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DC Extended Universe
DC Extended Universe DCEU.jpg
DC Films logo
Starring See below
Studio
  • DC Films
  • RatPac Entertainment
  • Atlas Entertainment
  • Cruel and Unusual Films
  • Legendary Entertainment
  • Syncopy Inc.
  • Tencent Pictures
  • Wanda Pictures
  • Pearl Street Films
  • New Line Cinema
  • Seven Bucks Productions
  • LuckyChap Entertainment
Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures
Release date(s) 2013–2023
Country United States
Language English
Budget Total (12 movies):
$2.189 billion
Money made Total (12 movies):
$6.368 billion

The DC Extended Universe (shortened as the DCEU) is an American media franchise and shared universe that is centered on a series of superhero movies and television series produced by DC Studios and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, based on characters that appear in publications by DC Comics. It also includes comic books, short films, novels, and video games.

Background

The shared universe, much like the original DC Universe in comic books, was established by crossing over common plot elements, settings, cast, and characters. The movies have been in production since 2011 and in that time Warner Bros. has distributed four movies with more than ten in various stages of production. The series has grossed over $3 billion at the global box office, currently making it the seventeenth highest-grossing movie franchise.

The movies are written and directed by a variety of screenwriters and feature large, often ensemble, casts. Several actors, including Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, and Ray Fisher, had been set to appear in numerous movies.

In May 2016, DC's chief creative officer Geoff Johns and Warner Bros. executive vice president Jon Berg were appointed to co-run the DC Films division and oversee creative decisions, production and story-arcs in order to create a cohesive overarching plot within the movies. However, after the movie Justice League failed to make as much money as expected and was considered lackluster, less focus was placed on making a shared universe and new president Walter Hamada wanted to focus on making less-expensive movies.

After a continued failure to make consistently good movies in the DCEU and money issues throughout the entire Warner Bros. organization, James Gunn and Peter Safran were hired to replace Hamada at DC Studios, as Warner Bros. went through a company reorganization and combined with the Discovery Channel to form Warner Bros. Discovery. Gunn and Safran plan to start the movie series over as the DC Universe (DCU), getting rid of most actors including Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, and Ray Fisher, and starting over with a brand-new storyline.

Movies

The first movie in the DCEU was Man of Steel (2013), which was followed by Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Suicide Squad (2016), Wonder Woman (2017), Aquaman (2018), Shazam! (2019), Birds of Prey (2020), Wonder Woman 1984 (2020), Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021), The Suicide Squad (2021), Black Adam (2022), Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023) and The Flash (2023) with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023) being the last movie of the franchise. The Tim Burton Batman movies Batman and Batman Returns became part of the DCEU in The Flash (2023) through time travel. The Flash is planned to "reboot" the DCEU into the DCU, with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom planned to wrap up the DCEU storyline before the first DCU movie Superman: Legacy comes out in 2025 with a brand-new Superman.

A movie about Batgirl titled Batgirl was going to be released in 2022 through HBO Max, but it was cancelled by Warner Bros. in August of that year.

Other projects were in many stages of development before James Gunn decided to reboot, including Justice League Dark, a third Wonder Woman movie, and untitled solo movies for Supergirl, and other characters.

Television shows for HBO Max include Peacemaker (2022). Shows being made is another Suicide Squad spin-off, and Green Lantern Corps.

Box office money made

Box office performance

Film U.S. release date Box office gross All-time ranking Budget Ref(s)
U.S. and Canada Other territories Worldwide U.S. and Canada Worldwide
Man of Steel June 14, 2013 $291,045,518 $377,000,000 $668,045,518 99 134 $225 million
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice March 25, 2016 $330,360,194 $543,277,334 $873,637,528 67 71 $250 million
Suicide Squad August 5, 2016 $325,100,054 $421,746,840 $746,846,894 70 109 $175 million
Wonder Woman June 2, 2017 $412,815,408 $410,009,114 $822,824,522 31 83 $149 million
Justice League November 17, 2017 $229,024,295 $428,902,692 $657,926,987 155 137 $300 million
Aquaman December 21, 2018 $335,061,807 $813,424,079 $1,148,485,886 63 23 $200 million
Shazam! April 5, 2019 $140,371,656 $225,600,000 $365,971,656 425 366 $100 million
Birds of Prey February 7, 2020 $84,158,461 $117,700,000 $201,858,461 925 832 $85 million
Wonder Woman 1984 December 25, 2020 $46,801,036 $120,000,000 $166,801,036 1,894 1,031 $200 million
The Suicide Squad August 5, 2021 $55,817,425 $111,600,000 $167,417,425 1,793 1,233 $185 million
Total $2,250,555,854 $3,569,260,059 $5,819,815,913 11 10 $1.87 billion

Recurring cast and characters

List indicator(s)

This section shows characters who will appear or have appeared in three or more franchises.

  • An empty, dark grey cell indicates the character was not in the movie, or that the character's official presence has not yet been confirmed.
  • A indicates an appearance through archival footage.
  • C indicates a cameo role.
  • E indicates an appearance not included in the theatrical cut.
  • G indicates a guest appearance in the season.
  • P indicates an appearance in onscreen photographs.
  • S indicates an appearance through use of special effects.
  • U indicates an uncredited appearance.
Character Movie Television
Man of Steel Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Suicide Squad movies Wonder Woman movies Justice League movies Aquaman movies Shazam movies Birds of Prey Black Adam The Flash Peacemaker
Barry Allen The Flash Ezra MillerC Ezra Miller Ezra Miller Ezra MillerUG
Arthur Curry Aquaman Jason MomoaC Jason MomoaP Jason Momoa Jason MomoaUG
John Economos Steve Agee Steve Agee Steve Agee
Kal-El / Clark Kent Superman Henry Cavill Henry Cavill Ryan HadleyC Henry CavillC Brad AbramenkoC
Emilia Harcourt Jennifer Holland Jennifer Holland Jennifer Holland
Joker Jared Leto Jared LetoE John GothC
Jared LetoA
J'onn J'onzz / Calvin Swanwick Martian Manhunter Harry Lennix Harry LennixE
Jonathan Kent Kevin Costner Kevin CostnerC Kevin Costner
Martha Kent Diane Lane Diane Lane
Lois Lane Amy Adams Amy Adams
Alfred Pennyworth Jeremy Irons Jeremy Irons Jeremy Irons
Diana Prince Wonder Woman Gal Gadot Gal Gadot Gal Gadot Gal Gadot Kimberley von IlbergC
Harleen Quinzel Harley Quinn Margot Robbie Margot Robbie Margot RobbieA
Amanda Waller Viola Davis Viola Davis Viola Davis
Bruce Wayne Batman Ben Affleck Ben AffleckU Ben Affleck Ben AffleckU
General Zod Michael Shannon Michael ShannonS Michael Shannon

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Universo extendido de DC para niños

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