Elseworlds

***Elseworlds*** was an American television series that ran from 2020 to 2028. It is based around the Elseworlds imprint created by DC Comics. It is the fourth television series of the DCEU and the second and final TV series of Phase 2. It premiered on December 4, 2020.

## Plot Summary

An anthology series adapting many Elseworlds stories, or creating entirely new ones.

### Season 1

This season would adapt: Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham, Superman: A Nation Divided, Wonder Woman: Amazonia, Flashpoint (no, not that one), Green Lantern: Evil's Might, and Justice Riders. As well as two original stories entitled: Aquaman: Lord Orin and Martian Manhunter: Martian Swarm.

### Season 2

This season adapts: Batman: Thrillkiller, Superman: The Last Son of Earth, and JLA: The Nail. As well as corresponding sequels.

### Season 3

The season adapts: Batman: Book of the Dead, Supergirl: Wings, JLA: Created Equal, Green Lantern: 1001 Emerald Nights, and Batman: Hollywood Knight.

### Season 4

The entirety of this season of Elseworlds adapts all three volumes of Superman & Batman Generations.

### Season 5

This season adapts Superman: Red Son, Batman: Gotham Noir, Superman/Wonder Woman: Whom Gods Destroy, and Superman: Kal. As well as new stories like Justice Titans, Batman: Identity, and Erstwhile.

### Season 6

The season adapts League of Justice, Catwoman: Guardian of Gotham, Martian Manhunter: American Secrets, Superman: True Brit, and Superman: War of the Worlds. As well as new stories like Aquaman: Power of the Corrupt, The Flash, Gods of Olympus, and Green Lantern: Cosmic Interference.

### Season 7

The entire season tells stories from the Tangent Universe.

### Season 8

The final season of Elseworlds adapts The New Frontier, The Dark Knight Returns, and The Liberty Files.

## Cast

### Season 1

* Aidan Turner as Batman/Bruce Wayne (*Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham*)
* Colin O'Donoghue as Superman/Atticus Kent (*Superman: A Nation Divided*)
* Alexa Davalos as Wonder Woman (*Wonder Woman: Amazonia*)
* Ryan Gosling as The Flash/Barry Allen (*The Flash Point*)
* Casper Van Dien as Green Lantern/Kyle Rayner (*Green Lantern: Evil Might*)
* Travis Fimmel as Lord Orin (*Aquaman: Lord Orin*)
* Lance Reddick as Manhunter J'onzz (*Martian Manhunter: Martian Swarm*)
* Kate Beckinsale as Diana Prince (*Justice Riders*)
* Paul Dano as Kid Flash (*Justice Riders*)
* Michael Spears as Katar Johnson (*Justice Riders*)
* Guy Pearce as Booster Gold (*Justice Riders*)
* Frank Whaley as Beetle (*Justice Riders*)
* Arnold Vosloo as John Jones (*Justice Riders*)

### Season 2

* Emma Stone as Batgirl/Barbara Gordon (*Batman: Thrillkiller* [Parts 1-4])
* Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Robin/Dick Grayson (*Batman: Thrillkiller* [Parts 1-4])
* Sam Witwer as Batman/Bruce Wayne (*Batman: Thrillkiller* [Parts 1-4])
* Zachary Gordon as Kal-El (*Superman: Last Son of Earth* [Parts 1-3])
* Robert James-Collier as Batman/Bruce Wayne (*JLA: The Nail* [Parts 1-5])
* Rebecca Hall as Wonder Woman/Diana Prince (*JLA: The Nail* [Parts 1-5])
* William Moseley as Aquaman/Arthur Curry (*JLA: The Nail* [Parts 1-5])
* Jonathan Groff as The Flash/Barry Allen (*JLA: The Nail* [Parts 1-5])
* Marie Avgeropoulos Hawkwoman/Shiera Hall (*JLA: The Nail* [Parts 1-5])
* Allen Leech as Atom/Ray Palmer (*JLA: The Nail* [Parts 1-5])
* Ricky Whittle as Martian Manhunter/J'onn J'onzz (*JLA: The Nail* [Parts 1-5])
* Sam Benjamin as Green Lantern/Hal Jordan (*JLA: The Nail* [Parts 1-5])

### Season 3

* Fionn Whitehead as Bruce Wayne (*Batman: The Book of the Dead* [Parts 1-2])
* Olivia Holt as Linda Danvers (*Supergirl: Wings* [Parts 1-2])
* Betty Gilpin as Matrix (*Supergirl: Wings* [Parts 1-2])
* Christopher Abbott as Superman/Clark Kent (*JLA: Created Equal* [Parts 1-2])
* Fady Elsayed as Ibn Rayner (*Green Lantern: 1001 Emerald Nights*)
* Golshifteh Farahani as Scheherazade (*Green Lantern: 1001 Emerald Nights*)
* Sam Riley as Byron Wyatt (*Batman: Hollywood Knight* [Parts 1-3])

### Season 4

* Charlie Cox as Batman/Bruce Wayne
* Dylan Kingwell as Robin/Dick Grayson
* Ben Barnes as Batman II/Dick Grayson
* Tom Cruise as Jim Gordon
* Kit Harington as Tony Gordon
* Colin Firth as Alfred Pennyworth
* Jena Malone as Mrs. Wayne
* Daisy Ridley as Batgirl/Barbara Gordon
* Dakota Lotus as Robin II/Bruce Wayne Jr.
* Zac Efron as Batman III/Bruce Wayne Jr.
* Ian Harding as Superman/Clark Kent
* Bridget Regan as Lois Lane-Kent
* Jack Fulton as Joel Kent (young)
* Nicholas Hamilton as Joel Kent
* Alyvia Alyn Lind as Supergirl/Kara Kent (young)
* AnnaSophia Robb as Supergirl/Kara Kent
* Felicity Jones as Lucy Lane
* Chelsea Zhang as Mei-Lei
* Dylan Sprayberry as Knightwing/Clark Wayne
* Anya Chalotra as Amanda Mason
* Evan Rachel Wood as Lana Lang
* Margaret Qualley as Lois/Lara Wayne
* Morena Baccarin as Beautiful Dreamer
* Dominic Sherwood as Thomas Taylor Wayne

### Season 5

* Danila Kozlovsky as Superman/Kal-L (*Superman: Red Son* [Parts 1-3])
* Ian Somerhalder as Bruce Wayne (*Batman: Gotham Noir*)
* Jerry O'Connell as Jim Gordon (*Batman: Gotham Noir*)
* David Mazouz as Knightwing/Bruce Gray (*Justice Titans* [Parts 1-2])
* Keidrick Sellati as Ultraboy/Connor Kent (*Justice Titans* [Parts 1-2])
* Malina Weissman as Wonder Gal/Donna Troian (*Justice Titans* [Parts 1-2])
* Sean Ryan Fox as Cyclone/Art Jackson (*Justice Titans* [Parts 1-2])
* Riley Thomas Stewart as Kid Quick/Wallace Eastman (*Justice Titans* [Parts 1-2])
* Benjamin Flores Jr. as Sentinel/Scott Allan (*Justice Titans* [Parts 1-2])
* Aidan Fiske as Martian Kid/J'onn Sm'ythe (*Justice Titans* [Parts 1-2])
* Sam Worthington as Batman/Bruce Wayne (*Batman: Identity*)
* Sean Faris as Superman/Clark Kent (*Superman/Wonder Woman: Whom Gods Destroy* [Parts 1-4])
* Cobie Smulder as Wonder Woman/Lois Lane (*Superman/Wonder Woman: Whom Gods Destroy* [Part 1-4])
* Jared Padalecki as Clark (*Erstwhile*)
* Kate Siegel as Diana (*Erstwhile*)
* Rahul Kohli as Bruce (*Erstwhile*)
* Sam Heughan as Kal (*Superman: Kal*)
* Rebecca Hall as Lady Loisse (*Superman: Kal*)
* Billy Zane as Baron Luthor (*Superman: Kal*)

### Season 6

* Freddie Fox as Atomus the Palmer (*League of Justice* [Part 1-2])
* Ed Stoppard as Bat-Mancer (*League of Justice* [Part 1-2])
* David Oyelowo as Green Knight (*League of Justice* [Part 1-2])
* Richard Armitage as Longbow Greenarrow (*League of Justice* [Part 1-2])
* Matthew Macfadyen as The Martian (*League of Justice* [Part 1-2])
* Jude Law as Luthiorr (*League of Justice* [Part 1-2])
* Roman Reigns as Loblo (*League of Justice* [Part 1-2])
* Jason Behr as Soveriegn (*League of Justice* [Part 1-2])
* Charlene McKenna as Amazon Princess (*League of Justice* [Part 1-2])
* Jonny Lee Miller as Atlantean (*League of Justice* [Part 1-2])
* Ed Skrein as Hawklord (*League of Justice* [Part 1-2])
* Holliday Granger as Lady Hawk (*League of Justice* [Part 1-2])
* Ben Hardy as Phaeton (*League of Justice* [Part 1-2])
* Lucas Hedges as Griever (*League of Justice* [Part 1-2])
* Riley Keough as Catwoman/Selina Kyle (*Catwoman: Guardian of Gotham* [Parts 1-2])
* Martin Wallstrom as Batman/Bruce Wayne (*Catwoman: Guardian of Gotham* [Parts 1-2])
* Jim Caviezel as Martian Manhunter/J'onn J'onzz (*Martian Manhunter: American Secrets* [Part 1-3])
* Henry Cavill as Superman/Connor Clark (*Superman: True Brit*)
* Tim Rozon as Superman/Kal-L (*Superman: War of the Worlds* [Parts 1-2])
* Kellan Lutz as Arthur Curry (*Aquaman: Powers of the Corrupt*)
* Aaron Tveit as Hermes (*The Flash: Gods of Olympus*)
* Chris Pratt as Kane Jordan (*Green Lantern: Cosmic Interference*)

### Season 7

* Tyler Posey as The Atom
* Caylee Cowan as The Flash
* Alycia Debnam-Carey as Green Lantern
* Juno Temple as Joker/Lori Lemaris
* Lili Simmons as Joker/Mary Marvel
* Olivia Munn as Joker/Madame Xanadu
* Ray Winstone as The Batman
* Jamie Chung as Powergirl
* Jeffrey Wright as The Superman
* Agnes Bruckner as Wonder Woman

### Season 8

* Chris Evans as Green Lantern/Hal Jordan (*The New Frontier* [Parts 1-6])
* Bradley Cooper as Rick Flagg Sr. (*The New Frontier* [Parts 1-6])
* Joe Manganiello as Martian Manhunter/John Jones (*The New Frontier* [Parts 1-6])
* Matt Bomer as Superman/Clark Kent (*The New Frontier* [Parts 1-6])
* Meghan Ory as Wonder Woman/Diana Prince (*The New Frontier* [Parts 1-6])
* Dean Charles Chaplin as The Flash/Barry Allen (*The New Frontier* [Parts 1-6])
* Josh Brolin as Batman/Bruce Wayne (*The New Frontier* [Parts 1-6])
* John Boyega as John Henry (*The New Frontier* [Parts 1-6])
* Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Batman/Bruce Wayne (*The Dark Knight Returns* [Parts 1-4])
* Sam Elliott as Commissioner Gordon (*The Dark Knight Returns* [Parts 1-4])
* Sadie Sink as Robin/Carrie Kelley (*The Dark Knight Returns* [Parts 1-4])
* Julian Bleach as The Joker (*The Dark Knight Returns* [Parts 1-4])
* Christopher Plummer as Alfred Pennyworth (*The Dark Knight Returns* [Parts 1-4])
* Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Yindel (*The Dark Knight Returns* [Parts 1-4])
* Rebecca Romijn as Selina Kyle (*The Dark Knight Returns* [Parts 1-4])
* Michael Shanks as Superman/Clark Kent (*The Dark Knight Returns* [Parts 1-4])
* Kurt Russell as Green Arrow/Oliver Queen (*The Dark Knight Returns* [Parts 1-4])
* Karl Urban as The Bat (*The Liberty Files* [Parts 1-4])
* Tom Weston-Jones as The Clock (*The Liberty Files* [Parts 1-4])
* Colin Farrell as The Owl (*The Liberty Files* [Parts 1-4])
* Sebastian Stan as Jack the Grin (*The Liberty Files* [Parts 1-4])
* Jodie Comer as The Canary (*The Liberty Files* [Parts 1-4])
* Dominic Cooper as Mister Terrific (*The Liberty Files* [Parts 1-4])
* Noah Wyle as Johann (*The Liberty Files* [Parts 1-4])
* Ansel Elgort as The Robin (*The Liberty Files* [Parts 1-4])
* Richard Madden as The Super-Man (*The Liberty Files* [Parts 1-4])
* Cam Gigandet as The Atom (*The Liberty Files* [Parts 1-4])
* Sullivan Stapleton as The Hawk (*The Liberty Files* [Parts 1-4])
* Inbar Lavi as The Huntress (*The Liberty Files* [Parts 1-4])
* Luke Benward as The Lantern (*The Liberty Files* [Parts 1-4])
* Daniel Craig as Mercury (*The Liberty Files* [Parts 1-4])
* John Cusack as The Star (*The Liberty Files* [Parts 1-4])
* Rainn Wilson as The Tornado (*The Liberty Files* [Parts 1-4])

## Reception

When *Elseworlds* first premiered, is received very positive reviews from critics and audiences "Bryan Fuller's addition to the DCEU is a genuinely intriguing one. Many fans would be very happy with what is in store for them on HBO Max, with some good underrated gems getting adapted, as well as great original stories." Pretty much all the stories from the first season would praised. The Doom that Came to Gotham, A Nation Divided, Amazonia, Martian Swarm, and Justice Riders were all unanimously praised. The Flash Point was well liked, but many people were confusing it with the more famous storyline of the same name (despite the slightly different grammar usage). Evil's Might was well liked but many people felt its social commentary was too preachy and Van Dien was wrong for the part of Rayner. Finally, Lord Orin was the worst received of the episodes, as people felt the story has been done better in the past and there was nothing unique about the story. However, Fimmel's performance was praised and despite the cliched story, was still praised.

When season 2 premiered, it received positive reception. Thrillkiller's storyline was praised in terms of the performances and chemistry between Stone and Taylor-Johnson. The Last Son of Earth and its sequel were well liked but Gordon's performance divided fans. The Nail was praised but felt its adaptation of Another Nail was superfluous.

When season 3 premiered, it received mixed reception. While Wings and Hollywood Knight were praised, along with the performances showcased in both, the rest of the stories were middling among fans. Many felt Book of the Dead was a "boring" story and Whitehead gave a phoned in performance. Created Equal received massive negative reviews as many fans felt the story was either stupid or sexist, despite a great performance from Tobias Menzies. Then finally, 1001 Emerald Nights was mixed as some felt the story felt like unnecessary filler, while others felt the story was well executed in combining Middle Eastern folklore and the Green Lantern mythos, with Fady Elsayed's performance being particularly praised despite not being able to do much.

When season 4 premiered it received positive reception. Despite the third installment of Generations not receiving as much praise as the first two installments, the entire season was very well received overall, with the performances, writing, and direction throughout many of the episodes being praised almost unanimously.

When season 5 premiered, it received mixed to positive reception. Red Son, Gotham Noir, Erstwhile, and Kal were all praised, especially Erstwhile as being very unique and different to the rest of the lineup. Justice Titans was well received, however, some of the performances of the younger actors received some negative reception, as well as not really doing anything interesting with its concept. Batman: Identity had similar criticisms for not doing anything worthwhile with it concept, as well as Worthington's performance being "mediocre at best" and was declared as a filler story. Whom Gods Destroy was described as "decent personified".

When season 6 premiered, it received mixed reception. League of Justice, Catwoman: Guardian of Gotham, American Secrets, and Gods of Olympus were all positively received, especially the latter. However, True Brit received mixed to negative reception much like its comic book counterpart despite Cavill's performances being praised. War of the Worlds received mixed reception due to a good story, however, Rozon's performance as Superman was universally panned and claimed he was too wooden. Powers of the Corrupt was panned stating it barely felt like an Aquaman story and felt like a "bad Martin Scorsese movie" for the majority of the running time. Cosmic Interference received mixed reviews stating it was "pretty much Fantastic Four but with Green Lantern instead, with a bit of Doc Manhattan in there as well".

When season 7 premiered, it received mixed reviews. While many praised the performances, some of the episodes, some of the writing, and the world building, many felt they didn't do enough with its concept. However, many hardcore fans of the Tangent line of comics were happy with the adaptation.

When season 8 premiered, it received very positive reviews. The New Frontier and The Dark Knight Returns received very positive reviews and that they adapted their stories almost pitch perfectly. While The Liberty Files was not as well received as the two former stories, many people praised the adaptation as well.

## Trivia

* Bryan Fuller almost left the series after season 3, wanting to work on other projects as well as getting a rather mixed reception for said season. However, since the ratings were still very high, higher ups pleaded with him to stay, and he did so, if they got more of a budget and he got more creative control with the stories. They eventually agreed, and it's how we got the very epic in scale *Superman and Batman: Generations* adaptation in season 4.
* Jeffrey Dean Morgan eventually played Batman in *The Dark Knight Returns* adaptation in season 8. He was one of the runner ups for Batman if Ben Affleck turned it down.