Supergirl, Clayface and James Gunn’s Complete DCU Timeline (So Far)

The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) is now officially a thing of the past. James Gunn kicked off a new DC Universe with the release of the animated comedy Creature Commandos, but that was just the first step.

So far, the DC Universe has given us The Flash, the first solo movie starring the character in years, and we can look forward to stories featuring Supergirl, the Green Lantern team, and the Batman enemy Clayface.

The DC Universe is still under construction, so figuring out the order of events can be tricky. Some projects are firmly established, while others could fit in at almost any point. It’s only just getting started, but the timeline is already quite complex. Let’s try to make sense of it all!

James Gunn’s DCU Has Been Brewing Since 2022

From the start, Peter Safran and James Gunn have been open about their vision for the DC Universe, with Gunn regularly sharing details about upcoming projects. This transparency allows them to carefully plan how everything connects and fits into the larger story they’re building.

The first major reveal about the new DC Universe and its timeline was the upcoming 2025 Superman reboot, originally titled Superman: Legacy. As fans know, this film will feature a new actor, David Corenswet, taking on the role of Superman. Along with the new Man of Steel, the movie will also introduce the Justice League, the villain Lex Luthor (played by Nicholas Hoult), and establish the settings of Smallville and Metropolis, as well as the character Kara Zor-El.

Clayface Will Feature the Origins of a Major Batman Villain

Clayface, a classic Batman villain, hasn’t been featured in any of the live-action Batman films… until now. He’s getting his own standalone movie as part of the new DC Universe, which will tell the story of his origins. Unlike typical superhero movies or even darker character studies like Joker, this film will blend different genres, adding something new to the DC Universe.

The movie Clayface is expected to have a relatively low production cost of around $45 million, making it likely to be a financial success. Because Clayface was already featured in Creature Commandos, this film will take place earlier in the timeline. It might also give audiences their first extended look at the DC Universe’s version of Batman, although the film’s focus on origins could mean Batman won’t fully appear yet. Tom Rhys Harries is starring as Clayface, and filming has wrapped up. Clayface is currently scheduled for release on September 11, 2026.

Creature Commandos Featured Waller’s Latest Plans

The first season of Creature Commandos, now streaming on Max, showcases Amanda Waller assembling a new team to tackle emerging dangers. Led by Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo), the team is a quirky group of individuals with strange abilities and personalities. Similar to Guardians of the Galaxy and Peacemaker, this team fits James Gunn’s creative style and offers a lighter tone within the DC Universe.

As a big movie fan, I really loved the flashback scenes in the show – they beautifully showed us how Frankenstein and the Bride came to be, and all their encounters over the years, right up to the present day. James Gunn has said this all takes place before the Superman story, and back in August 2023, he clarified that Superman and this show were the only things officially placed on the DC timeline at that point, as other projects were still being planned. Of course, things have moved forward since then, but the timeline is still somewhat open to change. We’ve already seen the first episodes of Creature Commandos, which dropped on December 5th, 2024, and they’re already working on season two!

Lanterns Will Be a Buddy Cop Adventure Featuring Two Green Lanterns

The upcoming series Lanterns will center around Green Lanterns Hal Jordan (played by Kyle Chandler) and John Stewart (played by Aaron Pierre) as they solve a violent murder case here on Earth. While James Gunn has suggested the show will connect to the larger DC universe story, details are still scarce, and it’s currently unclear exactly how it fits into the overall timeline.

Nathan Fillion is officially returning to his role, and the show is now confirmed to premiere in August 2026. We’re still waiting to learn the exact release date, but a trailer has already been released – though it didn’t impress everyone.

Supergirl Is Up Next In the DCU Timeline

The upcoming Supergirl movie, originally called Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, will be based on the comic book of the same name by Tom King. The film will star Supergirl, also known as Kara Zor-El, who had a quick cameo in Superman. This indicates that Supergirl‘s story will pick up shortly after the events of the first film in the new DC Universe timeline.

It’s possible the events of the Supergirl movie actually happened before the story in Superman. We probably won’t know for sure until we see more of the film, though. Many fans are hoping the Supergirl sequel will continue the story of Superman and bring the two heroes together. Jason Momoa, who previously played Aquaman, will be in the movie as well, but this time he’ll be playing Lobo. Supergirl is currently scheduled to come out on July 26, 2026.

Man of Tomorrow Came Together Very Quickly

Unlike other DC Universe projects that are developing gradually, James Gunn’s follow-up to the 2025 Superman movie came together surprisingly fast. Gunn, along with actors David Corenswet and Nicholas Hoult, announced the sequel will be called Man of Tomorrow and will hit theaters on July 9, 2027. Early comic book artwork showed the DCU’s Superman both battling and teaming up with another character, hinting at a complex rivalry that could eventually lead to an alliance.

Okay, so the rumor mill is spinning about the new Superman movie, and it looks like we might see a team-up between Superman and Lex Luthor – which immediately screams ‘bigger bad guy!’ James Gunn dropped a hint on social media – a script cover with a brain diagram – and everyone’s jumping to the conclusion that Brainiac is the threat that’ll force these two rivals to work together. Honestly, it makes a lot of sense. Right now, details are still scarce, but with how quickly this sequel is moving forward and its release date looming, I don’t think we’ll be kept in the dark for much longer. I’m eager to see how this all plays out!

Waller Will Pick Up Where Peacemaker Leaves Off

The upcoming series Waller will star Viola Davis returning as Amanda Waller. James Gunn has confirmed the show will explore how Waller responds to the events of other DC Universe projects set on Earth, including Creature Commandos, Peacemaker, Superman, and the recently announced Man of Tomorrow. Because the sequel to Superman came together quickly, the show will address its impact. Currently, Waller is still being written, so a release date hasn’t been set yet.

Viola Davis has portrayed Amanda Waller in several DC films and the Peacemaker series, including The Suicide Squad (2021). When her character returns, the new stories will likely include references to those past appearances. However, those earlier projects won’t officially be part of the new DC Universe unless directly acknowledged within it. James Gunn has stated that plans for Waller’s return are still being developed, but other projects are currently the priority.

The Brave and the Bold Will Introduce a Younger Batman

Ben Affleck’s Batman was first shown as a seasoned, cynical hero in the DCEU. While he’ll be an older character in the new DCU as well, he won’t be as hardened. The upcoming film, The Brave and the Bold, will portray Batman as a father figure, raising his son Damian Wayne, who is Robin. It’s currently unclear whether Superman will be in the movie, but the film is drawing inspiration from Grant Morrison’s Batman comic series, where Superman plays a role.

The sequel to 2022’s The Batman is now scheduled for release on October 1, 2027, indicating significant delays. Warner Bros. probably wants to avoid it competing with the new DCU Batman movie, potentially pushing that film’s release date back even further. Andy Muschietti, who directed The Flash, is set to direct The Brave and the Bold, though a release date for that film hasn’t been announced yet.

Blue Beetle Will Star in an Animated TV Show

Details are scarce, but a new animated adventure is in the works, spearheaded by Miguel Puga. It’s expected to continue the story of Jaime Reyes, the Blue Beetle, whose origin was explored in the 2023 film, starring Xolo Maridueña.

The film could be one of several projects from the existing DCEU that will be incorporated into the new DCU. Because the movie reveals a twist involving the original Blue Beetle, Ted Kord, it might connect to his storyline and potentially hint at the future appearance of Booster Gold. Currently, a release date for Blue Beetle hasn’t been announced.

Booster Gold Will Start in the 25th Century

Booster Gold is expected to appear in the upcoming Blue Beetle movie, but he’s also planned to star in his own project. The character is a superhero from the 25th century who travels back in time to the 21st century seeking fame and fortune. While initial reports and casting rumors were inaccurate – as confirmed by James Gunn – development on his show has restarted, with David Jenkins essentially beginning the creative process over.

Because of his close connection to Ted Kord, this character will likely play a big role in finding him. It’s currently unclear whether the show’s story happens before or after the Blue Beetle movie. However, much of Booster Gold will probably be set in the 25th century, placing it near the very end of the current DC Universe timeline. There’s no confirmed release date for Booster Gold yet.

The Authority Will Introduce a League of Anti-Heroes

As a longtime movie fan, I’ve been following the news about DC’s plans, and it’s fascinating to see how they’re integrating different universes. Some of these projects fit neatly into a larger timeline, but others are a bit more complicated. The Authority is one of those. Originally, they were a team from the WildStorm comics, but after about 20 years, DC decided to move away from the WildStorm concept. Now, these heroes are officially part of the main DC Universe, and we’ll get to see them debut in the Superman movie coming out in 2025. I’m really excited to see how they’re incorporated!

Since The Authority is expected to debut before the next Justice League film, it might exist separately from other DC heroes, similar to how Guardians of the Galaxy was initially independent from The Avengers before Avengers: Infinity War brought them together. Although James Gunn has assured fans the project hasn’t been canceled, The Authority is currently on hold and doesn’t have a confirmed release date.

Swamp Thing Has Few Official Updates

As a huge DC fan, I’m really intrigued by the upcoming Swamp Thing movie. It’s different from the other projects in the new DCU because we don’t know much about it yet – it hasn’t even started filming and is probably still in the writing stages. James Gunn has said it will connect to the larger universe, but he’s keeping the specifics under wraps. It’s cool to see the character return, though! He’s had a few on-screen appearances before – there was the original Swamp Thing in ’82, The Return of the Swamp Thing in ’89, and two different Swamp Thing TV shows, one in 1990 and another more recently in 2019.

The show’s role within the DC Universe will become clearer as more details are released. However, according to the director, it’s planned as a separate story happening later in the timeline. Currently, there’s no confirmed release date for Swamp Thing.

Teen Titans Was Announced by Gunn

James Gunn and Peter Safran announced that a live-action movie based on one of DC’s most beloved teams is in the works, and Ana Nogueira is writing the script. Although Gunn was hesitant to share the news at first, Safran insisted, and they revealed a few details about the project.

James Gunn shared that Ana Diop was very enthusiastic about a project and delivered a fantastic initial script. She’s currently revising it, but it’s still a work in progress. As for where a potential Teen Titans movie would fit within the larger DC Universe, it’s still unclear, as the team traditionally starts with the young partners of established heroes – many of whom haven’t been introduced in the DCU yet.

Tom King Will Bring Mister Miracle to the DCU

Because the Creature Commandos show was well-received, DC announced that Tom King, a popular comic writer, will be leading the creative direction of the next animated series. This suggests that his acclaimed Mister Miracle comic could be adapted into the show, exciting fans of his work.

Tom King was previously involved with the planned but cancelled New Gods movie, and he wrote Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, which is influencing how Supergirl will be portrayed in the DCU. He’s now taking an even bigger role in bringing Mister Miracle to the DCU, and fans are eagerly anticipating how this project will connect to the overall DC Universe timeline as it develops.

These projects are still being developed, so their exact release dates are subject to change. As production moves forward and scripts are refined, the schedule will become more definite. Currently, the timeline is just an estimate. However, the DC Universe is looking promising, and fans already have a good idea of what James Gunn has planned.

2026-03-27 19:45