DC Extended Universe

"DC Movie Universe" redirects here. For the series of direct-to-video animated films, see DC Animated Movie Universe.

DC Extended Universe
The official branding logo of all DC Comics media
Created by	DC Films
Original work	Man of Steel (2013)
Owner	Warner Bros.
Years	2013–present
Print publications
Novel(s)	Novels
Comics	Tie-in comics
Films and television
Film(s)	DC Extended Universe films
Games
Video game(s)	Tie-in video games
Miscellaneous
Based on	Characters by DC Comics

The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) is an American media franchise and shared universe that is centered on a series of superhero films, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures and based on characters that appear in American comic books by DC Comics. The shared universe, much like the original DC Universe in comic books and the television programs, was established by crossing over common plot elements, settings, cast, and characters. The films have been in production since 2011, and in that time, Warner Bros. has distributed eight films, with several others in various stages of development. It is the eleventh-highest-grossing film franchise of all time, having grossed over $5.48 billion at the global box office. Its highest-grossing film is Aquaman, which earned over $1.15 billion worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing DC film to date.

The films are written and directed by a variety of individuals and feature large, often ensemble casts. Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, and Ray Fisher, among others, star in several films. However, unlike the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the franchise has loosely connected story-lines, with greater autonomy for the filmmakers who create each individual film. The first film in the DCEU was Man of Steel (2013), followed by Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Suicide Squad (2016), Wonder Woman (2017), Justice League (2017), Aquaman (2018), Shazam! (2019), and Birds of Prey (2020). The franchise will continue with Wonder Woman 1984 in 2020; Zack Snyder's Justice League, The Suicide Squad, The Batman, and Black Adam in 2021; and The Flash, Shazam! 2, and Aquaman 2 in 2022.

Etymology

Upon announcement of the film series, the universe was commonly called the "DC Cinematic Universe" by fans and the media, in keeping with the naming convention of the already established Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Keith Staskiewicz, writing for Entertainment Weekly, jokingly coined the term "DC Extended Universe™" an article about Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice on July 1, 2015. This term and the abbreviation DCEU quickly spread among the press and fans thinking of it as the official name of the franchise over the following years. According to Vulture writer Abraham Riesman, DC confirmed to him in September 2017 that the term was not used internally and they did not consider it official. In 2016, as part of DC Films Presents: Dawn of the Justice League, both Geoff Johns and Kevin Smith referred to the franchise's name as being the "Justice League Universe". During the DC Films panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2018, a video banner displayed the words "Welcome to the Worlds of DC", after showcasing some upcoming films. As a result, some media outlets interpreted this as DC officially naming their shared film universe as the "Worlds of DC". However, in March 2020, Jim Lee called the franchise the DC Extended Universe at C2E2. The franchise was officially titled DC Extended Universe when the WarnerMedia streaming service HBO Max launched the following May.

Development

In 2002, Wolfgang Petersen was set to direct a Batman vs. Superman film from a script by Akiva Goldsman. Warner Bros. canceled development to focus on individual Superman and Batman projects after J. J. Abrams submitted another draft for Superman: Flyby. In February 2007, Warner Bros. hired husband and wife duo Michele and Kieran Mulroney to write a script for a Justice League film. Christian Bale, who starred as Batman in Batman Begins (2005), was not approached to reprise the role, nor was Brandon Routh, who starred as Superman in Superman Returns (2006). George Miller was hired to direct the film, reportedly titled Justice League Mortal, with Armie Hammer cast as Batman, D. J. Cotrona as Superman, Adam Brody as Flash, Santiago Cabrera as Aquaman, Common as Green Lantern, Megan Gale as Wonder Woman, Hugh Keays-Byrne as Martian Manhunter and Jay Baruchel as Maxwell Lord. The project was put on indefinite hold in January 2008, after failing to secure tax breaks for filming in Australia, as well as the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike preventing progress on the script.

In 2013, a reboot of the Superman franchise, Man of Steel, was set to lay the groundwork for future DC films. The film contained references to other characters in the DC Universe, so if it were a success, it could launch a shared universe. Days before Man of Steel's release in June, it was reported that director Zack Snyder and screenwriter David S. Goyer would be returning for a sequel, which was being fast-tracked by Warner Bros. In July, at San Diego Comic-Con, it was revealed that the sequel would include Batman in a main role, establishing the shared universe. In October 2014, Warner Bros. announced a slate of ten DC films.

Geoff Johns has served in various positions in DC Films and the DCEU.

While the rival Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) includes television productions, DC's crossover series is a shared continuity for films. Several television series featuring DC characters and storylines have their own shared continuity, known as the Arrowverse. DC's chief creative officer Geoff Johns explained DC's difference in approach to Marvel Studios and their cinematic universe, saying, "We look at it as the multiverse. We have our TV universe and our film universe, but they all co-exist. For us, creatively, it's about allowing everyone to make the best possible product, to tell the best story, to do the best world. Everyone has a vision and you really want to let the visions shine through ... It's just a different approach." In June 2015, Warner Bros. president of creative development Greg Silverman expanded on DC's approach to their cinematic universe, saying, "We ... take these beloved characters and put them in the hands of master filmmakers and make sure they all coordinate with each other. You'll see the difference when you see ... the things that we are working on."

In May 2016, following criticism of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Warner Bros. established a DC Films division with Geoff Johns and Warner Bros. executive vice president Jon Berg as its heads, which oversees production to form a cohesive creative direction for the franchise. DC Films would not be fully autonomous, as Johns reported to DC president Diane Nelson and Berg reported to Silverman. Charles Roven was also moved from his day-by-day producer role on future DC films, which he had served since 2005's Batman Begins, to an administrative executive producer role. In December, Silverman was ousted from his role in Warner Bros., and Toby Emmerich was promoted to president and chief content officer, in his place. By January 2017, Johns and Berg reported to Emmerich. Following the financial and critical success of Wonder Woman in June 2017, Johns stated that moving forward the films will focus on the heart, humor, hope, heroics, and optimism of the characters. As a result of Justice League's underperformance at the box office, Berg left his position by January 2018 and became a production partner with Roy Lee. DC also sought to deemphasize the shared nature of their films, with Diane Nelson stating, "Our intention, certainly, moving forward is using the continuity to help make sure nothing is diverging in a way that doesn't make sense, but there's no insistence upon an overall storyline or interconnectivity in that universe... Moving forward, you'll see the DC movie universe being a universe, but one that comes from the heart of the filmmaker who's creating them."

In January 2018, Walter Hamada was appointed the President of DC Films and co-runner of the DCEU, replacing Berg. The following month, Chantal Nong was named Vice President of DC Films. The pair were hired to oversee the franchise with Johns, as the key production team managers. However, Johns stepped down from his executive roles at DC in June 2018. He created a production company, Mad Ghost Productions, to have a greater hands-on role in various DC media as a writer and producer. After the financial success of Aquaman, Warner Bros. CEO Kevin Tsujihara said the upcoming slate of DC films would be focused on individual character stories instead of interconnectivity.

Released films

Film	U.S. release date	Director(s)	Screenwriter(s)	Story by	Producer(s)
Man of Steel	June 14, 2013 (2013-06-14)	Zack Snyder	David S. Goyer	David S. Goyer & Christopher Nolan	Charles Roven, Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas and Deborah Snyder
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice	March 25, 2016 (2016-03-25)		Chris Terrio and David S. Goyer		Charles Roven and Deborah Snyder
Suicide Squad	August 5, 2016 (2016-08-05)	David Ayer			Charles Roven and Richard Suckle
Wonder Woman	June 2, 2017 (2017-06-02)	Patty Jenkins	Allan Heinberg	Zack Snyder & Allan Heinberg and Jason Fuchs	Charles Roven, Deborah Snyder, Zack Snyder and Richard Suckle
Justice League Zack Snyder's Justice League	November 17, 2017 (2017-11-17) 2021	Zack Snyder	Chris Terrio and Joss Whedon Chris Terrio	Chris Terrio & Zack Snyder	Charles Roven, Deborah Snyder, Jon Berg and Geoff Johns Charles Roven and Deborah Snyder
Aquaman	December 21, 2018 (2018-12-21)	James Wan	David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Will Beall	Geoff Johns & James Wan and Will Beall	Peter Safran and Rob Cowan
Shazam!	April 5, 2019 (2019-04-05)	David F. Sandberg	Henry Gayden	Henry Gayden and Darren Lemke	Peter Safran
Birds of Prey	February 7, 2020 (2020-02-07)	Cathy Yan	Christina Hodson		Margot Robbie, Bryan Unkeless and Sue Kroll

Man of Steel (2013)

Main article: Man of Steel (film)

Zack Snyder: the director of Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and co-story writer/director of Justice League

Kal-El / Clark Kent, who arrived on Earth years ago as an infant from Krypton, struggles with why he was sent to Earth. Raised by his adoptive parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent, Clark adopts the persona "Superman", and learns if his abilities are meant to maintain peace or conquer the world.

During story discussions for The Dark Knight Rises, David S. Goyer told Christopher Nolan his idea regarding how to present Superman in a modern context. Impressed with Goyer's concept, Nolan pitched the idea to the studio, who hired Nolan to produce and Goyer to write based on the financial and critical success of The Dark Knight. Zack Snyder was hired in October 2010 to direct the film. In January 2011, Henry Cavill was cast as Clark Kent / Superman. Other cast members included Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Michael Shannon as the villain General Zod, Diane Lane as Martha Kent, Kevin Costner as Jonathan Kent, Russell Crowe as Jor-El, and Laurence Fishburne as Perry White. Principal photography began on August 1, 2011. Man of Steel released in North America on June 14, 2013.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Main article: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Gotham City-based vigilante Batman travels to Metropolis to preemptively combat Superman, fearing what would happen if the latter is kept unchecked, while another threat endangers humankind.

In June 2013, it was reported that Snyder and Goyer would be returning for a sequel to Man of Steel, which was being fast-tracked by Warner Bros. Nolan was involved in an advisory role as executive producer. In July, at the San Diego Comic-Con, Warner Bros. announced that Superman and Batman would meet for the first time in a cinematic format in the film, which would be the follow-up to Man of Steel and a reboot of the Batman film series. According to Snyder, the film took inspiration from the comic The Dark Knight Returns. Cavill, Adams, Lane, and Fishburne reprised their roles. In August, Ben Affleck was cast as Bruce Wayne / Batman. In December, Gal Gadot was cast as Diana Prince / Wonder Woman, marking the character's first appearance in a live-action theatrical film. Later in the month, Chris Terrio was hired to rewrite Goyer's script. In January 2014, the film was delayed from its July 17, 2015, release date to May 6, 2016, to give the filmmakers "time to realize fully their vision, given the complex visual nature of the story". Later that month, Jesse Eisenberg and Jeremy Irons joined the cast as Lex Luthor and Alfred Pennyworth, respectively. In May 2014, the film's title was revealed to be Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Initial filming occurred on October 19, 2013, at East Los Angeles College, before full principal photography began on May 21, 2014, in Detroit. Production also took place in Illinois, New Mexico, Africa and the South Pacific. After another date change, the film was released in North America on March 25, 2016.

The film is set 18 months after the events of Man of Steel. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice introduced Ezra Miller as Barry Allen / The Flash, Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry / Aquaman, Ray Fisher as Victor Stone / Cyborg, and Joe Morton as Dr. Silas Stone. The film also introduced Steppenwolf, who served as the main antagonist in Justice League, through a brief scene. The scene was not included in the film's theatrical release, but instead was revealed online by Warner Bros. on March 28, before being included in the Ultimate Edition home video release.

Suicide Squad (2016)

Main article: Suicide Squad (film)

David Ayer: the writer/director of Suicide Squad

After the death of Superman, a secret government agency recruits imprisoned supervillains to execute dangerous black ops missions and rescue the world from a powerful threat, in exchange for clemency.

In February 2009, prior to the development of the DCEU, Warner Bros. was developing a Suicide Squad film, with Dan Lin producing and Justin Marks writing the script. In October 2014, Suicide Squad was announced by Warner Bros., with David Ayer confirmed as director. In December, it was revealed that Ayer would also be writing the screenplay. The main cast included Will Smith as Deadshot, Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Jared Leto as the Joker, Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang, Jay Hernandez as El Diablo, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Killer Croc, Karen Fukuhara as Katana, Cara Delevingne as Enchantress, Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, and Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flag. Tom Hardy was originally cast as Rick Flag, but dropped out due to scheduling issues with his film The Revenant. Principal photography commenced April 13, 2015, and took place in and around Toronto. Filming concluded August 28, 2015. Suicide Squad was released in North America on August 5, 2016.

The film is set after the events of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Affleck as Bruce Wayne / Batman and Miller as Barry Allen / The Flash made appearances in the film. In a mid-credits scene, Waller meets Wayne in a restaurant and hands him a dossier containing information on future members of the Justice League.

Wonder Woman (2017)

Main article: Wonder Woman (2017 film)

Patty Jenkins: the director of Wonder Woman and the co-writer/director of Wonder Woman 1984

Diana of Themyscira, an Amazon warrior who also is the demigoddess daughter of the god Zeus, uses her talents and abilities in order to help humanity during World War I.

Israeli actress and model Gal Gadot was cast as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman in December 2013 and signed a three-picture deal which included a solo film. In October 2014, Wonder Woman was announced by Warner Bros. In November, Michelle MacLaren was confirmed to direct the film from a screenplay by Jason Fuchs. In April 2015, MacLaren left the project due to creative differences. Later that month, Patty Jenkins was announced as the new director of the film. In July, Chris Pine was cast as Steve Trevor. Other cast members include Connie Nielsen as Queen Hippolyta, Robin Wright as General Antiope, Danny Huston as Erich Ludendorff, Elena Anaya as Doctor Poison, and David Thewlis as Ares. Filming began in November 2015, and was shot in the United Kingdom, France and Italy. Wonder Woman was released in North America on June 2, 2017.

Justice League (2017)

Main articles: Justice League (film) and Zack Snyder's Justice League

Motivated by Superman's death at the hands of Doomsday, Batman and Wonder Woman assemble a team of metahumans to face a new catastrophic threat.

In June 2013, it was reported that Goyer would be writing Justice League as part of a three-film deal he signed for Man of Steel. In April 2014, it was announced that Snyder would return as director. The film was announced in October as Justice League Part One. In March 2016, it was confirmed that Chris Terrio had written the script, who said that the film would not be as tonally dark as Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. In June, Geoff Johns announced that the title had been changed to simply Justice League. Affleck, Cavill, Gadot, Momoa, Miller, Fisher, Irons, Lane, Adams, Eisenberg, Nielsen, Wright, and Morton reprised their respective roles from previous films. Ciarán Hinds provides the voice and performance capture for the villain Steppenwolf. Beginning on April 11, 2016, filming took place at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden, in England, as well as locations around London and in Iceland. Filming concluded in October 2016. In May 2017, Snyder stepped down from his duties on the film due to his daughter's death; Joss Whedon filled his position on post-production, with additional scenes being written and directed by him. Though Whedon was not officially credited for his role as post-production director, he completed enough additional work for a screenwriting credit on the film. Justice League was released worldwide on November 17, 2017.

Justice League introduced various characters, including J. K. Simmons as James Gordon, Amber Heard as Mera, and Billy Crudup as Henry Allen. Additionally, Joe Manganiello as Slade Wilson / Deathstroke was also introduced in a post-credits scene, teasing an alliance between him and Lex Luthor. Kiersey Clemons as Iris West and Willem Dafoe as Nuidis Vulko were to be introduced but their scenes were ultimately cut from the film.

Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)

The divisive reaction towards the final highlighted cut of Justice League, with Zack Snyder leaving directorial duties and the final cut of the film in the hands of Joss Whedon, has led to an argument comparing the situation to the one experienced by the film Superman II. Both Justice League and Superman II feature a director that was replaced, for different reasons, before completion of a film, which led to a second director coming in and making substantial changes to the tone of each film. Although the reasoning behind each director's departure differs, Richard Donner was able to complete his Superman II cut in 2005. In the belief that Snyder had shot enough material for a finished film, a campaign for a "Snyder Cut" was started to allow Snyder to receive a similar treatment to Donner. Arguments are made that Snyder's vision would be more cohesive to the previous films than the actual theatrical cut, which Snyder has refused to see. Warner Bros. initially remained silent regarding any intention of making a "Snyder Cut".

In March 2019, Snyder confirmed his original cut does exist, and stated that it is up to Warner Bros. to release it. Despite this, in November, an insider claimed that Warner Bros. is unlikely to release Snyder's version of Justice League in theaters or on HBO Max, calling it a "pipe dream". In December, however, Snyder posted a photo in his Vero account, which showed boxes with tapes labeled "Z.S. J.L Director's cut", and with the caption "Is it real? Does it exist? Of course it does." On May 20, 2020, Snyder officially announced that HBO Max will be releasing his cut of Justice League on their service in 2021. The cut will cost $20–30+ million to complete the special effects, musical score, and editing, and will be either a four-hour film version or six-part television miniseries of Snyder's original vision of the film. It was also revealed that Cavill, Affleck, Gadot, Momoa, Fisher and Miller would be returning to help complete the project.

Aquaman (2018)

Main article: Aquaman (film)

James Wan: the co-story writer/director of Aquaman, and director of Aquaman 2

Arthur Curry, a half-Atlantean assistant lighthouse keeper, sets out to lead the underwater kingdom of Atlantis against his half-brother, King Orm, who seeks to unite the seven underwater kingdoms against the surface world.

In June 2014, Jason Momoa was cast as Arthur Curry / Aquaman. By August, Will Beall and Kurt Johnstad were writing competing scripts for the character's solo film. Aquaman was announced in October. In June 2015, James Wan was hired as director, as well as to oversee the screenplay by Johnstad. In November 2015, David Leslie Johnson was hired to write a new script. In July 2016, Beall returned to write the script, based on a story treatment by Wan and Geoff Johns. Johnson worked on a rewrite of Beall's script with Wan and producer Peter Safran. In December 2016, Patrick Wilson was cast as Orm / Ocean Master, the half-brother of Aquaman and the main antagonist of the film. In January 2017, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II was cast in the role of villain Black Manta. Heard reprised her role as Mera from Justice League. Other cast members include Willem Dafoe as Nuidis Vulko, Temuera Morrison as Aquaman's father Tom Curry, Nicole Kidman as Aquaman's mother Queen Atlanna, and Dolph Lundgren as King Nereus. Principal photography began on May 2, 2017, in Queensland, Australia, and wrapped on October 21, 2017. Aquaman was released in North America on December 21, 2018.

The film is set after the events of Justice League.

Shazam! (2019)

Main article: Shazam! (film)

David F. Sandberg: the director of Shazam! & Shazam! 2

By speaking "Shazam", Billy Batson, a 14-year-old foster child, can turn into an adult superhero, courtesy of an ancient wizard. He attempts to master his powers and defeat the evil forces controlled by Dr. Thaddeus Sivana.

In August 2014, Dwayne Johnson announced his attachment to a project about the superhero Shazam, formerly known as Captain Marvel. In September, Johnson was revealed to be portraying the antihero Black Adam, Shazam's nemesis in the film, with Darren Lemke set to write the script. In October, Warner Bros. announced Shazam as a film in its upcoming slate. By January 2017, Henry Gayden was working on the script. In July, it was confirmed that David F. Sandberg would direct Shazam!, and that Johnson would no longer appear, instead starring in a Black Adam solo film. Pre-production began in August. By October, Zachary Levi was cast as Shazam, and in November, Asher Angel was cast as Shazam's child-age alter ego, Billy Batson. The film's primary villain is Doctor Sivana, with Mark Strong in the role. Other cast members include Jack Dylan Grazer, Grace Fulton, Jovan Armand, Ian Chen, and Faithe Herman as Batson's foster siblings, Cooper Andrews and Marta Milans as Batson's foster parents, and Djimon Hounsou as the wizard Shazam, who gives Batson his powers. The film began principal photography in Toronto on January 29, 2018, and wrapped on May 11, 2018, with most of the filming taking place at Pinewood Toronto Studios, among other locations around the city. Shazam! was released in North America on April 5, 2019.

The film is set after the events of Justice League. The villain Mister Mind is introduced in a mid-credits scene.

Birds of Prey (2020)

Main article: Birds of Prey (2020 film)

Since the events of Suicide Squad, Harley Quinn has left the Joker. When Cassandra Cain, a young girl, comes across a diamond belonging to crime lord Black Mask, Harley joins forces with Black Canary, Huntress, and Renee Montoya to help protect her.

By November 2016, Birds of Prey, based on the female superhero team of the same name, was in development with Christina Hodson signed on as screenwriter. By April 2018, Warner Bros. selected Cathy Yan as director, with Margot Robbie, Sue Kroll, and Bryan Unkless serving as producers. Robbie reprised her role as Harley Quinn from Suicide Squad. The film is the first theatrical R-rated installment in the franchise and has a smaller budget than most of the other films. In addition to Robbie's starring role, the team roster also includes Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Rosie Perez, and Ella Jay Basco as Huntress, Black Canary, Renee Montoya, and Cassandra Cain, respectively. Black Mask serves as the film's primary antagonist with Ewan McGregor portraying the character, and Chris Messina portraying Victor Zsasz. The film began pre-production in late July 2018. Principal photography commenced on January 15, 2019, in Los Angeles, and lasted until April 15, 2019. In November 2018, Robbie revealed the full title of the film as Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). Birds of Prey held its world premiere in London on January 29, 2020, and was released on February 7, 2020. A week into its release, the title of the film was changed to Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey to give "moviegoers a better understanding of what Birds of Prey is about."

The film is set after the events of Suicide Squad.

Future films

Film	U.S. release date	Director(s)	Screenwriter(s)	Story by	Producer(s)	Status
Wonder Woman 1984	October 2, 2020 (2020-10-02)	Patty Jenkins	Patty Jenkins & Geoff Johns & David Callaham	Patty Jenkins & Geoff Johns	Charles Roven, Deborah Snyder, Zack Snyder, Patty Jenkins, Gal Gadot and Stephen Jones	Completed
The Suicide Squad	August 6, 2021 (2021-08-06)	James Gunn			Charles Roven, Peter Safran and Simon Hatt	Post-production
The Batman	October 1, 2021 (2021-10-01)	Matt Reeves	Matt Reeves & Mattson Tomlin		Matt Reeves and Dylan Clark	Filming
Black Adam	December 22, 2021 (2021-12-22)	Jaume Collet-Serra	Adam Sztykiel		Dwayne Johnson, Hiram Garcia, Dany Garcia, Beau Flynn and Scott Sheldon	Pre-production
The Flash	June 3, 2022 (2022-06-03)	Andy Muschietti	Christina Hodson		Michael Disco and Barbara Muschietti	In development
Shazam! 2	November 4, 2022 (2022-11-04)	David F. Sandberg	Henry Gayden		Peter Safran
Aquaman 2	December 16, 2022 (2022-12-16)	James Wan	David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick	Jason Momoa and David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick	James Wan and Peter Safran

Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)

Main article: Wonder Woman 1984

Diana Prince comes into conflict with the Soviet Union during the Cold War in the 1980s and finds two formidable foes in the form of the Cheetah and Maxwell Lord.

By June 2017, Geoff Johns and Patty Jenkins had begun work on the story treatment for a Wonder Woman sequel. By July, Johns was working on the script. That same month, the sequel was officially announced at San Diego Comic-Con. Gadot will reprise her role as Wonder Woman. By September, Jenkins signed a deal to return as director, and brought on David Callaham to pen the script with her and Johns. The film takes place in the 1980s during the Cold War. Jenkins said the film, like its predecessor, will be a love story, but with a new love interest. Pre-production had begun by early December 2017. In March 2018, Kristen Wiig was cast to portray the film's primary antagonist, Barbara Ann Minerva / Cheetah, and Pedro Pascal was cast as Maxwell Lord. Production began on June 13, 2018, around the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia. Other filming locations include the Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden in the United Kingdom and the islands of Tenerife and Fuerteventura in Spain. Wonder Woman 1984 is scheduled to be released on October 2, 2020. Its release was delayed from an original June 5, 2020 date due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Suicide Squad (2021)

Main article: The Suicide Squad (film)

James Gunn: the writer/director of The Suicide Squad

In March 2016, a Suicide Squad sequel was announced to be in development, with Ayer returning as director. Adam Cozad was hired to write the script by March 2017. By July 2017, a new story treatment was written by Zak Penn. In September 2017, Gavin O'Connor was hired as director after Ayer dropped out, as well as co-screenwriter with David Bar Katz and Todd Stashwick. The final draft of the script was completed by September 2018. The next month, O'Connor left the project as Warner Bros. believed the script was too similar to Birds of Prey. In January 2019, the film was re-titled The Suicide Squad, with James Gunn directing, from a new script he wrote. Gunn chose the project over various other films Warner Bros. had in development, including a Superman film. In March, Idris Elba joined the cast. He was initially hired to replace Smith as Deadshot, who dropped out due to scheduling conflicts, but it was later decided that Elba would play a new character so Smith could return in the future. Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Jai Courtney, and Viola Davis will reprise their roles from the first film, while David Dastmalchian, Steve Agee, Michael Rooker, Peter Capaldi, Taika Waititi, Alice Braga, Sean Gunn, Juan Diego Botto, Storm Reid, Pete Davidson, Nathan Fillion, Flula Borg, John Cena, and Joaquín Cosío, among others, will join the cast. Production began on September 20, 2019, at Pinewood Atlanta Studios in Atlanta, with additional filming following in Panama, for a scheduled release date of August 6, 2021.

The Batman (2021)

Main article: The Batman (film)

Matt Reeves: the co-writer/co-producer/director of The Batman

In October 2014, a Batman standalone film was announced by Warner Bros. By 2016, Ben Affleck was set to star in, produce, direct, and write the project. Affleck co-wrote the script with Geoff Johns, and Chris Terrio turned in a rewrite. The film was on track to shoot in early 2017, until Affleck stepped down as director that January. Affleck initially cited his intentions being to more specifically focus on starring as Batman, later acknowledging that after various attempts to get the script where he wanted it, it simply became "time to let someone else have a shot at it". In February 2017, Warner Bros. announced the title as The Batman and that Matt Reeves would direct and co-produce the film. In July 2017, Reeves confirmed that the script was being rewritten; the final draft was completed by January 2019. Reeves reworked the story to focus on Batman earlier on in his career as a vigilante; stating that the film will be character-driven and stylistically noir, and will explore the detective aspect of the character to a greater extent than previous films. In January 2019, Affleck confirmed he will not reprise his role as Batman for this film or any future project. In May 2019, Warner Bros. screen-tested Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult as Batman, after which Pattinson was cast in the role, that will be a new take on the character departing from the previous version. Between October and December 2019, castings included Jeffrey Wright (Commissioner James Gordon), Zoë Kravitz (Selina Kyle / Catwoman), Paul Dano (Edward Nashton / Riddler), Andy Serkis (Alfred Pennyworth), Colin Farrell (Oswald "Oz" Cobblepot / Penguin), John Turturro (Carmine Falcone), Jayme Lawson (Bella Reál), and Peter Sarsgaard (Gotham D.A. Gil Colson). The Batman is intended to be first installment from Reeves in a trilogy of films, centered around the character. Principal photography began on January 27, 2020 in London, England, for a scheduled release date of October 1, 2021.

Black Adam (2021)

See also: Black Adam § Film

Jaume Collet-Serra: the director of Black Adam

In September 2014, after being considered to play Shazam and Lobo, Dwayne Johnson was cast as Black Adam. The character was intended to be introduced in Shazam!, but by January 2017 the film's production studios had chosen to divide the narrative to focus on Black Adam's origin. Johnson, who is also attached as producer, has stated the two characters will cross paths in a future film. Other DC characters, including the Justice Society of America, will factor into the plot of Black Adam. In October 2017, Adam Sztykiel was hired to write the script. Co-producer Hiram Garcia stated the film will be gritty and violent, similar to the comics. In June 2019, Jaume Collet-Serra was announced as director for the film, with Beau Flynn, Johnson, Hiram Garcia, Dany Garcia, and Scott Sheldon attached as producers. Principal photography was expected to begin in July 2020, for a scheduled release date of December 22, 2021, but the filming has since been delayed to around August or September 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Flash (2022)

See also: Flash in film § The Flash (2022)

Andy Muschietti: the director of The Flash

By July 2013, Greg Berlanti was developing a film that centered around Barry Allen / The Flash. In October 2014, The Flash was announced with a scheduled 2018 release date. The initial script was drafted by Berlanti, Geoff Johns, Chris Brancato, Michael Green and Marc Guggenheim. By April 2015, a story treatment was being written by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Over the next two years, Seth Grahame-Smith and Rick Famuyiwa had individually dropped out as director due to creative differences with the studio. In January 2017, Joby Harold was hired to do a page-one rewrite of the script, which previously had drafts written by Grahame-Smith and Famuyiwa. In July 2017, the title for the film was changed to Flashpoint, based on the comic book storyline, of the same name. Dan Mazeau was brought on as co-writer. In March 2018, John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein were hired to co-direct. The tone of the film is expected to be similar to Back to the Future. Ezra Miller revealed that the plot will involve the Speed Force multiverse. In March 2019, following creative differences with the co-directors' work on the script, Miller was hired to co-write a new draft in collaboration with Grant Morrison. By July 2019, Daley and Goldstein had left the project, while Andy Muschietti and Christina Hodson were hired to replace them as director and screenwriter, respectively. Barbara Muschietti and Michael Disco will serve as producers. In January 2020, Muschietti said the film will include elements from the Flashpoint comic book arc. In June 2020, it was reported that Michael Keaton was in early negotiations to star as Bruce Wayne / Batman, a role he previously played in Tim Burton's Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992). Filming is expected to begin in 2021, for a scheduled released date of June 3, 2022.

Shazam! 2 (2022)

See also: Shazam! (film) § Sequel

A sequel to Shazam! entered development in April 2019, with Henry Gayden returning as screenwriter. Director David F. Sandberg and producer Peter Safran are also expected to return. Zachary Levi will reprise his role as the titular superhero, with Michelle Borth reprising her role as Lady Shazam, as a part of her five-picture contract. Zachary Levi stated that production is expected to begin sometime in mid-2020, for a scheduled release date of November 4, 2022.

Aquaman 2 (2022)

See also: Aquaman (film) § Sequel

In October 2018, James Wan stated that Aquaman intentionally left room for a followup. By December, high pre-release ticket sales and positive reception for Aquaman had convinced Warner Bros. to begin developing a sequel. In January 2019, Warner Bros. confirmed development, with intentions for Wan to return as director. The following month, David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, co-writer of the first film, signed on as screenwriter. In March, Safran said the film will explore the other Seven Kingdoms of Atlantis. Jason Momoa will have a larger creative role in the sequel, having written the story while on-set the first film, and pitched the "mapped out" story to Warner Bros., who were receptive. Patrick Wilson and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II will reprise their roles as Orm Marius / Ocean Master and David Kane / Black Manta, respectively. Production is expected to begin in early 2021, for a scheduled released date of December 16, 2022.

Other projects in development

Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Films have a variety of DC films in varying stages of development:

• The Amazonians: In December 2019, Patty Jenkins announced a Wonder Woman spin-off film, focusing on the Amazononian race of Themyscira. Jenkins is attached as executive producer, with the story for the project planned, though she is not sure when production will begin. Jenkins later stated that she and Geoff Johns had written the story, with a story arc that follows the first two Wonder Woman films, and will be followed by the third movie. She further stated she will not direct the film, though she will serve as producer.
• Batgirl: In March 2017, Joss Whedon was hired to write, direct and produce a film centered around Batgirl. Whedon was to begin production on the film in 2018, but stepped down in February. In April, after impressing Warner Bros. with her work on Birds of Prey, Christina Hodson was hired as screenwriter for Batgirl. By November 2019, Hodson was expected to write the script once she has completed work on The Flash. Warner Bros. is looking for a female director to replace Whedon.
• Blue Beetle: By November 2018, a film centered around the Jaime Reyes incarnation of Blue Beetle was in development. Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer and Zev Foreman are respectively attached as screenwriter and executive producer.
• Booster Gold: In September 2015, a film centered around Booster Gold and Blue Beetle was announced to be in development with producer Greg Berlanti. The film's tone was described as a buddy cop film with connections to Justice League (2017). By May 2016, Zack Stentz was hired to script the Booster Gold film, and Berlanti expressed interest in directing. In September 2016, Berlanti said that Booster Gold has "no connective tissue" to other films. The script had been completed by March 2018. According to Berlanti, production would begin once Warner Bros. decides where to place it within the slate of films. In May 2019, Stentz reaffirmed that the film was still awaiting the greenlight from Warner Bros.
• Cyborg: In April 2014, Ray Fisher was cast as Victor Stone / Cyborg, and Warner Bros. announced a film about the character was in development the following October. Joe Morton is set to reprise his role as Dr. Silas Stone. In November 2017, Fisher stated the film will focus specifically on Cyborg, and that the cast and production team will be diverse. In August 2018, Morton stated that he believed cut Justice League scenes involving Cyborg were going to be reworked into Cyborg, though he was not aware of when production would begin. Fisher has expressed his desire for Snyder to direct the film. Cyborg was scheduled to be released on April 3, 2020, but has been delayed. In April 2020, Fisher confirmed that there continues to be development on the project, stating that the character will develop to be comfortable in his new role as a superhero, and come into conflict with those who have interest in his technological makeup.
• Deadshot: In December 2016, The Hollywood Reporter noted that a film centered around Floyd Lawton / Deadshot was in development. By September 2018, Will Smith confirmed he would reprise his role from Suicide Squad and that the story is in development. In February 2019, Smith left the role due to scheduling conflicts, and by March Idris Elba was cast to replace him in The Suicide Squad. In April 2019, the character was written out of the teamup film, so that Smith can reprise the role.
• Deathstroke: In October 2017, a film centered around Slade Wilson / Deathstroke was in development, with Gareth Evans attached as screenwriter and director and Joe Manganiello set to reprise his role from Justice League. Ben Affleck released test footage with Manganiello in costume in August 2016. Warner Bros. greenlit the film after Evans impressed executives with his story pitch, which he described as dark and unforgiving, similar to Korean noir films. However, in October 2018, Evans stated that he is yet to be attached to the project contractually. By April 2020, Evans announced that the project had been delayed, and that he was no longer actively involved with its development. The filmmaker revealed that the story that was developed, was to portray the character's origin.
• Gotham City Sirens: A film based on the Gotham City Sirens, a team consisting of Harley Quinn, Catwoman, and Poison Ivy, was announced to be in development in December 2016. Ayer signed on as director/co-producer from a script by Geneva Robertson-Dworet. Robbie will reprise her role from Suicide Squad and take the role of an executive producer, while Geoff Johns and Jon Berg will produce. The film's development was postponed in favor of Birds of Prey. In August 2017, Leto was confirmed to reprise his role as the Joker. Despite a busy production schedule on other projects, Ayer continued to work on the film, meeting with Gotham City Sirens creator Paul Dini in August 2018. In January 2020, Ayer confirmed that the project was still on hold, and Robbie stated that she chose to film Birds of Prey first to introduce audiences to lesser-known characters. She stated that she is still "pushing" forward with Gotham City Sirens, and hopes to explore Quinn's relationship with Poison Ivy and Catwoman.
• Green Lantern Corps: A film based on the Green Lantern Corps was announced to be in development in October 2014. In January 2017, David S. Goyer and Justin Rhodes were hired to co-write the screenplay, based on a story by Goyer and Geoff Johns, with Goyer also serving as producer. Warner Bros. described the film as "Lethal Weapon in space". In January 2018, Goyer reaffirmed that despite the franchise's leadership shakeup the film was still in active development. By June 2018, Geoff Johns was hired to do a rewrite on the script, in addition to his role as producer. Johns stated that the script draws inspiration from his work on the New 52 Green Lantern comics. Green Lantern Corps was scheduled for release on July 24, 2020, but has been delayed. In July 2019, Christopher McQuarrie said that he had sent a written proposal for the film to Warner Bros. over a year prior, which had ties to the Man of Steel sequel, but he had moved on to other projects due to what he perceived as no movement on further developing the film. By November 2019, Johns was expected to deliver his script to Warner Bros. by the end of the year.
• Harley Quinn and Joker film: In July 2017, an untitled film centered around Harley Quinn and the Joker was announced to be in development with the working title Harley Quinn vs the Joker, scheduled to begin production after The Suicide Squad. Glenn Ficarra and John Requa will co-write, direct, and produce. In September 2018, Ficarra and Requa announced the script was completed and submitted to Warner Bros., and that production will start after Birds of Prey. The story will explore the relationship of the characters, combining the tones of the Ficarra and Requa's previous works Bad Santa and This Is Us.
• Joker film: In June 2018, a film centered around the Joker entered early development. Leto will serve as an executive producer in addition to reprising his role as the Joker. Warner Bros. intends for the film to "pave the way" for all other Suicide Squad-related projects. Leto will also be involved with hiring the film's production crew.
• Justice League sequel: In October 2014, Justice League Part Two was announced, with Snyder returning as director. In June 2016, Deborah Snyder revealed that Justice League would not be one film split in two, leaving the sequel untitled. The film was scheduled to be released on June 14, 2019, but production was pushed back to accommodate The Batman. In October 2017, J. K. Simmons stated that work on the script was in-progress, while in December, Variety reported that there were "no immediate plans" for Snyder to direct. By 2019, Warner Bros. had prioritized standalone films over the project, although Patty Jenkins noted she would be open to directing the next Justice League film.
• Justice League Dark: In January 2013, Guillermo del Toro confirmed that he was working on a film centered around the Justice League Dark. Del Toro submitted a script in November 2014, but was no longer attached to the project by June 2015. In August 2016, Doug Liman was hired to direct the film, though he left the project in May 2017 due to scheduling conflicts. Scott Rudin is attached to produce, while Michael Gilio was hired to rewrite the script. In July 2017, the film was titled Justice League Dark, and later in August, Gerard Johnstone was hired to contribute to the script. In April 2020, it was announced that J. J. Abrams would be the executive producer of a Justice League Dark series at the streaming service HBO Max, through his production company Bad Robot.
• Lobo: In September 2009, Warner Bros. announced that a film centered around Lobo was in development. Guy Ritchie and Brad Peyton were attached to direct at different times, while Dwayne Johnson was originally intended to star. After various iterations, in 2016 Jason Fuchs was hired as screenwriter. By February 2018, Warner Bros. was in discussions with Michael Bay to direct. Fuchs began rewriting the script at Bay's request so the budget could be considerably lowered.
• Man of Steel sequel: By October 2014, a sequel to Man of Steel was in development. In November 2016, Amy Adams stated that work had begun on the screenplay. In September 2017, Matthew Vaughn announced that he was having discussions with the studio to direct the film. In June 2018, Cavill revealed that he was preparing to reprise the role. By March 2019, Vaughn stated that discussions with Warner Bros. had ended, and he was no longer involved with development of the film. In discussing his work on the project he revealed that it was influenced by a previous trilogy pitch from 2008 that he had co-written with Mark Millar, with Vaughn describing the project as "a massive, uplifting, hopeful thing". In July 2019, Christopher McQuarrie said that he and Cavill had pitched a sequel idea to Warner Bros. over a year prior, with the plot having ties to Green Lantern Corps, but that he had since moved on to other projects due to what he perceived as no movement on the films. Later, Michael B. Jordan had pitched his own take on the character, but was not ready to commit due to an already busy schedule. By November 2019, it was reported that Warner Bros. had entered early negotiations with J. J. Abrams about taking control of the project. In December, Cavill said the future of Superman will be more faithful to the comic book source material. After confirming that though his casting in The Witcher had previously interfered with his availability for the role, he also stated that the same would not be the case with the show's second season. In May 2020, Cavill entered negotiations to reprise the role, although not in a Man of Steel sequel.
• New Gods: In March 2018, Ava DuVernay signed on to direct a New Gods film, after pitching the idea to Warner Bros. Kario Salem was also hired as the screenwriter. In May 2019, DuVernay announced that she will co-write the script with Tom King. Variety reported the film would take place in the DCEU, although Deadline Hollywood said it would have "no connection" to previous films. By July 2019, King stated that a team of Jack Kirby-material experts has been put together to work on the project, calling the experience "one of the best storytelling experiences [he's] ever had". Darkseid and the Female Furies will appear in the film. The New Gods were previously featured in Justice League, with Ray Porter cast as Darkseid prior to significant changes made during post-production.
• Nightwing: By February 2017, a film centered around Dick Grayson / Nightwing was in development, with Chris McKay and Bill Dubuque signed on as director and screenwriter, respectively. In February 2018, McKay stated the script was nearing its final draft.
• Plastic Man: By December 2018, a Plastic Man film was in development with Amanda Idoko hired to write the script. The plot is described as a comedy-action adventure.
• Supergirl: In August 2018, a film centered on Supergirl, was announced to be in development with Oren Uziel penning the script. Warner Bros. is seeking a female director.
• The Trench: In February 2019, Warner Bros. announced a horror spin-off from Aquaman focusing on the villainous Trench kingdom. Peter Safran and James Wan are set to produce, with Noah Gardner and Aidan Fitzgerald acting as screenwriters. The film will have a lower production budget compared to other DC-based films. The following month, Safran stated that he expects the film to be released before Aquaman 2.
• Wonder Woman 1984 sequel: In January 2019, after principal photography on Wonder Woman 1984 was completed, director and co-writer Patty Jenkins stated that the plot for a third Wonder Woman film had been mapped out. She revealed that the story arc for Wonder Woman had been planned over three films, with the third taking place in the present. Jenkins and Gadot plan to work on other projects before proceeding with the sequel.

Expanded setting

Further information: List of DC Multiverse worlds

In October 2014, Johns explained that DC's approach to their films and television series would be different to Marvel Studios' cinematic universe, stating that their film universe and TV universes would be kept separate within a multiverse to allow "everyone to make the best possible product, to tell the best story, to do the best world." Geoff Johns and Jon Berg were appointed by the studio to co-run the DC Films division and oversee creative decisions, production and story arcs in order to create a cohesive overarching plot within the films. Johns left his position in June 2018 to start his own studio where he will take on a greater hands-on role with film media as a producer and screenwriter. However, he remained with the studio as a co-chairman. Berg was replaced by Walter Hamada as the president of DC Films in January 2018. After the successful release of Wonder Woman (2017), DC Films decided to deemphasize the shared nature of the franchise.

Arrowverse

The DC Extended Universe was retroactively established to have connections to The CW's Arrowverse continuity via the concept of a multiverse, during Part 4 of the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover. Ezra Miller reprised his role as Barry Allen in a cameo appearance alongside Grant Gustin's version of the same character. During their conversation, Miller's Barry Allen gets the idea to call himself "The Flash" from his alternate self and even mentions "Victor". However, despite his cameo, the episode does not confirm the designated Earth for the DCEU characters.

Timeline

In the DCEU, most events of the film never actually make their exact years known. Man of Steel took place after the events of Wonder Woman and Wonder Woman 1984, which are set earlier in the timeline. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice happened 18 months after the events of Man of Steel, which follows the consequences and the emergence of aliens and metahumans such as Superman. The film concludes with the death of Superman, which was emphasized in the following ensemble films of Suicide Squad and Justice League. Suicide Squad occurred shortly after Batman v Superman. Sometime later, the events of Justice League happened which feature Superman's resurrection and the subsequent formation of the Justice League. It was followed by Aquaman, which director James Wan confirmed happened one year after Justice League. Aquaman was followed by Shazam!, which occurred on the Christmas season of 2018. Afterwards, the events of Birds of Prey happened, followed by The Suicide Squad, confirmed to take place in 2021.

Recurring cast and characters

Further information: List of DC Extended Universe cast members

List indicators

This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in more than two films in the series.

• An empty, dark grey cell indicates the character was not in the film, or that the character's official presence has not yet been confirmed.
•  ^A indicates an appearance through archival footage or audio.
•  ^C indicates a cameo role.
•  ^P indicates an appearance in onscreen photographs.
•  ^S indicates an appearance through use of special effects.
•  ^U indicates an uncredited appearance.
•  ^V indicates a voice-only role.
•  ^Y indicates a younger version of the character.

Character	Released								Upcoming
	Man of Steel	Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice	Suicide Squad	Wonder Woman	Justice League	Aquaman	Shazam!	Birds of Prey	Wonder Woman 1984	Zack Snyder's Justice League	The Suicide Squad	The Batman
Barry Allen The Flash		Ezra Miller	Ezra MillerC		Ezra Miller					Ezra Miller
Antiope				Robin Wright	Robin WrightC				Robin Wright
Ares				David Thewlis	Nick McKinlessUC David ThewlisS
Atlan					Julian Lewis Jones	Graham McTavish
Arthur Curry Aquaman		Jason MomoaC	Jason MomoaP		Jason Momoa	Jason Momoa				Jason Momoa
Rick Flag			Joel Kinnaman								Joel Kinnaman
James Gordon					J. K. Simmons					J. K. Simmons		Jeffrey Wright
George "Digger" Harkness Captain Boomerang			Jai Courtney					Jai CourtneyP			Jai Courtney
Hippolyta				Connie Nielsen					Connie Nielsen
Joker			Jared Leto					Johnny GothUC Jared LetoAS
Kal-El / Clark Kent Superman	Henry Cavill	Henry Cavill			Henry Cavill		Ryan HadleyUC			Henry Cavill
Jonathan Kent	Kevin Costner	Kevin CostnerC			Kevin CostnerP					Kevin CostnerP
Martha Kent	Diane Lane				Diane Lane					Diane Lane
Lois Lane	Amy Adams				Amy Adams					Amy Adams
Lex Luthor		Jesse Eisenberg			Jesse EisenbergC					Jesse Eisenberg
Mera					Amber Heard					Amber Heard
Alfred Pennyworth		Jeremy Irons			Jeremy Irons					Jeremy Irons		Andy Serkis
Diana Prince Wonder Woman		Gal Gadot		Gal Gadot	Gal Gadot				Gal Gadot
Harleen Quinzel Harley Quinn			Margot Robbie					Margot Robbie			Margot Robbie
Steppenwolf		CGIS			Ciarán Hinds					Ciarán Hinds
Silas Stone		Joe MortonC			Joe Morton					Joe Morton
Victor Stone Cyborg		Ray FisherC			Ray Fisher					Ray Fisher
Calvin Swanwick	Harry Lennix									Harry Lennix
Steve Trevor		Chris PineP		Chris Pine					Chris Pine
Nuidis Vulko						Willem Dafoe				Willem Dafoe
Amanda Waller			Viola Davis								Viola Davis
Bruce Wayne Batman		Ben Affleck	Ben AffleckU		Ben Affleck					Ben Affleck		Robert Pattinson
Perry White	Laurence Fishburne
Zeus				CGIS	Sergi Constance					Sergi Constance
Zod	Michael Shannon	Michael ShannonS

Reception

For more details on the reception of each film, see the "Reception" section on each film's article.

Box office performance

Each film is linked to the "Box office" section of its article.

Film	Box office gross			All-time ranking		Budget	Ref(s)
	U.S. and Canada	Other territories	Worldwide	U.S. and Canada	Worldwide
Man of Steel	$291,045,518	$377,000,000	$668,045,518	88	120	$225 million
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice	$330,360,194	$543,274,725	$873,634,919	58	60	$250 million
Suicide Squad	$325,100,054	$421,746,840	$746,846,894	61	98	$175 million
Wonder Woman	$412,563,408	$409,283,604	$821,847,012	25	73	$149 million
Justice League	$229,024,295	$428,900,000	$657,924,295	146	123	$300 million
Aquaman	$335,061,807	$813,400,000	$1,148,461,807	55	23	$160 million
Shazam!	$140,371,656	$225,600,000	$365,971,656	410	356	$100 million
Birds of Prey	$84,158,461	$117,700,000	$201,858,461	919	814	$84.5 million
Total	$2,147,685,393	$3,334,205,169	$5,481,890,562	11	10	$1.45 billion

Critical and public response

Each film is linked to the "Critical response" section of its article.

Film	Critical		Public
	Rotten Tomatoes	Metacritic	CinemaScore
Man of Steel	56% (332 reviews)	55 (47 reviews)	A−
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice	28% (417 reviews)	44 (51 reviews)	B
Suicide Squad	27% (372 reviews)	40 (53 reviews)	B+
Wonder Woman	93% (449 reviews)	76 (50 reviews)	A
Justice League	40% (391 reviews)	45 (52 reviews)	B+
Aquaman	65% (388 reviews)	55 (50 reviews)	A–
Shazam!	90% (392 reviews)	71 (53 reviews)	A
Birds of Prey	78% (394 reviews)	60 (59 reviews)	B+

Additional crew and production details

Film	Crew/detail
	Composer(s)	Cinematographer	Editor(s)	Production companies	Running time	MPAA film rating
Man of Steel	Hans Zimmer	Amir Mokri	David Brenner	DC Entertainment Legendary Pictures Syncopy Inc.	143 minutes	PG-13
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice	Hans Zimmer & Junkie XL	Larry Fong		DC Entertainment Cruel and Unusual Films RatPac Entertainment Atlas Entertainment	151 minutes Ultimate Edition: 182 minutes	PG-13 R
Suicide Squad	Steven Price	Roman Vasyanov	John Gilroy	DC Films RatPac Entertainment Atlas Entertainment	123 minutes Extended Cut: 134 minutes	PG-13
Wonder Woman	Rupert Gregson-Williams	Matthew Jensen	Martin Walsh	DC Films RatPac Entertainment Cruel and Unusual Films Tencent Pictures Wanda Pictures Atlas Entertainment	141 minutes
Justice League Zack Snyder's Justice League	Danny Elfman	Fabian Wagner	David Brenner, Richard Pearson & Martin Walsh	DC Films RatPac-Dune Entertainment Cruel and Unusual Films Access Entertainment Atlas Entertainment	120 minutes
	Junkie XL		David Brenner	DC Films The Stone Quarry Atlas Entertainment WarnerMax	214 minutes	TBA
Aquaman	Rupert Gregson-Williams	Don Burgess	Kirk M. Morri	DC Films Warner Bros. Pictures Cruel and Unusual Films The Safran Company Mad Ghost Productions	143 minutes	PG-13
Shazam!	Benjamin Wallfisch	Maxime Alexandre	Michel Aller	DC Films Seven Bucks Productions New Line Cinema The Safran Company Mad Ghost Productions	132 minutes
Birds of Prey	Daniel Pemberton	Matthew Libatique	Jay Cassidy & Evan Schiff	DC Films LuckyChap Entertainment Kroll & Co. Entertainment Clubhouse Pictures	109 minutes	R
Wonder Woman 1984	Hans Zimmer	Matthew Jensen	Richard Pearson	DC Films The Stone Quarry Mad Ghost Productions Atlas Entertainment	TBA
The Suicide Squad	John Murphy	Henry Braham	Fred Raskin	DC Films Atlas Entertainment The Safran Company Troll Court Entertainment
The Batman	Michael Giacchino	Greig Fraser	William Hoy & Tyler Nelson	DC Films 6th & Idaho Productions

Music

Film soundtracks

Title	U.S. release date	Length	Label
Man of Steel: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack	June 11, 2013 (2013-06-11)	87:49 118:18 (Deluxe Edition)	WaterTower Music
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)	March 18, 2016 (2016-03-18)	71:35 90:27 (Deluxe Edition)
Suicide Squad: The Album	August 5, 2016 (2016-08-05)	50:57 60:49 (Collector Edition)	Atlantic
Suicide Squad: Original Motion Picture Score		72:33 93:38 (Digital Edition)	WaterTower Music
Wonder Woman: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack	June 2, 2017 (2017-06-02)	78:38
Justice League: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack	November 10, 2017 (2017-11-10)	101:22
Aquaman: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack	December 21, 2018 (2018-12-21)	65:02
Shazam!: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack	April 5, 2019 (2019-04-05)	73:13
Birds of Prey: The Album	February 7, 2020 (2020-02-07)	42:52	Atlantic
Birds of Prey: Original Motion Picture Score	February 14, 2020 (2020-02-14)	62:01	WaterTower Music

Singles

Title	U.S. release date	Length	Artist(s)	Label	Film
"Heathens"	June 16, 2016 (2016-06-16)	3:15	Twenty One Pilots	Atlantic	Suicide Squad
"Sucker for Pain"	June 24, 2016 (2016-06-24)	4:03	Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, Imagine Dragons, Logic and Ty Dolla Sign featuring X Ambassadors
"Purple Lamborghini"	July 22, 2016 (2016-07-22)	3:35	Skrillex and Rick Ross
"Gangsta"	August 1, 2016 (2016-08-01)	2:57	Kehlani
"To Be Human"	May 25, 2017 (2017-05-25)	4:01	Sia featuring Labrinth	WaterTower Music	Wonder Woman
"Come Together"	September 8, 2017 (2017-09-08)	3:13	Gary Clark Jr. and Junkie XL		Justice League
"Everybody Knows"	November 10, 2017 (2017-11-10)	4:26	Sigrid
"Everything I Need"	December 14, 2018 (2018-12-14)	3:16	Skylar Grey		Aquaman
"Diamonds"	January 10, 2020 (2020-01-10)	3:19	Megan Thee Stallion and Normani	Atlantic	Birds of Prey
"Joke's On You"	January 17, 2020 (2020-01-17)	3:04	Charlotte Lawrence
"Boss Bitch"	January 24, 2020 (2020-01-24)	2:14	Doja Cat
"Sway With Me"	January 31, 2020 (2020-01-31)	2:48	Saweetie and GALXARA
"Experiment On Me"	February 7, 2020 (2020-02-07)	3:35	Halsey
"Sway With Me (GALXARA Version)"	May 1, 2020 (2020-05-01)	2:33	GALXARA

Other media

Short films

Title	Release date	Director	Producer	Home media release	Note
Etta's Mission	August 28, 2017 (Digital) September 19, 2017 (Blu-ray)	Patty Jenkins		Wonder Woman

Novels

Title	Publication date(s)	Writer(s)	Note
Man of Steel: The Early Years: Junior Novel	April 30, 2013	Frank Whitman	Tie-in children's book to Man of Steel
Man of Steel: The Official Movie Novelization	June 18, 2013	Greg Cox	Novelization of the film
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice – Cross Fire	February 16, 2016	Michael Kogge	Tie-in prequel novel to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Suicide Squad: The Official Movie Novelization	August 5, 2016	Marv Wolfman	Novelization of the film
Wonder Woman: The Junior Novel	May 30, 2017	Steve Korte
Wonder Woman: The Official Movie Novelization	June 6, 2017	Nancy Holder
Aquaman: The Junior Novel	November 6, 2018	Jim McCann
Aquaman: Arthur's Guide to Atlantis	November 6, 2018	Alexandra West	Guide book
Aquaman: Undertow	November 6, 2018	Steve Behling	Tie-in prequel novel to Aquaman
Shazam!: The Junior Novel	February 26, 2019	Calliope Glass	Novelization of the film
Shazam!: Freddy's Guide to Super Hero-ing	February 26, 2019	Steve Behling	Guide book
Wonder Woman 1984: The Junior Novel	July 7, 2020	Calliope Glass	Novelization of the film

Tie-in comics

Title	Issue(s)	Publication date(s)	Writer(s)	Artist(s)	Notes
Man of Steel Prequel	1	May 18, 2013	Sterling Gates	Jerry Ordway	Promotional digital comic from Walmart
Warner Bros. Pictures Presents Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice	5	January 28, 2016	Christos Gage	Joe Bennet	Promotional digital prequel comics from Dr Pepper
General Mills Presents Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice	4	February 28, 2016	Jeff Parker, Christos Gage, Marguerite Bennett, and Joshua Williamson	R. B. Silva, Federico Dallochio, Marcus To, and Eduardo Pansica	Promotional prequel mini-comics that appeared in select General Mills cereal
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice – Upstairs/Downstairs	1	February 29, 2016	Christos Gage	Joe Bennet	Promotional prequel digital comic from Doritos and Walmart
Suicide Squad: Suicide Blonde	1	June 2, 2016	Tony Bedard	Tom Derenick, Juan Albarran, Hi-Fi, Lori Jackson	Promotional prequel comic from Splat Hair Dye
Mercedes-Benz Presents Justice League	6	October 20 – November 15, 2017	Adam Schlagman	Jason Badower	Promotional digital comic from Mercedes-Benz

Graphic novels

Title	Publication date(s)	Writer(s)	Artist(s)	Notes
Harley Quinn and the Birds of Prey	November 12, 2019	Paul Dini, Devin K. Grayson, Greg Rucka, Kelley Puckett, Ed Brubaker, Jordan B. Gorfinkel	Don Kramer, Greg Land, Michael Lark, Damion Scott, Cameron Stewart, Jennifer Graves	Anthology novel featuring stories that inspired Birds of Prey
Wonder Woman: Her Greatest Victories	July 14, 2020	Gerry Conway, Len Wein, George Pérez, Geoff Johns, Greg Rucka, Tim Seeley	Don Heck, George Pérez, Tony Daniel, Gary Frank, Nicola Scott, Bilquis Evely, Christian Duce Fernandez	Anthology novel featuring stories that inspired Wonder Woman 1984

Tie-in video games

Title	Release date(s)	Publisher(s)	Notes
Man of Steel	June 14, 2013	Warner Bros. International Enterprises
Kellogg's Man of Steel	April 19, 2013	Catapult Marketing
Batman vs Superman – Who Will Win?	March 16, 2016	Warner Bros. International Enterprises	Endless runner
Suicide Squad: Special Ops	July 19, 2016		First-person shooter
Wonder Woman: Rise of the Warrior	May 23, 2017		Endless runner
Justice League VR: The Complete Experience	December 5, 2017		Virtual reality

See also

• List of films based on DC Comics publications
• List of television series based on DC Comics publications
• DC animated universe
• DC Universe Animated Original Movies
• Joker

External links

• DC Films on Facebook
• DC Comics Movies
• DC Extended Universe Wiki