21 DC Studios Projects After Lanterns: Your Complete Guide to James Gunn’s Next Chapter

Lanterns Season 1 wrapped on HBO Max on October 4 with its finale, “Dirt and Stars,” and fans are already asking the big question: what’s next? James Gunn confirmed Episode 8 was a “season finale,” not necessarily a series finale, so the door is open. The good news is that DC Studios has a packed slate, from a horror film arriving this month to animated series that won’t land until 2028. Here’s your friendly roadmap.

DC Studios The Full Slate

For background on the man steering all this, see James Gunn on Wikipedia.

Clayface Brings Horror to the DCU Next Week

It’s the closest release on the list. Clayface arrives October 23 as the DCU’s first outright R-rated horror story. Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries) is a rising actor whose face is disfigured by a Gotham gangster, and the experimental treatment meant to fix it goes horribly wrong. It’s a Batman villain origin story, and it also debuts the DCU’s live-action Gotham, so expect it to matter later.

Man of Tomorrow Is Gunn’s Big Superman Sequel

Filming wrapped on August 26 after a 93-day shoot, keeping the film on track for July 9, 2027. Superman (David Corenswet) and Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) team up against Brainiac (Lars Eidinger). Gunn has said it’s as much a Lex movie as a Superman one. Good news for Lanterns fans too: Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart is set to appear.

The People v. Gorilla Grodd Is a Mockumentary With Bite

Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo) produces a “true crime” docuseries about Gorilla Grodd (Jimmy Tatro), who was convicted of killing his father. Filming began in Atlanta in early September. It’s aimed at 2027, but Gunn says it won’t release before Man of Tomorrow.

Creature Commandos Season 2 Gets Bigger

Gunn says the return won’t be long after Man of Tomorrow. Dean Lorey takes over as showrunner and writer, and the season runs 10 episodes, three more than the first. With Frank Grillo’s Rick Flag Sr. involved, there’s a chance it links to the Salvation storyline from Peacemaker Season 2.

The Batman Part 2 Hits a Sad Pause

Matt Reeves’ sequel lives outside the DCU. Production was paused on October 5 while Reeves handles a family matter. It’s unclear whether this affects the February 18, 2028 date, which had already slipped from October 2027. Here’s hoping everything is okay.

Mister Miracle Heads Into Cosmic War

Comic co-creator Tom King is showrunner of this adult animated series. Scott Free and Big Barda are pulled back to New Genesis and Apokolips amid a war between the two, and Darkseid is expected among the New Gods.

Blue Beetle Survives the Rumor Mill

A July report claimed the animated series was in jeopardy after HBO Max pivoted away from children’s programming. Gunn shot that down, saying it’s still in development. Xolo Maridueña also returns as Jaime Reyes in live action in Man of Tomorrow.

Dynamic Duo Reimagines Robin as a Street Kid

This theatrical animated film follows young Dick Grayson (Mason Thames) and Jason Todd (Logan Kim) as street kids in Gotham, with Chris Pine as Batman. It’s now dated September 22, 2028. It isn’t DCU canon, and Kim publicly denied that idea.

Lanterns Season 2 Is Taking Shape

HBO hasn’t officially renewed it, but development is underway. Showrunner Chris Mundy says he’s about six weeks into laying out a season, and Halt and Catch Fire co-creator Christopher Cantwell has reportedly signed on.

The Brave and the Bold Is Still Missing Its Script

The DCU’s Batman is coming, likely pairing Bruce with his son Damian. Andy Muschietti is reportedly still attached, but Gunn confirmed in January the screenplay wasn’t finished. Even the title may change.

Teen Titans Waits on the Back Burner

Ana Nogueira is attached to write, but she’s busy with Wonder Woman. Her standing may also be in flux after Supergirl was reported as a critical and commercial failure this past summer.

Mr. Terrific Gets His Own Spinoff

Edi Gathegi’s tech genius gets a series, with Allan Heinberg (co-writer of 2017’s Wonder Woman) writing the pilot. Gathegi is also expected in Man of Tomorrow.

Bane & Deathstroke Is the Mystery Team-Up

Reportedly the DCU’s next high-priority movie, yet there’s no word on cast, story, director or title. It’s a random pairing, and that’s exactly what makes it intriguing.

Wonder Woman Still Needs Her Diana

Nogueira is writing the reboot, which began last year. No one is cast yet. Fans hoped Adria Arjona was Diana in Man of Tomorrow, but set photos of her in a red wig suggest she’s playing Maxima instead.

The Non-Canon Animated Wave

Five animated projects sit outside DCU continuity:

• *My Adventures with Green Lantern: Follows Jessica Cruz (Auli’i Cravalho) in the same world as My Adventures with Superman.
• *DC Super Powers: Heroes-in-training at the Alliance School, taught by Martian Manhunter, aimed at younger viewers.
• *Starfire: Hynden Walch returns to voice the Tamaranean princess as she explores the galaxy.
• *Absolute Batman: Scott Snyder’s hit comic becomes a CG series with a working-class Bruce Wayne, likely 2028 or later.
• *Joker: Laugh Riot: An adult anime where Batman is murdered and the Joker hunts the killer.

Krypto and Gunn’s Mystery Third Film

Krypto, from C.H. Greenblatt, stars Superman’s dog as a chaotic ball of lovable energy. Meanwhile, Gunn replied “Already in it” when asked on Threads about his next film. That would be his third DCU movie, though he hasn’t revealed what it is.

Keep Exploring

Want more superhero coverage? Browse our DC Universe news hub, catch up on the latest HBO Max series updates, and explore more upcoming movie releases on Technosports.

FAQs

What is the next DC Studios movie after Lanterns?
Clayface arrives in theaters on October 23 as the DCU’s first R-rated horror film.

Is Lanterns getting a Season 2?
It’s in development with writers attached, but HBO hasn’t officially renewed it yet.