DC Extended Universe

The DC Extended Universe (shortened as the DCEU) is an American media franchise and shared universe that was centered on a series of superhero movies and television series produced by DC Studios and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, based on characters that appear in publications by DC Comics. It also included comic books, short movies, novels, and video games.

Background
The shared universe, much like the original DC Universe in comic books, was established by crossing over common plot elements, settings, cast, and characters. The movies have been in production since 2011 and in that time Warner Bros. has distributed four movies with more than ten in various stages of production. The series has grossed over $3 billion at the global box office, currently making it the seventeenth highest-grossing movie franchise.

The movies were written and directed by a variety of screenwriters and feature large, often ensemble, casts. Several actors, including Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, and Ray Fisher, had been set to appear in numerous movies.

In May 2016, DC's chief creative officer Geoff Johns and Warner Bros. executive vice president Jon Berg were appointed to co-run the DC Films division and oversee creative decisions, production and story-arcs in order to create a cohesive overarching plot within the movies. However, after the movie Justice League failed to make as much money as expected and was considered lackluster, less focus was placed on making a shared universe and new president Walter Hamada wanted to focus on making less-expensive movies.

After a continued failure to make consistently good movies in the DCEU and money issues throughout the entire Warner Bros. organization, but Wonder Woman and it’s sequel grossed over $5 billion, both becoming box office blockbusters, James Gunn and Peter Safran were hired to replace Hamada at DC Studios, as Warner Bros. went through a company reorganization and combined with the Discovery Channel to form Warner Bros. Discovery. Gunn and Safran plan to start the movie series over as the DC Universe (DCU), getting rid of most actors including Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, and Ray Fisher, and starting over with a brand-new storyline.

Movies
The first movie in the DCEU was Man of Steel (2013), which was followed by Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Suicide Squad (2016), Wonder Woman (2017), Aquaman (2018), Shazam! (2019), Birds of Prey (2020), Wonder Woman 1984 (2020), Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021), The Suicide Squad (2021), Black Adam (2022), Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023) and The Flash (2023) with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023) being the last movie of the franchise. The Tim Burton Batman movies Batman and Batman Returns became part of the DCEU in The Flash (2023) through time travel. The Flash is planned to "reboot" the DCEU into the DCU, with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom planned to wrap up the DCEU storyline before the first DCU movie Superman: Legacy comes out in 2025 with a brand-new Superman. 

A movie about Batgirl titled Batgirl was going to be released in 2022 through HBO Max, but it was cancelled by Warner Bros. in August of that year.

Other projects were in many stages of development before James Gunn decided to reboot, including Justice League Dark, a third Wonder Woman movie, and untitled solo movies for Supergirl, and other characters. 

Television shows for HBO Max include Peacemaker (2022). Shows being made is another Suicide Squad spin-off, and Green Lantern Corps.

Box office money made
 Box-office performance 
 Film U.S. release date Box office gross Budget  U.S. and Canada Other territories Worldwide Man of Steel June 14, 2013 $69,045,518 $56,100,000 $125,145,518 $225 million Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice March 25, 2016 $123,360,194 $306,002,609 $429,362,803 $250 million Suicide Squad August 5, 2016 $456,100,054 $424,160,400 $880,260,454 $175 million Wonder Woman June 2, 2017 $576,845,172 $512,125,510 $1,088,970,682 $149 million Justice League November 17, 2017 $229,024,295 $432,302,692 $661,326,987 $300 million Justice League production budget:  Aquaman December 21, 2018 $335,104,314 $816,924,079 $1,152,028,393 $160 million Aquaman production budget:  Shazam! April 5, 2019 $140,480,049 $227,318,962 $367,799,011 $100 million Birds of Prey February 7, 2020 $84,172,791 $121,200,000 $205,372,791 $84.5 million Wonder Woman 1984 December 25, 2020 $912,801,036 $3,126,800,000 $4,139,601,036 $410 million The Suicide Squad August 5, 2021 $55,817,425 $112,900,000 $168,717,425 $185 million Black Adam October 21, 2022 $168,152,111 $225,300,000 $393,452,111 $195 million Shazam! Fury of the Gods March 17, 2023 $57,638,006 $76,400,000 $134,038,006 $125 million The Flash June 16, 2023 $108,133,313 $304,200,000 $412,333,313 $200 million Blue Beetle August 18, 2023 $72,488,072 $416,300,000 $487,788,072 $104 million Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom December 22, 2023 $124,209,572 $309,900,000 $434,109,572 $205 million Total $ $ $19,457,894,277 $3.812 billion

 Recurring cast and characters 
List indicators

This section shows characters who have appeared in three or more franchises.

 An empty grey cell indicates the character was not in the movie.
 A indicates an appearance through archival footage.
 C indicates a cameo role.
 E indicates an appearance not included in the theatrical cut.
 G indicates a guest appearance in the season.
 P indicates an appearance in onscreen photographs.
 S indicates an appearance through use of special effects.
 U indicates an uncredited appearance.

+CharacterMovieTelevisionMan of SteelBatman v Superman: Dawn of JusticeSuicide Squad moviesWonder Woman movies!Justice League movies!Aquaman movies!Shazam movies!Birds of PreyBlack AdamThe FlashPeacemakerBarry Allen The FlashEzra MillerCEzra MillerEzra MillerEzra MillerUGArthur Curry AquamanJason MomoaCJason MomoaPJason MomoaJason MomoaUGThomas CurryTemuera MorrisonTemuera MorrisonCJohn EconomosSteve AgeeSteve AgeeSteve AgeeRick FlagJoel KinnamanJoel KinnamanAGeorge "Digger" Harkness
Captain BoomerangJai CourtneyJai CourtneyPJai CourtneySKal-El / Clark Kent
SupermanHenry CavillHenry CavillRyan HadleyCHenry CavillCBrad AbramenkoCEmilia HarcourtJennifer HollandJennifer HollandJennifer HollandHippolytaConnie NielsenJokerJared LetoJared LetoEJohn GothCJared LetoAJ'onn J'onzz / Calvin Swanwick Martian ManhunterHarry LennixHarry LennixEJonathan KentKevin CostnerKevin CostnerCKevin CostnerMartha KentDiane LaneDiane LaneLois LaneAmy AdamsAmy AdamsMeraAmber HeardEAmber HeardAlfred PennyworthJeremy IronsJeremy IronsJeremy IronsDiana Prince Wonder WomanGal GadotGal GadotGal GadotUGal GadotCKimberley von IlbergCHarleen Quinzel
Harley QuinnMargot RobbieMargot RobbieMargot RobbieAShazam
The WizardDjimon HounsouDjimon HounsouCChristopher Smith 
PeacemakerJohn CenaJohn CenaVictor Stone 
CyborgRay FisherCRay FisherSteve TrevorChris PinePChris PineAmanda WallerViola DavisViola DavisViola DavisBruce Wayne BatmanBen AffleckBen AffleckUBen AffleckBen AffleckUGeneral ZodMichael ShannonMichael ShannonSMichael Shannon

References

Other websites
 DC Extended Universe wikia

Category:Fictional universes
Category:Series of movies
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