DC Studios is a film and television production company working through Warner Bros. Discovery. Headed by James Gunn and Peter Safran since 2022, the studio produces live-action and animated films and TV series adapting DC Comics publications, primarily as part of its flagship franchise, the DC Universe.
The company was founded as a division of Warner Bros. Pictures called DC Films in 2016 by Geoff Johns and Jon Berg to oversee movies set in the DC Extended Universe. However, after several releases proved unsuccessful both critically and financially, Gunn and Safran completely restructured the studio and rebooted the DCEU into the DCU.
All productions not part of the DCEU or DCU franchises fall under the "DC Elseworlds" banner, including projects that are part of The Batman Saga.
History
Formation as DC Films
After the negative critical reception of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, DC Films was founded in 2016 as a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Pictures by Geoff Johns and Jon Berg as an attempt to properly structure the DC Extended Universe. They took control of the production of David Ayer's Suicide Squad, which was heavily reshot and edited down in an attempt to make it less grim and more lighthearted, resulting in a very negative reception.
Further DCEU productions
Walter Hamada later became president of the studio and began editing down other films like Justice League, and releasing films across the DCEU that were mostly met with mixed to negative reactions from critics. Many complained the films were inconsistent in style and tone from one another and didn't seem to have much of an ongoing story.
Even after releasing director Zack Snyder's original version of Justice League in 2021, DC Films still lacked direction and consistency in their films, even beginning to produce content outside of the main DCEU such as Joker and The Batman, which proved even more successful than their DCEU projects. They even canceled the film Batgirl to get money from a tax write-off, despite the film being in post-production.
Restructuring into DC Studios
DC Studios creative head James Gunn
Eventually, in late 2022, filmmaker James Gunn and producer Peter Safran were named co-CEOs and co-chairmen of DC Studios, a newly created production entity under Warner Bros. Discovery meant to replace DC Films, which was quickly dissolved. DC Studios helped oversee the remaining films from DC Films that were pending release in 2023. They decided to reboot the DCEU into the DC Universe, a new shared universe, while also overseeing films, TV series, animation, and video games under the DC label. Gunn oversees the creative development of DC projects, while Safran supervises the production side. Their roles officially began on November 1, 2022.
"Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters"
The first wave of projects in this new franchise is entitled "Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters", and began with the Max animated series Creature Commandos. Gunn and Safran's plan for this universe will span 8 to 10 years covering as much of DC lore as they can in that time through film, television, and gaming. Meanwhile, all projects not set in the main DCU will be placed under the "DC Elseworlds" banner, including projects that are part of The Batman Saga and the Harley Quinn animated series.
Productions
As DC Films
- Suicide Squad (2016)
- Wonder Woman (2017)
- Justice League (2017)
- Aquaman (2018)
- Shazam! (2019)
- Joker (2019)
- Birds of Prey (2020)
- Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
- Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)
- The Suicide Squad (2021)
- The Batman (2022)
- Black Adam (2022)
- Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)
- The Flash (2023)
- Blue Beetle (2023)
- Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023)
As DC Studios
Films
Documentary films
Television series
Live-action series
- Peacemaker (2022–present)[1]
- The Penguin (2024)
Animated series
- Harley Quinn (2019–present)[2]
- Creature Commandos (2024–present)
- DC Metal Force (2024–2025)
Shorts
- Beast Boy: Lone Wolf (2024)
Podcasts
- DC Studios Showcase: The Official Podcast (2024–present)[3]
See Also
- Pages related to DC Studios
- DC Studios Characters
Notes
- Nearly every live-action DC movie between 2016 and 2023 was produced by DC Films.
- Suicide Squad was in the midst of production when DC Films was initially formed and was therefore partially produced under DC Entertainment.
- Joker: Folie à Deux is the only live-action DC movie not produced under DC Studios since its inception. Its production was handled exclusively by Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Entertainment. However, James Gunn provided some notes.
- A number of films initially announced by DC Films to be set in the DC Extended Universe were cancelled or reworked into other projects over the years, including Harley Quinn vs. The Joker, The Trench, The New Gods, Wonder Twins, Green Lantern Corps, and sequels to Man of Steel and Black Adam.
- Gunn has stated that DC Studios will produce video games that will tie into the DC Universe, but none have been announced as of 2024.
- Gunn and Safran have assembled several writers to work on DCU projects, including Mike Flanagan, Tom King, Ana Nogueira, Damon Lindelof, Matt Reeves, and more, all led by Gunn.
Links and References
- ↑ Produced by DC Studios from Season 2 onward, previously produced by DC Entertainment
- ↑ Produced by DC Studios from Season 5 onward, previously produced by DC Entertainment
- ↑ Aftershow podcast for DC Studios content, beginning with Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story and Creature Commandos