The DCEU has been in a whirlwind of upheaval since the new Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav shelved HBO Max‘s “Batgirl” movie, canceled a bunch of other upcoming projects, and declared a full reset on DC’s future. But will this whirlwind become a complete tailspin for Warner Bros. and the DCEU? Zaslav claims DC will have a new 10-year plan a lot like Kevin Feige‘s MCU juggernaut, but with so many shifts happening at once, it’s hard to get a clear view of what Zaslav has in mind.
So, where does this leave other upcoming DCEU films like “The Flash,” “Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom,” and “Black Adam“? Zaslav is reportedly high on all of these films; yes, even “The Flash,” despite it starring embattled actor Ezra Miller. On an earnings call just days after he canceled “Batgirl,” Zaslav said of the films, “We’ve seen them. We think they are terrific, and we think we can make them even better.” So, Zaslav plans to shake those movies up too, but how?
The Hollywood Reporter has minor updates on “Black Adam” and “The Flash,” at least. Miller reportedly participated in additional photography on “The Flash” earlier this summer before being charged with burglary on August 7 in Vermont, his third arrest this year. As for “Black Adam,” the film’s June test screenings debuted a new post-credits scene that introduced a new element to Dwayne Johnson‘s place in the DCEU. Rumors abound about that new element, but Henry Cavill returning as Superman is the hottest one. As for James Wan‘s “Aquaman” sequel, no news is good news: the film is still on pace for its March 2023 theatrical release.
With “Black Adam” out in October, “Lost Kingdom” out next March, and “The Flash” out in June 2023 (although DC is evaluating all options for that film due to Miller’s erratic behavior), there’s only so much Zaslav could change in these films before they hit theaters. Still, those changes scuttle what DC Films president Walter Hamada originally had in mind for the DCEU’s future. Or does it? The Hollywood Reporter notes that Hamada’s plans since he joined DC in 2018 are to have DCEU projects culminate in the “Crisis On Infinite Earths” storyline, basically DC’s equivalent to Marvel’s Infinity saga. So, will Zaslav’s new 10-year plan scuttle Hamada’s goal to reach that storyline, or just offer a different road toward it?
Like everyone else at DC Films, Hamada is reportedly pissed at Zaslav’s shake-ups, and he nearly quit the brand following the shelving of “Batgirl.” However, he remains at DC until at least “Black Adam” hits theaters, perhaps to see how audiences take to Zaslav’s new direction. But it will likely take longer than October to figure out exactly where the DCEU is headed, and if it’s not into further confusion.