DC Extended Universe

The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) is the unofficial term used to refer to 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 six films. The series has grossed over $4.91 billion at the global box office, currently making it the 12th highest-grossing film franchise.

The films are written and directed by a variety of individuals and feature large, often ensemble, casts. Several actors, including Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, and Ray Fisher, have appeared in numerous films of the franchise, with continued appearances in sequels planned. In May 2016, DC's chief creative officer Geoff Johns and Warner Bros. executive vice president Jon Berg were appointed 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. In January 2018, Walter Hamada was appointed the president of DC Films, replacing Berg.

The first film in the DCEU was Man of Steel in 2013 followed by Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad in 2016, Wonder Woman and Justice League in 2017, and Aquaman in 2018. The franchise will continue with scheduled release dates for Shazam! in 2019, Birds of Prey and Wonder Woman 1984 in 2020, The Batman, The Suicide Squad and The Flash in 2021, and Aquaman 2 in 2022. A multitude of other projects are in various stages of development.

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, thus establishing the shared universe. In October 2014, Warner Bros. announced a slate of ten DC films.

While the rival Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) includes television productions, the DC's new crossover film series is a shared continuity for films. Several television series featuring DC characters and storylines have their own shared continuity, frequently referred to 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 will not be fully autonomous, with Johns reporting to DC president Diane Nelson and Berg reporting 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. DC also decided to begin deemphasizing 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 story line 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." 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.

In January 2018, Walter Hamada was appointed the President of DC Films and the new co-runner of the DCEU, replacing Berg. The following month, Chantal Nong was hired as Vice President of the film studio, additionally overseeing the production of the franchise. The pair were hired to oversee the future of the franchise with Johns, as the key production team managers. However, in June of the same year, Johns stepped down from his role as co-head of DC Films and co-runner of the DCEU. He will remain with the studio as co-chairman, while starting his own studio where he will take on a greater hands-on role with film media as a producer and screenwriter. His production company, Mad Ghost Productions, will produce future films in the franchise, as well as other DC Comics media. After the financial and critical successes of Aquaman, DC Films and Warner Bros. jointly stated that the focus of all the upcoming films will no longer be to build a shared universe, instead concentrating each individual film with emphasis on individual character stories for the foreseeable future.

Man of Steel (2013)


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)
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)


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)


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)
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 Alexander "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.

Aquaman (2018)


Following the events of Justice League, Arthur Curry / Aquaman must fight to retain the Atlantean throne from opposing threats.

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. The film's plot takes place after the events of Justice League. 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. In December, 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. In March, Nicole Kidman confirmed that she will play Queen Atlanna, Aquaman's mother. In April, Dolph Lundgren was cast as the villain King Nereus. In June, Deadline Hollywood reported that Johnson had returned to the project to work on a rewrite of Beall's script with Wan and producer Peter Safran. Heard will reprise her role as Mera from Justice League. Other cast members include Willem Dafoe as Nuidis Vulko, Temuera Morrison as Aquaman's father Tom Curry, and Ludi Lin as Murk, an ally of Aquaman. 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.

Additional materials


In order to expand and build the universe the films are set in, some additional material has been released, such as additional scenes or bonus material included in the home releases of the films. The purpose of said material is also to set up and tease the overarching narrative that future installments of the franchise will adhere to. In the case of additional scenes, on March 28, 2016, Warner Bros. released to the public via its YouTube channel, a scene not shown in theaters from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, titled "Communion", which teased the events that would be depicted in Justice League; the scene was later integrated in the Ultimate Edition home release of the film. Similarly, in the Blu-ray disc home release of Wonder Woman, an epilogue is included in the form of a short titled "Etta's Mission", which details a final incident that transpired after the events of the film. Etta teases the existence of a Mother Box, which is crucial to the storyline of Justice League. Also, in the Blu-ray home release of Justice League, two additional scenes not shown in the theatrical cut are included, which further flesh-out the return of Superman and him joining the League.

Furthermore, the various special featurettes and documentaries included in the Blu-ray home releases of the films feature concept arts and designs, as well as background information that greatly expands the shared universe; giving detailed insight into the fictional history, technology, worlds and cultures that appear in the films.

Although not all the films in the franchise resort to this practice, some of them make use of post-credits scenes to further develop character relationships and establish the plot elements that will influence future installments, such as Suicide Squad, Justice League and more recently, Aquaman.

Shazam! (2019)


By shouting "Shazam", a 14-year-old foster child, William "Billy" Batson, can turn into an adult superhero, courtesy of an ancient wizard. He attempts to master his powers and defeat the evil forces controlled by Doctor 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, David F. Sandberg was confirmed as director of the film. It was also confirmed that month that, despite the initial announcement, Dwayne Johnson would not appear as Black Adam in Shazam!, but will instead star in a solo film. Pre-production began with the casting process for Shazam's child-age alter ego Billy Batson in August. By October, Zachary Levi was cast as Shazam. In November, Grace Fulton joined the cast as Shazam's foster sister, Mary Bromfield. Fulton is reteaming with the director after Annabelle: Creation. The film's primary villain will be Doctor Sivana, with actor Mark Strong cast in the role. Later that month, Asher Angel was cast as Billy Batson. In December, Jack Dylan Grazer was cast as Frederick "Freddy" Freeman, Batson's foster brother and best friend. Later that month, Jovan Armand, Ian Chen, and Faithe Herman were cast as Batson's foster siblings Pedro Peña, Eugene Choi, and Darla Dudley respectively,  while Cooper Andrews and Marta Milans will portray Billy's foster parents. By January 2018, Ron Cephas Jones was in negotiations to portray the wizard, Shazam, who gives Billy his powers, but was replaced by Djimon Hounsou due to scheduling conflicts.

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! will be released in North America on April 5, 2019.

Birds of Prey (2020)
Since the events of Suicide Squad, Batman has disappeared, leaving Gotham City unprotected from crime, and 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 for the project. Robbie will reprise her role as Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn from Suicide Squad. The film is expected to be the first theatrical R-rated installment in the franchise and will have a smaller budget than most of the other films. In addition to Robbie's starring role, the team roster will also include Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Rosie Perez, and Ella Jay Basco as Huntress, Black Canary, Renee Montoya, and Cassandra Cain, respectively. Black Mask will serve as the film's primary antagonist with Ewan McGregor portraying the character and Chris Messina will be portraying Victor Zsasz. The film began pre-production in late July 2018. Principal photography commenced on January 15, 2019, in Los Angeles, and will last until April 2019. In November 2018, Robbie revealed the full title of the film, Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). Birds of Prey is scheduled to be released on February 7, 2020.

Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
Diana Prince comes into conflict with the Soviet Union during the Cold War in the 1980s, and finds a formidable foe in the form of the Cheetah.

By June 2017, Geoff Johns and Patty Jenkins had begun work on the story treatment for a Wonder Woman sequel. By July, Johns announced that he is working on the script for the film. 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. By March 2018, Kristen Wiig was cast to portray the film's primary antagonist, Barbara Ann Minerva / Cheetah. That same month, Pedro Pascal was also cast in a key role. 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 June 5, 2020.

The Batman (2021)


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. Geoff Johns and Chris Terrio were hired as co-writers. The film was on track to begin shooting in 2017 until Affleck stepped down as director that January to more efficiently focus on starring as Batman. 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; he said the film will be character-driven and stylistically noir, and will explore 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, but remains involved as a producer. Principal photography is expected to begin in November 2019, with a scheduled release date of June 25, 2021.

The Suicide Squad (2021)


In March 2016, a Suicide Squad sequel was announced to be in development, with Ayer returning to direct. 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, Gavin O'Connor was hired as director after Ayer dropped out, as well as co-screenwriter with Anthony Tambakis, David Bar Katz and Todd Stashwick. The final draft of the script was completed in October 2018, though production was delayed due to conflicts with Will Smith's production schedule, followed by O'Connor leaving the project. Production was placed on hold as Warner Bros. believed the script was too similar to Birds of Prey. Charles Roven, Michael De Luca, Peter Safran, Geoff Johns, Richard Suckle, Dan Lin and Andy Horwitz will produce the film. In January 2019, the film was retitled The Suicide Squad, with James Gunn directing, from a new script he wrote. Gunn chose the project over various other films Warner Bros. has in development, including the Man of Steel sequel. Margot Robbie and Viola Davis signed on to reprise their roles as Harley Quinn and Amanda Waller, respectively. Idris Elba will replace Smith as Deadshot, who dropped out due to scheduling conflicts. Production will begin in September 2019, for a scheduled release date of August 6, 2021.

The Flash (2021)


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, Chris Brancato, Michael Green and Marc Guggenheim. In April 2015, a story treatment was written by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller based on the previous draft, with the intention being that the duo would also direct the film. Over the next two years, Seth Grahame-Smith and Rick Famuyiwa, had individually dropped out as directors of the project 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 story arc of the same name.

In March 2018, John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein were hired to co-direct. Zack Snyder, Alex Gartner, Geoff Johns, Dan Mazer, Richard Suckle, Deborah Snyder, Phil Lord, Chris Miller, Jon Berg, and Denise Di Novi will serve as producers on the project. Dan Mazeau was brought on as co-writer, followed by Grahame-Smith and Brancato as additional screenwriters. Daley and Goldstein had initially announced the release of The Flash to be sometime during 2020, though production was delayed from April 2019 to later in the year for additional script work. Principal photography is scheduled take place in Atlanta, Georgia, and follow in Leavesden, Hertfordshire, England. The tone of the film is expected to be similar to Back to the Future. The Flash is reported to release sometime during 2021.

Aquaman 2 (2022)
By December 2018, a sequel to Aquaman was in development. In October 2018, James Wan stated the first film intentionally left room for a followup. Jason Momoa later revealed that he had an idea for the sequel and pitched it to Warner Bros. through Emmerich and producer Peter Safran, who were receptive. By December, high pre-release ticket sales and positive reception for the film 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. The following month, Safran announced that the movie will explore the other Seven Kingdoms of Atlantis. The film is scheduled to be released on December 16, 2022.

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


 * 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 is rewriting the script at Bay's request so the budget could be considerably lowered.
 * 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 by August, Gerard Johnstone was hired to polish the script.
 * 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 sure when production would begin. Fisher has expressed his desire for Snyder to direct the film, and by December 2018, stated the film will explore Cyborg's importance in a world dependent on technology. Cyborg was scheduled to be released on April 3, 2020, but is believed to have been delayed.
 * Black Adam: In September 2014, Dwayne Johnson was cast to play Black Adam in the DCEU. 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 attached to produce, has stated the two characters will cross paths in a future film, while in April, he said other DC characters will cameo.  In October, Adam Sztykiel was hired to write the script. Co-producer Hiram Garcia stated the film will be gritty and violent, similar to the comics. By February 2019, the script was nearly finished with Warner Bros. and Seven Bucks Productions searching for a director. Principal photography is scheduled to begin sometime between late 2019 and early 2020.
 * Justice League sequel: In October 2014, Justice League Part Two was announced, with Snyder returning as director. In June 2016, it was revealed that Justice League would not be one film split into 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.
 * 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. The following October, Christopher McQuarrie confirmed that he had discussions with Warner Bros. regarding directing the film. Green Lantern Corps was scheduled for release on July 24, 2020, but is believed to have been delayed.
 * 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 confirmed he has had discussions with the studio to direct the film. In June 2018, Cavill revealed that he is preparing to reprise the role.
 * 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, Zak Penn had begun work on a script. Berlanti stated that the project had "no connective tissue" to other films at one point, but following a consideration for television series adaptation at Syfy, the project entered a script re-write from Zack Stentz in May 2016. Berlanti was asked about his involvement with the DCEU as a whole, and indicated that he has interest in the Booster Gold film. After years of being involved in the project's development, Berlanti was reported to be in negotiations with the studio to serve as director.  By March 2018, the script, co-written by Berlanti, had been completed. Berlanti stated production would begin once Warner Bros. decides where to place it within the slate of films.
 * 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. Production was originally scheduled to begin in mid-2017, but following the restructuring of DC Films leadership the film's development was placed on hold 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 has continued to work on the film, meeting with Gotham City Sirens creator Paul Dini in August 2018.
 * 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.
 * 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.
 * Batgirl: In March 2017, Joss Whedon was hired to write, direct and produce a film centered around Barbara Gordon / 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, Hodson was hired as screenwriter for Batgirl. Warner Bros. actively seeks a female director to replace Whedon.
 * 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.
 * Deathstroke: In October 2017, TheWrap reported a film centered around 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.
 * New Gods: By March 2018, a film about the New Gods, an alien race introduced in Justice League, was in development, with Ava DuVernay signed on as director. Kario Salem was hired as screenwriter after working on a story treatment with DuVernay.
 * 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.
 * 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, with Reed Morano—who has expressed interest in the project—being its top choice.
 * 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.
 * Plastic Man: In December 2018, The Hollywood Reporter reported a Plastic Man film is in development. Amanda Idoko is attached as screenwriter, while Walter Hamada and Chantel Nong are set to produce.
 * Wonder Woman 1984 sequel: In January 2019, after principal photography on Wonder Woman 1984 was completed, director and co-writer Patty Jenkins stated 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.
 * 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 is expected to have a lower production budget compared to other DC-based films. The following month, Safran said he expects the film to be released before Aquaman 2.

Recurring principal cast and characters

 * List indicator(s)
 * This table includes characters that have appeared in multiple DC Universe films
 * A dark grey cell indicates the character was not in the film, or that the character's presence in the film has not yet been announced.
 * An indicates an appearance through archival footage or photographic stills.
 * A indicates a cameo appearance.
 * An indicates an appearance not included in the theatrical cut of the film.
 * A indicates a new appearance in onscreen photographs only.
 * A indicates the character appears through use of special effects only.
 * A indicates an uncredited appearance.
 * A indicates an appearance by an actor portraying a younger version of a character.