DC’s Superman is one of the most anticipated movies of 2025, and with just days to its worldwide release, brands are jumping on the bandwagon to capture the attention of a diverse audience set to show up for the movie. With limited spots available, there’s still a chance for your brand to book your spot. Download our Big Screen Brief to know the reasons to advertise alongside Superman.
With that said, most of us only know Superman from DC. The question is: what’s coming next after Superman? James Gunn and Peter Safran have been rebuilding the DC Universe with a massive multi-chapter plan, starting with “Chapter One: Gods and Monsters” – a coherent, hopeful slate that “highlight love, compassion, and the innate goodness of the human spirit.”
The first domino falls this July with Superman, which Gunn calls “the true foundation of our creative vision.” But that’s just the beginning. Here’s your complete guide to every confirmed DCU film coming to theaters with all the juicy details we know so far. If you’re curious about the upcoming DCU movies, keep reading.
This is where it all begins. Superman isn’t just another Superman movie – it’s the cornerstone that everything else will build upon. James Gunn is directing this one himself, and he’s made it clear that this film will set the tone for the entire new DCU. Expect a younger Superman in a world that’s already populated with heroes, marking a fresh start that promises to be both familiar and completely new.
Starring: Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El
Director: Craig Gillespie
Speaking of that world full of heroes, Superman won’t be the only Kryptonian around for long. House of the Dragon’s Milly Alcock steps into the cape for what DC is calling a “science fiction adventure” that promises an unexpectedly different take on Kara Zor-El. Based on Tom King’s acclaimed graphic novel, this isn’t your typical Supergirl story.
Here’s the twist: while Superman was raised on Earth, Kara grew up on a Kryptonian chip in space, creating a much grittier character than we’ve seen before. And get this – Jason Momoa makes his DCU debut as Lobo, the intergalactic bounty hunter. Craig Gillespie (the genius behind I, Tonya) is directing, and production was already halfway complete by early 2025, so this one’s definitely happening.
Writer: Mike Flanagan
In a bold move, DC is giving the shape-shifting Batman villain his very own movie. Mike Flanagan, the master of psychological horror behind Doctor Sleep and The Haunting of Hill House, is crafting the script for what will be the DCU’s first villain-centric film.
While plot details are still under wraps (and no director or cast has been announced), imagine what Flanagan could do with a character who can literally become anyone or anything. This could be the horror-superhero crossover we never knew we needed in the lineup of upcoming DCU movies.
Focus: Batman and Robin (Damian Wayne)
Where there’s a Batman villain, Batman himself can’t be far behind. This “unusual father-son story” will introduce an entirely new DCU Batman alongside Damian Wayne as Robin. Inspired by Grant Morrison’s comics, the film centers on Bruce Wayne discovering he has a son – and it’s going to be, in Gunn’s words, “very strange.”
Important note: this is completely separate from Matt Reeves’ Batman films, which exist in their own continuity. No release date or casting announced yet, but this promises to explore the Dark Knight from a completely fresh angle.
This version of Batman exists separately from Matt Reeves’ ongoing “Elseworlds” trilogy starring Robert Pattinson.
Director: James Mangold
The final film of Chapter One takes us into gothic horror territory. Logan director James Mangold is attached to direct this investigation into the “dark origins of Swamp Thing.”
While Gunn admits the project is “far from going” and they’ve only discussed it occasionally, having Mangold involved suggests they’re serious about making this something special. No cast or schedule has been revealed yet, but it remains one of the most intriguing upcoming DCU movies.
Focus: WildStorm superhero team
Here’s where things get really interesting. The Authority brings WildStorm’s brutal superhero team into the DCU – think The Boys (Amazon Prime Video), but actually part of the main universe. These are heroes who “take matters into their own hands to do what they believe is right” when government agencies aren’t enough.
The Engineer will first appear in Superman, setting up this team’s origin story. No release date, director, or cast announced, but this could be the edgiest film in the entire slate.
Writer: Ana Nogueira
From one team to another, but with a completely different vibe. The beloved young superhero team is getting the live-action treatment as the sixth team-up film in the DCU slate. Ana Nogueira (who also wrote Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow) is handling the script, and reports suggest the core lineup – Robin, Cyborg, Starfire, Raven, and Beast Boy – will all feature.
Beyond that, details are still under wraps, but fans have been waiting years for a proper live-action Titans movie. It’s one of the most anticipated upcoming DCU movies for younger audiences.
Starring: Colin Farrell
DC’s World War II infantryman is getting his own movie, proving this universe isn’t just about people in capes. The project hit a brief snag when original star Daniel Craig departed in early 2025, but Colin Farrell (fresh off his acclaimed turn in The Penguin) has stepped in as the new lead.
How exactly a WWII soldier fits into a superhero universe remains to be seen, but that’s part of what makes this reboot so intriguing.
Writer: Matthew Orton
Perhaps the most unusual entry on the slate: a villain team-up movie pairing two of DC’s most formidable anti-heroes. The Hollywood Reporter revealed this project in September 2024, promising to explore the “unusual dynamic” between these two characters.
Moon Knight writer Matthew Orton is crafting the script, but beyond that, everything is still a mystery. Could be a twisted buddy cop movie, could be something completely different.
Status: Script in development
A new Wonder Woman film is confirmed for the DCU, but don’t expect Gal Gadot to return. James Gunn has confirmed the movie is “being written right now,” and WBD leadership considers Wonder Woman one of their “big asset builders” for the next decade.
This will be a complete reboot with new casting, but official details about director, cast, or plot are still minimal. Still, it remains a key part of the studio’s plan for upcoming DCU movies.
All of these films are part of Gunn and Safran’s unified vision for Chapter One: Gods and Monsters. Unlike the previous fragmented approach, this is designed as a single, interconnected continuity with consistent characters and themes building toward a larger six-year plan.
The goal is ambitious: create a hopeful, character-driven saga that introduces us to “a younger Superman in a world full of heroes” while weaving together cohesive stories that will also connect to new Max/DC Universe TV shows.
Will it work? Superman this July will give us our first real taste of whether this new DCU can deliver on its promises. But if the early signs are any indication, DC might finally have a plan that can give Marvel some serious competition.
Sources: DC.com, The Direct, Rotten Tomatoes, Games Radar, Screen Rant
Marvel Studios is set to roll its curtain down on Phase 4, and has revealed future plans for its cinematic universe at the recently concluded San Diego Comic-Con 2022. The studio announced an exciting line-up of live-action and animated projects in its next phases from 2023-2025.
Phases 5 and 6 feature new titles with familiar faces, starting with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and leading up to not just one but two back-to-back Avengers movies with much to explore in between in the Multiverse.
If you’ve missed those announcements and want more information, here is everything you need to know about Marvel’s latest slate of projects set to release on the big screen:
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Release date: February 17, 2023
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania will be the beginning of Phase 5. That film is expected to reveal more mysteries of the pivotal Quantum Realm universe; it will be the first official introduction of Jonathan Majors as Kang (the big bad of this Multiverse Saga) and will debut a new young hero when Scott Lang’s daughter Cassie (Kathryn Newton) suits up as well.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Release date: May 5, 2023
James Gunn will be ending his Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy with this film – and he and the cast and crew are letting fans know in no uncertain terms that it is going to be an ending. The movie will be introducing some key cosmic figures – Adam Warlock (Will Poulter) and the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji) – and it’s here that we begin to see a possible pattern forming in Phase 5: powerful villains rising in ways our heroes may not be ready for.
The Marvels
Release date: July 28, 2023
The Captain Marvel movie franchise will meet the Ms. Marvel TV series (with help from WandaVision’s Monica Rambeau) to form a new trifecta of cosmic-powered superheroines in the MCU. Plot details are unknown, but Ms. Marvel left us with a place-switching connection between Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) and Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), so that’s something. Based on other projects like Secret Invasion, The Marvels could have some serious Kree/Skrull drama to resolve – and again, we could be looking at a major shakeup in the cosmic order, as a result.
Blade
Release date: November 3, 2023
The Marvel Knights supernatural side of things has been teased through Moon Knight and Eternals’ post-credits scene, but Blade is the film that will really open the door to it all. Blade could be a pivotal dark horse story whose significance we can’t yet fully understand.
Captain America: New World Order
Release date: May 3, 2024
Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) has taken up the shield and mantle, but it sounds like the timing could be rather unfortunate. In the comics, the New World Order organization was founded by Red Skull in a clandestine plot to take over the world. There have been many similar stories in Marvel lore since then (Leviathan) that could be streamlined into the premise of Captain America 4. Either way, it sounds like Sam will find out there are some truly seedy (world threatening) things happening in the world of politics and espionage.
Thunderbolts
Release date: May 3, 2024
The end of MCU Phase 5 will be Thunderbolts – a series that started as a team of villains posing as heroes. Given everything we’ve seen in Phase 5 leading up to it, Thunderbolts makes us wonder if Phase 5 will end with a new world order of villains holding the reigns, and heroes left on the run.
While those Marvel Phase 5 plans took their rightful place in the spotlight at Comic-Con 2022, Marvel also announced the first three projects in its Phase 6 slate
Fantastic Four
Release date: November 8, 2024
MCU reboot of the Fantastic Four will be released in November of 2024, marking the first movie in Phase 6 and kickstarting the road to Secret Wars. This movie will be necessary to get to the final film of The Multiverse Saga as Marvels’ first family play a major role in that storyline.
Avengers: The Kang Dynasty
Release date: May 2, 2025
The summer of 2025 will kick off with Avengers 5, subtitled The Kang Dynasty and set to be directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. What’s unclear about the film is…who will be part of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in this movie? One guess is that Captain Marvel and Hulk have continued the team, as seen at the end of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
Avengers: Secret Wars
Release date: November 7, 2025
The Multiverse Saga will officially conclude with this title, as the Avengers: Secret Wars will seemingly draw from the Jonathan Hickman-penned reboot of the title from 2015, one that combined multiple different Earths/timelines/universes into one planet, the all-new Battle World.
Sources: Techradar, Comicbook.com and Boxoffice Pro
