HBO Max has new episodes of DC superhero material ready to roll before James Gunn continues with his 2026 DCU slate. Gunn has major plans for the ever-evolving DC Universe, with at least two live-action movies and a live-action streaming series unveiling in the coming months. 

Eight episodes of Teen Titans GO! (Season 9, Episodes 33-40) were released on HBO Max on April 5. These episodes first aired on Cartoon Network from November 22, 2025, to March 14, 2026, before being released in batches on HBO Max.

Since James Gunn and Peter Safran took over DC in 2022, the studio has moved at a steady pace, releasing one project at a time to rebuild the brand. Creature Commandos launched the new DCU on streaming, followed by Peacemaker Season 2. Superman later arrived in theaters in July 2025. At that point, DC Studios had never released two projects in the same month.

However, there is a first time for everything, and June 2026 will be the exception. DC Studios and Warner Bros. Animation have announced that Batman: Knightfall Part 1 will be premiering this June at the Annecy Film Festival (which will take place from June 21 to June 27). With the theatrical release of Supergirl on June 26 and the premiere of Knightfall that same week, June 2026 marks the first time two DC films have arrived in the same month since the establishment of DC Studios proper (when James Gunn took charge).

It is worth noting that this track record only applies to James Gunn's tenure. Before he and Safran rebranded the studio in November 2022, the broader DC brand had released multiple projects in the same month on two occasions. In October 2022, Dwayne Johnson's theatrical Black Adam(October 21) and the animated Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons (October 18) landed in the same month, making it back-to-back releases inside the same calendar month. Then, in March 2023, Shazam! Fury of the Gods hit theaters on March 17, and the animated Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham followed on March 28. 

2011's Green Lantern movie, which famously starred Ryan Reynolds as the titular character, is widely considered one of the worst comic book movies and superhero adaptations of all time, and many have tried to forget that it even exists. However, there are a few elements that were included in the film that need to be brought back in the DCU's upcoming Lanterns TV show. As mentioned, Reynolds' Green Lantern movie has never been particularly loved. Few and far between, though, there are some decent scenes, and the movie at least got a few things right throughout its runtime.

The DCU's Lanterns project is set to be released in August 2026. Although it is relatively close to premiering, a lot of details about the series have been kept under wraps. Notably, the first public teaser for the project was recently released, and many fans had mixed reactions to it.

The Green Lantern Corps is a galactic law enforcement agency that consists of aliens, and it centers around characters who have incredible superpowers. However, Lanterns seems to be a more grounded story that will largely take place on Earth, and it will most definitely be an R-rated title. 

James Gunn is offering a familiar face from the old DCEU a fresh opportunity to shine in his freshly rebooted DCU. While Gunn's vision is charting a bold new course for DC on the big and small screen, not everything from the previous era is being left behind. However, that creative continuity is raising some eyebrows, particularly when they're tied to past DC projects that left audiences disappointed.

Back in January, it was reported that writer Christina Hodson was attached to write the script for the upcoming Batman film in the DCU, The Brave and the Bold.

After taking some heat, Gunn immediately defended Hodson, without outright confirming her involvement in The Brave and the Bold. However, he did reveal that she had been working with him and the DC Studios team "early in the DCU planning stages," while also advising people not to judge her writing based on some recent films she's written but not directed:

The main villain of Supergirl is front and center in new posters for the DCU film. DC Studios is using Tom King's Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow as a foundation for its next superhero story, which means it's also bringing the comic's villain to the screen, with Matthias Schoenaerts playing Krem of the Yellow Hills. Krem's look has been changed significantly from his comic design, and fans can see exactly how much in a new full-body poster.

With Supergirl releasing on June 26, marketing for the movie is in full swing, and following the release of the second trailer, DC Studios has unveiled a series of individual posters. One features an almost full-figured shot of Schoenaerts as Krem, showing off the villain's costume, makeup, and devious personality as he appears licking his axe. 

The James Gunn-produced Clayface movie will be the first in the DCU to canonize several comic book villains. The upcoming body horror film is directed by James Watkins, with James Gunn and Peter Safran serving as the film's stewards at DC Studios. As the DCU is yet to introduce its own Batman, Clayface will be the first Dark Knight-adjacent film to release in this cinematic universe, and has a clean slate to introduce its take on several of Batman's iconic characters.

Clayface will be the first DCU film to take place in Batman's hometown of Gotham City, which is also the home to many familiar DC heroes and villains. During production of the film in 2025, photos from the set revealed the existence of several DC antagonists who are expected to become canon in James Gunn's DCU when Clayface releases on October 23. 

James Gunn's DCU Is About to Canonize These Batman Villains

Man of Tomorrow, the highly anticipated sequel to 2025's Superman that hits theaters on July 9, 2027, is already deep into production. The script is done, the creative team is in place, and new actors are being brought into the fold, including Lars Eidinger, who will bring iconic DC Comics villain Brainiac to life for his first major movie appearance. Of course, Brainiac is no joke, meaning it'll likely take more than the Man of Steel and the Justice Gang to bring him down.

Fortunately, Man of Tomorrow is bringing in reinforcements in the form of Maxima, the queen of the alien planet Almerac. Andor actress Adria Arjona is among those testing for the role, which, according to Gunn, will be relatively small. However, no matter how limited Maxima's screen time is in Man of Tomorrow, she shouldn't be underestimated.

DC Studios officially revealed the first-ever look at the DC reboot's version of Darkseid (and he looks menacing). Darkseid's debut in James Gunn's DC Universe has long been anticipated by fans, with many seeing the villain as the ultimate big bad of DCU's Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters. However, in October 2025, Gunn already ruled out that possibility (via IGN), noting, "using Darkseid as the big bad right now is not necessarily the thing." Still, this doesn't mean that Darkseid's debut will be held off, mainly because the villain is already confirmed to appear in the upcoming Mister Miracle animated series. 

Following the confirmation of the launch of Superman Experience: Defenders Unite on Saturday, April 18, Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences and DC Studios officially released a new trailer for the immersive experience. 

At the 0:33 mark of the trailer, the first look at the DCU's Darkseid can be seen, showcasing the villain in holographic form while he seemingly unleashes the forces of Apokolips against Superman and presumably Supergirl: 

Warner Bros. and DC Studios introduced a new collaboration that would highlight an unexpected, early clash between Superman and Darkseid. David Corenswet's Superman is already confirmed to appear in 2026's Supergirl, joining Milly Alcock's Kara Zor-El in another big-screen adventure. Before his eventual return on-screen, the DCU's version of Superman will make an early return this year in celebration of Superman Day, and he is confirmed to be engaged in a dangerous clash with one of DC's iconic villains: Darkseid. 

Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences and DC Studios officially announced the launch of Superman Experience: Defenders Unite on Superman Day, April 18. This walkthrough experience and live gameplay attraction allow fans to work alongside Superman, Supergirl, and Krypto as they encounter a mysterious global threat posed by a powerful artifact. 

The cast of DC Studios' Man of Tomorrow looks to be complete after an update from DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn. The director is in the midst of pre-production on Man of Tomorrow, his next DCU blockbuster that seems to be both a Superman sequel and an intersection point for much of the larger DCU storyline. Production is exepcted to begin this month on the July 9, 2027 blockbuster that will unite Superman, Lex Luthor, and the entire DCU against Brainiac.  

When asked when he will be announcing castings for Man of Tomorrow, Gunn confirmed on Threads that he "already [has] for every major role." That said, the DC Studios co-CEO confirmed that he still has "one [role] left" to fill (reportedly the warrior queen of the planet Almerac, Maxima), indicating that her part is minor.

Between past confirmations and a recent report from The Hollywood Reporter that revealed the actresses screen-testing for the DCU's new warrrior queen, it seems fans already know the entire main cast of James Gunn's Man of Tomorrow.

DC Studios shared the logo for Jason Momoa's Lobo to celebrate his upcoming DCU debut. Momoa is making waves with his DCU comeback, becoming the first major name from the former DC Extended Universe to take on a new role under DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran. Now, his portrayal of Lobo is getting a couple of distinct changes to what fans know in the comics.

DC Shop revealed a new look at merchandise celebrating Lobo's DCU debut in DC Studios' Supergirl. The merch in question is a sweatshirt featuring a new emblem for Lobo on the back, a flaming skull with wings on both sides. Above the skull is a banner reading "Ruthless & Fearless," with the character's name beneath.

James Gunn's Man of Tomorrow received an exciting casting update for an unexpected character: one of Superman's love interests from DC Comics. The upcoming DC Studios sequel is expected to explore Brainiac's imminent arrival on Earth, forcing Superman and Lex Luthor to work together to prevent his full-blown invasion. The cast of Man of Tomorrow is already packed with returning favorites, including David Corenswet as Superman and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, while German actor Lars Eidinger steps in as the formidable new villain Brainiac in the sequel. 

Deadline shared that James Gunn is already on the verge of casting another key role in Man of Tomorrow, with the DC Studios co-CEO eyeing Marisa Abela, Adria Arjona, and Ella Purnell to play Maxima, a would-be love interest for Superman, in the DCU sequel. 

Created by Roger Stern and George Pérez, Maxima, the warrior queen of the planet Almerac, was introduced in Action Comics #645 as a love interest, antagonist, and eventual ally of Superman. Maxima viewed Superman as the only genetically compatible partner strong enough for her and someone who could give her children that no Earth woman (like Lois Lane) could. 

The James Gunn-produced Teen Titans film sits on the back burner with a finished draft from Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow scribe Ana Nogueira, as its team members remain a mystery to fans. While it isn't official, the only member rumored (and assumed) to be a part of the Teen Titans team in James Gunn's growing DC universe is Damien Wayne's Robin.

While the film adaptation has stalled, DC Comics has continued to publish Teen Titans and its spin-offs, with writer Tate Brombal already taking over for New Titans, opening his run with a new team satirizing how repetitive and stagnant their stories have become over the decades. Something that James Gunn and Ana Nogueira's Teen Titans will hopefully avoid when making the jump to the big screen.

DC also announced a new Teen Titans book as part of the Next Level publishing initiative, written by Kyle Higgins and illustrated by Daniele Di Nicuolo, both of whom worked on Power Rangers: Shattered Grid. The premise of the run will be Red Hood leading the "new generation" of heroes to find "missing powered teens:"

Matt Reeves' highly anticipated The Batman Part 2 has officially locked in its seventh confirmed cast member. The sequel is set to begin filming this year, with a release date already locked in for October 1, 2027. Reeves, who wrote and will once again direct, is keeping the story within its own self-contained pocket universe, following the events of 2022's The Batman and 2024's HBO series The Penguin.

One of the most meaningful returns in The Batman 2 is that of Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth, which was previously reported, now confirmed as the seventh cast member locked in for Matt Reeves' sequel.

Serkis will reprise his role as Bruce Wayne's loyal butler, with filming set to start in June in London. Giving Reeves plenty of time to create another masterpiece, production begins 16 months before release.

Before there was Thanos, there was Darkseid. The towering New God created by Jack Kirby in 1970 is the original architect of cosmic evil in superhero comics. After years of false starts and rebooted universes, he is finally getting a proper, canon home in James Gunn's DC Universe. The project that will bring him there is Mister Miracle, the upcoming DC Studios animated series based on Tom King and Mitch Gerads' acclaimed 12-issue comic run. 

Kirby introduced Darkseid with a brief cameo in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134, then gave the character his full debut in Forever People #1. He arrived as the central villain of Kirby's ambitious Fourth World saga, a broad, cosmic mythology which includes New Gods, Mister Miracle, and Forever People. As the tyrannical ruler of the hellworld Apokolips, Darkseid's biggest obsession is the Anti-Life Equation. For those not familiar, it's a formula that grants its wielder complete control over the thoughts and free will of every living being in the universe.

DC's Lanterns has no shortage of controversy, but one of the loudest complaints aimed at the show may be about to get quieter. The HBO Max series, which premieres in August and stars Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre as John Stewart, drew widespread criticism when its first trailer dropped last week. Fans immediately zeroed in on what they saw as a troubling lack of green. The trailer featured a dull, coloured suit hanging in a closet, no glowing constructs in the air, and a visual palette that looked more like a prestige crime drama than anything resembling the vibrant comic book world of the Green Lantern Corps. 

Now, comic book artist Ethan Van Sciver, who no longer works for DC Comics following a split in 2018, is offering a significant piece of context about the show. Taking to X, the former DC artist suggested that the word Lanterns in the title is doing more work than people realize. Van Sciver noted that: "The show is called LANTERNS because it will also introduce other colors on the spectrum. At least Yellow." 

This means the show was never intended to be all green by design. In DC Comics, the Green Lantern mythology extends far beyond a single Corps. The concept of the Emotional Electromagnetic Spectrum, a system in which different emotions can be harnessed as ring-powered energy, was introduced in Green Lantern: Rebirth, and later fully expanded through the Sinestro Corps War and Blackest Night storylines. The spectrum maps every major emotion to a color, with green representing willpower, sitting at the center as the most stable energy. 

Antony Starr's Homelander looks set to take a beating harder than ever before in The Boys' history. Before then, Homelander is expected to be more deadly than ever in The Boys Season 5, as the creators already spoiled his new goal to "become a god." Antony Starr's Vought supe took a major step toward that goal last season as he was handed near-complete control of the US government, effectively making him both physically and politically the most powerful man on Earth.

The Boys Season 5 trailer breaks a seven-year, five-season tradition for Antony Starr's Homelander through the visible damage, seemingly from a burn, on his suit. Even in the Amazon Prime Video series' bloodiest battle, Homelander's costume has come out unscathed, albeit with its fair share of blood soaking.

Warner Bros. is reportedly lacking full confidence in the upcoming Supergirl film, the second theatrical entry in James Gunn's new DCU. The movie is set to open in theaters on June 26, and has already begun its marketing push, including a second trailer that highlighted the Krypto-driven storyline and offered a brief glimpse of David Corenswet's Superman. Despite the public-facing promotional momentum, sources suggest that behind the scenes, the studio harbors quiet concerns about the film's overall quality.

Supergirl has now undergone numerous test screenings, a figure that, by itself, suggests Warner Bros. and DC Studios have yet to fully crack the film's final form.

Most major studio tentpoles go through a handful of test screenings at most; the sheer volume here suggests a project still very much in flux, with the studio actively searching for the right version of the movie ahead of its late June release date.

With James Gunn at the helm, DC Studios is coming out of the gates swinging. Already, Superman, Supergirl, the Green Lantern Corps, and Batman are roaming around the DC Universe, delivering their own brands of justice. However, in the grand scheme of things, all of them are old news, especially as far as live-action iterations go.

The fun of partnering up with someone like Gunn is that he brings characters that nobody has ever heard of into the fold and turns them into household names. Just look at the Guardians of the Galaxy, who are more relevant than ever, thanks to their spectacular trilogy of films. Gunn replicated the formula with The Suicide Squad and Creature Commandos, but the characters that appear in those projects are more bad than good, and there are enough anti-heroes in the genre already.

What DC needs to do to stand out is identify heroes that have a lot of meat left on the bone for the big screen. And as it turns out, there are plenty of them, all of whom have the chance to take the DCU to new heights.

Man of Tomorrow is set to be released by DC Studios in 2027, breaking a release strategy rule DC has implemented for 20 years. The upcoming Man of Tomorrow film will be a direct sequel to 2025's Superman and the next installment in James Gunn and Peter Safran's new DCU. On its upcoming slate, it will follow Clayface, a film whose release date was recently pushed back by six weeks.

DC Studios set a release date of July 9, 2027, for Man of Tomorrow, meaning it will debut nearly two years after the theatrical premiere of Superman. Specifically, Superman came out on July 11, 2025. Notably, this will break a long-standing rule that has been in place at DC since 1997.