The official beginning of James Gunn’s DC Universe is a little complicated considering some of the very first projects that will soon be released.

SUMMARY

•  The current DCEU is being rebooted with a new timeline and continuity, led by new DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran. Many heroes and villains will be recast with new stories.
•  “Superman: Legacy” will be the first film of the new DCU, set to release in 2025. It won’t be a typical origin story and will feature a younger Superman navigating his Kryptonian heritage and human upbringing.
•  The DCU will start earlier on TV with the animated series “Creatures Commandos” in 2024.
•  Jaime Reyes’ Blue Beetle has been confirmed as the DCU’s first hero who can be integrated into the upcoming universe down the line.

The cinematic DC Universe is about to be rebooted on-screen, though the exact beginning of the new universe is a little complicated. Coming from new DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran, a whole collection of new projects was revealed at the beginning of 2023, each of them part of a new timeline and continuity where only some elements and characters from the existing DCEU are continuing on. As such, some of the franchise’s biggest heroes and villains will be changed and recast with all-new stories.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is set to be the final movie in the current DCEU, effectively closing the door on the universe that first began with 2013’s Man of Steel. While the DCEU has its fair share of incredible moments and strong movies, much of it was critically panned with poor reception including the universe’s overall execution. Now, Gunn has stepped in as DC’s new creative head, intending to largely wipe the slate clean with a full slate of projects all under a phase entitled “Chapter One: Gods and Monsters”. As such, this new DCU is set to begin very soon (though some elements have already debuted).

The First DC Universe Movie Is Superman: Legacy

First and foremost, James Gunn has repeatedly said that Superman: Legacy will be the DCU’s first film set to release in 2025, effectively launching the greater universe by beginning with one of DC’s biggest cornerstone characters. Likewise, Gunn has confirmed that Legacy won’t be a typical origin story for Kal-El/Clark Kent, nor will it be an origin for the universe at large. This new Superman will be operating in a world that’s already quite familiar with superpowered beings.

In terms of plot, not much is known about Superman: Legacy other than the idea that Superman will be somewhat younger and looking to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing raised in Kansas. Likewise, David Corenswet is set to play Clark Kent/Superman while Rachel Brosnahan playing Lois Lane whom Kal-El will already be familiar with. Furthermore, Nathan Fillion has been cast as Green Lantern Guy Gardner, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, and Anthony Carrigan will be playing Metamorpho, confirming the idea of heroes already being established in this new DCU.

James Gunn’s DC Universe Will Start Earlier On TV

While Superman: Legacy is set to be the new DCU’s first movie in 2025, the DCU will begin even sooner than that in 2024 with the upcoming Creatures Commandos show. Confirmed by Gunn to be the first DCU show on Max, the animated series will exist in the same continuity as DC’s upcoming live-action projects, something that wasn’t the case in the DCEU (and only featured minimally in the MCU). Gunn has also shared his hopes that even new DC videogames will exist in the same shared continuity as well.

Set in the modern era, Creatures Commandos will follow a black ops team comprised of monsters under the watchful eye of Task Force X’s Amanda Waller (Viola Davis is set to reprise her DCEU role as Waller). The team itself will feature Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr., Indira Varma as Bride of Frankenstein, Zoë Chao as Nina Mazursky, David Harbour as Eric Frankenstein, Alan Tudyk as Doctor Phosphorus, Sean Gunn as G.I. Robot & Weasel, and Steve Agee as John Economos. Maria Bakalova is also set to play Princess Ilana Rostovic. Likewise, each of these initial voice actors could end up playing their characters in live-action in future projects.

The DC Universe’s First Character Debuted In 2023

Creature Commandos isn’t happening until 2024 as the first DCU show and Superman: Legacy isn’t coming to theaters until 2025 as the first movie. However, James Gunn has confirmed that the first DCU hero has already been introduced in 2023 with Jaime Reyes’ Blue Beetle. Having released in theaters in August 2023, Blue Beetle introduced audiences to Jaime and his family who are seen grappling with Reyes’ inadvertent superhero status after a sentient alien battle suit chose to bond with him.

Having very little connection to the rest of the DCEU, Blue Beetle could easily be brought over to the new DCU given the character’s popularity and the new movie’s positive reception. Jaime’s inclusion is also perfect as the new DCU is meant to already have established heroes. Likewise, it’s possible Jason Momoa’s Aquaman may continue on into the new DCU given the similarly isolated nature of the Aquaman movies. The same can be said for the handful of characters connected to the DCEU’s Suicide Squad who are continuing into the new DCU such as Viola Davis’ Waller and John Cena’s Peacemaker (and even Sean Gunn’s Weasel).