DC Studios

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This article is about the production company. For the video game developer, see DC Studios (video game developer).

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"DC Films" redirects here. For a list of films based on DC Comics, see List of films based on DC Comics publications.
DC Studios
Formerly called
 DC Films (2016–2022)
Division
Industry
Genre Superhero fiction
Founded <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
  • May 2016; 8 years ago (2016-05) (as DC Films)
  • November 1, 2022; 2 years ago (2022-11-01) (as DC Studios)
Founder Geoff Johns
Jon Berg
Headquarters 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, United States
Area served
 Worldwide
Key people
 <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Products <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
  • Motion pictures
  • Television shows
Brands <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Parent
Website www.dc.com/movies
Footnotes / references
[1][2][3]

DC Studios (formerly known as DC Films) is an American film, television, and animation studio that is a division of Warner Bros.,[4][5] which is a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). It is dedicated to the production of films, series, and animations based on characters from DC Comics, among them is their flagship franchise, the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). James Gunn and Peter Safran assumed control of the company, on November 1, 2022.[4] Previously, Walter Hamada was the president of DC Films from 2018 until his departure in October 2022.[6]

The studio's films Aquaman (2018) and Joker (2019) are among the 50 highest-grossing films of all time, with Joker becoming the first R-rated film to gross over $1 billion. In addition to the DCU, DC Studios was also involved with the production of other DC-character film franchises that have exceeded $1 billion in North American box office revenue, including Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman multi-film franchises.

Background

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National era

During DC's National era, the company licensed Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman (and other All-American Comics characters) to Republic Pictures, Paramount Pictures, 20th Century Fox and Columbia Pictures for advertising serials, shorts and feature films. Other comic characters, such as Fawcett Comics' Shazam and Quality Comics' Plastic Man (which ultimately sold to DC), also had a serial short.

Warner Communications era

After the release of the first feature-length Batman film, Kinney National Company (later Warner Communications) purchased National Comics Publications in 1967 and then Warner Bros.-Seven Arts in 1969. This purchase meant that the comic company's television and theatrical distribution turned over to Warner Bros., which led to the launch films and television series based on DC characters. In the late 1980s Warner Bros. acquired a full distribution rights after the release of the Superman and Swamp Thing films. The Batman films once again marked a return to the big screen.

History

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Main articles: Development of the DC Extended Universe and DC Universe (franchise) § Development

DC Films

After the divisive reception of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Warner Bros. Pictures made moves to stabilize the direction of the DC Extended Universe. The studio reorganized in May 2016 to have genre-responsible film executives, thus DC Entertainment franchise films under Warner Bros. were placed under a newly created division, DC Films, created under Warner Bros. executive vice president Jon Berg and DC Comics chief content officer Geoff Johns. This was done in hopes of competing more directly with Marvel Studios' Marvel Cinematic Universe. Johns also kept his existing role at DC Comics.[7] However, the division's formation was not designed to override the "director-driven" mandate.[8]

Justice League had one of the biggest film budgets (nearly $300 million) but grossed about $96 million in its opening weekend. An analysis in The Washington Post expected that there would be a course correction again, with a possible change in leadership.[9] Forbes contributors felt that the course correction would be for DC Films to give up on the shared universe, while continuing with the Wonder Woman films and occasionally other films, as Warner Bros. has other franchises they can work with.[10] Despite this, in December the studio reiterated their current film slate for the unofficially titled DC Extended Universe.[11] That same month, Warner Bros. announced that a new strategy and organization of DC Films would occur with Berg leaving his position as studio's co-president of production to form a Warner Bros.-based production company with Roy Lee, the producer of The Lego Movie and It. In January 2018, Warner Bros. executive Walter Hamada was appointed as new president of DC Films, to oversee the films in the DC Extended Universe. Hamada was closely associated with New Line Cinema, and helped develop horror films, such as It and The Conjuring film franchises.[12]

Restructuring

In April 2022, after the merger between WarnerMedia and Discovery, Inc. to form Warner Bros. Discovery, the new CEO David Zaslav was exploring a restructuring of DC Entertainment, including having a creative leader akin to Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige to lead its film and television projects.[13] Later in July, Toby Emmerich stepped down as the head of the Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group. The group was restructured to give DC Films, Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema, and Warner Animation Group respective leadership. Former MGM executives Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy became the co-executives of Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema. They were also temporarily signed to oversee the remaining units of the group until the new positions were filled.[14][15]

When the release of the film Batgirl was canceled by Warner Bros. Discovery in August, Hamada was reportedly not consulted regarding the decision and only learned about it when De Luca and Abdy informed him at a test screening for Black Adam (2022). Hamada was upset and considered resigning, but agreed to stay until Black Adam's release.[16] Later that month, Dan Lin entered talks to oversee DC's film and television divisions. From this position, Lin was expected to report directly to Zaslav, while Hamada would depart the studio.[17][18] In September, Lin and Warner Bros. Discovery ended negotiations and agreed to part ways.[19] During Black Adam's Times Square premiere in October, star and producer Dwayne Johnson said he could be a consultant at DC Films, helping the studio find its next creative leader.[20] Later that month, it was reported that De Luca had been effectively running DC Films in place of Walter Hamada.[21] On October 19, Hamada departed from the company, just two days before the release of Black Adam.[22]

DC Studios

Shortly after Hamada left the CEO position, James Gunn and Peter Safran (who previously worked together on James Gunn's PG Porn and The Suicide Squad) were revealed to serve as the co-CEOs/co-chairmen of the studio and DC Films was rebranded as "DC Studios". The duo was tasked to oversee production on films, television, and animation under the DC label, reporting directly to David Zaslav, while also working alongside but independently of heads of other divisions. Gunn oversees the creative development on DC projects, while Safran oversees the production side. Their roles began effectively on November 1 the same year.[4][23][24]

In November, Gunn said that the studio would focus on multiple DCU live-action and animated projects, but also stated that they would acknowledge fan responses and complaints,[25] and confirmed all subsequent DC projects would be released under the DC Studios banner,[26] including those that were filmed prior to the rebranding. In December of the same year, Gunn and Henry Cavill announced that Cavill would no longer return as Superman in any future projects. Gunn also announced that he was writing a new Superman film, based on a younger version of the character. Ben Affleck (who previously portrayed Bruce Wayne/Batman) was also said to be in talks to direct a new DC Studios project, but Affleck himself would later state that he was not directing any film for DC.[27][28] Gunn later revealed that new DC films would have an equal focus on popular and obscure characters, drawing inspiration from the DC animated series Justice League Unlimited and Young Justice.[5][6]

Gunn and Safran announced the first chapter of their universe titled "Gods and Monsters" on January 31, 2023. They also assembled a writers' room featuring Drew Goddard, Jeremy Slater, Christina Hodson, Christal Henry, and Tom King.[29] Projects that are not a part of the shared universe will be branded as "DC Elseworlds".[30] The following month, Gunn confirmed development for animated films within both the DCU and DC Elseworlds.[31] Gunn said in March that they were working on potentially incorporating characters from DC's Vertigo Comics imprint beyond the Swamp Thing film,[32] and said the following month that there were plans to incorporate characters from the DC-owned Milestone Media, such as Static.[33] In February 2024, Gunn and Safran worked with Warner Bros. Discovery corporate siblings to acquire the Christopher Reeve documentary Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story.[34][35]

Management

Current

  • James Gunn: Co-chairman and Co-chief executive officer (CEO), DC Studios; Gunn serves in leadership as creative head for the company (November 2022–present).[4]
  • Peter Safran: Co-chairman and Co-chief executive officer (CEO), DC Studios; Safran serves in leadership over the business aspects of the company (November 2022–present).[4]
  • Chantal Nong: Executive Vice President (EVP), DC Studios (November 2022–present);[36][37] formerly Senior Vice President, Feature Development and Production of DC Films, overseeing creative development and production management of DC-based films (February 2018–November 2022).[38][39]
  • Candice McDonough: Executive Vice President (EVP), Publicity and Communications; McDonough oversees media relations, publicity, and external and employee communications (July 2023–present).[40]
  • Galen Vaisman: Vice President (VP), Creative Development.[36][41]

Former

  • Jon Berg: Former Executive Vice President (EVP), Warner Bros. Pictures,[7] former co-chairman of DC Films, and former co-runner of the DCEU (May 2016 – December 2017).[42]
  • Geoff Johns: Former Co-chairman of DC Films (May 2016 – December 2017),[42] former president and Chief Creative Officer, DC Entertainment (February 2010 – June 2018), and former co-runner of the DCEU (2015 – June 2018).[43]
  • Walter Hamada: Former President, DC-Based Film Production, Warner Bros. Pictures (January 2018 – October 2022).[3][44][12]

Production library

Films

Live-action

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Further information: DC Extended Universe and List of films based on DC Comics publications

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Title Release date Director(s) Co-production with Franchise Distributor Notes
Under DC Films
Suicide Squad August 5, 2016 (2016-08-05) David Ayer RatPac-Dune Entertainment
Atlas Entertainment		 DC Extended Universe Warner Bros. Pictures N/A
Wonder Woman June 2, 2017 (2017-06-02) Patty Jenkins Atlas Entertainment
Cruel and Unusual Films
Justice League November 17, 2017 (2017-11-17) Zack Snyder
Joss Whedon[lower-alpha 1]		 RatPac-Dune Entertainment[lower-alpha 2]
Atlas Entertainment
Cruel and Unusual Films
Aquaman December 21, 2018 (2018-12-21) James Wan RatPac-Dune Entertainment
The Safran Company
Cruel and Unusual Films
Mad Ghost Productions
Shazam! April 5, 2019 (2019-04-05) David F. Sandberg New Line Cinema
The Safran Company
Seven Bucks Productions
Joker October 4, 2019 (2019-10-04) Todd Phillips Village Roadshow Pictures
Bron Creative
Joint Effort Productions		 Joker film series
Birds of Prey[lower-alpha 3] February 7, 2020 (2020-02-07) Cathy Yan LuckyChap Entertainment
Kroll & Co. Entertainment
Clubhouse Productions		 DC Extended Universe
Wonder Woman 1984 December 25, 2020 (2020-12-25) Patty Jenkins Atlas Entertainment
The Stone Quarry
Zack Snyder's Justice League March 18, 2021 (2021-03-18) Zack Snyder Access Entertainment
Atlas Entertainment
Dune Entertainment
The Stone Quarry		 HBO Max exclusive
The Suicide Squad August 5, 2021 (2021-08-05) James Gunn Atlas Entertainment
The Safran Company		 N/A
The Batman March 4, 2022 (2022-03-04) Matt Reeves 6th & Idaho
Dylan Clark Productions		 The Batman shared universe
Black Adam October 21, 2022 (2022-10-21) Jaume Collet-Serra New Line Cinema
Seven Bucks Productions
FlynnPictureCo.		 DC Extended Universe
Under DC Studios
Shazam! Fury of the Gods March 17, 2023 (2023-03-17) David F. Sandberg New Line Cinema
The Safran Company		 DC Extended Universe Warner Bros. Pictures N/A
The Flash June 16, 2023 (2023-06-16) Andy Muschietti The Disco Factory
Double Dream
Blue Beetle August 18, 2023 (2023-08-18) Angel Manuel Soto The Safran Company
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom December 22, 2023 (2023-12-22) James Wan The Safran Company
Atomic Monster
Domain Entertainment
Upcoming
Joker: Folie à Deux October 4, 2024 (2024-10-04) Todd Phillips Bron Studios
Village Roadshow Pictures
Creative Wealth Media
Joint Effort		 Joker film series Warner Bros. Pictures Post-production
Superman July 11, 2025 (2025-07-11) James Gunn N/A DC Universe Filming[48]
The Batman – Part II October 2, 2026 (2026-10-02) Matt Reeves 6th & Idaho
Dylan Clark Productions		 The Batman shared universe Pre-production[49][50]

Documentary

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Title Release date Director(s) Production companies Co-distribution with
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story September 2024 (2024-09) Ian Bonhôte
Peter Ettedgui		 Words + Pictures
Passion Pictures
Misfits Entertainment		 Warner Bros. Pictures
HBO
CNN Films
Max

Animation

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Title Release date Director(s) Co-production with Franchise Crossover with Release format Distributor Notes
Legion of Super-Heroes February 7, 2023 (2023-02-07) Jeff Wamester Warner Bros. Animation Tomorrowverse N/A Direct-to-video Warner Bros. Home Entertainment N/A
Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham March 28, 2023 (2023-03-28) Sam Liu
Christopher Berkley		 N/A
Justice League x RWBY: Super Heroes and Huntsmen, Part One April 25, 2023 Kerry Shawcross Warner Bros. Animation
Rooster Teeth Productions		 RWBY
Justice League: Warworld July 25, 2023 Jeff Wamester Warner Bros. Animation Tomorrowverse[51] N/A
Scooby-Doo! and Krypto, Too! September 26, 2023 Celica Aranovich Hamilton N/A Scooby-Doo
Justice League X RWBY: Super Heroes & Huntsmen, Part Two October 17, 2023 Kerry Shawcross
Dustin Mattews
Yssa Badiola		 Warner Bros. Animation
Rooster Teeth Productions		 RWBY
Merry Little Batman December 8, 2023 Mike Roth[52] Warner Bros. Animation Bat-Family N/A Direct-to-streaming Amazon MGM Studios
Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part One January 9, 2024[53] Jeff Wamester[54] Tomorrowverse Direct-to-video Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Two April 23, 2024[55]
Upcoming
Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires[56][57] 2024 Juan Meza-León Warner Bros. Animation
Ánima		 N/A N/A Direct-to-streaming Max Latin America Latin America-United States co-production
In production
Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Three TBA Warner Bros. Animation Tomorrowverse Direct-to-video Warner Bros. Home Entertainment In development
Watchmen TBA
Milestone[58] TBA

Television

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Further information: List of television series based on DC Comics publications

Live-action

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Series Aired Showrunner Co-production with Franchise Original network Notes
Peacemaker 2022–present James Gunn Warner Bros. Television
The Safran Company
Troll Court Entertainment		 DC Extended Universe
(Season 1)
DC Universe
(Season 2)		 HBO Max
(Season 1)
Max
(Season 2)		 N/A
The Sandman Allan Heinberg Warner Bros. Television
PurePop Inc.
The Blank Corporation
Phantom Four		 The Sandman shared universe Netflix N/A
Dead Boy Detectives 2024 Steve Yockey Warner Bros. Television
Berlanti Productions
Ghost Octopus		 The Sandman shared universe[59] N/A
Upcoming
The Penguin 2024[60][61] Lauren LeFranc Warner Bros. Television
6th & Idaho
Dylan Clark Productions		 The Batman shared universe Max Miniseries; Post-production[62][63]

Animation

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Series Aired Showrunner Co-production with Franchise Original network Notes
Ongoing
Teen Titans Go! 2013–present Aaron Horvath
Michael Jelenic
Peter Rida Michail
Peggy Regan		 Warner Bros. Animation N/A Cartoon Network Season 8 onwards
Harley Quinn 2019–present Justin Halpern Warner Bros. Animation
Yes, Norman Productions
Delicious Non-Sequitur		 Harley Quinn universe DC Universe (2019–2020)
HBO Max (2022–2023)
Max (2023–present)		 N/A
Batwheels 2022–present Michael G. Stern Warner Bros. Animation
Bang Zoom Ltd.		 N/A Cartoonito Season 2 onwards
My Adventures with Superman 2023–present Jake Wyatt Warner Bros. Animation Adult Swim N/A
Upcoming
Kite Man: Hell Yeah! 2024[64][65] Justin Halpern Warner Bros. Animation
Yes, Norman Productions
Delicious Non-Sequitur		 Harley Quinn universe Max In production
Creature Commandos James Gunn Warner Bros. Animation DC Universe
Batman: Caped Crusader TBA Bruce Timm Warner Bros. Animation
Bad Robot
6th and Idaho		 N/A Amazon Prime Video N/A
Bat-Family Mike Roth[66] Warner Bros. Animation Bat-Family In development[67]
Beast Boy: Lone Wolf TBA Warner Bros. Animation
Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe		 TBA Cartoon Network In development[68]

Notes

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See also

References

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External links

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