7 Upcoming DC Universe Movies & TV Shows Set Up By James Gunn’s Superman

Spoiler alert! This article contains spoilers for Superman (2025)

James Gunn’s Superman (2025) doesn’t just reintroduce DC’s Man of Steel, it sets the stage for the future of the new DC Universe. The first live-action entry in Gunn and Peter Safran’s interconnected vision, Superman is a character-driven reboot and a sprawling setup machine. With new heroes, Easter eggs, and cosmic lore, the film drops several hints toward upcoming projects.

Superman (2025) balances high-stakes superhero action with quieter, emotional moments, while also introducing lesser-known characters like Guy Gardner, Hawkgirl, and Engineer. With Lex Luthor, Krypto, and alien threats all factoring into the plot, Superman is clearly the beginning of a much bigger saga. Gunn has confirmed that Superman is a launchpad, with multiple TV shows and films already lined up.

7

Supergirl: Woman Of Tomorrow

Expected In 2026

The closing moments of Superman (2025) provide a surprising tease for Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. In the final scene, a visibly intoxicated Kara Zor-El stumbles into the Fortress of Solitude in full costume and retrieves Krypto, collapsing onto the floor laughing. In this continuity, Krypto is Supergirl’s faithful companion rather than Superman’s, and the unruly hound excitedly leaps at Kara.

Kara’s demeanor is chaotic and sloppy, a stark contrast to the stoic Clark Kent. Gunn has described the upcoming Supergirl movie as “a big science fiction epic film” and “a beautiful, star-spanning tale.” Inspired by Tom King’s acclaimed comic of the same name, the story will explore Kara’s traumatic upbringing on a fragment of Krypton that survived the planet’s destruction.

Kara witnessed the slow death of her world and everyone she loved. In the DCU, she has apparently learned to cope with this through alcohol. This sharply contrasts with Kal-El, who grew up on Earth surrounded by kindness and love. Regardless, her surprise introduction in Superman confirms she’s already active on Earth.

6

Lanterns

Expected In 2026

Guy Gardner’s presence in Superman isn’t just comic relief, it’s foundational. Nathan Fillion’s version of the Green Lantern plays a significant role in several major action sequences, including Superman’s battle with the Kaiju and the intergalactic skirmish between Boravia and Jarhanpur. During the film, Guy references the wider Green Lantern Corps, establishing their existence in the new DC Universe.

This all sets the stage for Lanterns, the upcoming Max series that centers on Hal Jordan and John Stewart. Described by Gunn as a “True Detective-style mystery,” Lanterns promises to ground the cosmic mythology in a gritty, Earth-based investigation. While Gardner won’t be the lead, his appearances help establish the tone and scope of the Lanterns’ world.

The series will explore the darker corners of the universe through the lens of two contrasting Green Lanterns as they uncover a mysterious force threatening Earth. Fillion is confirmed to return as Guy Gardner, suggesting his comedic and volatile energy will continue to orbit the more serious and methodical Hal and John. Nevertheless, the Green Lantern Corps have arrived.

5

Justice League

Confirmed But Not Yet In Development

Though the term “Justice League” is never directly spoken in Superman, the building blocks are undeniably there. The film introduces a group tentatively dubbed the “Justice Gang” – a name mostly mocked within the narrative. This proto-team includes Mister Terrific, Hawkgirl, and Guy Gardner’s Green Lantern, all of whom join Superman in key battles.

Metamorpho later joins the team, further hinting at future roster additions. The dynamic between these heroes, especially the contrast between Gardner’s impulsiveness and Terrific’s logic, offers a compelling blueprint for what could become the DCU’s definitive superhero team. Gunn has already confirmed that a Justice League movie is part of his long-term plans, though no details have been revealed.

Superman subtly builds toward this by showing how Earth’s defenders begin to unite in response to growing extraterrestrial threats and moral gray zones. With Superman at the center of this ensemble, the transition from the “Justice Gang” to the Justice League feels inevitable. Certainly, a new League is forming – and it may be bigger than ever.

4

Peacemaker Season 2

Expected August 2025

Peacemaker makes a brief but telling cameo in Superman, laying the groundwork for the DCU’s next release: Peacemaker season 2. Peacemaker appears during a television news broadcast, where he mocks Superman’s clean-cut image and hesitance to kill evildoers. This quick moment connects the disparate heroes and highlights their differing methods.

Peacemaker season 2 is slated to debut on August 21, 2025, on Max. The upcoming season is set after both Creature Commandos and Superman, ensuring continuity remains tight within Gunn’s DCU. Season 2 will see Frank Grillo return as Rick Flag Sr., expanding on threads introduced in Creature Commandos.

Meanwhile, several characters from Superman, Hawkgirl, Guy Gardner, and Sean Gunn’s Maxwell Lord, are set to appear, blurring the lines between TV and film in this interconnected universe. With the DCU expanding rapidly, Peacemaker season 2 will likely serve as both a sequel and a tonal outlier in a universe increasingly defined by legacy and morality.

3

The Authority

In Development

María Gabriela de Faría’s Angela Spica, aka Engineer, may not get much screen time in Superman, but her role is essential. Working as part of Lex Luthor’s strike force, Engineer is one of Luthor’s experiments to infuse humans with nanites. The result is a liquid-style body that can transform into weapons at will.

The Engineer uses this to engage Superman in battle, almost suffocating him with the nanites. These morally dubious actions place her squarely in line with the team she’ll soon join: The Authority. Gunn has described the film as a story about a group that believes “the world is completely broken” and that fixing it may require extreme, even violent, measures.

The Authority operates outside the traditional hero paradigm, willing to assassinate corrupt leaders or topple governments if they deem it necessary. Engineer is one of their core members, a technopath who replaces much of her body with nanotechnology. Her cold demeanor and calculated decisions in Superman make her perfect for this ethically complex group.

2

Waller

In Development

Amanda Waller’s fingerprints are all over the DCU, even if she never appears in Superman. Following Lex Luthor’s defeat, he is taken to Belle Reve Penitentiary, the infamous prison where Waller keeps metahumans and dangerous assets under surveillance. This direct tie-in connects Superman to Waller, the upcoming Max series starring Viola Davis reprising her role from The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker.

The show will reportedly focus on Waller navigating the fallout from both Creature Commandos and Superman, as her authority begins to fray amidst rising metahuman activity and alien incursions. With her morally flexible ethics, Waller has long operated in the gray areas of heroism and government control. She often manipulates both heroes and villains for what she sees as the “greater good.”

The inclusion of Belle Reve signals that the DCU will continue to use her as a shadowy connective tissue between its most dangerous narratives. It’s unlikely that Luthor would be recruited into one of her teams. However, it will surely only be a matter of time before the two meet.

1

Krypto The Super Dog Shorts

Expected In 2025

Krypto, Superman’s loyal canine companion, is more than just a sidekick, he’s a breakout star in his own right. Throughout Superman, Krypto proves to be both a source of comic relief and a legitimate force in battle, showing off powers similar to his Kryptonian masters. His chemistry with Superman adds warmth to the film.

Yet it’s his emotional connection with Supergirl in the final scene hints at deeper storytelling potential. Capitalizing on the pup’s popularity, DC Studios announced a four-part series of animated shorts titled Krypto the Superdog. These shorts are expected to mix lighthearted fun with surprising heart, giving audiences a chance to explore the DCU from Krypto’s unique perspective.

While not essential to the overarching continuity, these shorts aim to expand the universe’s tone and accessibility, offering a family-friendly entry point for younger viewers. Whether he’s fetching meteors or saving civilians, Krypto’s adventures are just beginning, and fans of the super-pooch have plenty to look forward to. Much of this has been thanks to his scene-stealing appearance in Superman.