DCU Timeline Explained: The Chronological Order of 13 Movies and Shows

Trying to follow James Gunn’s DC universe in order can feel like solving a puzzle with missing pieces. A fan-made timeline just got a nod from the boss himself, so here’s how it stacks up, with the caveats.

What Gunn Actually Said?

The headline buzz says “confirmed,” but the reality is more modest. James Gunn replied on Threads to a fan-made sequence with “I think this is pretty good.” He didn’t write it or fully approve it, so the order is solid but the exact years are debatable. For more on the franchise, explore our DC and Marvel coverage on Technosports.

The Timeline at a Glance

The Early Entries: Lanterns, Clayface and Pre-DCU Holdovers

Lanterns jumps around, even reaching back to 1986, but its main story unfolds in Nebraska in 2016. Clayface sits in 2021 on the fan list, though Gunn called it the first DCU film out of chronological order. It’s confirmed as a prequel to Creature Commandos.

The Messy Middle: Suicide Squad, Peacemaker and Blue Beetle

This is where things get complicated. Gunn said on a podcast that The Suicide Squad is mostly canon, with Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn the biggest outlier. Lining it up with Superman might push it to 2023 or 2024, so a fixed date is shaky. Peacemaker Season 1 must follow it, and Gunn retconned its ending to feature the Justice Gang instead of the old Justice League. For Blue Beetle, Gunn has said the character is canon, but he hasn’t said the same about the movie.

The Superman Era

Superman happens in mid-May 2025, with Creature Commandos Season 1 safely before it thanks to the Rick Flag Sr. connection. Peacemaker Season 2 follows roughly 30 days later, a timing Gunn confirmed at Comic-Con 2025. Supergirl lands in 2026, between Superman and Man of Tomorrow.

What’s Next: 2027 and Beyond?

Lanterns Episodes 6–8 are mainly set in 2026, and John Stewart returns a year later in Man of Tomorrow, which Gunn says takes place in “basically real time” after Superman. Creature Commandos Season 2 won’t release until after that film, so its events may slip into 2027. The People v. Gorilla Grodd follows Man of Tomorrow, though Gunn warned that the true-crime format “jumps all over the place.” For related reading, see our latest Avengers: Doomsday updates.

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