Warner Bros. has found box office success with its latest superhero release, Superman, which has now grossed over 217 million dollars worldwide. The film opened to a strong debut, surpassing the numbers posted by Man of Steel, with 122 million dollars earned in the United States and Canada and an additional 95 million dollars from international markets as of July 13, 2025.
While Superman continues to draw attention for its performances and storyline, a subtle easter egg has stirred significant excitement among DC fans. Toward the film’s conclusion, as Metropolis faces a devastating attack, observant viewers may have noticed a traffic sign directing evacuees toward Gotham City. Though easily missed, this brief nod has triggered widespread speculation about a possible Batman connection within James Gunn’s new DC Universe.
Matt Reeves’s standalone The Batman debuted in 2022 as a reboot distinct from the earlier DC Extended Universe. Directed and co-written by Reeves, the film starred Robert Pattinson as a younger Bruce Wayne in his early years as Gotham’s vigilante. The narrative focused on Batman uncovering corruption within Gotham and confronting the Riddler, a serial killer targeting the city’s elite.
Initially, a Batman project tied to the DCEU had been planned with Ben Affleck set to direct and star. However, Affleck stepped away from the project in 2017, allowing Reeves to reshape the story into an independent film. Released after pandemic-related delays, The Batman became a critical and commercial success, grossing over 772 million dollars and spawning a new cinematic universe dubbed the Batman Epic Crime Saga. A sequel, The Batman: Part II, is currently slated for 2027, following the recent release of The Penguin television series on HBO in 2024.
Despite these projects, James Gunn’s rebooted DC Universe currently lacks a scheduled Batman film. However, the easter egg in Superman has reignited hopes that the Dark Knight will soon make an appearance in the interconnected DCU storyline.
Meanwhile, Gunn’s vision for the DCU moves forward with Supergirl, the next film in the franchise. Directed by Craig Gillespie and starring Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El, Supergirl is set to release on June 26, 2026. The film will depict Supergirl embarking on a vengeful journey across the galaxy. Initially developed under the DCEU banner, Supergirl underwent significant changes after Gunn and Peter Safran took over DC Studios in late 2022. Filming concluded earlier this year in the United Kingdom and Scotland.
As for Superman itself, the film marks the beginning of DC Studios’ Chapter One: Gods and Monsters. Directed and written by James Gunn, the film stars David Corenswet as Clark Kent alongside Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, and others. The story centers on Superman’s battle to prove himself as humanity’s protector in the face of a public relations assault orchestrated by Lex Luthor.
Originally conceived as a sequel to Man of Steel, the project evolved over the years, particularly after the fallout from Justice League in 2017. Gunn began developing the rebooted film in 2022, officially taking the helm of DC Studios that October. The project drew inspiration from the All-Star Superman comic series and completed principal photography earlier this year.
