- Warner Bros. set release dates for two DC movies this week: "The Flash" and a "Shazam!" sequel, both for 2022.
- The future of DC Films is coming into focus after Warner Bros. pivoted from the box-office disappointment of 2017's "Justice League."
- Among the DC movies with confirmed release dates are "Wonder Woman 1984," "The Batman," Dwayne Johnson's "Black Adam," and an "Aquaman" sequel.
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The future of Warner Bros.' DC Films is becoming clearer. The studio announced release dates this week for the long-delayed "Flash" movie and a "Shazam!" sequel, both for 2022.
DC movies have been trending upward since the DC Extended Universe experiment backfired with 2017's superhero team-up movie, "Justice League," which disappointed at the box office after extensive reshoots and was blasted by critics. While passionate fans still insist that Warner Bros. release Zack Snyder's director's cut of "Justice League," Warner Bros. has moved forward with standalone blockbusters like "Joker" and comedic, critical hits like "Shazam!"
As the DC franchise enters a new decade, it's sticking with what has worked.
A "Wonder Woman" sequel will hit theaters this summer after the first movie exceeded expectations at the box office. Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn was the standout of 2016's critically panned "Suicide Squad," and she'll be the face of February's "Birds of Prey" movie.
And there might be more DC movies on the way that Warner Bros. hasn't set release dates for. An "Aquaman" spin-off about the ancient Trench creatures is in the works and could be released before the "Aquaman" sequel, producer Peter Safran told The Hollywood Reporter in March.
And while a "Green Lantern" TV series is in development at WarnerMedia's upcoming streaming service HBO Max, Warner Bros. is still eyeing a movie based on the character, Variety reported last month (the studio tried once with 2011's "Green Lantern," starring Ryan Reynolds, but was a critical misfire and box-office flop).
Needless to say, the DC movie future looks bright. It will need to be to compete with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which dominated the last decade at the box office and also has a full slate of movies over the next few years.
Below are eight DC movies with confirmed release dates hitting theaters: