DCU timeline unveiled – James Gunn sets the stage for the new DC Universe

James Gunn took over DC Studios as co-chairman in 2022, and since then he has made some big changes in the way the studio approaches content. One of them is the introduction of the DC Universe, or DCU, which is different from the DCEU that existed earlier.

DCU features a set of films and shows that have been announced. Recently, the filmmaker revealed the entire timeline of DCU in a brief manner on X. He was responding to an X post query that asked him if the newly-renamed platform, HBO Max, would have the entire slot in chronological order or not.

James Gunn reveals DCU timeline

Expand Tweet

Recently, James Gunn revealed concisely what the DC timeline will be. On X, a user asked the filmmaker if HBO Max (which has recently been restored to its original name) has a timeline of all the films, just like Disney+ has for Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). They asked,

"On HBO Max will you create a DCU timeline like how Disney+ has one for the MCU so you can watch in chronological order?"

In response, Gunn said, for now, it would be in the order that the films and the shows release. He then mentioned the chronology of some of the titles in his post:

"As of now it's basically as the movies and shows come out — although of course some of these feature flashbacks — Creature Commandos, Superman, Peacemaker, Lanterns, Supergirl."

More about DC Universe

DC Universe is a soft reboot of the earlier DCEU. Unlike the previous universe, this one, too, will have a focused continuity among its films and shows. The first film in the universe will be Superman, written and directed by James Gunn. The film is scheduled to release on July 11, 2025, and has David Corenswet in the titular role.

This will be followed by Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, which will feature Supergirl. Craig Gillespie has directed the film, while the script is by Ana Nogueira. It will be released on June 26, 2026. Other titles in the DCU include Clayface, The Authority, The Brave and the Bold, Swamp Thing, and an untitled film on Deathstroke and Bane.

The television series in the franchise consist of the ones Gunn mentioned in his X post. The first one was Creature Commandos, which premiered on December 5, 2024. Others include Peacemaker, Lanterns, Waller, Paradise Lost, Booster Gold, and a yet-to-be-titled series on Blue Beetle.

Gunn, who earlier helmed Peacemaker, also revealed in a Collider interview that there are several R-rated projects in the DCU pipeline. He said,

"We've got one opportunity to take these characters and really press forward and do what we believe. I am a great believer that if we tell good, authentic stories, if a movie does well or doesn't do as well, if you keep with that same philosophy, you're going to build a universe that people are going to love and want to be a part of for a long time. So, it's not about testing out to see if this thing works, it's just about telling a story. If a story is gonna be R-rated, we're totally okay with that. If it's gonna be PG, PG-13, G, I don't care. Whatever is worthy of the story, that's what we're gonna do."

Are you excited about the upcoming titles?