Credit: DC / Warner Bros.Last year, Superman (2025) launched the DC Universe on the big screen. Starring David Corenswet and written and directed by DC Studios’ co-CEO James Gunn, it grossed $624.3 million worldwide against its $225 million budget and received a mostly positive reception from audiences and critics.
The New DCU in Film and Television
Superman (2025) marks the beginning of a new era of interconnected film and television projects under the DC banner, which is set to continue later this year with Supergirl (2026), starring Milly Alcock.
Other confirmed theatrical projects include Clayface (2026), Superman: Man of Tomorrow (2027), and a Batman reboot titled The Brave and the Bold (TBA). Meanwhile, Peacemaker Season 2 and the animated series Creature Commandos have been building out the new shared universe on the small screen.
Is the DCEU Still Active?
For those who haven’t been keeping up, the DC Universe (DCU) replaces the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), which started with Man of Steel (2013) and ended with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023).
While the DCU retains some characters from its predecessor (along with storytelling elements) — such as John Cena’s Peacemaker, Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller, and Xolo Maridueña’s Blue Beetle — the DCEU is now otherwise defunct.
This includes the “Snyderverse”, the trilogy of films directed by Zack Snyder (Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and 2021’s Justice League) which many fans view as a “pocket universe” that’s entirely separate from all the other DCEU films.
But that didn’t stop fans being convinced that a revival of Snyder’s series was happening.
Is Henry Cavill Returning as Superman?
Last year, Zack Snyder shared a photo of Henry Cavill in his Superman costume to his Instagram, which has since been followed by several pictures of other Justice League characters, like Ben Affleck’s Bruce Wayne/Batman, Gal Gadot’s Diana Prince/Wonder Woman, Joe Manganiello’s Slade Wilson/Deathstroke, and Jared Leto’s Joker/Mr J.
But what made the first one stand out was the caption: “Henry Cavill is Superman”. Snyder fans became convinced that the beloved actor was gearing up for an epic return as the Last Son of Krypton, despite the fact that the new DCU had already started with Gunn’s film.
Rumors that Gunn would be exiting the company, leaving the DCU dead on arrival — which followed reports that Netflix had an agreed deal to secure Warner Bros. Discovery (more on that later) — also fueled that speculation.
As for the pictures, it seems Snyder was simply showcasing his photography skills after launching his Instagram.
Related: Robert Pattinson’s ‘The Batman’ Sequel Officially Canceled, James Gunn Confirms
Zack Snyder Reignites Hope the Snyderverse Will Return
However, during his recent appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, where he discussed the 10-year anniversary of Batman v Superman, the director was asked about the possibility of his films continuing alongside James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DCU.
Firstly, in addressing the DCU, Snyder said he has no problem with new stories featuring different iterations of characters like Superman and Batman. “Other people will take them and other people will take them after that, and that’s how it should be,” he said.
Snyder even gave his thoughts on Superman (2025), and the Man of Steel director had nothing but kind words for both Gunn and his blockbuster film. He said:
“James is cool. I wish them all the best. It is what it is. That three-movie trilogy [Man of Steel, BvS, Justice League] is a weed that just won’t die. It grows on its own. It has its own life. It’s not concerned with James’ Superman, which is amazing and all the best to them. I can’t wait to see the next movie. It’s awesome. To me, it’s just not the same thing. It’s just like a different thing.”
Of course, Snyder is right — his films “won’t die” — since their individual releases in 2013, 2016, and 2021, respectively, Man of Steel, BvS, and Justice League have garnered huge cult followings. Even if they don’t continue with new stories, they already co-exist with the DCU.
That said, when asked if the Snyderverse could continue, he said, “I would never say that there’s no way,” adding, “I was on the ride that created Justice League, and if you were in my shoes there were numerous times, dark times, when there was no chance that there will ever be my version of it. It will never exist. It can’t… cost, politics, everything stood against.”
He continued: “And yet it exists. The fans should never forget they did that. They also raised a ton of money for suicide prevention. They did a lot of good. They catch a lot of flak for being toxic or whatever, but they literally saved human lives.”
The History Behind Justice League
In 2016, Snyder was forced to exit Justice League due to the death of his daughter. Joss Whedon was hired to oversee the remainder of post-production, which included writing and directing new scenes and reshooting a large part of the film, ultimately changing the story.
But Justice League (2017) was panned by audiences and critics. The backlash led to the massive, online, fan-led campaign #RestoreTheSnyderCut.
Consequently, Snyder returned to complete the film in his original vision and Zack Snyder’s Justice League was released on HBO Max in 2021 and was met with critical praise.
Now, it’s viewed as the “true” final chapter in the Snyderverse trilogy. Sadly, that particular series of films ended before the director could make two more Justice League movies. But is it really the last entry? Can the film series perhaps coexist with Gunn and Safran’s films?
The Snyderverse Will Likely Continue in Another Medium
Host Josh Horowitz asked Snyder whether his outline for Justice League 2 and 3 could be turned into a comic or an animated feature.
“We absolutely talked about it quite a bit,” he replied. “We live in a world where all that is possible. Whatever form it would take, that would be amazing.”
It seems that more Snyderverse films are unlikely — at least not while the DCU is getting on its feet — but never say never. No one could have ever predicted that 2017’s Justice League would be rebooted within four years of release, and yet, as Snyder points out, it happened.
For now, though, the Snyderverse is most likely to continue in other media. This has happened before within the wider DC franchise, with the Batman ’89 comics continuing to expand the “Burtonverse” — the collective given to the Tim Burton/Michael Keaton films.
Watch Snyder’s full interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast in the video below.
What’s Happening With Warner Bros. Discovery?
Last December, Netflix agreed to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery’s studio and streaming assets. However, it has now been reported that the streaming giant has withdrawn from the deal, clearing the way for Paramount Skydance — whose earlier rival bid (or “hostile bid”) was initially rebuffed — to hold the leading proposal in a transaction valued at around $111 billion.
But what does this mean for Warner Bros. DC Studios and, in turn, the DCU?
There have been no official announcements outlining changes to creative leadership or franchise strategy at DC Studios. That means the DCU slate and other major projects — including the planned Harry Potter television reboot — will continue under their existing development plans. Any potential creative or structural changes would likely be addressed after the transaction formally closes.
Do you think the Snyderverse could co-exist with James Gunn’s DC Universe? If so, how? In film or another medium entirely? Share your thoughts with us!