“Aquaman 2”
No matter what you think of 2018’s “Aquaman,” you can’t help but hand it to filmmaker James Wan and lead actor Jason Momoa. Those guys created one very bright, very big, crowd-pleasing blockbuster. And with the massive success of the original film, WB was quick to get the ball rolling on “Aquaman 2” and potential spinoff films (more on that later). But even though “Aquaman 2” is scheduled for a late-2022 release, we don’t really have much news on where the film is going. We know Wan is returning to the helm and obviously, Jason Momoa and Amber Heard will return in the cast. But other than that, we’re just expecting more loud, colorful fights and more shirtless Momoa. And honestly, that’s probably enough to guarantee another $1 billion at the box office.
Release Date: December 16, 2022.
“Constantine” TV Series
For a C-list DC character that doesn’t have the iconic imagery of a Batman or Superman, it’s pretty shocking that Constantine has appeared in a solo film and his own network TV series. Alas, neither project did huge numbers, and it appears that WarnerMedia is ready to give “Constantine” a go for a third time, with J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot production company developing a new HBO Max streaming series for the character. “Constantine” is expected to follow the title character, a magical being from the darker parts of the DC Universe, as he deals with supernatural threats. The series’ pilot is written by Guy Bolton and the show is said to follow a younger version of the character and lean in more to the horror elements of the comics lore.
Release Date: With a writers room scheduled to open up last month, this looks like it could be on track to begin filming before the end of the year, with a 2022 release seeming probable.
“Green Lantern” TV Series
Ever since the 2011 “Green Lantern” film starring Ryan Reynolds was a huge bomb for WB, the idea of a reboot has been floating around. At first, it was announced a few years later as a potential film titled “Green Lantern Corps.” But then last October, it was revealed that HBO Max has greenlit a brand-new “Green Lantern” streaming series with Seth Grahame-Smith and Marc Guggenheim serving as co-writers and executive producers. Not much is known about the series, though obviously, it will tell the story of the Green Lantern Corps, a group of interstellar police-esque heroes that use cosmic-powered rings to fight bad guys and protect worlds. It’s also assumed the series will not follow the story of Hal Jordan (who was portrayed by Reynolds in the film) and instead, will focus on John Stewart, who was recently cut out of appearing in “Zack Snyder’s Justice League” because the studio had bigger plans for the character.
Release Date: With reports that filming could begin this year, it does seem like HBO Max wants to get “Green Lantern” on its streaming platform, ASAP. So don’t be surprised if we see a 2022 debut.
2023 & Beyond
“Shazam! Fury of the Gods”
Though “Shazam!” didn’t necessarily explode at the box office when it was released in 2019, the film did do enough to win over a ton of critics and fans, thanks to its light-hearted tone and fun take on the DCEU, a welcome change of pace from things like “Batman v. Superman” and “Suicide Squad.” And since WB isn’t willing to pass up any chance to continue with potential superhero franchises, the studio quickly greenlit a second film in the series, titled “Shazam! Fury of the Gods.” The sequel sees the return of Zachary Levi as the title character along with his “family” of heroes as they take on a new threat, Hespera, reportedly played by Helen Mirren. Director David F. Sandberg is returning, and the cast is set to include Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, and newcomer Rachel Zegler.
Release Date: June 2, 2023.
