Is This DC Comics’ 5-Year Movie Slate?


It’s no secret that superheroes are the new… popular…movie..thing. Uhhh. It’s also no secret that Marvel is way ahead of the game in every respect, as the playing field is concerned. Not only do they have multiple astronomically successful franchises under their belt, they also have big-budget tie-in TV shows, a stampede of new films on the horizon and have already brought their heroes together as a team and are in the midst of directing the sequel team-up. It’s no wonder that other companies want in on that action. Fox has in a way made their X-Men franchise into a multi-layered universe, and Sony has plans to turn their world of The Amazing Spider-Man into its own universe. What’s Warner Brothers and DC to do? Fast-track a Justice League movie of course!

Last week, June 12, Nikki Finke claimed to know the current lineup of DC Comics films up to at least 2018, that will be supposedly introduced next month at San Diego Comic Con. The list has yet to be confirmed but a few days later, June 16, Kevin Smith [kind of] confirmed it. Below is the list of films, along with their estimated release times, and my thoughts on each.

  • May 2016 – Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice: This shouldn’t surprise anyone at this point. It’s been big news since it’s announcement two years ago. It’ll serve as both a sequel to Man of Steel and a fast-track setup for the eventual Justice League film, hence the terrible subtitle “Dawn of Justice.” Not only will the movie have Superman (Henry Cavill) collide with Batman (Ben Affleck), but it shall also feature Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) and Cyborg (Ray Fisher). It’s all but been officially confirmed that Jason Momoa will play Aquaman. So this will be a packed film. But really, who wouldn’t want to see Batman and Superman in the same film!?
  • July 2016 – Shazam: From my experience with the DC Comics fandom, Shazam (formerly known as Captain Marvel) is generally liked, but nobodies favorite hero. He was popularized in the 40s in the wake of the Superman popularity boom and given (essentially) the same powers as the man of steel himself. His draw? In an era where young boys wished to grow up and become strong adults, Billy Batson could call on the name of the wizard “Shazam” and turn himself into a superhero! Not sure how July of 2016 is going to work, being only two months after BvS:DoJ which is already well into the filming stage. Perhaps they’ve already got it all lined up?
  • X-Mas 2016 – Sandman: Well that’s an odd choice. I’m not sure if we’re to believe that Neil Gaiman’s Sandman series will be adapted into its own standalone film or as part of the DC Cinematic Universe (I’m coining that term by the way), but I’m sure it’ll be visually stunning. Within DC Comics, The Sandman was printed under the Vertigo imprint (meant for more mature audiences than your average DC Comics reader). This film was actually announced in 2013 as being produced by David S. Goyer alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Neil Gaiman.
  • May 2017 – Justice League: Must I even comment on this one? It’ll be a hugely popular, and visually-stunning film. Hopefully it’s a good movie on top of that.
  • July 2017 – Wonder Woman: Hot on the heels of Justice League are plans for a solo Wonder Woman film. I’m predicting something bad happening to her by the end of Justice League and her having to cope with the trial on her own, with flashbacks to her time on Themyscira (an island paradise dominated by beautiful Amazonian women) and the trials beset for her in the past that help her endure the present. I picture it more like Tomb Raider, but with less guns. (This is entirely my conjecturing, and I have absolutely no idea how the film will actually take place).
  • X-Mas 2017 – Flash/Green Lantern teamup: Whaaaat?! Of everything on the lineup, THIS has my fanheart (also coining this term) racing! I’m curious if they’ll use the same Flash as in the upcoming Flash television series on The CW, played by Grant Gustin. The CW is owned by Warner Brothers… Probably not though, but… hey, they did tease “Ferris Air” in the trailer for the Flash pilot. Ferris Air is the airline company associated with Hal Jordan (aka Green Lantern ahem*). It would be an interesting twist, making the CW shows (including Arrow) canon in the DC Cinematic Universe. This film will be great, so long as they abort all memory of the Ryan Reynolds helmed flick.
  • May 2018 – Man of Steel 2: This shouldn’t come as such of a surprise to me, but it does. Mainly because I just assumed BvS:DoJ would be the natural sequel to Man of Steel. I wasn’t a huge fan of the Zack Snyder directed Superman film, but I’ll give it another chance (or 3). Superman is actually (and has always been) my favorite hero, so to see him on the big screen is always a treat, whether the treat is too bitter or not.

Going over the list, it sure appears like Warner Brothers aren’t playing around. IF this is a legitimate lineup, Marvel will have a run for its money, cause lord knows Fox and Sony won’t have a chance.

This just in: according to El Mayimbe of Latino Review, Batman is to get his first solo film in 2019:

  • 2019 – The Batman: If this rumor is also true, it’s good to hear that WB isn’t trying to jump on the Batman craze too quickly. With BvS:DoJ and JL on the horizon, and the previous Christopher Nolan films behind us, we’ll have had enough Batman for one decade. Let him brood in the cave a bit longer. It is a strange date however, seeing the pattern of release dates for the films. May, July and Christmas each year. Why should 2018 be any different. Will this come out during July/X-Mas of 2018? Or are we to expect two other titles in between Man of Steel 2 and The Batman?

Grab your copy of Man of Steel from Amazon.

8 thoughts on “Is This DC Comics’ 5-Year Movie Slate?

  1. I’d rather they stick to making CW series and not try to mix the movies and series together in a single universe. Marvel tried and while Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was a good attempt there’s no doubt in my mind it represents some of the weakest material Marvel has put out so far in the MCU.

    And ultimately I’ve enjoyed Arrow’s two season far more than any movie put out by DC so far. Even worse, they’re more likely to cancel The Flash regardless of how well the series does to make way for a far more lucrative movie and if they do that then any other spin off they might do will always have the sword of Damocles hanging over it. Ollie mentioned going down to Coast City for a weekend at one point and he’s visited Blüdhaven, and of course the previously mentioned Ferris Air appearing in The Flash pilot. They’re world building like crazy and in my eyes, movies risk ruining that.

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  2. really? they’re throwing in aqua man? does anyone even like aqua man? you know they’re overdoing it when he gets tossed into the mix…

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    1. I feel that many have the preconceived notion Aquaman is no more than a bumbling fool riding a whale, calling out to all his fish. It doesn’t help that his greatest claim to fame was his presence in the 70/80s cartoon “Super Friends,” where he did just that. But in a more modern context, within the comic universe, Aquaman is more that just that bumbling fool calling for his slippery friends to assemble. He also has minor telepathy, superhuman strength and speed (in water), and sometimes control of water. Being the King of Atlantis has a few perks. I’m sure Jason Momoa will do great in the role. But I do agree the more characters introduced will make it overly crowded.

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      1. it just always seemed that he was so limited… I mean having powers is cool and all… wouldn’t say no to them… but when you seem to only be able to help if it’s near the water it’s a very limiting talent… though I have to admit the majority of what I know about him is from Super Friends… lol…

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