It’s safe to say that the state of the DC Universe is a little up in the air. With DC Films head Walter Hamada on the way out the door and Warner Bros. Discovery CEO looking for his own Kevin Feige, it’s not clear what the franchise’s future will bring. But a new report from THR‘s Borys Kit (which is well worth the read) is packed with DC tidbits that tease a few of the projects which could be coming down the pipeline, including Man of Steel 2, a series of Batman spinoffs, and even a new James Gunn project.
First up, let’s talk Superman. Fans have been campaigning for Henry Cavill to return to the role for some time, and Black Adam star Dwayne Johnson wants to make it happen. We won’t discuss what could be the worst-kept secret in Hollywood. Johnson went to Walter Hamada to discuss bringing Henry Cavill back to the fold, but Hamada reportedly shot it down. As Johnson isn’t someone you say no to, he brought his case to Warner Bros. Pictures heads Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, who also share Johnson’s desire for Cavill to suit up again. The studio is currently searching for writers for what would be Man of Steel 2, and THR’s report states that Christopher McQuarrie is at the top of the wishlist. However, no official offer has been made, and McQuarrie may be too busy with Mission: Impossible. There’s also the matter of the Black Superman movie written by Ta-Nehisi Coates and produced by J.J. Abrams. The project was developed during Hamada’s tenure but is still in the works and would take place outside the DCEU (much like Joker).
Turning to Gotham City, The Batman director Matt Reeves is looking to expand the franchise quite a bit. We already know that a sequel to the movie is in development, as well as a Penguin series with Colin Farrell, but Reeves has even bigger plans. “The filmmaker is meeting with writers and directors to build out movies — yes movies, not just series — focused on Batman rogue’s gallery, both established and more obscure,” reads THR’s report, “with characters ranging from the Scarecrow to Clayface to Professor Pyg. All those projects are in the very early stages of gestation.“
The Suicide Squad writer/director James Gunn is also plotting more projects with DC. The report states that Gunn and producer Peter Safran are in talks for a “mystery movie,” which could consist of multiple projects. Don’t expect any of them soon, as Gunn is developing the second season of Peacemaker first. A script for Wonder Woman 3 is also on the way, but the more surprising revelation is that David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick has already written a script for The Flash 2. Despite the controversy surrounding Ezra Miller, Warner Bros. is hoping to get a sequel off the ground quickly should the movie do well.
What upcoming DC project are you looking forward to the most?