The DC Slate
Are You Gunnin' With Gunn?
Today, DC Studios Co-Chairmen and CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran announced the big plans everyone was looking forward to.
Superman: Legacy and The Batman - Part II will be the cornerstones. I’m quickly reacting as I read this press release LIVE! with you, dear reader. The DC blog post is here.
DC Studios Announces Slate of 10 New Film and Television Projects
James Gunn’s “Superman: Legacy” Anchors New Slate; Film Set for Theatrical Release on July 11, 2025
Studio also sets October 2025 release for highly anticipated “The Batman – Part II” from Matt Reeves
January 31, 2023 – Los Angeles, CA – DC Studios Co-Chairmen and CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran today announced plans for their first 10 film and television projects under the new DC banner they lead across film, television, and animation. Gunn and Safran are designing and implementing a long-term interconnected story for the iconic franchise and characters, and today announced the beginning of “Chapter 1” focused on “Gods and Monsters” with five new films and five television series for HBO Max already in development.
‘Gods and Monsters’ was also the title of Bruce Timm’s 2015 animated “Elseworlds”, or alternate universe version, of The Justice League. Interesting to think of this as a flashpoint (pun intended) for Chapter 1. Trying to catch up with Feige and Marvel seems to be the goal. I like the Chapter idea. Check out my #SnyderCut posts here. What a long movie! What the fuck?
“As we craft the plan for DC Studios, we are thrilled to share with fans the first 10 stories they can expect from the unified DC Universe featuring some of our most well-known characters as well as the next generation of marquee characters” said Safran. “Chapter 1 tells cohesive stories that highlight love, compassion, and the innate goodness of the human spirit, all designed to minimize audience confusion and maximize audience engagement across platforms.”
Who’s that?
AI tells me Peter Safran is a British-American film producer for Aquaman, Shazam, The Suicide Squad, The Conjuring, Flatliners, Annabelle, The Nun, The Specials, The Belko Experiment, Scary Movie, and The Starving Games.
I read and write and repurpose press releases all day for work. The formating, the easy-to-read first paragraph. AHHH! Just call me Chief and get me a coffee, Olsen! I don’t mind AI doing a bit of the hard work here. But if I ever use AI, I will tell you! My name ain’t CNET! (Clay N. Ferno Dot Net Dot Biz Dot CO dot UK?).
Gunn is writing Superman: Legacy, the first film of the new slate, which will be released in theaters globally on July 11, 2025. The highly-anticipated sequel The Batman – Part II is slated for release on October 3, 2025, it was also announced by Gunn and Safran today.
2025 is going to be the year of a Batman and Superman movie in theatres at the same time. Unprecedented. Unless you count 2016’s Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, which you won’t! 2016 wasn’t even a real thing.
Gunn added: “Superman: Legacy is the true foundation of our creative vision for the DC Universe. Not only is Superman an iconic part of DC lore, he is also a favorite character for comic book readers, viewers of earlier movies, and fans around the world. I can’t wait to introduce our version of Superman who audiences will be able to follow and get to know across films, movies, animation and gaming.”
A longtime Superman fan here. Batman has had more chances to reinvent his dark and brooding self on the big screen!
Have you seen Season 3 of Harley Quinn? Diedrich Bader returns to Batman on Harley Quinn after his time in the Batcave with Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2008) and JLA Adventures: Trapped in Time (2014). He’s all bummed out and playing emo guitar because he and Catwoman are on the outs. He’s a great Batman.
Where was I? Superman! Ten years ago I took the UN-popular opinion of liking Man of Steel. I still like it. Snyderverse, baby! Fuck you!
Cavill is great. He should come back. But he isn’t. That’s OK. Gunn has GOT this. You know he has the perfect person in mind and the Boy Scout won’t be “fugly”.
The upcoming slate of projects includes:
Film Projects
Superman: Legacy – written by Gunn, the film will hit theaters on July 11, 2025, and focus on Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing.
There was a rumor of a Black Superman story in development. (I am not checking the news sites as I react). But tomorrow is Black History Month and DC has The Black History of Superman here! I like the Earth-23 Superman. Would love to see a multiverse of other Supermen like Calvin Ellis in another Chapter. Or Kal-El of Earth D.The Authority – WildStorm characters will join the DCU as members of The Authority take matters into their own hands to do what they believe is right
NO SHIT! O.K. - this is my biggest surprise. These are great comics and will make great films. The book debuted in 1999 but Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch. Ellis has already had great projects made in Hollywood, RED, RED 2, so many more including G.I. Joe. I hope he is involved and gets rich. Midnighter is badass.
The Brave and the Bold – the DCU will introduce its Batman and Robin in this unusual father-son story inspired by Grant Morrison’s comic series
I have questions! Damian and Nightwing Batman? Who is it? Bruce? Dick? Hands down one of the top runs I have ever read. The Dick Grayson part of this story was the best part. WHAT ARE THEY DOING? I am still upset I was not cast as Robin to Michael Keaton’s Batman. IS IT TOO LATE?Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow - this science fiction adventure, which will be based on Tom King’s amazing, award-winning recent comics stories, presents a Supergirl viewers are not used to seeing
I’ve not read Tom King’s Supergirl, but I love Supergirl. I miss the show! It looks like I can get caught up on my app!Swamp Thing – the film will investigate the dark origins of Swamp Thing
They keep trying and trying to make The Green happen. Can Gunn bring out the Alan Moore in this?
I would like to see this handled better, but I have struggled to care about this Head O’ Lettuce for years. Is Swamp Thing like Groot? Can you take a bite out of him? Does he taste like crunchy water in a leaf or more like Caesar dressing?
Will they give Matt Ryan a fucking permanent job as Constantine, please?
Sidebar: I wonder if, by any slim chance, CW actors can leap to the big screen? This is 100% UNADULTERATED FANBOY fantasy of the highest caliber. It won’t happen. I want it to happen.
I am adding a break in the text as this was the end of the movie talk.
Television Projects for HBO Max
Creature Commandos – a seven-episode animated show in which Amanda Waller creates a black ops team out of monstrous prisoners; Gunn wrote all the episodes of the first season
I’ve been reviewing DC Animation for years. It’s all out there. This will be great. Very rare misses (Batgirl/Batman sexiness), but overall high scores. Frankenstein? DC Horror? James Gunn? More please.
Waller – starring Viola Davis, this series features Team Peacemaker and will be written by Christal Henry (Watchmen) and Jeremy Carver (Supernatural)
Five Stars.Booster Gold – Booster Gold uses basic technology from the future to pretend to be a superhero in present day
All I have to say is…too bad this guy already has a job.
Lanterns – this enormous TV event series follows intergalactic cops John Stewart and Hal Jordan as they uncover a dark mystery
FINALLY - Someone recognizing an entire generation grew up with John Stewart GL. Guy is my guy, but whatever. Hal is cool! Maybe this can have the Father / Son / Mentor thing going on in the Ant-Man movies. That’s how I picture it! They didn’t go for my pitch which was just The Other Guys (but in space).
Paradise Lost – set in Themyscira, home of the Amazons and birthplace of Wonder Woman, this drama focuses on the genesis and political intrigue of an island of all women
Kind of like the GOT or LOTR prequels? Great idea. People love that shit and the Themyscira / Amazon stuff was done so well in the Gal Gadot movies. Bring it, ladies!
About Warner Bros. Discovery:
Warner Bros. Discovery (Nasdaq: WBD) is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates and distributes the world’s most differentiated and complete portfolio of content and brands across television, film and streaming. Available in more than 220 countries and territories and 50 languages, Warner Bros. Discovery inspires, informs and entertains audiences worldwide through its iconic brands and products including: Discovery Channel, discovery+, CNN, DC, Eurosport, HBO, HBO Max, HGTV, Food Network, OWN, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Magnolia Network, TNT, TBS, truTV, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Television, Warner Bros. Games, New Line Cinema, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies, Discovery en Español, Hogar de HGTV and others. For more information, please visit www.wbd.com.
WB/Discovery forgot to mention at the end of the press release that they let me into their New York offices in October, on my birthday. Since they omitted that fact, here is photo evidence. Speaking of Tom King, Gotham: Year One and The Human Target are must-reads.
IN CONCLUSION, professor. As we once believed in JJ, my eternal optimism blooms. I’m Gunnin’ With Gunn … for now. Until he delivers us his “JL: THE LAST (KRYPTONIAN)” or “JL: THE RISE OF (WAYNE),” he’s got my vote!
That's right, my vote, because I recently purchased two shares of WB/Discovery.
