James Gunn's DCU Timeline Explained: All Current & Upcoming Projects
By Dan Bibby
October 17th, 2025
[Updated March 5th, 2026]
[Updated March 5th, 2026]
James Gunn's version of the DC universe is simple and easy to follow, while also being profoundly confusing if you look at it for too long. Knowing what's canon and what's not will undoubtedly be essential as the franchise grows beyond its current infancy, so I'm here to help you start off with all the information you need.
As the current head of DC Studios, James Gunn was handed the keys to the cinematic arm of the franchise in 2022. However, he also added to the DCEU/Synderverse BEFORE he rebooted almost everything and wiped the slate almost clean. If you think I'm dancing around certain superlatives, it's because I am. You'll understand more as you read on.
It's important to understand that James Gunn's The Suicide Squad from 2021 and Peacemaker season 1—also made by Gunn—are not officially part of the DCU's new canon. There are huge chunks of both projects that can be largely assumed to be canon. But, until they are referenced in movies or TV shows that follow it, they exist in a state of canonical flux. For example, Idris Elba's Bloodsport from The Suicide Squad hasn't shown up since, so we don't currently know if he exists in the DCU.
As the current head of DC Studios, James Gunn was handed the keys to the cinematic arm of the franchise in 2022. However, he also added to the DCEU/Synderverse BEFORE he rebooted almost everything and wiped the slate almost clean. If you think I'm dancing around certain superlatives, it's because I am. You'll understand more as you read on.
It's important to understand that James Gunn's The Suicide Squad from 2021 and Peacemaker season 1—also made by Gunn—are not officially part of the DCU's new canon. There are huge chunks of both projects that can be largely assumed to be canon. But, until they are referenced in movies or TV shows that follow it, they exist in a state of canonical flux. For example, Idris Elba's Bloodsport from The Suicide Squad hasn't shown up since, so we don't currently know if he exists in the DCU.
Creature Commandos Season 1 (2024-2025)
This is the first entry into the DCU when it comes to official and inarguable canon. James Gunn himself has explained this. Although the animated show makes what sound like clear and obvious references to the events of Gunn's Suicide Squad movie, think of the events talked about in Creature Commandos as almost identical to those of the movie, only countless details have yet to be cemented in the rebooted continuity.
The return of Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, Sean Gunn as Weasel, and the discussion about Rick Flag Jr. (Joel Kinnaman) being killed by Peacemaker (John Cena) in Corto Maltese tentatively canonize specific parts of The Suicide Squad, but not the entire movie. It can be a tricky concept to get your head around, but it works surprisingly well considering Gunn had to save what he could from his entries into the DCEU so he could still use it as the foundation of his rebooted DCU.
The show has already set up the DCU's immediate future in two ways. Firstly, Creature Commandos season 2 has been greenlit. While it's been confirmed that the second run will have a writers' room rather than Gunn penning all the scripts, a release date hasn't been announced, nor has when it'll be set. Perhaps most excitingly, Creature Commandos season 1 briefly introduced Batman to the DCU. The Caped Crusader's brief cameo could set up or be referenced in Brave and the Bold, an upcoming Batman movie that's currently in development.
The return of Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, Sean Gunn as Weasel, and the discussion about Rick Flag Jr. (Joel Kinnaman) being killed by Peacemaker (John Cena) in Corto Maltese tentatively canonize specific parts of The Suicide Squad, but not the entire movie. It can be a tricky concept to get your head around, but it works surprisingly well considering Gunn had to save what he could from his entries into the DCEU so he could still use it as the foundation of his rebooted DCU.
The show has already set up the DCU's immediate future in two ways. Firstly, Creature Commandos season 2 has been greenlit. While it's been confirmed that the second run will have a writers' room rather than Gunn penning all the scripts, a release date hasn't been announced, nor has when it'll be set. Perhaps most excitingly, Creature Commandos season 1 briefly introduced Batman to the DCU. The Caped Crusader's brief cameo could set up or be referenced in Brave and the Bold, an upcoming Batman movie that's currently in development.
Superman (2025)
Superman was a far more high-profile release than Creature Commandos, so it's not really a surprise that many people thought it was the first DCU project. Unlike Creature Commandos, it's very easy to watch Superman without wondering where the Snyderverse ends and the DCU begins. Henry Cavill isn't playing the title role, so it's easy. David Corenswet has inherited the role and plays the iconic superhero in a far brighter and more optimistic affair than in the Zack Snyder era.
Unlike Creature Commandos, which is aimed at a mature audience, Superman is a family-friendly adventure. It also stands on its own two feet far more as an isolated story. The only exception to this is John Cena's cameo as Peacemaker. It doesn't impact the narrative, but it does supply on-screen confirmation that the two characters exist within the same universe.
Just as Creature Commandos season 1 introduced Batman to the DCU, Superman served as the platform for Skyler Gisondo's debut as Jimmy Olsen. Gisondo's character is set to lead another upcoming project, currently called DC Crime. The show will be an in-universe docuseries focusing on various villains within the DCU. According to Variety, season 1 will focus on Gorilla Grodd. There's currently no release date, and other information is scarce. However, it will have the same showrunners as Netflix's American Vandal, which also spoofed the true crime genre.
Unlike Creature Commandos, which is aimed at a mature audience, Superman is a family-friendly adventure. It also stands on its own two feet far more as an isolated story. The only exception to this is John Cena's cameo as Peacemaker. It doesn't impact the narrative, but it does supply on-screen confirmation that the two characters exist within the same universe.
Just as Creature Commandos season 1 introduced Batman to the DCU, Superman served as the platform for Skyler Gisondo's debut as Jimmy Olsen. Gisondo's character is set to lead another upcoming project, currently called DC Crime. The show will be an in-universe docuseries focusing on various villains within the DCU. According to Variety, season 1 will focus on Gorilla Grodd. There's currently no release date, and other information is scarce. However, it will have the same showrunners as Netflix's American Vandal, which also spoofed the true crime genre.
Untitled Jimmy Olsen Show (TBA)
Skyler Gisondo did such a great job as Jimmy Olsen in Superman that he snagged his own spin-off show. The project currently has no confirmed title or release date, but it is going ahead. The American Vandal mockuseries (is that a word?) creators Dan Perrault and Tony Yacenda are the minds behind the Jimmy Olsen show. So, it's also expected to be an in-universe account of crimes, but in the DC universe, and presented by Gisondo's character. It's not been announced exactly when the show will be set, but it would make sense for it to begin roughly after Superman.
Peacemaker Season 2 (2025)
This is where things can get SUPER confusing. While Peacemaker season 1 is almost entirely relevant to James Gunn's new DCU timeline, it's not completely consistent with it either. There are certain season 1 moments, like Peacemaker's interaction with the DCEU's Justice League, that no longer make any sense. Thankfully, Gunn replaced the Justice League in season 2's season 1 recap with Superman's Justice Gang.
You can (and should) still watch and enjoy Peacemaker season 1 before season 2, but it also needs to be experienced relatively forgivingly from a canonically perspective. If you want to ignore season 1, then season 2 has sort of been put together to make that a possibility. Personally, I think skipping season 1 should be a crime punishable by jail time. But that's just me.
Peacemaker season 3 has already been confirmed not to be happening, despite season 2's cliffhanger ending and the reveal of the DCU's Checkmate team lineup. Still, the characters are expected to return in other DCU projects, so there will surely be inevitable cinematic crossovers that make Peacemaker essential viewing if you want a complete experience.
You can (and should) still watch and enjoy Peacemaker season 1 before season 2, but it also needs to be experienced relatively forgivingly from a canonically perspective. If you want to ignore season 1, then season 2 has sort of been put together to make that a possibility. Personally, I think skipping season 1 should be a crime punishable by jail time. But that's just me.
Peacemaker season 3 has already been confirmed not to be happening, despite season 2's cliffhanger ending and the reveal of the DCU's Checkmate team lineup. Still, the characters are expected to return in other DCU projects, so there will surely be inevitable cinematic crossovers that make Peacemaker essential viewing if you want a complete experience.
Supergirl (2026)
Milly Alcock's Superman cameo as Kal Zor-El, AKA Supergirl, wasn't just in there for fan service. Her introduction to the DCU sets up a movie that's scheduled for release on June 26th, 2026. The movie's plot will be partly based on the Woman of Tomorrow comic book miniseries that was released between 2021 and 2022. It appears to be set after Superman. Its release date implies it'll probably be set roughly at the same time as Lanterns. While the trailer makes references to the 2025 Superman movie, Supergirl seems very much to be a standalone movie that's possible to watch without any homework. That said, it'll probably be more rewarding if you do some prep by keeping up with the DCU.
Lanterns Season 1 (2026)
Lanterns finally released its first trailer in March 2026, and it's not what anyone expected. While many remember Hal Jordan's Green Lantern from Ryan Reynolds' flop of a 2011 movie, the upcoming HBO show has put a different spin on the character. Lanterns introduces Kyle Chandler as the DCU's Hal Jordan. He's older and more experienced, side-stepping the dreaded origin story trope that no one seems to really care about anymore. However, this Hal is so much older that he seems to be prepping his replacement. As someone who has never really cared all that much about Green Lantern, I'm surprised by how much I'm looking forward to this. It's out in August 2026.
Clayface (2026)
2026 will be the DCU's first double-movie year when Clayface hits cinema screens on September 11th, 2026. Gunn has confirmed that Clayface will be a full-on "body horror" movie, making it drastically different in tone from other DCU projects to date. The title character has only shown up in Creature Commandos so far, so it will be interesting to see how he makes the jump to live-action for the franchise's first substantial trip to Gotham City since the reboot.
Man Of Tomorrow (2027)
Gunn is already hard at work on a true sequel to 2025's Superman, with the movie being given the title of Man of Tomorrow. Corenswet is expected to return, as is Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, and a few other members of the cast from across the DCU. It would also make sense if the Man of Tomorrow comics from 1995-1999 were to serve as the foundation for Gunn's upcoming 2027 movie.
Waller Season 1 (TBA)
Gunn has been talking about this one for a while, but production seems to have halted. That said, he has also confirmed that the idea is still alive and that the project will go ahead at some point, with Viola Davis coming back to reprise her role. It will be her first live-action appearance as Amanda Waller since The Suicide Squad, but the first time she has physically appeared since the reboot.
Gunn did provide certain details about his plans for Waller in a YouTube video a couple of years ago, but so much has happened since then that I suspect he'll need to make some significant changes to his original plan for it to fit in with the current continuity. If I had to guess, I think Waller's return will tie into Peacemaker being stranded on Salvation.
Gunn did provide certain details about his plans for Waller in a YouTube video a couple of years ago, but so much has happened since then that I suspect he'll need to make some significant changes to his original plan for it to fit in with the current continuity. If I had to guess, I think Waller's return will tie into Peacemaker being stranded on Salvation.
Head to Talk Nerdy To Me's movie page for more coverage of your favorite films.