Draft:Chapter One: Gods and Monsters

Chapter One: Gods and Monsters of the DC Universe (DCU) is a group of American superhero films and television series produced by DC Studios based on characters that appear in publications by DC Comics. Chapter One features all of the DCU projects set to be released starting in late 2024, with Warner Bros. Pictures distributing the films, while the series release on the streaming service Max. The first project in this chapter will be the animated series Creature Commandos, scheduled to release in December 2024, while the first film will be Superman, scheduled to be released in July 2025, as the true beginning of the DCU. James Gunn and Peter Safran produce several films and serve as executive producers of several series in this chapter, alongside producer Barbara Muschietti for The Brave and the Bold.

The films of the chapter include Superman starring David Corenswet, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow starring Milly Alcock, The Authority, The Brave and the Bold, and Swamp Thing.

The Max series of the chapter include the ensemble Creature Commandos, the second season of Peacemaker starring John Cena, Waller starring Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, Lanterns, Paradise Lost, and Booster Gold.

Background
In April 2022, Discovery, Inc. and Warner Bros. Pictures' parent company WarnerMedia merged to become Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), led by president and CEO David Zaslav. The new company was expected to restructure DC Entertainment so the film, television, and video game divisions of the company could be aligned. Even before the merger was complete, Zaslav began meeting with candidates to take over DC Films—including film executive Emma Watts—with the hope of finding an equivalent to Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige. Despite some recent successes with DC films and series, Zaslav and WBD felt DC lacked a "coherent creative and brand strategy" and were underusing key characters such as Superman. DC Films president Walter Hamada was still contracted until 2023, and his supporters felt Zaslav was not giving him enough credit for his DC plans and successes. In June, Zaslav announced that DC Films would be separated from Warner Bros. within the WBD structure but would be overseen by Warner Bros. film chairs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy until a new DC head was appointed.

At the start of August, WBD decided not to release the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) film Batgirl on HBO Max or theatrically, stating that it "simply did not work" and went against Zaslav's mandate to make DC films "big theatrical event films". Soon after, Zaslav said he wanted a new 10-year plan for DC films, and he had enlisted the help of Disney executive Alan F. Horn in finding a new leader for DC. Hamada was reportedly upset by the cancellation of Batgirl and tried to leave DC Films, but was convinced by De Luca and Abdy to stay through the release of Black Adam in October 2022. Around that time, Henry Cavill reprised his role as Superman from Man of Steel (2013) for a cameo appearance in Black Adam. This was against Hamada's wishes, and was approved by De Luca and Abdy when they were approached directly by Black Adam star Dwayne Johnson. Johnson began promoting the idea of a Black Adam vs. Superman film co-starring Cavill in the future, and Warner Bros. began pursuing a sequel to Man of Steel starring Cavill. At the end of August, producer Dan Lin emerged as a potential candidate for taking over DC, but exited talks weeks later. Todd Phillips, director of the standalone DC film Joker (2019), was also considered for the role but remained focused on directing the sequel Joker: Folie à Deux (2024).

Development
James Gunn and Peter Safran were announced as the co-chairs and co-CEOs of the newly formed DC Studios at the end of October 2022 and were set to take over from Hamada on November 1. It was considered a shocking and unprecedented decision to have a high-profile director like Gunn move into a top executive position at a film studio. Gunn was expected to focus on the creative side of the company while Safran focused on the business and production side, and their deal was reportedly for four years. Gunn and Safran were both expected to continue directing and producing projects, respectively, in addition to their new roles, though other projects would be exclusively with WBD. They would report directly to Zaslav and work closely with De Luca and Abdy. A week after starting their new roles, the pair said they had begun working with a group of writers to develop an eight-to-ten-year plan for the new DC Universe (DCU). Zaslav said they had begun work on a bible for future DC projects that would be finished soon. He also said the new plan would emulate Marvel's model of having a single, unified approach to each character, specifically highlighting new approaches to Batman and Superman. By mid-November, Gunn had already begun writing the script for a new DC film while Safran had been "fixing" the then-upcoming Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023).

In early December, Gunn and Safran were finalizing their plans ahead of a meeting with Zaslav. Patty Jenkins was no longer developing a sequel to her DCEU films Wonder Woman (2017) and Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) after being told by Gunn and Safran that such a film did not fit within their new plans. Various rumors about the plans were circulating, including that the DCU would be a complete reboot of the DCEU that moved away from the actors cast by filmmaker Zack Snyder, that Matt Reeves's The Batman films would be integrated with the DCU, and that Aquaman actor Jason Momoa would be recast as the character Lobo. These reveals and rumors led to concerns within the industry and among DC fans about the direction Gunn and Safran were taking the franchise, and Gunn put out a statement saying they "were coming into a fractious environment" and there would be an "unavoidable transitional period as we moved into telling a cohesive story across film, TV, animation and gaming". A week later, Gunn announced that he and Safran had a slate of projects "ready to go" and more details would be provided in 2023, but he did reveal that he was writing a new Superman film that would not star Cavill. Ben Affleck was also confirmed to not be reprising his DCEU Batman role moving forward. Gunn and Safran had discussions with Cavill and Affleck about returning to the DCU to respectively portray a new character and direct a project, but Affleck later said he was not interested in directing a DCU project.

In January 2023, the DCU was reported to be a "broad but not blanket reset" of the DCEU. On January 31, Gunn and Safran unveiled the first projects from the DCU slate. They revealed the writers who had been working with them on the overall story for the DCU: Drew Goddard, Jeremy Slater, The Flash (2023) writer Christina Hodson, Christal Henry, and comic book writer Tom King. The group had planned two "chapters" of story for the eight-to-ten-year plan, with the potential for more chapters after that. The first chapter was titled "Gods and Monsters" and its first five films were Superman: Legacy (later retitled Superman), The Authority, The Brave and the Bold, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, and Swamp Thing. Its first five television series were Creature Commandos, Waller, Lanterns, Paradise Lost, and Booster Gold. Gunn noted that this slate combined DC's "diamond characters", such as Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, with lesser known characters who they hoped would become just as popular. Any DC projects that did not fit within the shared universe would be labeled "DC Elseworlds". The writers took inspiration from the Star Wars franchise, which has "different times, different places, different things", as well as from the series Game of Thrones (2011–2019) and its morally complex characters.

Gunn said The Flash would "reset" the DCEU continuity, making the DCU a "soft reboot" that retains certain cast members and elements of the DCEU while replacing others. Gunn and Safran primarily selected the elements that are carried over based on actors. The pair expected characters to be portrayed by the same actors across mediums, including animation. They said Viola Davis (Amanda Waller) and John Cena (Peacemaker) would reprise their The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker roles in the DCU, and a "rough memory" of the events of those projects would remain. There was potential for Momoa, Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), Ezra Miller (the Flash), and Zachary Levi (Shazam) to also reprise their roles, but decisions on those characters had not been made. No actor would be playing multiple characters, so if they did cast Momoa as Lobo, he would not portray Aquaman in the DCU as well. Variety reported in October 2023 that none of the Justice League cast would reprise their roles in the DCU. Gunn confirmed in December 2023 that the second season of Peacemaker would be released in Chapter One.

Safran said they were being flexible with the DCU's release order, though some projects key to the overall story would need to be released in a specific order. He added that they were aiming to release two films and two HBO Max series a year. Gunn felt studios being "beholden to dates" was an industry-wide issue and wanted to focus on getting the screenplays right for each project before putting them into production. He said this happened with The Suicide Squad and that film did not require any reshoots unlike other DCEU projects. Contrasting the DCU with the MCU, Gunn said the former was set in a "fictional universe" with an alternate history and locations such as Metropolis, Gotham City, Themyscira, and Atlantis, while the MCU is set in a version of the real world; he expected the DCU to be more planned out from the beginning than the MCU was due to the group of writers working on the DCU's overall story; the DCU focuses on traditional superheroes with secret identities; and DCU projects were announced to be based on specific comic book runs and story arcs compared to the MCU approach of taking different elements from throughout Marvel Comics history. The day after the slate announcement, several of those comics appeared on best-selling lists and some had sold out.

Superman (2025)
Although it is not an origin story, the film focuses on a young version of Superman as a reporter interacting with key characters such as Lois Lane, as he goes on a journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human family in Smallville, Kansas. Safran described Superman in the film as "the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way; he's kindness in a world that thinks of kindness as old fashioned".

James Gunn was already writing a new DC film by the middle of November 2022, and revealed it to be a Superman film the next month. He said it would not star the DCEU's Henry Cavill because the script focused on a younger version of Superman. When Gunn and Peter Safran unveiled their initial DCU slate in January 2023, the film was titled Superman: Legacy and given a release date of July 11, 2025. Gunn said the film would take specific inspiration from the comic book All-Star Superman (2005–2008) by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely, along with other comic books. In March, Gunn confirmed he would direct and Safran was producing. David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan were cast as Superman and Lois Lane in June. The title was shortened to just Superman by the end of February 2024, when filming began at Trilith Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, and is expected to last around four months. Gunn and Safran consider the film to be the true beginning of the DCU.

By June 2023, members of the Authority were expected to be introduced in the film ahead of their own film. Other superheroes are also set to be introduced in the film, including Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, one of the Green Lanterns. Fillion previously portrayed Cory Pitzner / T.D.K. (The Detachable Kid) in The Suicide Squad. Frank Grillo reprises his role as Rick Flag Sr. from the animated DCU series Creature Commandos (2024).

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (2026)
Described by Gunn as "a big science fiction epic film" and a "beautiful, star-spanning tale", the film contrasts the jaded character Kara Zor-El / Supergirl, who was raised on a chunk of the destroyed planet Krypton and watched everyone around her die, with her cousin Superman who was raised on Earth by loving parents.

When Gunn and Safran unveiled their initial DCU slate in January 2023 they included a film adaptation of the comic book miniseries Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (2021–22) by Tom King and Bilquis Evely. In November 2023, Ana Nogueira was hired to write the screenplay, and Milly Alcock was cast as Supergirl in January 2024, to debut in another DCU project, reportedly Superman (2025). Craig Gillespie entered talks to direct the film in April 2024, and was confirmed as director the next month when the film was given a release date of June 26, 2026. Filming is scheduled to begin in October 2024 in Atlanta.

The Authority
Gunn described the Authority as a team who thinks "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, you know, whatever they want to do to make the world better". Safran compared the morally complex team to Jack Nicholson's character in A Few Good Men (1992).

When Gunn and Safran unveiled their initial DCU slate in January 2023, they included a film based on the superhero team the Authority, which was created by Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch for the independent comic book publisher WildStorm. WildStorm was acquired by DC Comics and its characters, including the Authority, were introduced to the DC Comics continuity in 2011. Similarly, Gunn and Safran intended to include WildStorm's characters in their own DC Universe continuity, starting with the Authority. Gunn said the film was a passion project of his and that he had been working on an outline for it with the other DC Studios writers.

Gunn said the film would have connections to Superman.

The Brave and the Bold
The film explores members of the "Bat-Family", including introducing Batman's son Damian Wayne as a version of Robin. Gunn said the film would be a "strange father and son story" about Batman and Robin.

After Gunn and Safran were hired, Zaslav said of their new plan for the DCU, "There's not going to be four Batmans". When Gunn and Safran unveiled their initial DCU slate a month later, they included The Brave and the Bold which introduces the DCU version of Batman. Gunn said the film was based on Grant Morrison's 2006 to 2013 run on the comics. Ben Affleck was confirmed to not be reprising his DCEU role of Batman, while Matt Reeves's version of Batman was expected to continue separately from the DCU's version under the DC Elseworlds label. The Flash director Andy Muschietti was hired to direct the film in June 2023, with Barbara Muschietti co-producing alongside Gunn and Safran.

Swamp Thing
A Gothic horror film that explores the "dark origins" of Swamp Thing.

In December 2022, James Mangold was reported to be interested in working with Gunn and Safran on a DCU project. When the pair unveiled the first projects from their DCU slate in January 2023, they included a new Swamp Thing film. Gunn said it would take specific inspiration from Alan Moore's 1984–85 The Saga of the Swamp Thing comic book run. After the announcement, Mangold posted a picture of Swamp Thing on social media. He was confirmed to be in negotiations to write and direct the film the next day, but was not expected to start work on it until he had completed Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023) and the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown. Mangold's involvement was confirmed that April when he had begun writing. He was working on a planned Star Wars film at the same time, and was unsure which project would move forward first. Gunn described Swamp Thing as a passion project for Mangold.

Despite being tonally darker than other DCU projects, Gunn and Safran intend for Swamp Thing to be interconnected with the rest of the DCU.

Creature Commandos
Following the events of the first season of Peacemaker, Amanda Waller is no longer able to put human lives in jeopardy for her clandestine operations as she did with the Suicide Squad and Team Peacemaker. Instead, she assembles a black ops team of monsters consisting of Nina Mazursky, Doctor Phosphorus, Eric Frankenstein, the Bride of Frankenstein, G.I. Robot, and Weasel, who are led by Rick Flag Sr.

In January 2023, Gunn revealed that he was in the middle of writing a new DCU television series. When Gunn and Safran unveiled their initial DCU slate later that month, the first project was Creature Commandos, an animated series for HBO Max based on the team of the same name. Gunn had already written the seven episodes and the series had started production. Warner Bros. Animation co-produces the series. The main cast was confirmed in April, including Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr. and Indira Varma as the Bride of Frankenstein, who is the main protagonist. Voice recording began by May 2023. It is scheduled to be released in December 2024, as an "aperitif" for the DCU before Superman.

Waller, Weasel, and Flag's son Rick Flag Jr. previously appeared in The Suicide Squad. Sean Gunn reprises his role as Weasel from the film, while Viola Davis and Steve Agee reprise their respective roles as Waller and John Economos from the film and Peacemaker.

Peacemaker season 2
The season is set after the events of Superman.

HBO Max announced a second season of Peacemaker in February 2022, with Gunn set to write and direct all eight episodes. In February 2023, Gunn said work on the season would continue after Waller had been made, later saying it was his next project after Superman. Gunn was writing the season by that October, when he confirmed that it would take place in the DCU continuity. In March 2024, Gunn revealed that Waller had been delayed and the second season of Peacemaker would be produced first. Filming was set to begin later in 2024, simultaneously with Superman. This meant Gunn would no longer be able to direct all of the episodes. Filming began on April 13 with a "pre-shoot", ahead of principal photography which was reportedly taking place between June and September 2024.

Frank Grillo reprises his role as Rick Flag Sr. from previous DCU media.

Waller
Waller continues the story of Amanda Waller and Team Peacemaker.

In May 2022, a Peacemaker spin-off series was revealed to be in development featuring Amanda Waller, with Christal Henry writing and serving as executive producer alongside Gunn and Safran. When Gunn and Safran unveiled their initial DCU slate in January 2023, the second project was Waller, which Gunn said would be a continuation of Peacemaker because that series' second season was delayed while Gunn focused on the rest of the DCU slate. Henry was set as co-showrunner of Waller alongside Jeremy Carver, and Viola Davis was confirmed to be reprising her role as Waller from Peacemaker and the DCEU. The series was scheduled to be released in 2024, as an "aperitif" for the DCU before Superman, but production was delayed by the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes and it is now set to be released after the second season of Peacemaker.

Additional Peacemaker cast members reprise their roles in the series, including Steve Agee as John Economos.

Lanterns
Hal Jordan and John Stewart, two Green Lanterns (intergalactic heroes who wear rings that give them extraordinary powers), investigate a mystery on Earth.

Gunn confirmed in December 2022 that the Green Lantern characters would be an important part of the new DCU. When he and Safran unveiled their initial DCU slate a month later, they included Lanterns, a new iteration of a long-in-development Green Lantern series. Safran said the series would be an Earth-based detective story and "a huge HBO-quality event" in the style of the series True Detective (2014–present). Chris Mundy, Tom King, and Damon Lindelof wrote the pilot script and series bible for Lanterns by the end of May 2024. Mundy serves as showrunner and co-writes the series with King and Lindelof. Lanterns will be released on HBO, and will consist of eight episodes.

Safran said the mystery that Jordan and Stewart investigate in the series leads into the main storyline for the DCU.

Paradise Lost
This series is a political drama about the scheming and power struggles on the all-female island of Themyscira before the birth of Wonder Woman.

In December 2022, Patty Jenkins was revealed to no longer be developing a sequel to Wonder Woman and Wonder Woman 1984 after being told by Gunn and Safran that such a film did not fit within their new plans. When Gunn and Safran unveiled their initial DCU slate a month later, they included Paradise Lost, which they compared to Game of Thrones. The title is similar to "Paradise Island Lost", a comic book story arc by Phil Jimenez and George Pérez about a civil war on Themyscira.

Booster Gold
Mike Carter / Booster Gold is a disgraced former football star in the 25th century who travels back in time to pose as a superhero using basic future technology.

When Gunn and Safran unveiled their initial DCU slate in January 2023, they included Booster Gold, an "outright comedy" series set in the DCU.