's plans (although part of me suspects the animated Justice League/Justice League Unlimited might inform Lanterns the most).
Waller isn't a gimmie. The current DCEU Amanda Waller seems lifted right out of John Ostrander's original depiction in Suicide Squad, and Gunn used Waller without any changes (including the actress) for The Suicide Squad, so I think we can expect that to continue. But we can't know for sure. I do expect to see Peacemaker, Waller's daughter and other The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker characters populate the show.
Booster Gold looks lifted straight from the character's 1986 debut series (by Dan Jurgens). Later incarnations join him at the hip with Ted Kord, who hasn't been introduced yet.
Paradise Lost is tricky, because what little we know doesn't line up neatly with the history of Themyscira we know. The popular idea is that it will derive from Historia, which I haven't yet read. Recent years have added some other ideas that may be introduced, like a great many invasions of Theymyscira, from Hercules to World War II, and Nubia as queen, with a host of new supporting characters. There's also the competing Amazon tribes, the Bana-Mighdall and the recently introduced Esquerida. Your guess is as good as, or maybe better than, mine.
I liked the World War Two era Creature Commandos. Not sure how I feel about a "modernization".
You should be able to read Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow in individual issues on the regular tier of DCUI. It's only the collected edition that's Ultra exclusive.
I don't expect James Gunn's plans for the next decade of live action DC to have room for Yara Flor or even for any of the Superboys in more than brief, easily ignored cameos. It would run against the grain of his apparent "back to basics" mixed with "recent hits" proposal.
Besides, he is already dealing with multiple Jokers and Batmen; I don't see him having any haste to introduce any further alternates except perhaps in animation and computer games.
Incidentally, "esquecida" is the Portuguese language singular female form for both "forgotten" and "forgetful". It can be either an adjective or a noum.
Mostly, I think he is making the right calls. Consolidating and properly reintroducing the core intellectual properties while gradually showcasing the wider possibilities of the decades-long DC universes. DC ought to have done that back in 2012.
I liked the World War Two era Creature Commandos. Not sure how I feel about a "modernization".
The modern version in the comics is pretty good. The Frankenstein is thoughtful, if a bit morose, and I think can add dead tissue from other corpses if he loses his own. (Although I may be confusing him with Marvel UK's Terror.) There's a Bride of Frankenstein, who has extra arms and is Frankenstein's ex, and seems pretty angry at him. There's a Creature from the Black Lagoon character in a helmet (to breathe), who doesn't look much like the Universal version, a female who is weirdly flirty. (I say weirdly, because it seems like any hookup would be sort of cross-species between mammal and fish, which I can't see either party really being into.) I don't remember much about the others -- a vampire, a werewolf, etc. -- but they were OK.
Which doesn't address that we both prefer the WWII version. Maybe it's because we're of a certain age, or WWII is just inherently more dramatic, or something else, I don't know. But yeah, I'd rather see something like Overlord than a modern version.
But it's Gunn, and he may surprise me. I mean, anyone who can make Polka Dot Man poignant ...
You should be able to read Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow in individual issues on the regular tier of DCUI. It's only the collected edition that's Ultra exclusive.
Woot! Thanks!
I don't expect James Gunn's plans for the next decade of live action DC to have room for Yara Flor or even for any of the Superboys in more than brief, easily ignored cameos. It would run against the grain of his apparent "back to basics" mixed with "recent hits" proposal.
I suspect you're right. But if memory serves, Yara Flor, for all of her virtues, is the third Wonder Girl. At some point, you're wearing out the concept. I've literally lost track of the Superboys. "Back to basics" runs the risk of plowing old ground, but a little streamlining has its upside, in that any spin-offs can be introduced organically, and therefore more memorably.
I gather from your comment that you're unhappy that your favorites from the extended Super-family and Wonder-family concepts won't make it into Gunn's first "chapter." I'm not shilling for WBD, but I'm offering you hope in that this IS just the first chapter. By, say, Chapter Four you might get Yara Flor. Take a look at the MCU, where they've already introduced most of the next generation of superheroes (Kate Bishop, Billy and Tommy Maximoff, America Chavez, Eli Bradley) and are about to introduce Stature and Ironheart.
Movies, unlike comic books, feature actors who age. Any franchise that lasts more than a generation is going to have to swap out their leads. And comics, with all their legacy characters, have "next gens" already established and ready to go. Gal Gadot will eventually have to be replaced, and why not just replace the whole character with her proteges? Diana Prince can be replaced by Donna Troy, then Cassandra Sandsmark, then Yara Flor. Or Gunn can skip the boring ones and go straight to Yara.
Of course, the new DCU has to succeed mightily in order to get that far. I have no prognostications on that score.
Besides, he is already dealing with multiple Jokers and Batmen; I don't see him having any haste to introduce any further alternates except perhaps in animation and computer games.
But! And this is a good but! They're introducing Damian Wayne, which brings up the possibility of previous Robins being mentioned or even appearing. I would be very surprised if Dick Grayson doesn't make an appearance in the new Batman franchise, treating the character as a given.
Damian is literally the latest member of the Bat-family to be introduced in the comics. So any earlier members (Kate Kane, Barbara Gordon, Cassandra Cain, Duke Thomas, Tim Drake, Stephanie Brown, either Batwing, Harper Row, Jason Todd, Jace Fox) could show up as "previous assistants" in supersuit or mufti.
Many of them (especially the Robins) have already appeared in high-profile, live-action projects like Birds of Prey (movie and TV) the 1966 Batman, Batwoman and Titans, and others have appeared in the animated movies. To some degree, the audience has already been prepped.
Incidentally, "esquecida" is the Portuguese language singular female form for both "forgotten" and "forgetful". It can be either an adjective or a noum.
Wow! That is good to know!
I wonder if "Bana-Mighdall" means anything in an existing language. It might be a "Quraci" word, and therefore meaningless.
Mostly, I think he is making the right calls. Consolidating and properly reintroducing the core intellectual properties while gradually showcasing the wider possibilities of the decades-long DC universes. DC ought to have done that back in 2012.
Agreed. The previous regimes treated their prize jewels as "party favors" (James Gunn's words). They clearly had no respect for them, and used them poorly, going all the way back to the 2004 Catwoman, if not farther. And they were about to do worse. Gunn and Safran at the very least understand the potential of the properties, the responsibility of their regency over them and the weight of expectation. And if they can keep the idiot, know-it-all suits in the front office out of it, there's a chance it might succeed.
I can see how I might look annoyed in my previous post, but I really am not. I find James Gunn's approach rather sensible. It is not the proper time to introduce any Superboy nor any of the Wonder Girls.
The matter of generational heroes is a tricky dilemma for DC to handle, going back at least to Zero Hour's attempt at retiring the JSA. I feel that there might be a potential opportunity there. If DC is daring enough, it may indeed retire characters as their actors age and introduce new generations as you suggest, Captain.
That won't happen in comics, at least not consistently. But comics and live action have very different strengths and requirements.
Luis Olavo de Moura Johnson is right!
While this may be a step in the right direction overall for Warner Brothers, I personally feel it's somewhat of a disservice to fans with all the future television projects appearing to be exclusive to HBO Max. The studio may no longer have any direct involvement in the CW Network, but not everyone has premium cable with all the perks either. So how do they maintain contact/relations with the commercial TV viewers?