The DCEU as we know it will officially come to an end in 2024. DC is set to release 5 movies in the next 2 years before Warner Brothers Discovery completely reboots the DCU with a brand new slate of movies.
Last week, DC Studio’s co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran revealed the first chapter of the new DCU, titled Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters. This will begin with a brand new solo Superman project, Superman: Legacy.
While it is unclear how much of the old DCEU will carry into the new DCU (Gunn has already announced two characters that will crossover into the reboot), many of the characters and stories from these 5 2023-2024 DC movies will likely not be seen again.
Every Upcoming DCEU Movie In Order of Release
1. Shazam!: Fury of the Gods (March 17, 2023)
DC
Zachary Levi and Asher Angel will bring Billy Batson and his superhero alter-ego Shazam back to the big screen in a second Shazam! movie, this one upping the ante for the hero in a solo setting.
Along with his entire Shazam family returning to expand on their powers more fully, Billy and his crew will be in for an immense challenge with their latest villains. Hollywood icons Lucy Liu and Helen Mirren will star in this sequel as Kalypso and Hespera, with Rachel Zegler playing Anthea and completing the powerful trio known as the Daughters of Atlas.
Trailers have highlighted a great deal of action and drama, and with the threat of the gods looming heavily over the core heroes, this new outing should be an exciting follow-up to one of the most highly-praised DC movies in recent memory.
Read about the scrapped Shazam 2 cameo for Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam here.
2. The Flash (June 23, 2023)
DC
Even with the immense drama surrounding The Flash thanks to leading star Ezra Miller’s troubles off camera, WBD is hoping that their first DCU solo movie will set the stage for an exciting future. Thankfully, Miller’s Flash will be far from the only major character, as they’ll share the spotlight with Michael Keaton in his return to the cape and cowl of Batman.
The DCEU’s future will likely not include Ezra Miller as the Flash, but hopefully, his co-stars Sasha Calle, Michael Keaton, and Ben Affleck will return in Gunn’s new DCEU through the multiverse at some point.
Find out about the latest exciting update for The Flash‘s Batman cameos here.
3. Blue Beetle (August 18, 2023)
DC Comics
Having been moved from an HBO Max debut to a theatrical release, Blue Beetle looks to bring the franchise’s first-ever Latino leading man to the big screen with an almost all-Latin cast sharing the spotlight.
Xolo Maridueñao will take on the leading role of Jaime Reyes as the teenager discovers the Blue Beetle scarab, an alien artifact that morphs into a beetle-inspired suit allowing him to fight crime and even travel through space.
Maridueñao has an all-star cast surrounding him, including comedy icon George Lopez, Harvey Guillen, Susan Sarandon, and possibly even Ted Lasso‘s Jason Sudeikis, as they give Blue Beetle his first movie.
After being heavily utilized in the animated realm during Young Justice‘s run, Jaime Reyes will look to make a similar impact in his live-action debut and give the DCU a young hero to build upon for many years to come.
Blue Beetle’s 2023 release date is unfortunate for the future of the franchise, as it is unclear if the movie will end up in the old DCEU as it was intended or if the movie can somehow find a place in Gunn’s new DCU.
Catch the best look yet at Blue Beetle‘s Iron Man-like superhero suit here.
4. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (December 25, 2023)
DC Studios
Dealing with its own round of controversy behind the scenes, the sequel to the DCU’s biggest financial hit to date looks to push the boundaries of Arthur Curry’s world well past the borders of Atlantis. And on top of the drama surrounding leading actress Amber Heard, the movie’s release was delayed by nearly a year, although fans now have a small idea of what they’ll see on screen.
Following that delay, director James Wan shared a number of concept art images teasing new worlds that Aquaman 2 will explore, which even includes another battle with Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s Black Manta before the actor becomes Wonder Man for the MCU.
Recent reports have indicated that it is unlikely that Jason Momoa will return as Aquaman in the new DCU, but rumors are starting to surface of Momoa playing another DC character, Lobo.
Find out about Aquaman 2‘s chart-topping DC production budget here.
5. Joker: Folie à Deux (October 4, 2024)
DC Studios
Unlike the other four projects listed, Joker: Folie à Deux does not take place in the ‘DCU’ (the universe started by Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel). Instead, the sequel will continue to explore the standalone universe started by 2019’s Joker, and will likely be the last DC movie released before James Gunn’s Superman movie presumably kicks off the new DCU.
While Arthur lived his life as a sad loner on his first go-around, this time he will be joined in Joker 2 for a musical outing with Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn.
Production just recently got underway with director Todd Phillips returning and he has already shared the first look at Arthur’s return. Nonetheless, fans of the critically-acclaimed first outing will be waiting a while to see how the story continues with almost two full years to go until release.
But will Phoenix, Gaga, or Folie à Deux be able to land the clown franchise another Oscar nod when the 2025 awards season rolls around?
Hear what the DCEU’s Harley Quinn actress Margot Robbie had to say about Lady Gaga’s recent casting here.
