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DC Studios

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DC Studios
FormerlyDC Films (2016–2022)
TypeSubsidiary
Industry
GenreSuperhero fiction
Founded
  • May 2016; 6 years ago (2016-05) (as DC Films)
  • November 1, 2022; 4 months ago (2022-11-01) (as DC Studios)
FounderGeoff Johns
Jon Berg
Headquarters4000 Warner Boulevard, ,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
  • James Gunn (co-Chairman and co-CEO)
  • Peter Safran (co-Chairman and co-CEO)
  • Chantal Nong (Senior Vice President, Production)
Products
Brands
OwnerWarner Bros. Discovery
Parent
Websitewww.dc.com/movies
Footnotes / references
[1][2][3]

DC Studios (formerly known as DC Films) is an American film, television, and animation studio that is a division of Warner Bros.,[4][5] which is a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). It is dedicated to the production of films, series, and animations based on characters from DC Comics, among them is their flagship franchise, the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). James Gunn and Peter Safran assumed control of the company, on November 1, 2022.[4] Previously, Walter Hamada was the president of DC Films from 2018 until his departure in October 2022.[6]

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Warner Bros.

Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. Founded in 1923 by four brothers, Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack Warner, the company established itself as a leader in the American film industry before diversifying into animation, television, and video games, and is one of the "Big Five" major American film studios, as well as a member of the Motion Picture Association (MPA).

Warner Bros. Discovery

Warner Bros. Discovery

Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (WBD) is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered in New York City. It was formed after the spin-off of WarnerMedia by AT&T, and its merger with Discovery, Inc. on April 8, 2022.

DC Comics

DC Comics

DC Comics, Inc. is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery.

DC Extended Universe

DC Extended Universe

The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on a series of superhero films and television series produced by DC Studios and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is based on characters that appear in American comic books published by DC Comics. The DCEU also includes comic books, short films, novels, and video games. Like the original DC Universe in comic books, the DCEU was established by crossing over common plot elements, settings, cast, and characters.

James Gunn

James Gunn

James Francis Gunn Jr. is an American filmmaker and executive. He began his career as a screenwriter in the mid-1990s, starting at Troma Entertainment with Tromeo and Juliet (1997). He then began working as a director, starting with the horror-comedy film Slither (2006), and moving to the superhero genre with Super (2010), Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), The Suicide Squad (2021), and the forthcoming Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023). In 2022, Warner Bros. Discovery hired Gunn and Peter Safran to become co-chairmen and co-CEOs of DC Studios.

Peter Safran

Peter Safran

Peter Safran is a British-American film producer and manager. He currently serves as the co-chairperson and CEO of DC Studios alongside James Gunn.

Walter Hamada

Walter Hamada

Walter Hamada is an American film executive and producer. He joined New Line Cinema in 2007, where he served as an executive producer on horror films such as The Conjuring (2013), Annabelle (2014), The Conjuring 2 (2016), Lights Out (2016), and It (2017). In January 2018, he was appointed the President at Warner Bros. Pictures for DC-based film production before departing from the company in October 2022. He was hired by Paramount Pictures to oversee their horror film franchises beginning in 2023.

Background

National era

During DC's National era, the company licensed Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman (and other All-American Comics characters) to Republic Pictures, Paramount Pictures, and Columbia Pictures for advertising serials and shorts. Other comic characters, such as Fawcett Comics' Shazam and Quality Comics' Plastic Man (which ultimately sold to DC), also had a serial short.

Warner Communications era

After the release of the first feature-length Batman film, Kinney National Company (later Warner Communications) purchased National Comics Publications in 1967 and then Warner Bros.-Seven Arts in 1969. This purchase meant that the comic company's television and theatrical distribution turned over to Warner Bros. However, it would not take effect until the late 1980s (likely due to licensing deals) after the release of the Superman and Swamp Thing films. The Batman films once again marked a return to the big screen.

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National Comics Publications

National Comics Publications

National Comics Publications, Inc. was an American comic book publishing company, and the direct predecessor of modern-day DC Comics.

Superman

Superman

Superman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, and debuted in the comic book Action Comics #1. Superman has been adapted to a number of other media, including radio serials, novels, films, television shows, theater productions, and video games.

Batman

Batman

Batman is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in the 27th issue of the comic book Detective Comics on March 30, 1939. In the DC Universe continuity, Batman is the alias of Bruce Wayne, a wealthy American playboy, philanthropist, and industrialist who resides in Gotham City. Batman's origin story features him swearing vengeance against criminals after witnessing the murder of his parents Thomas and Martha as a child, a vendetta tempered with the ideal of justice. He trains himself physically and intellectually, crafts a bat-inspired persona, and monitors the Gotham streets at night. Kane, Finger, and other creators accompanied Batman with supporting characters, including his sidekicks Robin and Batgirl; allies Alfred Pennyworth, James Gordon, and Catwoman; and foes such as the Penguin, the Riddler, Two-Face, and his archenemy, the Joker.

All-American Comics

All-American Comics

All-American Comics was a comics anthology and the flagship title of comic book publisher All-American Publications, one of the forerunners of DC Comics. It ran for 102 issues from 1939 to 1948. Characters created for the title, including Green Lantern, the Atom, the Red Tornado, Doctor Mid-Nite, and Sargon the Sorcerer, later became mainstays of the DC Comics line.

Republic Pictures

Republic Pictures

Republic Pictures Corporation is an American film studio corporation which originally operated from 1935 to 1967, based in Los Angeles, California. It had production and distribution facilities in Studio City, as well as a movie ranch in Encino. Republic was best-known for specializing in Westerns, cliffhanger serials, and B-films emphasizing mystery and action. Republic was also notable for developing the motion picture careers of John Wayne, Gene Autry, and Roy Rogers. The studio was also responsible for the financial management and distribution of few big-budget feature films directed by John Ford, as well as one Shakespeare film, Macbeth (1948), directed by Orson Welles. Under the leadership of founder Herbert J. Yates, Republic was considered a mini-major film studio.

Paramount Pictures

Paramount Pictures

Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production and distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global. It is the fifth-oldest film studio in the world, the second-oldest film studio in the United States, and the sole member of the "Big Five" film studios located within the city limits of Los Angeles.

Columbia Pictures

Columbia Pictures

Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production studio that is a member of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, which is one of the Big Five studios and a subsidiary of the multinational conglomerate Sony.

Fawcett Comics

Fawcett Comics

Fawcett Comics, a division of Fawcett Publications, was one of several successful comic book publishers during the Golden Age of Comic Books in the 1940s. Its most popular character was Captain Marvel, the alter ego of radio reporter Billy Batson, who transformed into the hero whenever he said the magic word "Shazam!".

Captain Marvel (DC Comics)

Captain Marvel (DC Comics)

Captain Marvel, also known as Shazam and the Captain, is a superhero in American comic books originally published by Fawcett Comics and currently published by DC Comics. Artist C. C. Beck and writer Bill Parker created the character in 1939. Captain Marvel first appeared in Whiz Comics #2, published by Fawcett Comics. He is the alter ego of Billy Batson, a boy who, by speaking the magic word "Shazam!", can transform himself into a costumed adult with the powers of superhuman strength, speed, flight, and other abilities. The character battles an extensive rogues' gallery, most of them working in tandem as the Monster Society of Evil, including primary archenemies Black Adam, Doctor Sivana and Mister Mind. Billy often shares his powers with other children, primarily his sister Mary Batson and their best friend/foster brother Freddy Freeman, who also transform into superheroes and fight crime with Billy as members of the Marvel Family, also known as the Shazam Family.

Quality Comics

Quality Comics

Quality Comics was an American comic book publishing company which operated from 1937 to 1956 and was a creative, influential force in what historians and fans call the Golden Age of Comic Books.

Plastic Man

Plastic Man

Plastic Man is a superhero first appearing in Police Comics #1, originally published by Quality Comics and later acquired by DC Comics. Created by cartoonist Jack Cole, Plastic Man was one of the first superheroes to incorporate humor into mainstream action storytelling. This character has been published in several solo series and has interacted with other characters such as Batman and many others in the mainstream DC Universe as a member of the Justice League. He has additionally appeared in several television and video game adaptations, including a television show of his own named The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show.

Kinney National Company

Kinney National Company

Kinney National Service, Inc. was an American conglomerate company from 1966 to 1972. Its successors were National Kinney Corporation and Warner Communications, Time Warner, AOL Time Warner, and WarnerMedia and its current successor is Warner Bros. Discovery. Kinney National's predecessors were Kinney Service Corporation and National Cleaning Contractors, Inc., whose merger began in January 1966 and was completed in August of the same year. National Cleaning Contractors had been founded in 1886 by Louis Frankel and Max Sweig as National Window Cleaning & House Renovating Co., and was later known as National House Cleaning Contractors, Inc.

History

DC Films

After the divisive reception of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Warner Bros. Pictures made moves to stabilize the direction of the DC Extended Universe. The studio reorganized in May 2016 to have genre-responsible film executives, thus DC Entertainment franchise films under Warner Bros. were placed under a newly created division, DC Films, created under Warner Bros. executive vice president Jon Berg and DC Comics chief content officer Geoff Johns. This was done in hopes of competing more directly with Marvel Studios' Marvel Cinematic Universe. Johns also kept his existing role at DC Comics.[7] However, the division's formation was not designed to override the "director-driven" mandate.[8]

Justice League had one of the biggest film budgets (nearly $300 million) but grossed about $96 million in its opening weekend. An analysis in The Washington Post expected that there would be a course correction again, with a possible change in leadership.[9] The DC Extended Universe operated under a "director-driven" mandate.[8] Forbes contributors felt that the course correction would be for DC Films to give up on the shared universe, while continuing with the Wonder Woman films and occasionally other films, as Warner Bros. has other franchises they can work with.[10] Despite this, in December the studio reiterated their current film slate for the unofficially titled DC Extended Universe.[11] That same month, Warner Bros. announced that a new strategy and organization of DC Films would occur with Berg leaving his position as studio's co-president of production to form a Warner Bros.-based production company with Roy Lee, the producer of The LEGO Movie and It. In January 2018, Warner Bros. executive Walter Hamada was appointed as new president of DC Films, to oversee the films in the DC Extended Universe. Hamada has been closely associated with New Line Cinema, and helped develop horror films, such as It and The Conjuring film franchises.[12]

Restructuring

In April 2022, after the merger between WarnerMedia and Discovery, Inc. to form Warner Bros. Discovery, the new CEO David Zaslav was exploring a restructuring of DC Entertainment, including having a creative leader akin to Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige to lead its film and television projects.[13] Later in July, Toby Emmerich stepped down as the head of the Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group. The group was restructured to give DC Films, Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema, and Warner Animation Group respective leadership. Former MGM executives Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy became the co-executives of Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema. They were also temporarily signed to oversee the remaining units of the group until the new positions were filled.[14][15]

When the release of the film Batgirl was canceled by Warner Bros. Discovery in August, Hamada was reportedly not consulted regarding the decision and only learned about it when De Luca and Abdy informed him at a test screening for Black Adam (2022). Hamada was upset and considered resigning, but agreed to stay until Black Adam's release.[16] Later that month, Dan Lin entered talks to oversee DC's film and television divisions. From this position, Lin was expected to report directly to Zaslav, while Hamada would depart the studio.[17][18] In September, Lin and Warner Bros. Discovery ended negotiations and agreed to part ways.[19] During Black Adam's Times Square premiere in October, star and producer Dwayne Johnson said he could be a consultant at DC Films, helping the studio find its next creative leader.[20] Later that month, it was reported that De Luca had been effectively running DC Films in place of Walter Hamada.[21] On October 19, Hamada departed from the company, just two days before the release of Black Adam.[22]

DC Studios

Shortly after Hamada left the CEO position, James Gunn and Peter Safran were revealed to serve as the co-CEOs/co-Chairmen of the studio and DC Films was rebranded as "DC Studios". The duo was tasked to oversee production on films, television, and animation under the DC label, reporting directly to David Zaslav, while also working alongside but independently of heads of other divisions. Gunn oversees the creative development on DC projects, while Safran oversees the production side. Their roles began effectively on November 1 the same year.[4][23][24] In November, Gunn said that the studio would focus on multiple DCU live-action and animated projects, but also stated that they would acknowledge fan responses and complaints,[25] and confirmed all subsequent DC projects would be released under the DC Studios banner,[26] including those that were filmed prior to the rebranding. In December of the same year, Gunn and Henry Cavill announced that Cavill would no longer return as Superman in any future projects. Gunn also announced that he was writing a new Superman film, based on a younger version of the character. Ben Affleck (who previously portrayed Bruce Wayne/Batman) was also said to be in talks to direct a new DC Studios project.[27] Gunn later revealed that new DC films would have an equal focus on popular and obscure characters, drawing inspiration from the DC animated series Justice League Unlimited and Young Justice.[5][6]

Gunn and Safran announced the first chapter of their universe titled "Gods and Monsters" on January 31, 2023. They also assembled a writers' room featuring Drew Goddard, Jeremy Slater, Christina Hodson, Christal Henry, and Tom King.[28] Projects that are not a part of the shared universe will be branded as "DC Elseworlds".[29] The following month, Gunn confirmed development for animated films both within the DCU and Elseworlds brands.[30] By March 2023, there had been talks regarding further projects based on comics from DC's Vertigo Comics imprint outside of the upcoming Swamp Thing film.[31]

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Development of the DC Extended Universe

Development of the DC Extended Universe

The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) media franchise has experienced a turbulent history since its inception in 2013, characterized by highly publicized clashes between studio executives and talent, constantly-changing approaches to worldbuilding, and changes in management. Warner Bros. Pictures originally announced plans for a shared universe of live-action films based on the DC Comics, starting with the release of Man of Steel (2013), with director Zack Snyder set to spearhead the franchise. Following the negative reception to Snyder's follow-up film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Warner Bros. created DC Films, a new division led by Geoff Johns and Jon Berg tasked with overseeing development of the DCEU. DC Films attempted to correct the course of the franchise, culminating in the troubled production and disastrous release of the crossover film Justice League (2017), which significantly deviated from Snyder's original vision.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is a 2016 American superhero film based on the DC Comics characters Batman and Superman. Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, it is a follow-up to the 2013 film Man of Steel and the second film in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). The film was directed by Zack Snyder, written by Chris Terrio and David S. Goyer, and features an ensemble cast that includes Ben Affleck as Batman and Henry Cavill as Superman, alongside Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Holly Hunter, and Gal Gadot. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is the first live-action film to feature Batman and Superman together, as well as the first live-action cinematic portrayal of Wonder Woman. In the film, criminal mastermind Lex Luthor manipulates Batman into a preemptive battle with Superman, who Luthor is obsessed with destroying.

DC Extended Universe

DC Extended Universe

The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on a series of superhero films and television series produced by DC Studios and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is based on characters that appear in American comic books published by DC Comics. The DCEU also includes comic books, short films, novels, and video games. Like the original DC Universe in comic books, the DCEU was established by crossing over common plot elements, settings, cast, and characters.

DC Entertainment

DC Entertainment

DC Entertainment is an American entertainment company that was founded in September 2009 and was based in Burbank, California. The company is a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery that manages its DC Comics units and characters in other units, as they work with other Warner Bros. units. It also delves into those units within their flagship the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).

DC Comics

DC Comics

DC Comics, Inc. is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery.

Geoff Johns

Geoff Johns

Geoffrey Johns is an American comic book writer, screenwriter, and film and television producer. Johns's work on the DC Comics characters Green Lantern, Aquaman, Flash and Superman, has drawn critical acclaim. He co-created the DC character Courtney Whitmore based on his deceased sister. He also expanded the Green Lantern mythology, adding in new concepts and co-creating numerous characters. Among the DC characters and concepts he co-created are Larfleeze, Indigo Tribe, Red Lantern Corps, Atrocitus, Black Lantern Corps, Jessica Cruz, Hunter Zolomon, Tar Pit, Simon Baz, Bleez, Cyclone, Miss Martian, and Kate Kane.

Marvel Studios

Marvel Studios

Marvel Studios, LLC is an American film and television production company that is a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios, a division of Disney Entertainment, which is owned by the Walt Disney Company. Marvel Studios produces the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films and series, based on characters that appear in Marvel Comics publications.

Marvel Cinematic Universe

Marvel Cinematic Universe

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on a series of superhero films produced by Marvel Studios. The films are based on characters that appear in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The franchise also includes television series, short films, digital series, and literature. The shared universe, much like the original Marvel Universe in comic books, was established by crossing over common plot elements, settings, cast, and characters.

Justice League (film)

Justice League (film)

Justice League is a 2017 American superhero film based on the DC Comics superhero team of the same name. Produced by Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Films, RatPac-Dune Entertainment, Atlas Entertainment, and Cruel and Unusual Films and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, it is the fifth installment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Directed by Zack Snyder and written by Chris Terrio and Joss Whedon, the film features an ensemble cast including Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, Ray Fisher, Jeremy Irons, Diane Lane, Connie Nielsen, and J. K. Simmons. In the film, following the events of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) Batman and Wonder Woman recruit The Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg after the death of Superman to save the world from the catastrophic threat of Steppenwolf and his army of Parademons.

Forbes

Forbes

Forbes is an American business magazine owned by Integrated Whale Media Investments and the Forbes family. Published eight times a year, it features articles on finance, industry, investing, and marketing topics. Forbes also reports on related subjects such as technology, communications, science, politics, and law. It is based in Jersey City, New Jersey. Competitors in the national business magazine category include Fortune and Bloomberg Businessweek. Forbes has an international edition in Asia as well as editions produced under license in 27 countries and regions worldwide.

It (2017 film)

It (2017 film)

It is a 2017 American supernatural horror film directed by Andy Muschietti and written by Chase Palmer, Cary Fukunaga, and Gary Dauberman. It is the first of a two-part adaptation of the 1986 novel of the same name by Stephen King, primarily covering the first chronological half of the book. It is the first film in the It film series as well as being the second adaptation following Tommy Lee Wallace's 1990 miniseries. The film stars Jaeden Lieberher and Bill Skarsgård as the lead roles, with Jeremy Ray Taylor, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Wyatt Oleff, Chosen Jacobs, Jack Dylan Grazer, Nicholas Hamilton, and Jackson Robert Scott featured in supporting roles. The film was produced by New Line Cinema, KatzSmith Productions, Lin Pictures, and Vertigo Entertainment. Set in Derry, Maine, the film tells the story of The Losers' Club, a group of seven outcast children who are terrorized by the eponymous being which emerges from the sewer (Skarsgård), only to face their own personal demons in the process.

New Line Cinema

New Line Cinema

New Line Cinema is an American film production studio owned by Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and is a film label of Warner Bros.

Management

Current

  • James Gunn: Co-Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer (CEO), DC Studios; Gunn serves in leadership as creative head for the company (November 2022–present).[4]
  • Peter Safran: Co-Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer (CEO), DC Studios; Safran serves in leadership over the business aspects of the company (November 2022–present).[4]
  • Chantal Nong: Senior Vice President, Production, overseeing development and production management of DC-based films (February 2018–present).[32]

Former

  • Jon Berg: Former Executive Vice President, Warner Bros. Pictures,[7] former co-Chairman of DC Films, and former co-runner of the DCEU (May 2016–December 2017).[33]
  • Geoff Johns: Former Co-Chairman of DC Films (May 2016–December 2017),[33] former President and Chief Creative Officer, DC Entertainment (February 2010–June 2018), and former co-runner of the DCEU (2015–June 2018).[34]
  • Walter Hamada: Former President, DC-Based Film Production, Warner Bros. Pictures (January 2018–October 2022).[3][35][12]

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James Gunn

James Gunn

James Francis Gunn Jr. is an American filmmaker and executive. He began his career as a screenwriter in the mid-1990s, starting at Troma Entertainment with Tromeo and Juliet (1997). He then began working as a director, starting with the horror-comedy film Slither (2006), and moving to the superhero genre with Super (2010), Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), The Suicide Squad (2021), and the forthcoming Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023). In 2022, Warner Bros. Discovery hired Gunn and Peter Safran to become co-chairmen and co-CEOs of DC Studios.

Peter Safran

Peter Safran

Peter Safran is a British-American film producer and manager. He currently serves as the co-chairperson and CEO of DC Studios alongside James Gunn.

Warner Bros. Pictures

Warner Bros. Pictures

Warner Bros. Pictures is an American film production and distribution company of the Warner Bros. Pictures Group division of Warner Bros. Entertainment. The studio is the flagship producer of live-action feature films within the Warner Bros. Pictures Group unit, and is based at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California. Animated films produced by the Warner Animation Group are also released under the studio banner.

Geoff Johns

Geoff Johns

Geoffrey Johns is an American comic book writer, screenwriter, and film and television producer. Johns's work on the DC Comics characters Green Lantern, Aquaman, Flash and Superman, has drawn critical acclaim. He co-created the DC character Courtney Whitmore based on his deceased sister. He also expanded the Green Lantern mythology, adding in new concepts and co-creating numerous characters. Among the DC characters and concepts he co-created are Larfleeze, Indigo Tribe, Red Lantern Corps, Atrocitus, Black Lantern Corps, Jessica Cruz, Hunter Zolomon, Tar Pit, Simon Baz, Bleez, Cyclone, Miss Martian, and Kate Kane.

DC Entertainment

DC Entertainment

DC Entertainment is an American entertainment company that was founded in September 2009 and was based in Burbank, California. The company is a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery that manages its DC Comics units and characters in other units, as they work with other Warner Bros. units. It also delves into those units within their flagship the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).

Walter Hamada

Walter Hamada

Walter Hamada is an American film executive and producer. He joined New Line Cinema in 2007, where he served as an executive producer on horror films such as The Conjuring (2013), Annabelle (2014), The Conjuring 2 (2016), Lights Out (2016), and It (2017). In January 2018, he was appointed the President at Warner Bros. Pictures for DC-based film production before departing from the company in October 2022. He was hired by Paramount Pictures to oversee their horror film franchises beginning in 2023.

Production library

Films

Live-action

Title U.S.
release date
Director(s) Co-production companies Franchise Notes
Under DC Films
Suicide Squad August 5, 2016 (2016-08-05) David Ayer Warner Bros. Pictures / RatPac-Dune Entertainment / Atlas Entertainment DC Extended Universe
Wonder Woman June 2, 2017 (2017-06-02) Patty Jenkins Warner Bros. Pictures / Atlas Entertainment / Cruel and Unusual Films
Justice League November 17, 2017 (2017-11-17) Zack Snyder
Joss Whedon[a]
Warner Bros. Pictures / RatPac-Dune Entertainment[b] / Atlas Entertainment / Cruel and Unusual Films
Aquaman December 21, 2018 (2018-12-21) James Wan Warner Bros. Pictures / RatPac Entertainment / The Safran Company / Cruel and Unusual Films / Mad Ghost Productions
Shazam! April 5, 2019 (2019-04-05) David F. Sandberg New Line Cinema / The Safran Company / Seven Bucks Productions
Joker October 4, 2019 (2019-10-04) Todd Phillips Warner Bros. Pictures / Village Roadshow Pictures / Bron Creative / Joint Effort Productions Joker film series
Birds of Prey[c] February 7, 2020 (2020-02-07) Cathy Yan Warner Bros. Pictures / LuckyChap Entertainment / Kroll & Co. Entertainment / Clubhouse Productions DC Extended Universe
Wonder Woman 1984 December 25, 2020 (2020-12-25) Patty Jenkins Warner Bros. Pictures / Atlas Entertainment / The Stone Quarry
Zack Snyder's Justice League March 18, 2021 (2021-03-18) Zack Snyder Warner Bros. Pictures / Access Entertainment / Atlas Entertainment / Dune Entertainment / The Stone Quarry HBO Max exclusive
The Suicide Squad August 5, 2021 (2021-08-05) James Gunn Warner Bros. Pictures / Atlas Entertainment / The Safran Company DC Extended Universe
DC Universe
Retrofitted into the DC Universe
The Batman March 4, 2022 (2022-03-04) Matt Reeves Warner Bros. Pictures / 6th & Idaho / Dylan Clark Productions The Batman shared universe
Black Adam October 21, 2022 (2022-10-21) Jaume Collet-Serra New Line Cinema / Seven Bucks Productions / FlynnPictureCo. DC Extended Universe
Under DC Studios
Shazam! Fury of the Gods March 17, 2023 (2023-03-17) David F. Sandberg New Line Cinema / The Safran Company DC Extended Universe
Upcoming
The Flash June 16, 2023 (2023-06-16) Andy Muschietti The Disco Factory / Double Dream DC Extended Universe Post-production
Blue Beetle August 18, 2023 (2023-08-18) Angel Manuel Soto Entertainment One / S&K Pictures / The Safran Company
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom December 25, 2023 (2023-12-25) James Wan The Safran Company / Atomic Monster Productions
Joker: Folie à Deux October 4, 2024 (2024-10-04) Todd Phillips Warner Bros. Pictures / Bron Creative / Village Roadshow Pictures / Joint Effort Joker film series Filming[39]
Superman: Legacy July 11, 2025 (2025-07-11) James Gunn Warner Bros. Pictures DC Universe In development[29][40]
The Batman – Part II October 3, 2025 (2025-10-03) Matt Reeves Warner Bros. Pictures / 6th & Idaho / Dylan Clark Productions The Batman shared universe

Animation

Title U.S.
release date
Director(s) Co-production companies Franchise Release format Notes
Legion of Super-Heroes February 7, 2023 (2023-02-07) Jeff Wamester Warner Bros. Animation Tomorrowverse Direct-to-video
Upcoming
Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham March 28, 2023 (2023-03-28) Sam Liu
Christopher Berkley
Warner Bros. Animation TBA Direct-to-video In development[41][42][43]
Justice League x RWBY: Super Heroes and Huntsmen, Part One April 25, 2023 Kerry Shawcross Warner Bros. Animation
Rooster Teeth
RWBY
Justice League: Warworld Mid-2023 TBA Warner Bros. Animation Tomorrowverse

Television

Live-action

Series Aired Showrunner Co-production companies Franchise Original network Notes
Superman & Lois 2021–present Todd Helbing Warner Bros. Television / Berlanti Productions The CW Season 3 onwards[44][45]
Sweet Tooth 2021–present Jim Mickle Warner Bros. Television / Nightshade / Team Downey Netflix Season 2 onwards[46][47]
Peacemaker 2022–present James Gunn Warner Bros. Television / The Safran Company / Troll Court Entertainment DC Extended Universe
DC Universe
HBO Max Retrofitted into the DC Universe
The Sandman 2022–present Allan Heinberg Warner Bros. Television / PurePop Inc. / The Blank Corporation / Phantom Four Netflix Season 2 onwards[48][49]
Upcoming
The Penguin TBA Lauren LeFranc Warner Bros. Television / 6th & Idaho / Dylan Clark Productions The Batman shared universe HBO Max Miniseries; filming[50][51]
Dead Boy Detectives TBA TBA

Berlanti Productions / Jeremy Carver Productions

Netflix Filming[47]

Animation

Series Aired Showrunner Co-production companies Franchise Original network Notes
Ongoing
Teen Titans Go! 2013–present Aaron Horvath
Michael Jelenic
Peter Rida Michail
Peggy Regan
Warner Bros. Animation Teen Titans Go! Universe Cartoon Network Season 8 onwards
Harley Quinn 2019–present Justin Halpern Warner Bros. Animation / Yes, Norman Productions HBO Max Season 4 onwards
Batwheels 2022–present Steven Fink
Caroline Kermel
Warner Bros. Animation Cartoon Network / HBO Max Episode 9 onwards
Upcoming
My Adventures with Superman 2023 Jake Wyatt Warner Bros. Animation Cartoon Network / HBO Max In production[52]
Batman: Caped Crusader TBA Bruce Timm Warner Bros. Animation / Bad Robot Productions. / 6th and Idaho Amazon Prime Video
Creature Commandos TBA James Gunn Warner Bros. Animation DC Universe HBO Max In production

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List of films based on DC Comics publications

List of films based on DC Comics publications

DC Comics is one of the largest and oldest American comic book publishers. It produces material featuring numerous well-known superhero characters, including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Aquaman, and Green Arrow. Most of this material takes place in a shared fictional universe, which also features teams such as the Justice League, the Suicide Squad, and the Teen Titans.

Suicide Squad (film)

Suicide Squad (film)

Suicide Squad is a 2016 American superhero film based on the DC Comics supervillain/anti-hero team of the same name. Produced by Warner Bros. Pictures, RatPac-Dune Entertainment, DC Films, and Atlas Entertainment, and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, it is the third installment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), it was written and directed by David Ayer and stars an ensemble cast led by Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, Jay Hernandez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Ike Barinholtz, Scott Eastwood, and Cara Delevingne. In the film, a secret government agency led by Amanda Waller recruits imprisoned supervillains to execute dangerous black ops missions and save the world from a powerful threat in exchange for reduced sentences.

David Ayer

David Ayer

David Ayer is an American filmmaker known for making crime films that are set in Los Angeles and deal with gangs and police corruption. His screenplays include Training Day (2001), The Fast and the Furious (2001), and S.W.A.T. (2003). He has also directed Harsh Times (2005), Street Kings (2008), End of Watch (2012), and Sabotage (2014). In 2016, he directed the superhero film Suicide Squad from the DC Extended Universe, and then the urban fantasy film Bright (2017) for Netflix. He has twice collaborated with actor Shia LaBeouf: first with the World War II drama Fury (2014), then the crime thriller The Tax Collector (2020). He has also collaborated with his friend Cle Shaheed Sloan who has appeared in four of his films.

Atlas Entertainment

Atlas Entertainment

Atlas Entertainment is an American film financing and production company, started by Charles Roven, Bob Cavallo and Dawn Steel in 1995.

DC Extended Universe

DC Extended Universe

The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on a series of superhero films and television series produced by DC Studios and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is based on characters that appear in American comic books published by DC Comics. The DCEU also includes comic books, short films, novels, and video games. Like the original DC Universe in comic books, the DCEU was established by crossing over common plot elements, settings, cast, and characters.

Patty Jenkins

Patty Jenkins

Patricia Lea Jenkins is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. She has directed the feature films Monster (2003), Wonder Woman (2017), and Wonder Woman 1984 (2020). For the film Monster, she won the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature and the Franklin J. Schaffner Award of the American Film Institute (AFI). For the pilot episode of the series The Killing (2011), she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination and the Directors Guild of America award for Best Directing in a Drama Series. In 2017, she occupied the seventh place for Time's Person of the Year.

Justice League (film)

Justice League (film)

Justice League is a 2017 American superhero film based on the DC Comics superhero team of the same name. Produced by Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Films, RatPac-Dune Entertainment, Atlas Entertainment, and Cruel and Unusual Films and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, it is the fifth installment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Directed by Zack Snyder and written by Chris Terrio and Joss Whedon, the film features an ensemble cast including Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, Ray Fisher, Jeremy Irons, Diane Lane, Connie Nielsen, and J. K. Simmons. In the film, following the events of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) Batman and Wonder Woman recruit The Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg after the death of Superman to save the world from the catastrophic threat of Steppenwolf and his army of Parademons.

Joss Whedon

Joss Whedon

Joseph Hill Whedon is an American filmmaker, composer, and comic book writer. He is the founder of Mutant Enemy Productions, co-founder of Bellwether Pictures, and is best known as the creator of several television series: the supernatural drama Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003) and its spinoff Angel (1999–2004), the short-lived space Western Firefly (2002), the Internet musical miniseries Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (2008), the science fiction drama Dollhouse (2009–2010), the Marvel Cinematic Universe series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013–2020), and the science fiction drama The Nevers (2021).

Aquaman (film)

Aquaman (film)

Aquaman is a 2018 American superhero film based on the DC character of the same name. Co-produced and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, it is the sixth film in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). The film was directed by James Wan from a screenplay by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Will Beall. It stars Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry / Aquaman, who sets out to lead the underwater kingdom of Atlantis and stop his half-brother, King Orm, from uniting the seven underwater kingdoms to destroy the surface world. Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, Dolph Lundgren, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Nicole Kidman appear in supporting roles.

James Wan

James Wan

James Wan is an Australian director, producer, screenwriter and comic book writer. He has primarily worked in the horror genre as the co-creator of the Saw and Insidious franchises and the creator of The Conjuring Universe. The lattermost is the highest-grossing horror franchise, at over $2 billion. Wan is also the founder of film and television production company Atomic Monster Productions.

RatPac Entertainment

RatPac Entertainment

RatPac Entertainment, LLC is an American media and entertainment company that finances and produces motion pictures, television, documentaries, live theater, and podcasts, owned by Brett Ratner and James Packer.

Shazam! (film)

Shazam! (film)

Shazam! is a 2019 superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name. Produced by New Line Cinema, DC Films, the Safran Company, and Seven Bucks Productions, and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, it is the seventh installment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). It was directed by David F. Sandberg from a screenplay by Henry Gayden who co-wrote the story with Darren Lemke, and stars Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Djimon Hounsou. The film follows teenager Billy Batson (Angel) as he is chosen by the ancient wizard Shazam (Hounsou) to be his new champion by saying the name "Shazam", allowing him to transform into an adult superhero (Levi) with various superpowers. Billy and his foster brother Freddy Freeman (Grazer) must discover Billy's new powers in order to stop the evil Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (Strong) and the Seven Deadly Sins.

Source: "DC Studios", Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, (2023, March 27th), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DC_Studios.

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Notes
  1. ^ Whedon was hired by Warner Bros. Pictures during post-production to significantly alter the film. He is credited as co-screenwriter, while his directing was credited theatrically as executive producer. Despite this, Snyder retains sole credit as director of the film.
  2. ^ In home release, RatPac-Dune Entertainment was replaced with Access Entertainment (RatPac's current owner) and simply Dune Entertainment, following the rape and sexual harassment allegations against RatPac-Dune's CEO, Brett Ratner.[36]
  3. ^ Also known as Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey or the full title of Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn).[37][38]
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