The DC Universe is officially under way after the release of Creature Commandos and Superman, which mark the first TV show and first movie of the new era.
With almost a decade's worth of content planned, the DCU kicks off with Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters, a new era focusing on different interpretations of established DC superheroes – such as Superman, Supergirl, Batman and Swamp Thing.
DC Studios' co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran are bringing their own projects across film, television, animation and gaming – interconnected in the same way as the MCU. But what's next after Superman? Here's all you need to know.
DC Universe release dates: All upcoming DCU movies and TV shows
As of July 2025, here are all the confirmed projects that are definitely part of the DC Universe and its Elseworlds universe (more on that in a bit).
Below are all the DC movies scheduled for release in the next few years. As ever, release dates are subject to change.
26 June 2026 – Supergirl
11 September 2026 – Clayface
1 October 2027 – The Batman Part II
TBA – The Brave and the Bold
TBA – The Authority
TBA – Swamp Thing
What to Read Next
As with the MCU since Phase 4, there are also TV shows that are part of the DC Universe that could cross over with the movies.
21 August 2025 – Peacemaker season 2
Early 2026 – Lanterns season 1
TBA – Creature Commandos season 2
TBA – Waller
TBA – Paradise Lost
TBA – Booster Gold
DC Universe movies: Which DCU movies are coming up?
Supergirl
Release date: 26 June 2026
Director: Craig Gillespie
Cast: Milly Alcock, Matthias Schoenaerts, Emily Beecham
The Flash's Sasha Calle will not be reprising her role as Supergirl, and James Gunn has already announced the new Kara Zor-El: House of the Dragon star Milly Alcock.
You can get your first look at Alcock in the role in Superman, if the rumours are to be believed.
Based on the Tom King and Bilquis Evely comic of the same name, the story follows Kara Zor-El in a revenge-driven quest across space to find the villains responsible for her world's destruction.
Clayface
Release date: 11 September 2026
Director: James Watkins
Starring: Tom Rhys Harries
We've already seen Clayface in the DCU in Creature Commandos, where he was voiced by Alan Tudyk.
However, for his live-action debut, Tom Rhys Harries is taking on the shape-shifting villain role, with filming set to start on the movie in October 2025.
Horror maestro Mike Flanagan wrote the first draft of the movie, with Hossein Amini writing additional drafts, and James Watkins is on directing duties.
The Brave and the Bold
Release date: TBA
Director: Andy Muschietti
Cast: TBA
Another Batman movie is in the works at DC, parallel to Matt Reeves' The Batman sequel.
Gunn has announced that The Brave and the Bold will focus on the Batman and Son storyline, which explores the relationship between Bruce Wayne and his 10-year-old son with Talia al Ghul, Damian Wayne. Together, father and son will fight crime in Gotham.
The Authority
Release date: TBA
Director: TBA
Cast: TBA
Based on the comic The Authority by Warren Ellis, the film will bring DC's favourite anti-heroes to the big screen. The movie will likely focus on the origin story of this team, a group of powerful heroes whose idea of justice differs from the Justice League's.
The original comics featured the characters Jenny Sparks, Jack Hawksmoor, Midnighter, Apollo and The Engineer (who appears in Superman), but there's still no confirmation about who will appear in the movie.
Swamp Thing
Release date: TBA
Director: James Mangold
Cast: TBA
The 2019 TV series was short-lived, but fans are hoping the next Swamp Thing nails the beloved comics character. Although not many details are known so far, we do know the movie will explore the dark origins of Alec Holland's monstrous alter ego.
Indiana Jones 5's director, James Mangold, is writing the script and is set to direct as well.
DC Universe TV shows: Which DCU TV shows are coming up?
Peacemaker season 2
Release date: 21 August 2025
Cast: John Cena, Jennifer Holland, Danielle Brooks
John Cena's antihero mercenary is back in the second season of Peacemaker, which is now officially in the new DC Universe.
James Gunn wrote all eight episodes of the new run and directed three episodes, including the season premiere.
The second season also features notable crossovers with Superman, as Isabela Merced (Hawkgirl), Frank Grillo (Rick Flag Sr), Nathan Fillion (Guy Gardner) and Sean Gunn (Maxwell Lord) all appear in the new season.
Lanterns season 1
Release date: Early 2026
Cast: Kyle Chandler, Aaron Pierre
Nathan Fillion also pops up in Lanterns, but he's not the main Green Lantern that the new show focuses on.
Kyle Chandler's experienced Lantern Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre's new recruit John Stewart take centre stage as they investigate a murder, only to be drawn into darker mysteries and reckonings.
Creature Commandos season 2
Release date: TBA
Cast: TBA
After the success of the first season, a second season of Creature Commandos was quickly confirmed.
At this stage, we don't know who will be back for the second season or when to expect it. Gunn wrote all seven episodes of the first season, but it's unclear if he'll be doing the same for the new run.
Waller
Release date: TBA
Cast: Viola Davis
Suicide Squad's Amanda Waller will have her own show, with Viola Davis returning once more to play the role.
As a spin-off to Peacemaker, the show will bring back other supporting characters known to fans, though there are still no details about the cast or the plot.
DC Studios announced that Christal Henry (Watchmen) and Jeremy Carver (Doom Patrol) will lead this project.
Booster Gold
Release date: TBA
Cast: TBA
During DC's initial slate presentation, Safran described Booster Gold's main character as "a loser from the future who uses his basic future technology to come back to today to pretend to be a superhero". Sounds like fun.
Based on the comic of the same name from the '80s, the series is like "the story of a superhero's impostor syndrome," according to Gunn.
Paradise Lost
Release date: TBA
Cast: TBA
Although Wonder Woman 3 doesn't seem to be in Gunn and Safran's plans, we will be able to explore the character's homeland in Paradise Lost.
The story is set in Themyscira before Diana Prince was born and will show how this society of female-only warriors was created. The show has been compared to Game of Thrones.
DC Elseworlds explained: Is The Batman 2 part of the DCU?
According to Gunn and Safran, some projects won't feed into the main narrative, but they'll still exist under the franchise brand.
For that purpose, DC has created a new movie branch: DC Elseworlds.
DC comic-book fans will recognise that word since it's also the name of the publication imprint used for alternate-reality comics that take place outside the canon.
The first DC Elseworlds movie was Joker: Folie à Deux and the next one we'll be seeing is The Batman: Part II, but we're in for a long wait as that sequel doesn't come out until 1 October 2027.
We're sure it'll be worth the wait though.
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Mireia (she/her) has been working as a movie and TV journalist for over eight years. Based in the UK, she is a former deputy movies editor at Digital Spy, and previously worked for the Spanish magazine Fotogramas. Mireia's work has been published in other outlets such as Esquire and Elle in Spain, and WeLoveCinema and GamesRadar+ in the UK. She is also a published author, having written the essay Biblioteca Studio Ghibli: Nicky, la aprendiz de bruja about Hayao Miyazaki's Kiki's Delivery Service.
During her years as a freelance journalist and film critic, Mireia has covered festivals around the world and has interviewed high-profile talents such as Kristen Stewart, Ryan Gosling, Jake Gyllenhaal and many more. She's also taken part in juries such as the FIPRESCI jury at Venice Film Festival and the short film jury at Kingston International Film Festival in London. LinkedIn
Movies Editor, Digital Spy Ian has more than 10 years of movies journalism experience as a writer and editor. Starting out as an intern at trade bible Screen International, he was promoted to report and analyse UK box-office results, as well as carving his own niche with horror movies, attending genre festivals around the world. After moving to Digital Spy, initially as a TV writer, he was nominated for New Digital Talent of the Year at the PPA Digital Awards. He became Movies Editor in 2019, in which role he has interviewed 100s of stars, including Chris Hemsworth, Florence Pugh, Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba and Olivia Colman, become a human encyclopedia for Marvel and appeared as an expert guest on BBC News and on-stage at MCM Comic-Con. Where he can, he continues to push his horror agenda – whether his editor likes it or not.
