The Future of DC Films: Static Shock and Batgirl Potentially Heading To HBO Max and Much More Coming Your Way

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photo courtesy WB

It's that time again where we finally have a piece of news that isn't about something getting delayed by the Covid-19 crisis. While everything else is slowly starting to reopen, studios are developing and looking into whatever they can make when things get back to normal again. Yep, these stories will keep happening as the world tries to return to normal. Right now, we are talking about the future of the DCEU.

Despite a very mixed reception from critics and general audiences, the latest installment in the DCEU, Wonder Woman 1984, has seen not only the highest first weekend box office gross since the beginning of the pandemic but also has record high numbers due to it's streaming release on HBO Max. With the Snyder Cut of Justice League and James Gunn's The Suicide Squad on the way, folks are wondering what is the long term future for the DCEU. In a New York Times interview, DC Films President Walter Hamada lays it all out. 

According to The New York Times, the studio plans to release two DCEU films a year on HBO Max. These two streaming films would be in addition to theatrical releases (up to four a year starting in the year 2022). These streaming films will focus on smaller, riskier characters like Static Shock or Batgirl. We had known that these characters are both coveted by WB to be movies. A couple of months back we learned that Static Shock has Michael B. Jordan attached to produce. We also learned that the writer of Birds of Prey and The Flash was attached to the long gestating Batgirl movie. With a guaranteed home like HBO Max, fans will finally be able to see these characters in live action. 

In addition, DC Films, will work with it's filmmakers to develop spinoffs — movies or TV series that will run on HBO Max and interconnect with the established DCEU canon. The first one of these will be a spin-off of James Gunn's The Suicide Squad called Peacemaker. Peacemaker will feature John Cena reprising his role from The Suicide Squad and will stream on HBO Max.  It is in pre-production now. 

The big plan is to embrace the Multiverse, a concept that allows them to set a story anywhere or at anytime. Given the fact that Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton will both be returning as Batman in the upcoming Flash movie, we can imagine that this film will be the one that explores the multiverse. It will simultaneously free them from the constraints of following up controversial stories while also acknowledging those stories and bringing back fan favorites. Hopefully, this will be the move that allows them to thrive as a studio and give DC fans the films and television they deserve.