What’s next for DC movies, from Batman and Joker to the Flash

There have been rumors, rumors, and even apocalyptic speculation for about a week regarding the current state of Warner Bros. On Thursday, Discovery shared some details about its future plans during an investor call. While much of what CEO David Zaslav had to say was far from the doom and gloom projected by many, the executive’s comments on this week’s cancellation of the Batgirl More questions have been raised about the DC Universe’s future and how it will be presented in movie.

Warner Bros. Discovery is aiming for a quality-over-quantity approach to content, which extends to the DC Universe. In response to a question about Batgirl’s cancellation, Zaslav said, “We’re going to focus very hard on quality. I said we’re not going to launch a movie until it’s ready. We’re not going to go into a movie to make a quarter and we’re not going to release a movie unless we believe in it. And that’s it. I mean, particularly with DC, where we think we want to pivot, we want to elevate, and we want to focus.”

Zaslav went on to explain that the company has taken a hard look at the numbers for its direct-to-streaming titles, along with the entire direct-to-streaming video model in general, and that the company can’t find any economic case for it. Instead the studio will concentrate on theatrical blockbusters and an improved DC Universe.

The CEO also outlined the company’s plan to revive its superhero brands, by explicitly pointing to Disney, and its ambitious, unprecedentedly successful approach to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

“We have done a reset,” Zaslav told investors. “We’ve restructured the business, where we’re going to focus, where there will be a team with a 10-year plan focusing just on DC. It’s very similar to the structure that Alan Horn and Bob Iger put together very effectively with Kevin Feige at Disney. We think we could build a long-term, much stronger, sustainable growth business out of DC.”

Warner Bros. Pictures

While a 10-year plan sounds good in theory, none of Zaslav’s comments made it clear what this might look like in practice. Part of the draw of Marvel’s films was their exhaustive interconnectivity. Every story was sometimes defensible to the bigger narrative. This gave the universe the foundations for the next great team-up, or even the villain, and allowed it to be a part of the greater whole.

DC on the other side is trying to manage several disconnected universes. There’s Flash, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman, all part of the universe Zack Snyder started with Man of SteelThese appear to be very distant from the Black Adam or Shazam, but could still have some connection. Stories that may be related to each other or another.

There are also at least two Batman universes. One is led by Matt Reeves and starring Robert Pattinson, which has at least two spinoff shows and a sequel in the works — for now, anyway. The other is Todd Phillips’ Joker universe headlined by actors Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, and seems disconnected from everything around it.

DC and Warner Bros.’ current scattershot, “director-driven” approach wasn’t always the plan. Snyder had DC’s plans to gather Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman to create the Justice League. The Justice League would then be able to give stand-alone movies to heroes such as Aquaman, Flash and Cyborg. When? Justice LeagueWB stepped in and brought in Avengers-sized numbers.

Now it’s seemingly pivoting again, and it’s unclear how Warner Bros.’ multiple universes will continue, or even if they’ll come together at some point. Unfortunately, it’s also not the most confusing part of the DC lineup.

Warner Bros. announced several other projects, in addition to the ones already mentioned. Among those mystery projects is the Blue Beetle film that was supposed to go direct to streaming, a Superman story from Ta-Nehisi Coates and J.J. Abrams, a Zatanna movie, and a Supergirl movie — all of which remain in doubt now. Following BatgirlDC and Warner Bros. are focusing only on super heroes, as evident by the recent cancellation or Wonder Twins film.

Warner Bros. Pictures

One project that isn’t in doubt is The Flash. While the movie has been delayed multiple times, Zaslav says that it’s still part of Warner Bros. Discovery is excited to share its future plans and show that it has a movie in the works. That’s apparently despite the ominous air surrounding star Ezra Miller, who has been embroiled in highly publicized negative controversies in recent months, including arrests for assault and disorderly conduct, and allegations of harassment and child endangerment. Just this week, Miller was also the subject of a new story from Insider which quoted associates of the actor saying they were concerned about Miller’s mental health.

Despite all the focus Warner’s DC lineup got both during the investor call and before it, it’s not actually clear that much is changing. Warner made it clear that it’s still just as committed to DC’s lineup of heroes, and that big theatrical blockbusters will remain the focus. The cancellation of Batgirl, DC’s future still remains a mystery.