Analyzing the DC Comics Superhero Movie Release Calendar

Warner Bros. are releasing ten (count 'em, ten) DC Comics superhero movies between 2016 and 2020. That's a pretty ambitious plan, and one that the studio has played close to the vest. We know for sure that we're getting Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Justice League, Shazam, and Sandman(possibly in that order), and that Aquaman and Wonder Woman solo films are in development. But what about the rest?

We'll start with the films we know are definitely coming, and tentatively place them on the calendar based on what we've heard. Once we get beyond those, it quickly becomes pointless to try and match movies to actual dates on the calendar. Instead, we'll hit the logical choices, including those that we've heard are already in various stages of development in order to fill in those other five slots. Of course, this article will be updated as dates and new projects are announced.

March 25th, 2016 - Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice

What else do we have to say about this one? Well, not only is it the key to the newly minted DC Cinematic Universe, and the gateway to the Justice League movie, it's quite possible that the multi-hero approach of Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice will ultimately point the way towards how Warner Bros. will approach most of these future movies. As we'll see, there are definitely solo movies on the horizon, but things probably aren't going to follow the Marvel model.

Even though Warner Bros. is now adopting a multi-film "shared universe" approach that appears similar to what Marvel Studios has built so successfully over the last six years, they likely aren't looking to duplicate that model. Unlike Marvel, where every film (not to mention TV show) aggressively teases and/or sets up potential plot elements and introduces characters for future films, it's fairly likely that at least a few of the DC Universe movies will remain somewhat independent of one another. 

This is a safe assumption because we already know that two of the films definitely on that schedule, Shazamand Sandman, aren't particularly Justice League-centric films, and will likely spend considerable time building their own universes. While we have a pretty good idea of what the Justice League movie line-up will be (see the image we've chosen for that one down below), it's likely that not everyone is going to get their own movie...and that might be a good thing. 

[related article: Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice - Everything You Need to Know]

August 5th, 2016 - Shazam

* Please note that this date has not been officially announced.* 

We've placed Shazamhere because it's in active development, with both a writer (Darren Lemke, of Turbofame) and a star (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as the villainous Black Adam) announced. We've heard that the plan is to move fairly quickly on Shazam, though, and more announcements are imminent. 

Recent comments by New Line President Toby Emmerich about how Shazam is "not a Justice League character" seem to place him outside the immediate concern of the shared universe and potential team-ups. While it's plausible that we'll see elements from Shazamshow up in a future WB/DC superhero movie, it's probably not a priority. That being said, if we end up getting to see Henry Cavill's Superman fight Dwayne Johnson's Black Adam, it's tough to imagine anyone would complain.

[related article: Why the Shazam Movie is Important]

June 23rd, 2017 - Justice League

* Please note that this date has not been officially announced.* 

Even before the moment the project was (finally) officially announced by Warner Bros., there have been persistent rumors that the plan is to move as quickly from Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice into the Justice League movie as is reasonably possible. The initial shift of Batman v. Superman's release date from July of 2015 to May (and then March) of 2016 was thought to be done to help facilitate this. Recent remarks by Warner Bros. President of Domestic Distribution, Dan Fellman, point towards a sooner rather than later approach for a Justice League movie. 

It would make sense. With Batman v. Superman director Zack Snyder confirmed to direct Justice League, and signs pointing to BvSco-writer Chris Terrio sticking around to work on the script, not to mention the fact that at least five members of the team (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Cyborg, and Aquaman) will appear in Dawn of Justice, it would be relatively easy for the filmmakers to pull double duty and a remarkably short turnaround. 

The image above represents what is all but certain to be the Justice League line-up for the movie. 

[related article: 7 Possible Justice League Movie Stories] 

November 17th, 2017 - Sandman

Again, keep in mind that this isn't the film's official release date, and is purely speculation on our part.

We've placed Sandmanhere thanks to a few bits and pieces we've heard through the grapevine, but mostly because the Sandman concept doesn't exactly feel like a summer release. If Warner Bros. are looking to fill a holiday slot with something darkly magical now that they've seemingly exhausted the Lord of the Ringsfranchise, while keeping that section of the calendar warm until the Harry Potter-verse Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them arrives the following November, Sandmanwould be the perfect way to go about it.

Sandmanisn't a superhero movie. It isn't a DC Universe movie that will have any bearing on future Justice League films. But it is one of the most successful, enduring comics of all time.

The Sandmanmovie has a producer (and potential star and director!) in Joseph Gordon-Levitt, with Jack Thorne writing. Neil Gaiman and David Goyer are also involved in the process, which Gordon-Levitt admits is a "complicated" one.

[related article: Sandman - The Essential Horror Comic of the '90s]

The Sure Things

That leaves six slots. Now, we get to the hard part. For the record, here are the remaining dates that Warner Bros. have staked out on the calendar: 03/23/18; 07/27/18; 04/05/19; 06/14/19; 04/03/20; 06/19/20.

Aquaman and Wonder Woman are both being aggressively developed at the moment. The entries in this section have leads cast and/or writers hired. They're happening. Where they fall on the calendar is another story entirely, but let's just pencil these next two in for those 2018 dates. We'll start with those, and then work our way through four other likely candidates.

Aquaman

Everyone on the planet has confirmed that Jason Momoa is playing Aquaman. Everyone, that is, except for Warner Bros. and Momoa himself, who are all being maddeningly coy about the whole affair. There's no doubt, though, that they're taking Aquaman very seriously, having recently hired two different writers (Will Beall and Kurt Johnstad) to each develop an Aquamansolo movie...and may the best script win.

Wonder Woman

The fact that we have yet to see a Wonder Woman solo movie is almost beyond belief. We don't have time to get into the rampant short-sightedness that is keeping women from taking marquee roles in superhero movies at the moment (and that's bound to change one of these days), but now that Gal Gadot is going to do some Amazonian ass-kicking in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, her emergence as a headliner would appear to be inevitable, especially since she's signed a three movie deal. 

“With the right script, that could be viable. The world is ready for her,” Sue Kroll, Warner Bros. President of Worldwide Marketing said of Wonder Woman a few months back. No kidding.

[related article: Complete Marvel Movie Release Calendar]

The Big Guns

Here's the thing about the other Justice League members that populate this next section. All three have the odds seriously stacked against them for solo movies at the moment. And since the whole approach of going from Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice into a Justice Leaguemovie indicates that the priority isn't really on developing solo adventures for most of these heroes in the first place, it might not even be necessary.

While these are far bigger names than any of the more out-there projects in various stages of development, it's just as likely that any/all of these next three films get scuttled in favor of a Man of Steel 2, or a Justice League or Shazamsequel. Nevertheless, they need to be part of the conversation.

The Flash

Don't expect Warner Bros. to even announce a Flash solo movie until well after they've figured out whether The Flash TV series has staying power. The studio has always been shy about pushing multiple live-action interpretations of their characters at the same time (the success of Smallvillehelped hold up new Superman films for some time, while plans to introduce Bruce Wayne on that show were scuttled as Batman Begins became a reality). That being said, Flash is almost certainly a member of the movie Justice League (and, depending on who you ask, may make an appearance in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice).

The most recent Flash screenplay that we're aware of was by Greg Berlanti (executive producer of Arrowand The Flash) and Michael Green. It's a good read, and better than a number of previous attempts (including one by Batman Begins and Man of Steel writer David Goyer), but elements of that have made their way into The Flash pilot, and presumably beyond. If there's a Flashmovie in active development at the moment, everyone is keeping quiet about it.

Green Lantern

Fairly or unfairly, Green Lantern has the most working against him. The 2011 film failed to kickstart the DC Universe as planned, and received a lukewarm (at best) critical and box-office reception. It's difficult to imagine Warner Bros., who are reluctant to even take a chance on a Wonder Woman movie, granting a solo film to a character that has burned them in the recent past.

There are, of course, ways around this. For starters, if the cinematic Green Lantern is John Stewart and not Hal Jordan (as he was in the aborted George Miller Justice League movie from 2007), that already provides a litte distance between the new Green Lantern and the failed Ryan Reynolds version.

Recently, a rumor surfaced that rather than give either character a solo film, that there was a Flash/Green Lantern team-up movie in the cards. However, that information came from a now seemingly discredited Nikki Finke report, so take from that what you will.

The Batman

This one comes to us via Latino Review, who claim that Warner Bros. are planning a solo Batman film for 2019, with a possible working title of The Batman. While it's difficult to imagine Ben Affleck committing to more Batman time than he strictly has to (especially when he'll be fifty by the time this alleged movie roles around), it's even more difficult to imagine Warner Bros. not wanting to go back to the Batcave as often as possible, as the Dark Knight remains the character they have the most faith in. There are two superhero dates on WB's 2019 calendar, but if we had to bet, we'd say Bats takes the prime spot in June.

The Long Shots

Two of these next three projects have been in active development in recent years, and the third is a plausible enough rumor (especially given the current climate) that we figured it deserves inclusion.

Legion of Super-Heroes

This one came as a big surprise when the rumor surfaced via Latino Review. The word is that Warner Bros., perhaps inspired by the runaway success of Guardians of the Galaxy, is looking to put together their own superheroic space opera.

Nobody has been hired. Warner Bros. have simply placed this one on the table as a DC property potentially worth developing, and are inviting writers to make pitches. To be fair, it's likely that nearly every major DC property is open for something like this, but this is the first rumbling we've ever heard about a Legion of Super-Heroes movie. It's worth paying attention to, but it's tough to imagine, even under the best of circumstances, that we'll see this before 2018...assuming it's true at all.

That being said, if it were true, it's hard to imagine a cooler way to cement the WB/DC Cinematic Universe than with a 31st Century space-opera. While Marvel-esque crossovers probably aren't going to be the order of the day with these movies, the concept of showing how the Justice League (and specifically, Superman) influenced society 1,000 years in the future is plenty unique, and adds immediate gravitas to the other superhero movies on the calendar.

Let's just say, we really hope this one is true.

Suicide Squad

At one point in recent years, Warner Bros. was actively developing a Suicide Squad movie, with Dan Lin and Stephen Gilchrist as producers and with a script by Justin Marks (he of Top Gun 2 and the live-action Jungle Book, but who also wrote the excellent, unproduced Green Arrow: Escape From Supermax). Things have gone awfully quiet with that project recently, and it's likely that this particular version of it is dead.

But here's the thing...

Warner Bros. and DC Comics have been doing everything in their power to up the Suicide Squad's profile in recent years, which is a sure sign that they're looking to position them for some time on the big screen. With recent live-action appearances on Arrow, an animated film pairing them with Batman, and a high-profile comic book relaunch, it's easy to see how characters like Deathstroke and Harley Quinn could anchor a Suicide Squad movie. DC Entertainment loves synergy.

Suicide Squad has the additional benefit of being a property that could be made for a relatively modest budget, and wouldn't necessarily be beholden to summer blockbuster convention. This could certainly slip quietly into one of the March or April release dates on the schedule. 

[related article: The Many Deaths of the Suicide Squad]

Metal Men

Perhaps the longest of the long-shots, the Metal Men movie is something that's been in discussion as far back as 2007. It's the most bizarre concept of the bunch, involving a mad scientist and his group of sentient elemental robots, but like Suicide Squadand Legion of Super-Heroes, perhaps that uniqueness is what makes this one so appealing. Warner Bros. can't be seen to copy the Marvel model too closely, so veering away from solo outings for traditional heroes and into this kind of territory might be the very best thing they can do for the brand.

The Metal Men have also just received a New 52 facelift at the hands of writer Geoff Johns, executive producer of Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justiceand The Flash TV series. If they're a favorite of DC Entertainment's Chief Creative Officer, it would be wrong to count the Metal Men out, even if there's been no public movement on this project in recent memory.

It's worth noting that the same Wall Street Journal article where WB officially announced the Justice League movie also mentioned Shazam(at a time when everyone thought the project was dead and buried) and...Metal Men. Don't sleep on this one.

The Rest

Admittedly, it's difficult to piece this plan together, and it's entirely likely that this article will become unrecognizable in future versions as more of the actual plan becomes clear. Keep in mind that the door is still open for a proper Man of Steel 2, and we expect that somewhere between 2017 and 2020 we'll see another Justice League movie if all goes according to plan.

We're due for some major announcements in the very near future from what I hear, so we'll do our best to keep this current.

Until then, let us know in the comments how you'd like to see all of this play out!

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