DCEU (2022-2032)

Batman (2022)
Based on the comic storylines Prey, Batman: Year One, and Batman: War on Crime, it follows Bruce Wayne, recently returned to Gotham, waging a war on crime. Jim Gordon meanwhile, has recently moved into Gotham with his pregnant wife. Joining the corrupt police force, he attempts to make a difference in the city. Gordon ultimately is placed on a special task force meant to capture Batman. Professor Hugo Strange, an acclaimed psychologist now known for his studies on the psychology of Batman, becomes a consultant for the task forces. He becomes increasingly obsessed with Batman in this role and eventually makes it his mission to break him psychologically.

The film is intended to be gritty, fantastical and gothic. It serves mainly as a psychological thriller exploring the psychology of Batman through the conflict between him and Hugo Strange, and as such, it is relatively sparse in action. While it is dark, it is not entirely realistic as it explores more supernatural elements of the Batman mythos, including Hugo Strange's monster men. The film is meant to be gothic as well, and Gotham itself is depicted almost always at night and in an art deco style like a city trapped in the 1930s. Batman himself is often framed as a horror figure similar to a hulking vampire. His ears are much more pronounced than in other Batman media. As well, often times Batman's own cape seems to take a life of its own, seeming to be never ending. Batman's own posture and demeanor is almost always arched.

Beyond exploring the psyche of Batman, this film also explores the need for Batman to become something more than a crime fighter and instead a symbol of hope and improving Gotham in and out of his suit.

Superman (2022)
Based on the comic storylines Superman: Secret Origin and Superman For All Seasons, this film follows Clark Kent development in Smallville as he is instilled with values by the Kents and learns how to use his powers. Arriving in Metropolis, he becomes an icon in the form of Superman while working as a reporter for the Daily Planet. Lex Luthor cast's Superman's intentions in doubt, attempting to stoke the fear of a god among men. Luthor manipulates Metallo and Parasite, men transformed into freaks by circumstance, into fighting Superman. Superman has to ultimately appeal to their humanity if he hopes to succeed.

This film's tone is meant to be hopeful and jovial, similar though different from the Christopher Reeves films. The world is meant to be bright and Metropolis a city that never sleeps. Metropolis is a peaceful and picturesque. In the depiction of Superman, Superman is not presented as a god, he instead exudes a calm and gentle nature. Superman and Clark Kent both are starkly different, so much so it seems like both are separate people.

Green Lantern (2023)
Based on the comic storylines Green Lantern: Secret Origin and Green-Lantern: Earth One, the film follows Hal Jordan who receives the Green Lantern ring from a fallen member of the Green Lantern corps. Thaal Sinestro helps Jordan learn the ropes of being a Green Lantern, preparing him for the looming conflict with the manhunters, who have taken over most of the galaxy and have overrun the corps.

Batman 2 (2024)
Based on the comic storylines Batman: Hush and Batman: Ego, this sequel follows Black Mask, a mysterious figure in Gotham's underworld, overthrow the old mob families. He pulls the strings of villains Clayface and Scarecrow, prompting Batman to launch an investigation with the help of Harvey Dent and Jim Gordon. Scarecrow uses his fear toxin to exploit Batman's greatest fears while also making him realize that he is no better than Scarecrow in the methods he uses to instill fear in criminals. Clayface, a former actor deformed in a chemical accident, can shift between identities and makes Batman question who he can trust and which identity he truly is, Batman or Bruce Wayne. As the investigation goes deeper, Batman realizes Black Mask to be someone closer to him than expected. All the while, he takes the orphaned Dick Grayson under his wing, training him to become Robin.

This film continues many of the horror aspects of the previous film and expands upon them with the new villains, Clayface, Scarecrow, and Black Mask. This movie however, in contrast with the first film is more oriented towards a mystery plot, where Batman has to act a detective to unravel the plan and identity of the main villain, Black Mask.

Superman 2 (2025)
Based on the comic storyline Superman: Peace on Earth and Superman: Braniac, Superman attempts to solve world hunger by distributing food across the world. His actions are met with mixed results and he is left to come to grips about his own limits and how he cannot be everywhere at once. His cousin from Kyrpton, Kara Zor-El, arrives on Earth right before Braniac arrives to collect the Earth and the two Kryptonians. Superman's conflict with Braniac becomes much more personal as he discovers Braniac was responsible for Krypton's destruction.

Green Lantern 2 (2026)
Based on the comic storyline Sinestro Corps War, this film follows Hal Jordan's mentor, Thaal Sinestro, go down a dark path. After Sinestro's planet falls into chaos and results in his wife's death, he abuses his ring to become a despot. When Hal discovers this, he informs the Guardians, who strip Sinestro of his ring and send him into the anti-matter universe. There, he creates the yellow ring and escapes to create a corps which promotes fear for order. What follows is an all out war between the Sinestro corps and the Green Lantern corps.

Batman 3 (2027)
Based on the comic storylines Batman: Venom, Eye of the Beholder, Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth and Batman: The Long Halloween, this sequel follows Batman able to succeed in finally taking down Black Mask thanks to Harvey Dent and Jim Gordon's cooperation, but the victory is hollow as Gotham has been transformed from being run by simple mobsters to freaks. During the trial of Black Mask, Dent becomes Two Face at Black Mask's hands. Two Face begins a series of murders before freeing the inmates at Arkham Asylum, resulting in complete chaos. Batman begins to take the performance enhancing drug Venom to keep up, pushing himself to his limits and to the brink of mental collapse.

Superman 3 (2029)
Based on the comic storylines All Star Superman, Must There Be a Superman?, What's So Funny About Truth, Justice, and the American Way?, and Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?, this sequel follows Superman realizing that he is dying from his exposure to the sun's radiation. He also meets with the Guardians of the Universe, who tell him that his helping of humans is discouraging progress by making them dependent on him. Superman, faced with this realization, has to find a way to make sure that after he is dead that he will always inspire people to put the effort in to be their best selves, not to solve every problem. Meanwhile, the extremist group of super-humans, the Elite, rises to prominence and directly challenges Superman's ideals.

Batman 4 (2029)
Based on the comic storylines Batman: Knightfall, Batman: A Lonely Place of Dying and Vengeance of Bane, this sequel follows Batman at his lowest point. Dick Grayson leaves Batman to become his own hero. Gotham, meanwhile, is still reeling from the Arkham Asylum escape and Batman's body is beginning to fail him after over half a decade of crime fighting. Bane, a man who was born and raised in prison and became obsessed with physical perfection and defeating Batman. He proceeds to break the Dark Knight's back and leaves him destitute and broken mentally and physically. Bane takes over Gotham's underworld as Batman claws his way to recovery.