TAGGED AS: DC Comics, streaming, Superheroes, television, TV
UPDATED 2/26/2025
Warner Bros. Pictures’ plans for the DC Comics characters always seem in a state of flux — projects are announced and forgotten, release dates shift constantly, and any attempt to maintain a consistent universe seemingly falls by the wayside. DC’s previous small-screen Multiverse, on the other hand, appeared on firmer ground with long-running shows like Smallville and The CW’s The Flash, surprise successes like HBO Max’s Doom Patrol and Peacemaker, and beloved animated programs including Young Justice and Harley Quinn.
But things have changed. In summer 2022, DC’s new corporate parent, Warner Bros. Discovery, announced to investors a 10-year plan for the characters, with a heavy emphasis on theatrical features. The company’s long hunt for a mastermind (à la Marvel’s Kevin Feige) to take control of a brand reset for film and TV finally ended when James Gunn and Peter Safran assumed their duties as co-CEOs and chairmen at the newly formed DC Studios that November. Meanwhile, the sale of The CW television network to Nexstar Media Group seemingly ended the longstanding foothold for DC on broadcast TV. The last vestige of that era, Superman & Lois, concluded its network run on December 2, 2024.
Of course, the DC superheroes always bounce back from any crisis, so there is always hope to be found. But it is worthwhile to take stock of the series based on the characters currently airing and in development in light of WBD’s and DC Studios new plans. Will your favorites survive a seeming Zero Hour to become Legends in a new (52) environment? And what of the studio’s “Chapter One” roadmap to integrate some TV shows into the new DC Cinematic Universe (DCU)?Let’s take a look at what we know about the various DC TV series for more insight.
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Peacemaker
(Photo by HBO Max)
Status: Wrapped production; on target for a late 2025 releaseWhat We Know: The success of Peacemaker on HBO Max means its planned second season will go forward. No plot details have emerged, but it is easy to imagine Chris (John Cena) seeking to get the band back together for any number of reasons. It is also possible Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) might want to exact some revenge on the task force. And with Gunn now the co-CEO and co-chair of DC Studios, the possibility of Peacemaker continuing beyond the second season increases exponentially. In the interim, though, he admitted to journalists in January 2023 that his duties as DC Studios’ co-CEO means he had not yet written the program’s sophomore outing. A year or so later, production began with Gunn helming a few episodes. Elsewhere, he clarified that the second season will be in continuity with Superman and the other DCU projects — as will most of the first season with the notable exception of the Justice League cameo as the team does not yet exist in the new universe. It will also take place after the events of Superman. Production occurred through the later half of 2024. Per Gunn, the second season will air/stream in the late 2025.
Related: What Peacemaker Season 2 Could Hold
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The Sandman
(Photo by Netflix)
Status: In post-productionWhat We Know: Although the series was welcomed by fans, critics, and viewers when it debuted in August of 2022, its future was unknown for a distressingly long time as the Warner Bros. Television production required a green light from Netflix to continue. Word finally broke of its renewal in early November of that year. As previously reported, co-creator Neil Gaiman said on several occasions that season 2 was mapped out during the writing of season 1. Based on the structure of that debut season, the program will likely move on to the next major Sandman comic book story, “Season of Mists,” which sees Lucifer (Gwendoline Christie in the television series) making a momentous choice and Morpheus (Tom Sturridge) dealing with the fallout. Gaiman’s statement about the renewal strengthens our guess about the subject matter. “It’s time to get back to work,” he wrote. “There’s a family meal ahead, after all. And Lucifer is waiting for Morpheus to return to Hell…” Additionally, paparazzi shots of the set made it clear one shorter story, “The Song of Orpheus” will make its way to screens in the upcoming season. Production was disrupted during the 2023 Screen Actors Guild strike, but resumed that November. In May of 2024, Netflix revealed the actors playing the rest of Morpheus family: Adrian Lester as Destiny, Esmé Creed-Miles as Delirium, and Barry Sloane as a sibling known only (for now) as “The Prodigal” — although, fans of the comics will know this Endless’s name. In subsequent months, Gaiman became the center of sexual misconduct allegations and many of his television projects were cancelled or put on hold. The Sandman was added to that roster when Netflix revealed on January 31, 2025 that the program will conclude with its second season. Apparently, this was always the intention and Gaiman’s current troubles are said to not be a factor in the platform’s decision.
Related: The Sandman Season 2: What’s Next for the Dream Team
Lanterns
(Photo by Amy Sussman/FilmMagic)
Status: A go at HBO, Set for an early 2026 debutWhat We Know: Announced at a HBO Max preview day in 2019, Green Lantern was said to be most ambitious comics-to-screen adaptation ever attempted by Berlanti Productions (the company behind the Arrowverse, Titans, and Doom Patrol), but those ambitions clearly changed in late 2022. Originally set to star Jeremy Irvine and Finn Wittrock (pictured) as Green Lanterns Alan Scott and Guy Gardner, respectively, word broke in October 2022 indicating the program will now focus on Green Lantern John Stewart. Irvine and Wittrock were released from their contracts and the previously announced showrunner, Seth Grahame-Smith, exited the series. Berlanti and other executives at his company remained involved, but none of the other previous creative staff stayed on. In fact, it was unclear who was developing the John Stewart version of the series.
That lack of clarity made a little more sense in January 2023, when Gunn revealed the Berlanti Green Lantern series had been shelved in favor of a DC Studios concept called Lanterns. The “event” program will focus on Stewart, a new recruit, and Silver Age GL Hal Jordan as they investigate a “dark mystery” in American’s heartland that may or may not be related to the overall Chapter One storyline. According to Gunn, the Berlanti project was a space opera while Lanterns will be set primarily on Earth. On June 25, 2024, HBO greenlit the series with Ozark‘s Chris Mundy serving as showrunner and executive producer. Watchmen‘s Damon Lindelof and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow‘s Tom King will write alongside Mundy in addition to being executive producers on the 8-episode event alongside Ron Schmidt. In September of 2024, casting began with Kyle Chandler signing up to play Jordan and Aaron Pierre agreeing to play Stewart. Production was expected to begin in December 2024. On January 24, 2025, Banshee veteran Ulrich Thomsen joined the cast as Sinestro, the Green Lantern fated to become the Corps’s greatest enemy. Other cast members include Kelly Macdonald as Sheriff Kerry, Garret Dillahunt as William Macon, and Poorna Jagannathan as Zoe — described as a potential love interest for John.
Creature Commandos
Status: In production on season 2
What We Know: Just before the conclusion of its successful first season, Max quickly renewed the animated program for another year on December 24, 2024 — although we imagine this was in the works for sometime as scales of economy make it cheaper to produce two seasons than just the one. Task Force M will continue on with the Bride (Indira Varma) inducting new team members and finding a way to get along with the others. What that means for Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo) or Frankenstein (David Harbour) is anyone’s guess. Additionally, Grillo will reportedly be seen as Flag in the live action second season of Peacemaker and this summer’s Superman.
Batman: Caped Crusader
Status: In production on season 2
What We Know: Like our suggestion about Creature Commandos above, Caped Crusader was designed with a two-season order in mind. Production began in September with voice cast excitedly announcing they received scripts for voice recording. Storylines in the new season are anyone’s guess, though, as Batman’s gallery adds a few more rogues, including Joker. Of course, if voice recording commenced last fall, it may still be awhile yet before fans can return to Caped Crusader‘s Gotham City.
Waller
Status: In development
What We Know: Viola Davis is set to star in a Chapter One live action series focusing on her morally flexible Suicide Squad character. Watchmen‘s Christal Henry and Doom Patrol‘s Jeremy Carver are writing the program with unspecified members of the Peacemaker cast set to reprise their roles. When asked about the series during a press event in February 2025, Gunn revealed the script ran into some unspecified troubles and had to be rethought once the second season of Peacemaker jumped forward in the schedule — it was originally meant to air after Waller. It is unclear if Henry and Carver remained attached to the project.
Paradise Lost
Status: In development
What We Know: This Chapter One live action series will focus on the genesis of Themyscira — Wonder Woman’s birthplace — and the political intrigue as its all-women society takes shape. In 2025, Gunn and Safran said the series remains in development.
Booster Gold
Status: In development
What We Know: Based on the popular DC Comics character, this Chapter One series focuses on a going-no-where man from the future who uses everyday technology in his era to become a superhero in ours. Will it lead to riches and brand deals or will Booster become a genuine hero with a Justice League membership? Like many other DCU projects, it awaits Gunn receiving a script he’s happy with before it can go forward. At the February 2025 press event, he and Safran said the series will go forward, although an unnamed showrunner previously interested in the superhero comedy has moved on.
Blue Beetle
Status: In development
What We Know: Stemming from the 2023 film of the same name, the adventures of Jaime Reyes continues in the realm of animation with director Angel Manuel Soto and screenwriter Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer on board as executive producers. Miguel Puga will direct with Cristian Martinez writing. Also, per Gunn’s previous statement that Blue Beetle is part of DCU canon, star Xolo Maridueña will presumable lend his voice to Jaime. According to Safran at the Febrary 2025 press event, the series should get its green light soon.
My Adventures With Green Lantern
Status: Greenlit
What We Know: The first of three animated series geared toward younger viewers Gunn and Safran revealed at the February 2025 press event, My Adventures with Green Lantern will focus on Jessica Cruz — re-imagined as a high school student who gets a crash course in intergalactic heroing when a GL power ring chooses her to be its new bearer. Other debris from whatever made the ring fall to Earth will also give her trouble, as will a cohort of the Green Lantern Corps’s foes. Jake Wyatt serves as executive producer with Stephanie Gonzaga along for the journey as co-EP.
DC Super Powers
Status: Greenlit
What We Know: Taking its name and title treatment from the classic 1980s DC action figure line, the program will instead center on the Alliance School for Heroes and a batch of heroes-in-training that includes Lightning, a Flash, Plastic Man, Aquagirl, a Green Lantern, and Terra. Keeping a close eye on them as principal of the school is J’onn J’onzz — aka the Martian Manhunter — as they work hard to become the next generation of Super Friends. Matt Beans is the executive producer while Michael Chang serves as supervising producer
Starfire
Status: Greenlit
What We Know: The popular Teen Titans characters gets a spotlight of her own courtesy of executive producer Josie Campbell and co-EP Brianne Drouhard. Serving as an origin story, the series will feature the adventures of Koriand’r, a Tamaran native who leaves her planet in an ancient spaceship to see the stars. Once out in the cosmos, she meets space-bikers, plant-loving new pals, and Amythest, the teen ruler of Gemworld. Like the other newly-revealed series, it is unclear if they will be part of the DCU or their own distinct realities, a la Teen Titans GO! or Harley Quinn.
Wonder Woman Animated Series
Status: Rumored (sort of)
What We Know: In March of 2023, Gunn responded to a comment on Twitter stating he is trying to set up a Wonder Woman animated series. It is unclear if the project will part of the DCU or an “Elseworlds,” but Diana definitely deserves the Batman: The Animated Series treatment. While we would normally leave a rumored project off the list, Gunn’s comments suggest it may be something series. Then again, the executive made no mention of this potential project at the February 2025 press event, so maybe it was just a passing thought.
The Penguin Season 2
Status: A possibility?
What We Know: While The Penguin was always positioned as a limited series to lead into The Batman Part 2, its creative success — and the awards showered upon star Colin Farrell — led meany to believe another season could be in the works. At the February 2025 press event, Safran told reporters a lot of variables could stand in the way of another year. Gunn added that Farrell’s willingness to wear the make-up in a long-term production situation could be one of those factors.
Arkham Asylum
(Photo by Lia Toby/Getty Images)
Status: ShelvedWhat We Know: Growing out of Reeves (pictured) and Max’s plan to develop a series centered on the Gotham City Police Department, the Arkham Asylum series was to focus on the family known for running the infamous mental institution. In October 2022, The Staircase’s Antonio Campos signed on to serve as executive producer and showrunner. In July of 2024, word broke indicating the series will not go forward.
