What’s Next for DC Studios? Major Projects on Hold While New Adventures Take Flight!

In 1984, DC Comics experienced a thrilling revival. They released titles that truly resonated with fans. The famous slogan of that time was, “The New DC. There’s no stopping us now.”

Fast forward over 40 years, and it seems like that same spirit is alive at DC Studios, a division of Warner Bros. Discovery dedicated to bringing beloved comic characters to life on screens, both big and small.

James Gunn, co-head of DC Studios, recently shared, “We don’t want these characters to fade away. We aim to tell fresh stories and bring these characters to new audiences.” He believes they are making steady progress in that direction.

DC Studios, led by Gunn and Peter Safran, is relatively new, having launched just over two years ago. This summer will be pivotal, as their first film, Superman, which Gunn wrote and directed, hits theaters.

However, they aren’t pausing to see how Superman performs before moving forward. They’re rapidly pushing new projects forward. For example, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is currently being filmed in London, while the HBO series Lanterns with Hal Jordan and John Stewart started shooting last week in Los Angeles.

Additionally, a body horror thriller about the villain Clayface has found its director and is set to begin filming this summer for a 2026 release. A war movie called Sgt. Rock is in the works, and an animated film titled Dynamic Duo is in pre-production.

This August, fans can look forward to season two of The Peacemaker, an action-comedy on Max. Recent successes also include acquiring the award-winning documentary Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story and launching the first animated series, Creature Commandos.

During a recent press event, Gunn and Safran shared their strategy and updates about their upcoming slate. They took charge in November 2022, aiming to revitalize the DC brand after a time of disarray, where different teams independently shaped the characters and stories. This led to confusion and a lack of coherence within the DC universe.

Safran noted, “The DC brand was fragmented. Each creative team was pursuing its own vision, which confused consumers.” They have been working to unify this vision. “We’ve greenlit five films, made three live-action series, and are creating five animated series,” Safran stated. Their goal is to release two live-action films and one animated film each year, alongside two live-action and two animated series.

The duo aims to explore various genres, acknowledging that different audiences enjoy different types of stories. “We’re not limited to one style, so why should we only make one kind of movie?” said Safran.

While there will be connections between projects, they want each film or series to stand alone. Gunn emphasized, “You can watch Superman or Lanterns without needing to see them both, although there will be Easter eggs for those who do.”

A key focus for them is the quality of the scripts. “We prioritize writing,” Gunn said, underscoring the importance of a strong script before production begins. He added that some promising projects have emerged from scripts they did not initially plan to pursue.

The path hasn’t been entirely smooth. They’ve faced challenges with some projects like Waller, a spinoff that hasn’t settled into a clear direction yet. Similarly, The Authority has encountered script issues.

The status of any new projects featuring Batman also remains uncertain. Despite the success of Matt Reeves’ The Batman, a sequel is still not on the horizon. Gunn mentioned, “We’re waiting for a complete script, but what we’ve seen so far is promising.”

On TV, while The Penguin series continues to garner acclaim, plans for a second season remain unclear.

Right now, the spotlight is on Superman. Gunn is back in Atlanta, focusing on the post-production phase, as excitement builds for the film’s release this summer. Although there are no major plans for DC Studios to appear at Comic-Con this year, they’re preparing for a significant presence at CinemaCon.

Gunn believes in the timeless values that Superman represents. “Superman stands for basic human morals and integrity. Right now, people are searching for heroes who embody goodness,” he said.

The team is committed to making Superman a major event, with full support from Warner Bros. Discovery. “David Zaslav believes in what we’re doing and has rallied the entire company behind Superman, treating it as a top priority,” Safran noted.