Summary

• The DC Universe's first chapter "Gods and Monsters" includes 6 movies and 6 shows.
• Gods and Monsters features the theatrical movies Superman, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, The Brave and the Bold, Swamp Thing, The Authority, and Teen Titans.
• Gods and Monsters features the streaming shows Creature Commandos, Waller, Paradise Lost, Booster Gold, Lanterns, and Peacemaker season 2.

James Gunn and Peter Safran's Robert Pattinson's Batman won't be part of the DCU, but will coexist with James Gunn's cinematic universe as a parallel continuity.

Therefore, several of DC's movies and shows, including Todd Phillips' Joker: Folie à Deux and Matt Reeves' The Penguin, won't interfere with James Gunn's plans for the DCU. And while some DCEU actors will reprise their roles in the DCU despite the reboot, they won't be playing the exact same version of their DCEU characters. In fact, the reboot isn't expected to be acknowledged by any DCU project, at least during its first chapter.

DC Universe Chapter One: Gods And Monsters Movies

As confirmed by James Gunn in his first official announcement, the DCU's first chapter includes more than the twelve projects that have already been revealed: six theatrical movies and six streaming shows, all of which are part of a carefully mapped 10-year plan for the franchise. However, the studio will abstain from announcing every title in development, as some of them may contain spoilers for the first part of "Gods and Monsters." Unlike the DCEU, the DCU also includes animated projects, which take place in the same continuity as the live-action titles.

12 Superman

Directed by James Gunn, Starring David Corenswet, Releasing 2025

Superman is the DCU's first live-action movie, set to release on July 11, 2025. Written and directed by James Gunn, Superman follows Clark Kent in his early years as Superman in a world that's already populated by metahumans. Following Henry Cavill's nine-year tenure as the Man of Steel in the DCEU, David Corenswet has been cast as the DCU's Superman, with Rachel Brosnahan portraying Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult playing Lex Luthor. While Superman's main villain is yet to be confirmed, María Gabriela de Faría's The Engineer (a member of The Authority) seems to serve as the movie's principal antagonist.

Unlike previous Superman solo movies, James Gunn's Superman features multiple superheroes in its ing cast, namely Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, and Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho. James Gunn's behind-the-scenes updates on Superman's production highlight the importance of the Fortress of Solitude within the story, and the reveal of Superman's comics-inspired crest suggests the film is drawing inspiration from Alex Ross and Mark Waid's Kingdom Come storyline, where Superman attempts to change the public perception of superheroes and vigilantes.

Superman was first announced with the title Superman: Legacy. On March 2, 2023, the word "Legacy" was dropped.

11 Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow

Written By Ana Nogueira, Starring Milly Alcock

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is set to continue developing Superman's DCU mythos through his Kryptonian cousin, Kara Zor-El. Inspired by the DC Comics storyline of the same name, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow stands apart from all previous live-action adaptations of Supergirl's story due to her unique origin. This Supergirl stays on a surviving fragment of Krypton until her teenage years, when she finally travels to Earth. In Tom King's Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow comics, Supergirl begins an unexpected quest to help a stranger exact revenge for the death of their father, losing her powers along the way.

House of the Dragon star Milly Alcock has been confirmed to play Kara Zor-El a.k.a. Supergirl in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow and future DCU projects. James Gunn also teased the addition of an animal in the story, which is likely to be Krypto the Superdog — an important member of Superman's family who hadn't yet had the chance to appear on screen. A cameo by David Corenswet's Superman in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow hasn't been confirmed, but it's possible.

10 The Brave and the Bold

Directed By Andy Muschietti, Centered Around Batman And Damian Wayne

The Brave and the Bold is the first Batman installment in the DCU, following an experienced Dark Knight as he balances his crusade with his role as a father. The Brave and the Bold marks the first time Bruce Wayne's son, Damian Wayne, appears in a live-action DC project, and possibly the first time Robin stars in a DC movie since 1997's Batman & Robin. Considering the point in Batman's career that The Brave and the Bold explores, it's possible that the full Bat-Family and Batman's rogue gallery are already established by the time the story begins.

Helmed by The Flash director Andy Muschietti, The Brave and the Bold is yet to receive an official release date, but it may wait until after Matt Reeves' The Batman - Part II releases in 2026 to introduce its own Batman. Likewise, The Brave and the Bold's main cast may take a while to be announced, as both Batman and Damian Wayne need to be the precise age when they're introduced. James Gunn confirmed that The Brave and the Bold takes inspiration from Grant Morrison's 2006 run of Batman comics, which introduced Damian Wayne in the DC Universe.

9 Swamp Thing

Directed By James Mangold, Horror-Inspired

Swamp Thing underlines the "monster" part of the DCU's "Gods and Monsters" chapter. The tragic titular character has been adapted to live-action multiple times since 1982's Swamp Thing, but has never been able to succeed with critics or at the box office. After the 2019 Swamp Thing series' attempt at bringing the monster to life was canceled shortly after premiering, James Gunn's DCU is set to inject all the budget of a DC movie into the property. Logan director James Mangold is attached to direct the DCU's Swamp Thing movie, though no of the cast have been confirmed yet.

8 The Authority

Possibly Set Up By The Engineer's Debut In Superman

The Authority is the first team-based project to be announced for the DCU. While not as famous as the Justice League, DC Comics' The Authority is a long-standing team of heroes in DC Comics, composed of powerful anti-heroes such as the electric-powered Jenny Sparks, the solar-powered Apollo, the super soldier Midnighter, the magic-wielding The Doctor, the winged Swift, and the metal-bending The Engineer (who makes her DCU debut in Superman). Considering Superman's possible comic book inspirations, Superman and The Authority seem likely to be the first two DCU titles to have a major crossover.

7 Teen Titans

Written By Ana Nogueira, The Teen Titans Is The DCU's Second Team-Based Movie

The DCU's Teen Titans movie wasn't included in James Gunn's first announcement of the DCU's slate. On March 15, 2024, it was reported that a Teen Titans movie is in active development, with Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow screenwriter Ana Nogueira attached as the movie's principal writer. No director or cast have been confirmed. However, the fact that The Brave and the Bold centers around Batman and Damian Wayne suggests that the Teen Titans movie doesn't feature Batman's first Robin, Dick Grayson. Instead, a younger Robin — perhaps Damian himself — may lead the DCU's Teen Titans.

DC Universe Chapter One: Gods And Monsters Shows

The DCEU pioneered the synergy between movies and shows even before the MCU inaugurated its Disney+ series, with James Gunn's Peacemaker season 1 serving as a direct spinoff of The Suicide Squad and tying into Justice League. The DCU doubles down on this close connection between movies and shows. Spinoffs, prequels, and animated series take place in the same universe as the movies, and characters are now able to hop between animated and live-action formats.

6 Creature Commandos

Written By James Gunn, First Installment In The DCU

Launching the entire DCU, Creature Commandos is set to introduce an off-beat team of DC heroes: the team's leader Rick Flag Sr., the amphibian Nina Mazursky, the monstrous Eric Frankenstein, the automaton G.I. Robot, the anthropomorphic Weasel, and the fire-wielding Doctor Phosphorus. The announcement of Anya Chalotra's DCU casting as the Wonder Woman villain Circe suggests she's the main antagonist in the show. Creature Commandos' star-studded voice cast includes MCU star Frank Grillo and experienced voice actor Alan Tudyk. Written by James Gunn, Creature Commandos releases on Max in late 2024.

5 Waller

Written By Christal Henry and Jeremy Carver, Starring Viola Davis

Viola Davis' Amanda Waller is one of the characters who survived the transition between DCEU and DCU. Originally conceived as a sequel to The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker season 1, the Waller series serves as the reintroduction of the titular character in the DCU's new continuity. Reportedly, Doom Patrol creator Jeremy Carver and Watchmen writer Christal Henry will write the series, which is set to release on Max. Whether Viola Davis' new version of Waller has already worked with any iteration of Task Force X in the DCU is yet to be known.

4 Paradise Lost

Series Centered On Themyscira And The Amazons

Paradise Lost, like Waller, was originally conceived as a spinoff of a DCEU property — in this case, Wonder Woman. But with the DCU rebooting the whole DC franchise, Paradise Lost precedes the introduction of the DCU's Wonder Woman. According to James Gunn, Paradise Lost is "almost like 'Game of Thrones' with 'Westeros', but with all of the inhabitants of Paradise Island." In DC Comics, Wonder Woman's home island Themyscira is also known as Paradise Island. Whether Paradise Lost is set in the DCU's past or present remains a mystery.

3 Booster Gold

Series Centered Around 25th-Century Time-Traveling Superhero Mike Carter

Booster Gold is a DCU series based on the eponymous DC superhero. In the source material, Gotham City resident Mike Carter gets a job as a security guard in a superhero museum in Metropolis, where he steals a time machine and travels to the present-day, becoming a famous hero. Booster Gold's best friend in the comics is Ted Kord, whose successor Jaime Reyes is confirmed to appear in the DCU, played by Xolo Maridueña. Sean Gunn's casting as Maxwell Lord in Superman also suggests that the DCU might eventually assemble the Justice League International, where Booster Gold participates.

Xolo Maridueña's Blue Beetle was the first DCU character to be confirmed by James Gunn, and one of the DCEU heroes who survived the DCU reboot.