DC Comics' Extended Universe

The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) is an American media franchise and shared fictional universe that is centered on a series of superhero films, produced by Warner Bros. Pictures and based on characters that appear in publications by DC Comics. The shared universe, much like the original DC Universe in comic books, will be established by crossing over common plot elements, settings, cast, and characters.

The first film released in the DCEU was Man of Steel (2013), a reboot of the Superman film series, followed by Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016). The next film to be released will be Suicide Squad (2016), followed by Wonder Woman (2017). Other future films in development include The Flash (2018), Aquaman (2018),Shazam (2019), Cyborg (2020), Green Lantern Corps (2020), and a two-part Justice League film, with Part One releasing in 2017, and Part Two in 2019. All films are being distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Development
The first attempt at a cinematic universe began in 1998 for Superman Lives. The film was supposed to be written by Kevin Smith and directed by Tim Burton. The film was set to feature Nicolas Cage as Superman. The script had Brainiac sending Doomsday to kill Superman, as well as blocking out the sun to make Superman powerless, as Superman is fueled by sunlight. Brainiac teams up with Lex Luthor, but Superman is resurrected by a Kryptonian robot, the Eradicator. Brainiac wishes to possess the Eradicator and its technology. Powerless, the resurrected Superman is sheathed in armor formed from the Eradicator itself until his powers return, courtesy of sunbeams, and defeats Brainiac. Michael Keaton was originally set to reprise his role as Batman from Burton's Batman films, making the attempt at a shared universe. The film was later cancelled.

Akiva Goldsman's draft for the unproduced Batman vs. Superman featured Bruce Wayne coming out of a five-year retirement as Batman and coming into conflict with Superman. Christian Bale, who was being considered for the lead in Darren Aronofsky's Batman: Year One adaptation at the time, was simultaneously approached by Peterson for the Batman role. Peterson confirmed in a 2010 interview the only other actor he approached for Superman was Josh Hartnett. Warner Bros. canceled development to focus on individual Superman and Batman projects after Abrams submitted another draft for Superman: Flyby. Christopher Nolan would later cast Bale as Batman the following year in Batman Begins.

In February 2007, it was announced that Warner Bros hired husband and wife duo Michele and Kieran Mulroney to write a script for a Justice League film. The news came around the same that Joss Whedon's long-developed Wonder Woman film had been canceled, as well as The Flash, written and directed by David S. Goyer. Reportedly titled Justice League: Mortal, Michele and Kiernan Mulroney submitted their script to Warner Bros. in June 2007, receiving positive feedback, which prompted the studio to immediately fast track production in the hopes of filming to begin before the 2007-2008 Writers Guild of America strike. Warner Bros. was less willing to proceed on development with a sequel to Superman Returns, having been disappointed with the box office return. Brandon Routh was not approached to reprise the role of Superman in Justice League Mortal, nor was Christian Bale. Warner Bros. intended for Justice League: Mortal to be the start of a new film franchise, and to branch out into separate sequels and spin-offs.

On January 1, 2014, it was revealed that Warner Bros. intended to launch another attempt at a cinematic universe a few years earlier, which would have started with the 2011 film Green Lantern. The script for The Flash was being written in 2011 by Green Lantern writers Michael Green and Marc Guggenheim, with the post-credits scene featuring Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds) meeting The Flash. The film was then cancelled due to the critical and box office disappointment of Green Lantern.

After the 2011 Green Lantern film underperformed, a reboot of Superman was greenlit, which resulted in 2013's Man of Steel. Plans were made to have the film contain references to other characters in the DC Universe, so if the film was a success, it could launch a shared universe, similar to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In June 2013, it was announced that director Zack Snyder and screenwriter David S. Goyer would be returning for a Man of Steel sequel, fast tracked by Warner Bros. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was released in March 2016. Goyer had previously signed a three-film deal, which includes Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and a Justice League film featuring Superman.

In October 2014, Warner Bros. announced the titles and release dates for nine films, along with some casting information. Also in the month, Geoff Johns explained DC's difference in approach to Marvel Studios and their cinematic universe, saying, "We look at it as the multiverse. We have our TV universe and our film universe, but they all co-exist. For us, creatively, it’s about allowing everyone to make the best possible product, to tell the best story, to do the best world. Everyone has a vision and you really want to let the visions shine through ... It’s just a different approach." In June 2015, Greg Silverman expanded on DC's approach to their cinematic universe, saying, "We have a great strategy for the DC films, which is to take these beloved characters and put them in the hands of master filmmakers and make sure they all coordinate with each other. You'll see the difference when you see Batman v Superman, Suicide Squad, Justice League and all the things that we are working on." Additionally, Silverman explained DC's method of hiring multiple writers for upcoming projects by stating, ''"Every project is different. On some projects, we have multiple writers working together. In some cases, we put writers together who have never been a team together. And sometimes, there is only one writer whose voice is right."''

The universe has commonly been called the "DC Cinematic Universe" by fans and the media, in keeping with the naming convention of the already established Marvel Cinematic Universe. In November 2014, Newsarama referred to the universe as the "DC Cinematic Multiverse", while the DC Comics website informally referred to the universe as the "DC Cinematic Universe" in December 2014. In July 2015, in an announcement for their San Diego Comic-Con International preview issue online, Entertainment Weekly referred to the films as existing in the "DC Extended Universe". However, in the issue, Entertainment Weekly did not use the term, instead called the October 2014 reveal of 10 films over the next five years "a blueprint for an extended universe." At the end of July, the release of the September 2015 issue of Empire confirmed the universe name as the "DC Extended Universe". Whereas the Marvel Cinematic Universe includes television productions, the DC Extended Universe is a shared continuity for films. Several television series featuring DC characters and storylines have their own shared continuity, frequently referred to as the Arrowverse.

Reception
For more details on the reception of each film, see the "Reception" section on each film's article.