The DC Connected Universe (The Batman 2 Delayed a Full Year to October 2026)

UltimateMarvel wrote:I hate when they do this. Demi Lovato did the same shit.

EXCLUSIVE: We understand that Guardians of the Galaxy alum Sean Gunn is set to take on the role of evil businessman Maxwell Lord in the new DC Universe that’s being overseen by James Gunn and Peter Safran.

The role was previously played by Pedro Pascal in the 2020 movie Wonder Woman 1984.

It’s not clear if Sean Gunn’s Maxwell Lord will make a cameo in brother Gunn’s Superman: Legacy which will go into production next year. The character, as I hear it, will be referenced in the background of Legacy but will appear in future DC projects. A similar motif will occur for other characters in the new DC Universe, the first phase which is named Gods and Monsters: Chapter One. Stay tuned.

Maxwell Lord debuted in 1987’s Justice League #1 created by Keith Giffen, J. M. DeMatteis, and Kevin Maguire. Initially conceived as an amigo to the Justice League and key to the formation of Justice League International; he ultimately became a foe to the org, and to Wonder Woman. While a wealthy businessman, during the Invasion crossover, he’s gifted with superpowers when a Gene Bomb is exploded by alien invaders. The detonation triggers Lord’s latent metagene, granting him the ability to control the minds of others, though with great challenges.

Gunn played Kraglin in Marvel’s GOTG trilogy, where were directed and written by James Gunn. He also teamed with James Gunn in his Suicide Squad as Weasel, and the movie Super, as well as Tromeo & Juliet, the latter co-written by James Gunn. TV credits include The Good Doctor, A Terminal List, The Rookie, Robot Chicken, and Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. Sean Gunn co-created the series PG Porn with James Gunn and Brian Gunn. He also starred in the movie The Belko Experiment which was written by James Gunn.

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The highly anticipated sequel to “The Batman” was supposed to start production this coming November, with Robert Pattinson set to return in the titular role. Then it got delayed to March 2024 and now that date has been further pushed back to later next year, and there’s a very good reason why.

It turns out that DC head James Gunn has heard a pitch for “The Batman: Part Two,” but no script has been submitted yet. No reasons have been given in regards to why this delay has occurred. I suspected a few months ago that the writer’s strike might have affected the film’s momentum. “The Batman 2” currently has an October 3, 2025 release date, which means there’s plenty of time to get this one done.

Writer-director Matt Reeves will be back in the fray with Mattson Tomlin credited as co-writer. Also expected to return for the sequel are Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Andy Serkis, Jeffrey Wright, Colin Farrell and, possibly, Barry Keoghan as The Joker. There have been rumors of Dick Grayson, aka Robin, also joining in this time around. Nothing’s really been confirmed.

2021’s “The Batman” was hailed as an ambitious return to form for the Caped Crusader. It was a near 3-hour movie that grossed $369.3 million in the United States, and $401.6 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $770.9 million.Critics were also positively receptive towards the film. “The Batman” appeared on over 150 critics top 10 lists, making it the 11th most mentioned film of 2022.

James Gunn is confirming that Matt Reeves is not only working on expanding his The Batman universe but also developing a series set within the new DC Universe.

DC Studios co-head is answering more fan queries on social media and confirmed that Reeves is producing an Arkham series set in the Batman universe within the new world Gunn and Peter Safran are developing.

A fan asked Gunn on Threads if Reeves was working on more projects in the “Batverse” aside from The Batman: Part II, the Penguin series and the Arkham series.

“Right now Matt is producing Arkham as a DCU series, so there’s just the two for now,” Gunn replied confirming the Arkham series.

Another fan asked for clarification about the Arkham series set in the new DCU Gunn and Safran are working on called Chapter One: Gods and Monsters.

“Yes. We love Matt as a director and producer so he’ll be producing stories both within his The Batman universe and within the DCU,” Gunn said.

Gunn further clarified that the Arkham series was always planned to be set in the DCU and not part of Elseworlds, the alternate universe where projects like Reeve’s The Batman and Todd Phillips’ Joker: Folie à Deux live.

“It was one of the first pitches we bought when Peter and I came onboard. I don’t know the permutations it went through before that time,” Gunn said of the Arkham series.

In the Batman universe, Arkham refers to the Arkham Asylum, the fictional psychiatric hospital/prison where some of Batman’s most notorious foes are housed.

UltimateMarvel wrote:I'm confused, if the Arkham series is in DCU then how is Batman not in that same universe?

EXCLUSIVE: We are hearing that DC Studios is planning to test actresses soon to star in Supergirl, and that Milly Alcock, Emilia Jones and Meg Donnelly are in the mix.

There is a chance the studio could make a straight offer to a star, but all things are pointing toward screen tests for actresses, which will go down within the next month or so, we hear.

Deadline understands that natch, DC Studios co-boss James Gunn is definitely part of the process, as this is a character who likely will make its debut via a cameo in a DC project that isn’t Supergirl. The search is ongoing for a director.

Alcock is best known for her lead role on HBO’s Game of Thrones spinoff House of the Dragon, playing Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. She is repped by CAA, Shanahan Management, Entertainment 360 and Curtis Brown.

Jones, repped by CAA and Brillstein, counts feature credits such as Paolo Sorrentino’s Youth and Apple’s Oscar Best Picture winner CODA as well as the Netflix series Locke & Key.

Donnelly, repped by Gersh and Silver Lining Entertainment, has starred in Disney Channel’s Zombies franchise and is already the voice of Supergirl in the DC animated movies Legion of Superheroes and Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths Part One.

Gunn, with co-DC chief Peter Safran, first announced a Supergirl movie, Supergirl, Woman of Tomorrow, during DC’s studio press day just more than a year ago. The movie is based on Tom King’s comic book series from 2022.

Said Gunn at the time, “In our series we see the difference between Superman who was sent to Earth and raised by loving parents from the time he was an infant, versus Supergirl who was raised on a rock, a chip off Krypton, and watched everyone around her die and be killed in terrible ways for the first 14 years of her life, and then came to Earth when she was a young girl. She’s much more hardcore; she’s not exactly the Supergirl we’re used to seeing.”

Superman Legacy, meanwhile, is prepping to shoot this spring in Georgia with David Corenswet (as Clark Kent/Superman), Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane), Nicholas Hoult (Lex Luther), Skyler Gisondo and Sara Sampaio, with Anthony Carrigan, Isabel Merced and Nathan Fillion playing Metamorpho, Hawkgirl and Guy Gardner/Green Lantern, respectively.

Superman: Legacy has been set for a worldwide release on July 11, 2025.

We’ll keep you in the loop as to who lands the big role.

DC had no comment.

UltimateMarvel wrote:What about Madelyn Cline? From this list, I think I would pick Meg.

WyldeMan wrote:Meg was also who I gravitated towards towards even though I'm not that familiar with her work. She's definitely got the look. 

I do find it interesting that all their choices so far seem to be focused on tv actresses.

It says they plan to start screen testing in the next few months and these are likely just a couple of the names being released publicly.

Meanwhile Cline is one of the rumored names being mentioned among the inside sources who've proven reliable so far. Maybe she's the favorite but the studio is requiring a broader test sample.

UltimateMarvel wrote:

WyldeMan wrote:Meg was also who I gravitated towards towards even though I'm not that familiar with her work. She's definitely got the look. 

I do find it interesting that all their choices so far seem to be focused on tv actresses.

It says they plan to start screen testing in the next few months and these are likely just a couple of the names being released publicly.

Meanwhile Cline is one of the rumored names being mentioned among the inside sources who've proven reliable so far. Maybe she's the favorite but the studio is requiring a broader test sample.

I hope that's what's happening and she's not removed from the list.

I don't mind them getting tv actresses, there are a lot of talented ones out there.

EXCLUSIVE: Jared Abrahamson (The Changeling) has been tapped for a key recurring role opposite Colin Farrell in the Max original series The Penguin from Warner Bros Television and DC Studios.

The eight-episode drama continues the Batman crime saga Matt Reeves began with Warner Bros Pictures’ The Batman and centers on the character played by Farrell in the film. Cristin Milioti plays female lead Sofia Falcone. Details about Abrahamson’s character are not yet being revealed. Rhenzy Feliz also stars.

The series, based on characters created for DC by Bob Kane with Bill Finger, is executive produced by Reeves; Dylan Clark; Farrell; Lauren LeFranc, who writes and serves as showrunner; Craig Zobel, who directs the first three episodes; and Bill Carraro. The Penguin is produced by Reeves’ 6th & Idaho Productions and Dylan Clark Productions in association with Warner Bros Television, where Reeves and 6th & Idaho are under an overall deal. 6th & Idaho’s Daniel Pipski also serves as executive producer and Rafi Crohn is co-executive producer.

Abrahamson’s breakout role came in the independent film Hello, Destroyer, earning him a TIFF Rising Star honor and Leo Award for Best Lead Performance. He was recently seen in Topside, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, Jerrod Carmichael’s directorial debut On the Count of Three, and Nicholas Ma’s Mabel opposite Judy Greer. On the television side, his credits include Ramy and Letterkenny. He can currently be seen in feature God’s Time and in Apple TV+’s The Changeling, and he’ll next be seen in Henry Nelson’s Asleep In My Palm, opposite Tim Blake Nelson. Abrahamson is repped by Canopy Media Partners, Gersh and Lauren Levitt & Associates.

House of the Dragon actress Milly Alcock has landed the coveted role of Supergirl in James Gunn and Peter Safran’s new DC Universe.

The Australia-born Alcock played the young Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen in the first season of HBO’s Game of Thrones spinoff House of the Dragon.

She beat out CODA actress Emilia Jones and Meg Donnelly, the latter who voiced Supergirl in such DC animated movies as Legion of Superheroes and Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths Part One.

Alcock is repped by CAA, Shanahan Management, Entertainment 360 and Curtis Brown.

There’s been buzz that the new Supergirl will appear in Gunn’s Superman Legacy, which is about to go before the cameras in Georgia, but that’s not 100%. What we know now is that she’ll appear in a DC-based project before starring in her solo feature, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. No director has been announced for Supergirl, the project first announced at DC’s studio press day a year ago. It’s based on Tom King’s 2022 comic book series, on which Bilquis Evely was the illustrator

Said Gunn at the time of that annoucement, “In our series we see the difference between Superman who was sent to Earth and raised by loving parents from the time he was an infant, versus Supergirl who was raised on a rock, a chip off Krypton, and watched everyone around her die and be killed in terrible ways for the first 14 years of her life, and then came to Earth when she was a young girl. She’s much more hardcore; she’s not exactly the Supergirl we’re used to seeing.”

Rusty wrote:Nice. Might actually check this Supergirl out. The TV series sucked balls.

UltimateMarvel wrote:As much as I like Melissa Benoist, the show did suck. I like Gunn's statement about the type of Supergirl we're getting.

James Gunn is celebrating the anniversary of his announcement of the revamp of the DC Universe he and DC Studios co-head Peter Safran have been creating, which includes Superman Legacy.

“One year ago today Peter Safran & I introduced our DC slate for the 1st time – thanks to all of you for the support you’ve given us throughout the year,” Gunn said in a post shared across his social media channels. “Today, Superman Legacy is about to start production, episodes of Creature Commandos are being finished that will release later this year, at least 2 more projects are gearing up to go in the next couple months, amazing scripts keep coming in, & incredible talent are being attached to new projects, planned & unplanned. Thank you!!”

It was on Jan. 31, 2023, that Gunn unveiled the projects that would be a part of Chapter One: Gods and Monsters, which included the Gunn-penned and directed Superman Legacy, a Batman and Robin film based on The Brave and the Bold, a Swamp Thing feature, and much more.  The new DCU has been set in motion, and one of the most anticipated films of this new era is Superman Legacy, which is set to star David Corenswet as the Man of Steel and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane.

Superman Legacy is gearing up to start filming in March and is set to premiere in theaters on July 11, 2025, with the cast also including Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor and María Gabriela de Faría as The Engineer. The ensemble includes Skyler Gisondo, Sara Sampaio, Sean Gunn, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Isabel Merced and Nathan Fillion.

Gunn has assured DC fans that Superman Legacy is not an origin story and instead will pick up Superman’s journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. The character is described as the embodiment of truth, justice, and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.

Matt Reeves‘ The Batman 2 is no longer opening on October 3, 2025 — a new launchpad for comic book movies. Instead, it is going a year later on October, 2, 2026. We hear the new date is due to the aftermath of the dual strikes.

The spacing also will give some distance from James Gunn’s Superman, which is hitting cinemas on July 11, 2025. That film will kick off Gunn and Peter Safran’s new DC Studios, the first phase titled “Gods and Monsters.”

Reeves’ Batman is not part of the Gunn universe, but it’s all kosher to co-exist. Gunn has another Batman movie in the works, Batman: Brave and the Bold, with Andy Muschietti directing. Robert Pattinson plays Batman in Reeves’ universe. The role will be recast for Muschietti’s film.

The Batman, which opened two years ago, grossed more than $772M at the global box office. The reboot also was a big watch on Warner Bros Discovery streaming service Max.

Backfilling The Batman 2‘s old date is Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Bride! which stars Christian Bale, Jesse Buckley, Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening and Penelope Cruz. Producers are Gyllenhaal, Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Talia Kleinhendler, and Osnat Handelsman-Keren.

Paul Thomas Anderson‘s next movie also got a release date of August 8, 2025. This is the one that stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, Wood Harris, Alana Haim and Chase Infiniti. The movie will have access to Imax screens. Anderson wrote, and produces with Sara Murphy and Adam Somner.

Also, the Barry Levinson-directed Robert De Niro twin mobster movie Alto Knights has been pushed from November 15 to March 21, 2025. Nick Pileggi wrote with Debra Messing, Cosmo Jarvis, Katherine Narducci and Micahel Rispoli starring. Producers are Irwin Winkler, Levinson, Jason Sosnoff, Charles Winkler and David Winkler.

Source: Deadline

UltimateMarvel wrote:Thanks a lot writer's strike! Just go ahead and cancel it why don't you.

WyldeMan wrote:I wonder what kind of gap that now puts between Batman 2 and The Brave and the Bold, two completely unrelated Bat films almost certainly coming out within a year of each other to totally confuse audiences with.

UltimateMarvel wrote:

WyldeMan wrote:I wonder what kind of gap that now puts between Batman 2 and The Brave and the Bold, two completely unrelated Bat films almost certainly coming out within a year of each other to totally confuse audiences with.

And that's my problem with this. I don't think it's a smart move. It could hurt both movies in the BO.

WyldeMan wrote:If Superman bombs then none of this will likely matter.

UltimateMarvel wrote:

WyldeMan wrote:If Superman bombs then none of this will likely matter.

If Superman bombs, it's game over. DC is going to need a decade gap to recover.

A live-action Teen Titans movie is in development at DC Studios, Deadline has confirmed.

Set to pen the script, after being tapped by the studio to write Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, is Ana Nogueira. No word yet on a logline for the film or who will be producing. A director for the project has not yet been set.

Originally introduced in The Brave and the Bold #54 in 1964, the Teen Titans are a group of young superheroes who together fight crime and face various villains while navigating the challenges of adolescence and their relationships with one another. Led by Batman’s sidekick Robin, the group typically includes characters like Starfire, Raven, Beast Boy, and Cyborg, among others.

Previously, the comics were adapted into the animated series Teen Titans for Cartoon Network/Kids’ WB, which aired from 2003 to 2006 and led to spin-off movie Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo. Better known is Cartoon Network’s animated series Teen Titans Go! and follow-up theatrical feature Teen Titans Go! To the Movies.

Announced as the Supergirl flick’s screenwriter last November, Nogueira first garnered attention as an actress, with appearances on series including The CW’s The Vampire Diaries and Starz’s Hightown. News of the new Teen Titans movie was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

WyldeMan wrote:I'm still surprised that Gunn chose Supes over every other character first. It's not like he's been undervalued. 

The only way that I can still wrap my head around it is if Brainiac shows up with his tentacles, even though it's been months since I first said that and there is still no word on his involvement or even a hint of casting. 

Supes is just such a boring straight edge character and not at all something I'd expect Gunn to gravitate so heavily towards, especially after GoTG, Suicide Squad and Peacemaker.

WyldeMan wrote:Planning for a Teen Titans movie makes sense given that the Brave and the Bold will introduce the next Robin.

UltimateMarvel wrote:I need a Superman movie and I wanted one since Man of Steel. I think it's a great time to bring a character like Superman to the big screen. I revisited Superman Returns not too long ago and I think Routh was a better Clark/Superman than Cavill surprisingly, and the movie still holds up.

UltimateMarvel wrote:Is this why they cancelled Titans? Either way, I'm down for a TT movie.

WyldeMan wrote:Brooding Jesus Superman was fun for awhile and Cavill made a good Supes but the character got bent over in the Snyderverse and after Superman and Lois, I'm not exactly left fiendin for more of the character right now. I'm not hating on what Gunn's doing because more than likely I will love it but right now, I'm just wishing they'd get going on Swamp Thing already....

WyldeMan wrote:They probably canceled Titans because that show was a fucking embarrassment that was only lucky to have Fraser and Bomer for as long as they did.

UltimateMarvel wrote:We need Supes more. You know you're the only person I know of that loves Swamp Thing. You've already gotten your TV show, we don't want to hear from you!

UltimateMarvel wrote:I can't say I disagree. Speaking of which, I still need to finish Doom Patrol. lol

WyldeMan wrote:Like you roll with folks who know know anything about the Protector of the Green.

FYI, there have been TWO Swamp Thing live action tv shows and two movies in thirty years and none have ever been adequate or acceptable.

WyldeMan wrote:I did finish it and immediately forgot what happened because nothing on the show was worth retaining which is why my mind constantly flushed that shit.

UltimateMarvel wrote:4 adaptations and still couldn't get it right? I think it's time to let go.

Would you say the recent one with Crystal Reed was the best one?

WyldeMan wrote:No sir, I certainly would not say such things! Their swamp was all sound stages and that was entirely unacceptable! Crystal Reed is a middling actress and 90210 and Sharknado's Ian Ziering was a feature player?!!!!!

As campy as it is, I gotta go with Wes Craven's OG '82 Swamp Thing as the most acceptable adaptation so far, it just wasn't great and isn't something I can watch more than once a decade.

UltimateMarvel wrote:So, it's all shit and you're saying you want more shit? All you'll get is something like Venom. Get it together man!!!

As the co-chair of DC Studios, James Gunn has the key to the DC Universe as he and Peter Safran prepare for the next generation of superhero storytelling.

One film that excites fans is The Authority, a movie about a team of anti-heroes known as the anti-Justice League.

Gunn recently updated fans on the film’s development after one of his Threads followers asked if any of the members of the anti-hero team had been cast.

“We won’t green light a film until we have a finished script we’re happy with and, in general, we won’t cast a film until the script is finished,” Gunn shared. “This is why some projects are moving faster than anticipated and others more slowly. It’s always gonna be quality first no matter what.”

Although there’s no timeframe for The Authority to start casting and filming, one of the team’s founding members will appear in Gunn’s Superman, which is currently in production. María Gabriela de Faría was cast as Angela Spica, The Engineer, in the film scheduled for release on July 11, 2025.

Other DC characters that comprise The Authority include Jenny Sparks (“The Spirit of the Twentieth Century”), Apollo (“The Sun God”), Midnighter (Lucas Trent, “Night’s Bringer of War”), The Doctor (Jeroen Thornedike, “The Shaman”), Jack Hawksmoor (“The God of Cities”) and Swift (Shen Li-Min, “The Winged Huntress”).

Gunn previously explained on social media that The Authority is one of his passion projects saying, “This is a big movie and I don’t know how many of you know are familiar with The Authority.”

He continued, “The Authority is a very different kind of superhero story. They are basically good intention, but they think that the world is completely broken and the only way to fix it is to take things into their own hands, whether that means killing people, destroying heads of state, changing governments, whatever they want to do to make the world better. And we’ll see how that journey goes for them. But as I said earlier, there’s morally gray characters of which these are.”

“We won’t green light a film until we have a finished script we’re happy with and, in general, we won’t cast a film until the script is finished”

WyldeMan wrote:

“We won’t green light a film until we have a finished script we’re happy with and, in general, we won’t cast a film until the script is finished”

It's like this guy isn't even in the same movie business as everybody else.

EXCLUSIVE: Cruella and I, Tonya filmmaker Craig Gillespie is in talks to direct Supergirl for Warner Bros’ DC Studios, we can tell you first.

The plan is for DC to shoot the movie for Q4 after they’ve completed James Gunn’s Superman, which is shooting in Georgia for a July 11, 2025 theatrical release. DC bosses Gunn and Peter Safran are producing. DC EVP Chantal Nong is executive producing, we hear.

As we previously reported, House of the Dragon‘s Milly Alcock won the role of Supergirl, and she’ll appear in another DC project before making her big-screen debut as the Angel of the Sky.

Supergirl is based on Tom King’s 2022 comic book series Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, which Bilquis Evely illustrated. Ana Nogueira adapted the comic book for the big screen. If you want to know how hot a comic book it is, you’ll find it upfront at the Barnes & Noble at The Grove for purchase.

Gunn said at a DC Studios presser early last year that in their Supergirl “we see the difference between Superman who was sent to Earth and raised by loving parents from the time he was an infant, versus Supergirl who was raised on a rock, a chip off Krypton, and watched everyone around her die and be killed in terrible ways for the first 14 years of her life, and then came to Earth when she was a young girl. She’s much more hardcore; she’s not exactly the Supergirl we’re used to seeing.”

The CAA-repped Gillespie has a specialty when delivering female-driven projects: I, Tonya scored an Oscar win for Allison Janney as Best Supporting Actress, and also notched a total of three Oscar noms including for Margot Robbie in the Best Actress category. His Cruella, a solo spinoff starring Emma Stone based on the 101 Dalmatians villain, was a big pandemic Disney+ and box office hit combined, grossing more than $233 million worldwide; the movie won an Oscar for Costume Design. Let’s also not forget Gillespie’s other female-driven TV series, Hulu’s Pam and Tommy, on which he received a Primetime Emmy nom for Outstanding Limited and Anthology Series.

Australian filmmaker Gillespie is also repped by Rumble Media and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern.

DC did not respond to request for comment.