In what has to be seen as a shot across Marvel/Disney's bow (or a very aggressive return volley, depending on your point of view), Warner Bros. CEO Kevin Tsujihara disclosed the current film slate for DC Comics-based properties, which includes "at least" 10 films spread through 2020.
DC's ambitious upcoming wave of releases will kick off with "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" in 2016 as expected, but Tsujihara, speaking during a Time Warner investors meeting covered live by Deadline, confirmed the existence of the previously reported David Ayer-directed "Suicide Squad" film, also in 2016. 2017 brings "Wonder Woman" with Gal Gadot reprising her "Batman v Superman" role, and a standalone "Justice League" film. In 2018, the studio plans to expand DC's cinematic presence with two individual films, "The Flash" and "Aquaman," with Jason Momoa (long rumored to be taking the role) officially confirmed to star. 2019 slates the previously reported "Shazam" film and a "Justice League" sequel. 2020 will consist of "Cyborg" and a new "Green Lantern" film, nine years after the 2011 original.
Warner Bros. putting a "The Flash" film on the slate in 2018 is an interesting move, considering that Warner Bros. Television has just launched a "The Flash" television series starring Grant Gustin. The film will feature a different person playing the Scarlet Speedster, Ezra Miller. Also of note is that there are no other standalone Superman or Batman films listed other than "Batman v Superman," though both Henry Cavill and Ben Affleck are confirmed to reprise their roles in the first standalone "Justice League" film, and a tweet from Warner Bros. states that more Superman and Batman movies are on the way outside of the plan revealed Wednesday:
.@WarnerBrosEnt plans to release at least 10 @DCComics -based films beginning in 2016, not counting stand-alone Batman and Superman films.
— Time Warner (@twxcorp) October 15, 2014
The full listing of the films, via press release from Warner Bros., is below:
- "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," directed by Zack Snyder (2016)
- "Suicide Squad," directed by David Ayer (2016)
- "Wonder Woman," starring Gal Gadot (2017)
- "Justice League Part One," directed by Zack Snyder, with Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill and Amy Adams reprising their roles (2017)
- "The Flash," starring Ezra Miller (2018)
- "Aquaman," starring Jason Momoa (2018)
- "Shazam" (2019)
- "Justice League Part Two," directed by Zack Snyder (2019)
- "Cyborg," starring Ray Fisher (2020)
- "Green Lantern" (2020)
There's also this handy-dandy infographic/chart as well:
