The Batman and Joker have officially been labeled DC Elseworlds titles.
DC Studios co-chair and co-CEO James Gunn made the announcement during his unveiling of the upcoming DC Universe slate. Here are his exact words:
“Yeah, and the DC is a multiverse, but we’re going to be focusing on one universe from that multiverse. And if something isn’t DCU, we’re gonna make that very clear. So strictly adult fare like Todd Phillips, Joker, or, you know, kids animation like Teen Titans Go, we’re gonna, we’re gonna make it very clear that those are DC Elseworlds just the same way that we’re doing in the comic books.”
Here are just a few of our plans. Up, up, and away! #DCStudios #DCU @DCComics pic.twitter.com/8XNDNLUEPq
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) January 31, 2023
Upcoming projects that will be under the DC Elseworlds label include The Batman Part II, which has now been scheduled to open in theaters on October 3, 2025. Matt Reeves will return to direct, with Robert Pattinson once again donning the cape and cowl.
Todd Phillips’ Joker: Folie à Deux with Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga is another Elseworlds film and will open in theaters on October 4, 2024. The final Elseworlds title currently confirmed is the previously announced “Black Superman” movie produced by J.J. Abrams and written by Ta-Nehisi Coates. The film remains in active development, with Gunn and Safran reportedly eagerly awaiting a draft of Coates’ screenplay.
So, how will Gunn and his partner Peter Safran decide which projects are DC Elseworlds tales, you ask? Here’s what they told DC.com:
“The bar for an Elseworlds tale is going to be higher than the bar for a movie within the DCU. Not that we’re not always going to have a high bar, but it’s got to be something really special for us to tell that story outside of our regular continuity and to spend the money to make it.”
It is unknown if other currently airing DC series like Harley Quinn and Superman & Lois will be classified as DC Elseworlds titles or if they will remain separate from any moniker. We’ll keep you posted.
What do you think about DC Studios working on both DCU and Elseworlds-type films? Smart idea?
