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A new DC Universe is dawning, and it’s going to blow you away.

In 2022 James Gunn and Peter Safran were named co-presidents of DC Studios, a new production company within Warner Bros. Discovery. Together, Gunn and Safran are building a new DC cinematic universe. Based on the classic and long-running DC Comics, the DC Universe will bring action and adventure to movies, television, animation, and more. This goes beyond Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman…this is going to be a whole universe full of heroes, villains, and everyone in between.

The new DC Universe kicks off this December with Creature Commandos, followed by Superman, which flies into theaters on July 11, 2025. However, you might have some questions before things get started. For example, how is this different from the DCEU? Who is being recast? How does continuity work?

Not to worry, Popverse has you covered! This guide will tell you everything you need to know about the new DC Universe, and how to watch it in release and chronological order!

How to watch James Gunn’s DC Universe in release order

Are you ready to dive into the DC Universe? Here is a list of all their upcoming projects in release order. Please note, many of these projects are currently in various stages of production. This list assumes they’ll be released in the order Safran and Gunn gave at their press presentation in 2023. However, it’s possible that some projects will be shifted around, and some may wind up being canceled. Popverse will update this watch order as the DC Universe continues to grow.

• Creature Commandos (animated series, releasing December 5, 2024)
• Superman (theatrical film, releasing July 11, 2025)
• Peacemaker season 2 (television series, releasing 2025)
• Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (theatrical film, releasing June 26, 2026)
• Waller (television series, TBA)
• The Authority (theatrical film, TBA)
• Booster Gold (television series, TBA)
• The Brave and the Bold (theatrical film, TBA)
• Lanterns (television series, TBA)
• Paradise Lost (television series, TBA)
• Swamp Thing (theatrical film, TBA)
• Teen Titans (theatrical film, TBA)
• Untitled Deathstroke and Bane film (theatrical film, TBA)
• Blue Beetle (animated series, TBA)
  
  

How to watch James Gunn’s DC Universe in chronological order

We’re still in the early stages of Gunn’s DC Universe. In fact, as of this writing, the first project hasn’t been released yet. As a result, it’s hard to get an accurate sense of the chronology.

However, we can use the information we already have, including some canon events from past films, and build a timeline. Please note, the information on this timeline may change as Gunn and Safran clarify chronology information, and more projects are released.

Ancient History

This section of the DCU timeline covers events before the dawn of superheroes. As of now, the only item in this section is Paradise Lost, an upcoming Max drama about the political struggles on Themyscira before the birth of Wonder Woman.

• Many years ago: Paradise Lost

Prologue Events

While the DCEU is no longer canon, certain events from their movies and television projects still happened in the DCU. For example, elements of Peacemaker season 1 still occurred in the DCU, we just assume that Ezra Miller and Jason Momoa didn’t show up for the finale. For more information on the continuity between the DCEU and the DCU, please see the canon section of this guide.

In the meantime, using reasoning, we can infer that the following events most likely occurred in the DCU.

• 2021: The Suicide Squad
• Early 2022: Peacemaker season 1
• 2023: Blue Beetle

Gods and Monsters

This is the first phase of Gunn and Safran’s DC Universe. Until we’re told otherwise, we will assume that a project takes place when it is released. For example, Creature Commandos premieres in December 2024, so we’re placing it in late 2024. Other times, we use other clues to place the chronology of a project. For example, set photos from Superman show a Daily Planet newspaper with a September date. As a result, we’re placing the film in fall 2025.

We will also assume the projects are being released in chronological order, with the exception of Paradise Lost, which explicitly takes place in the past.

• Late 2024: Creature Commandos
• Fall 2025: Superman
• 2025: Peacemaker season 2
• 2026: Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow
• TBA: Waller
• TBA: The Authority
• TBA: Booster Gold
• TBA: The Brave and the Bold
• TBA: Lanterns
• TBA: Swamp Thing
• TBA: Teen Titans
• TBA: Untitled Deathstroke and Bane film
• Blue Beetle (animated series, TBA)

What is the next DC movie coming?

The next DC movie will be Superman, which hits theaters on July 11, 2025. The film was originally called Superman Legacy while it was in pre-production but has since been retitled Superman. The movie will be directed by James Gunn and feature the debut of David Corenswet as Superman. Although the Creature Commandos animated series will be the first official project set in the new DC Universe, Superman will be the first major project, serving as the kickoff to DC Studios’ cinematic reboot.

What is Gunn’s plan for DC?

James Gunn and Peter Safran have stated that they have a 10-year plan for the DCU. This plan involves telling stories in a cohesive universe through movies, television, animation, video games, and more. On numerous occasions, Gunn has called it “the biggest story ever told.”

Gunn and Safran have created a television-style writers room to help shape the direction of the DC Universe. This brain trust consists of Tom King, Jeremy Slater, Christina Hodson, Christal Henry, and Drew Goddard. However, while the overall direction of the cinematic universe is being shaped by Gunn, Safran, and the brain trust, each project will have its own unique tone. Gunn has said that ultimately each project will be creator driven, with each director bringing their own unique style.

Like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the DC Universe will have their projects released in phases. The first phase is called Gods and Monsters, and officially kicks off with Creature Commandos.

What’s the difference between the DC Universe and the DCEU?

While the DCEU and the DCU share some of the same actors and storylines, they are two different continuities. The DC Extended Universe (aka the DCEU) was DC’s cinematic continuity which began with 2013’s Man of Steel and ended with 2014’s Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. For more information on the DCEU, please see our comprehensive guide.

The DC Universe is DC’s new cinematic continuity, which will begin with the 2024 animated series Creature Commandos and the 2025 theatrical film Superman.

According to James Gunn and Peter Safran, the DC Universe will have more media synergy than the DC Extended Universe. For example, DC films like Aquaman were set in a different universe than DC television shows like Arrow. Going forward, most DC television shows and movies will share a continuity. There will be a few exceptions, and those projects will be released under the Elseworlds banner.

Is the DCEU still canon?

That is a complicated question. The short answer is no, the DCEU is no longer canon. The longer answer is a bit more nuanced. Some aspects of the DCEU are canon, even if the movies/tv shows themselves aren’t. Speaking to a crowd at New York City Comic Con, Gunn explained how the DCU would be treating DCEU continuity.

“There are references to some other things that happened in the past, and those things then become canon in the DCU, because we mentioned that in this show. So we have references to Peacemaker situations. We learned a little bit that, you know, [points to Frank Grillo] your son died. We learned that, you know, other things that have happened in the past in other media have still happened.”

This is similar to how DC Comics continuity works. There are times when a reality-altering event like Crisis on Infinite Earth happens, restarting continuity. When a Post-Crisis story references a Pre-Crisis story, it establishes that story as canon. When a Post-Crisis story contradicts a Pre-Crisis story, it removes that story from continuity.

When in doubt, assume a DCEU movie isn’t canon unless it’s referenced in a DCU movie, or Gunn clarifies its status. With that in mind, here is what we know about how each DCEU project will fit in with DCU continuity.

• Man of Steel – The DCU will have a new Superman, so it’s safe to say this movie has been exiled from continuity.
• Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice – Same as above. We’re getting a new Superman and Batman, and possibly a new Wonder Woman, so this movie is no longer canon.
• Suicide Squad – This is tricky, because elements from this film made their way into Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, which leads into other DCU projects. However, this movie also contains Ben Affleck as Batman and Jared Leto as the Joker, two roles which will be recast in the DCU. It’s possible that some storyline elements from this film occurred in broad strokes, but I would assume that it’s not canon.
• Wonder Woman – It’s likely that we’re getting a new Wonder Woman, so this movie wouldn’t be considered canon.
• Justice League/Zack Snyder’s Justice League – Most (if not all) of the Justice League roster will be recast, so this movie is no longer canon.
• Aquaman – Jason Momoa has hinted that his time as Aquaman is done, so the DCU will probably be recasting the role. Therefore, this film is not canon.
• Shazam – James Gunn has previously said that the Shazam films aren’t canon.
• Birds of Prey – James Gunn has stated that he’s open to Margot Robbie returning as Harley, but nothing has been finalized yet. Of course, this film also contains the DCEU versions of Huntress, Black Canary, Black Mask, Cassandra Cain, and others. Would Gunn be keeping all of them? Probably not…which puts this in a gray area when it comes to canon.
• Wonder Woman 1984 – Maxwell Lord has been recast and placed in the modern era for Gunn’s DCU, rendering this film non-canon.
• The Suicide Squad – Gunn has stated that many elements from this film occurred in the DCU, including Peacemaker’s character arc, the murder of Rick Flag Jr., and Waller’s overall operation. Most (if not all) of this film seems to be DCU canon.
• Peacemaker – This is one of the weirdest and most confusing situations. Gunn has stated that Peacemaker season 1 is not DCU canon, but season 2 is. While this statement seems odd at first glance, it goes along with what Gunn has been saying about continuity all along. Elements of Peacemaker season 1 happened in Gunn’s DCU, they just happened in a slightly different way. For example, if I had to guess, I would say Ezra Miller and Jason Momoa didn’t show up at the end.
• Black Adam – James Gunn has no plans to move forward with Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam. Given that, plus Henry Cavill’s Superman cameo at the end, it’s safe to say this film is not canon.
• Shazam! Fury of the Gods – As previously stated, Gunn has said that the Shazam films are not DCU canon.
• The Flash – Many of the roles associated with this film are being recast and reimagined, rendering this film non-canon.
• Blue Beetle – Gunn has stated that Blue Beetle is the first DC Universe character, but that his film was not a DCU film. What does that mean? Essentially, this was a DCEU movie, but the character will continue in the DCU. This means that elements of the origin story depicted in this film are probably canon.
• Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom – As previously stated, we’re most likely getting a new Aquaman, making this film non-canon.

Is Matt Reeves’ Batman series part of James Gunn’s DC Universe?

Matt Reeves’ Batman film series is not a part of James Gunn’s DC Universe. The Batman, The Penguin, and other projects set in that universe exist in their own continuity, separate from Gunn and Safran’s new DC Universe. This means that we won’t be seeing Robert Pattinson’s Batman teaming up with David Corenswet’s Superman. While there was initially some speculation that Reeves’ Batman series would be folded into the DCU, Gunn stated that the Pattinson films would continue to be their own thing.

Is the Dynamic Duo animated movie part of James Gunn’s DC Universe?

While Matt Reeves will serve as a producer for the film, the project will not share a continuity with Reeves’ live-action Batman films.

As of this writing, it is not certain if the film is part of the DCU’s continuity. Gunn has stated on numerous occasions that some DC Studios animated projects will be part of DCU canon. Could Dynamic Duo be one of those projects?

However, Gunn has also stated that some films will be released under the Elseworlds banner, indicating that they aren’t set in the same universe as the main continuity DCU films. It’s possible that Dynamic Duo will be one of those Elseworlds films.

Who will play Batman in James Gunn’s DC Universe?

As of this writing, a new Batman hasn’t been cast for James Gunn’s DC Universe. Robert Pattinson will continue to play Batman for Matt Reeves’ Batman film series. However, both Gunn and Reeves have confirmed the Pattinson’s film series will not be canon to the new DCU. This means that there will be two different live-action Batmen that will coexist on the big screen, albeit in separate continuities.

The Brave and the Bold film is the first official Batman project of the new DC Universe. The movie will be directed by Andy Muschietti, the filmmaker behind 2023’s The Flash. We’ll most likely hear more news about Batman’s casting as The Brave and the Bold begins pre-production.

Who is the new Superman?

The new Superman is David Corenswet, an American actor best known for his starring roles in The Politician and Hollywood. Corenswet will make his debut as the Man of Steel in Superman, which hits theaters on July 11, 2025. The actor landed the role in June 2023 after a lengthy search. Corenswet is expected to reprise his role in other DC Universe projects, but as of this writing, nothing has been announced.

Who is the new Wonder Woman?

As of this writing, a new Wonder Woman hasn’t been cast. While James Gunn and Peter Safran haven’t officially confirmed that Gal Gadot won’t be returning to the role, social media posts from Gunn have implied it. Gunn and Gadot initially spoke about developing a new Wonder Woman film together, but industry trades reported that the project was abandoned. As of this writing, neither Gunn nor Gadot have gone on record to clarify the situation.

The first Wonder Woman related project in the DC Universe will be Paradise Lost, a fantasy television series that explores the Amazons of Themyscira before Diana was born. Because of the project’s place in the DCU timeline, I wouldn’t expect to see any Wonder Woman casting news when production begins.

Where can I watch James Gunn’s DC Universe?

If you want to watch James Gunn’s DC Universe, a Max subscription is your best bet. The streaming service will be the home to the Creature Commandos animated series when it launches in December 2024. Max is also expected to be the streaming home for Waller, Paradise Lost, Booster Gold, and the other television shows that will make up Gunn’s DCU.

You can also use Max to catch up on the various DCEU projects that will serve as backstory for the DCU. The Suicide Squad, Peacemaker, and Blue Beetle are all available to stream on the service.

(Yes, Peacemaker is a DCEU show and a DCU show. Please see the canon section of this guide for more information.)

While DC Studios hasn’t announced what platform films like Superman and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow will stream on, it’s expected that they will end up on Max like most DC Comics projects. Please note, the availability of some of these titles might change as streaming licenses expire.

Now you have everything you need to get started on the new DC Universe!

Want to know what's coming up next in pop culture? Check out our guides to upcoming movies, upcoming TV shows, upcoming comics, and upcoming comic conventions. If you're looking for specific franchises or genres, we have all the upcoming MCU, upcoming Star Wars, upcoming Star Trek, and upcoming DC movies & TV for you. If you're a fan of superheroes and not specific to just Marvel or DC, we have overall guides to all the upcoming superhero movies and upcoming superhero TV shows (and new seasons) as well.