Heroic Hollywood’s Guide To The Future Of The DC Extended Universe

UNSCHEDULED:

• The Batman (dir. Ben Affleck)
• TBA 2018/2019
• Ben Affleck, Jeremy Irons, J.K. Simmons, (rumor) Jared Leto

We all knew it but it had to get at least three confirmations: Ben Affleck will not only star in, but direct a solo Batman film, with the rumored, excellent title of The Batman. A script exists, though Affleck said he said he’s “not happy enough with it yet” to begin production, and made it clear that the film would determine the release date, not the other way around. It will presumably be Affleck’s focus once he wraps on Justice League and in between press for The Accountant and Live by Night, which means production could kick off sometime next year for a potential release as early as 2018.

Affleck and Geoff Johns also have “complete creative control” of the film. Rumors peg the film as the “ultimate Batman story,” set (at least partially) at Arkham Asylum which would allow the inclusion of “many, if not most” of Batman’s legendary rogues gallery (if Leto isn’t in it, I’ll eat my shoe). They are embracing the “in media res” approach to the DCEU (with both Superman, the character, and Man of Steel, the film, acting as entry points in-and-out of the universe).

• Man of Steel 2 (dir. TBA)
• TBA 2019/2020
• Henry Cavill, (rumor) Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne

Speaking of the big guy, Umberto reported in TheWrap this week that a Man of Steel sequel was put back into active development, meaning they’re looking for creatives to actually produce Supes’ next solo flick. Batman v Superman usurped plans for a Superman trilogy, which was in the cards before Man of Steel relatively lackluster performance. Since then, we knew Warner Bros. said they were still making Man of Steel 2, but there was nothing other than rumors (like George Miller in the cards to direct, as he supposedly was for Green Lantern Corps) as the DCEU focused on expanding elsewhere.

But WB really wants to get Superman right after his divisive portrayal thus far. Many fans (including us) are clamoring for Brainiac as the villain (I hope they bring Eisenberg back too, because I’m a sucker for his overacting). There was even an old rumor Brainiac was going to be the villain of Justice League, a role eventually given to Steppenwolf. Perhaps he’s being saved for this flick? Umberto also confirmed the earliest we should expect another standalone Superman flick is 2019 or 2020 (personally, I think we’ll get Suicide Squad 2 in October 2018, The Batman in the November 2019 slot and Man of Steel 2 in summer 2020 but we’ll see).

• Suicide Squad 2 (dir. David Ayer?)

Ah, Suicide Squad 2. Will it even get made? Until WB announces, all we can do is speculate. Back in March, before the news of reshoots, alternate cuts/deleted scenes and terrible reviews, Variety reported the desire for director David Ayer and star Will Smith to potentially film the sequel next year after they wrap the Max Landis-scripted fantasy/cop drama Bright for Netflix, saying “the hope is to get production rolling [on Bright] this year in order to get both Ayer and Smith ready for a “Suicide Squad” sequel shoot by 2017.”

Since Squad‘s release last weekend, there’s been no shortage of questions for the cast and filmmakers about the film and where it could go next. Right now, I think everyone including WB execs are either a) carefully crafting a sequel, having learned from the experience of the first or b) crapping their pants about making this whole circus again. The real test was long-said to be the film’s second weekend, where its legs would show. Or not, as it turned out, with a 67 percent drop. Now, Suicide Squad may have gone from franchise-starter to lone launching pad, and Squad 2 from certain to decidedly not.