When it comes to superhero movies, it is hard to argue that the Marvel Cinematic Universe isn't the biggest name in film. Four of the top ten highest-grossing movies worldwide are superhero movies, and all four are installments in the MCU. They have dominated the landscape and have expanded their empire in both the amount of films and television series created over the past year and a half (otherwise known as the start of the MCU's Phase Four). Between Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Spider-Man: No Way Home, it's arguably clear that Marvel has been the undisputed champion of the 'Marvel or DC' debates since the Christopher Nolan years.
Update January 29th, 2023: This article has been updated to reflect the updated release schedule, all the release date changes for various DC films, as well as announcements regarding the future of DC with the appointment of James Gunn and Peter Safran to heads of DC Studios.
However, DC movies have had great success over the years, with films like The Dark Knight and Wonder Woman changing the superhero mainstream, first 15 and then five years ago. The franchise certainly had a rough year in 2022, as they delayed multiple films into 2023, canceled the completed Batgirl movie, and Black Adam underperformed at the box office. On top of that, Warner Bros. appointed James Gunn and Peter Safran to run DC Studios, and the duo is set to drastically reignite the franchise into the DCU.
Fans are now eagerly awaiting what the future holds, while now having to watch a year of releases that may not connect to that future. Yet 2023 is the biggest year for DC at the movies, as there will be four movies hitting theaters based on DC Comics heroes. Take a look at what is coming from the world of DC in 2023 and a possible look at what lies in store beyond.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods
Shazam! Fury of the Gods has had a long road to the big screen, playing musical chairs with release dates. Initially intended for summer 2023, it was bumped up to December 2022 after The Flash and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom were delayed. However, to avoid competition with Avatar: The Way of Water, the movie was postponed to March 17, 2023. The first Shazam! was a surprise hit and is a high mark in the DCU with many fans claiming it as one of the best entries in the franchise.
While many were wondering how Shazam! Fury of the Gods would expand the DCU, particularly if it would connect to Black Adam, with all the changes now fans are at least hoping for an entertaining superhero movie that keeps the same tone and spirit as the first film. The future of Shazam! is certainly up in the air, yet fans are hoping to see the character return as new DCU co-president Peter Safran is one of the producers of both Shazam! films. Shazam! Fury of the Gods might be one of the final entries in the DCU as fans know it, but it has the potential to be a fun way to end the series.
The Flash
The Flash is arguably the biggest and most complicated upcoming DC movie. The film has been in development since 2014 and has undergone four different director changes, and now the scarlet speedster's first film is set to hit theaters on June 16, 2023, and will radically change the DCU forever. Inspired by the Flashpoint comic, the film finds Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) traveling to another reality where his mother is still alive, and where he will come face to face with Supergirl (Sasha Callie), but also the fan-favorite Batman (Michael Keaton) from the 1989 Batman film. The movie has a lot riding on it, and it has a new obstacle to overcome following the troubling headlines and allegations against star Ezra Miller.
Much of the movie is being kept a secret, with even the main villain of the film a mystery, and rumors are swirling that even more cameos from past DC actors will appear in the film. With a multiverse storyline first hinted at when Miller appeared in the CW crossover event Crisis on Infinite Earths, as well as the final appearance of Ben Affleck as the DCU Batman, The Flash could be used as the kickoff to the new era of the DCU, explaining the upcoming recast of Superman and a map for the future. Just like the Flashpoint comic rebooted DC Comics, The Flash movie inspired by Flashpoint could reboot the DC films.
Blue Beetle
DC
Blue Beetle was originally intended for HBO Max, but was upgraded to a feature film and will open in theaters on August 18, 2023. The movie will focus on Jamie Reyes, played by Cobra Kai's Xolo Maridueña, and will focus on the young college student who discovers a piece of alien tech that bonds with him, and he becomes a superhero. Blue Beetle is anticipated for a number of reasons, first and foremost it will be a Latino-led superhero film. While Marvel Studios did redefine Namor in the comics to be of Latin descent in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, he was not the lead of that film whereas Blue Beetle will get to put the focus on a Mexican-American family at the center. What matters is both Marvel and DC are making more attempts at representation and making sure the audience sees themselves reflected in their heroes.
The movie also poses an interesting question of how it will fit into the larger DCU moving forward. Unlike Shazam! Fury of the Gods, The Flash, and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom which have firm connections to the previous vision of the DCU, Blue Beetle is a fresh start for a new character. Any major DCU references to the larger universe can be edited out, and the movie could be the unofficial start of a new chapter. DC Studios president Peter Safran is one of the producers on Blue Beetle, and it is unlikely he will want to throw all the work out.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
Aquaman was a surprise hit when it hit theaters in December 2018, grossing $1 billion worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing DC Film ever, even over The Dark Knight, which puts a great deal of pressure on the sequel Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom which will now open five years later on December 25, 2023. Returning director James Wan appears to be up to the challenge, hinting at a much larger-scale superhero movie that will see the return of the villainous Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) and Arthur's brother Orm (Patrick Wilson), who will be an unlikely ally.
The film was originally set for release in December 2022 but was delayed to March 2023 and then back to December 2023. This was reported to give the film more time to work on visual effects. Another factor might have been wanting to make sure Aquaman did not need to compete with both Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Avatar: The Way of Water, which was both massive underwater epics that may have eclipsed Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
Currently, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is the last DCU film slated in 2023 and the final one before James Gunn and Peter Safran's big plans for the franchise kick in. The future is uncertain for the franchise, if it will be rebooted or if the series will continue on with a loose connection to the past, but now Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has to act as a sort of finale even though it was not intended to be.
DCU's Future
James Gunn and Peter Safran have said their major plans for the DCU won't truly kick in until 2024. The studio is expected to make some announcements on what the future films will be. What fans do know is that Patty Jenkin's Wonder Woman 3 was canceled, Dwayne Johnson will not be back as Black Adam, and there will be a new Superman as James Gunn is set to pen a script for a movie focusing on a younger Superman without Henry Cavill's involvement.
Meanwhile, outside the interconnected franchise, Matt Reeves is working on both a sequel to The Batman and multiple television series for HBO Max that will expand the franchise including one focusing on Colin Farrell's Penguin. Also in separate development is Joker: Folie à Deux which is a sequel to the 2019 smash hit Joker. The movie is set to be a psychological drama and a musical, featuring Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn and will open in theaters on October 4, 2024. While 2023 is certainly an odd year for DC fans as they wait during a period of transition, there are more DC films now than ever and the future looks just as bright.