Why DC Studios Is About to Have a Big Year in 2025

The reimagined DC Studios, led by co-chairmen and co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran, will be a major player in the 2025 movie scene. Following years of inconsistency and poorly received DCEU projects such as 2017’s Justice League, 2020’s Wonder Woman 1984, 2022’s Black Adam, and 2023’s The Flash, Warner Bros. appointed the Guardians of the Galaxy filmmaker and the executive to bring DC’s interconnected universe back to life. In the new year, DC will release Gunn’s highly anticipated Superman movie on July 11, 2025, Peacemaker Season 2 in August, and The Sandman Season 2 on a currently unspecified date in 2025.

If DC Studios’ 2025 projects perform well in terms of critical reception, TV ratings, and box office figures, they could put the franchise back on the map. After taking a back seat to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the superhero genre for more than almost two decades, DC now has the opportunity to compete with other IPs. Simply put, 2025 is a pivotal year for DC’s present and future.

What DC Studios Has Planned in 2025

Even though DC will put out just three live-action projects in 2025, one of them is the studio’s most important movie in recent memory. The relaunch of Superman after the Henry Cavill-led and Zack Snyder-directed Man of Steel in 2013 represents DC’s embrace of an ambitious new era. David Corenswet will star as Clark Kent, the titular hero, while Rachel Brosnahan will feature alongside him as Lois Lane. The rest of Superman‘s cast incudes Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern, Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, María Gabriela de Faría as The Engineer, Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, and Wendell Pierce as Perry White. The recently released first trailer for Superman has comic book movie fanatics in a frenzy, as the early look at the film’s visuals and the stars in their roles look extremely promising.

Peacemaker provided a rare bright spot for DC in 2022 when the show’s first season aired on Max. The spinoff of 2021’s The Suicide Squad centers on John Cena’s character and is similarly written and directed by Gunn. Peacemaker Season 1 scored 93% among critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and posted an 89% audience score. Thus, Season 2 is well positioned to further push DC in a positive direction and to spearhead the universe’s TV sector. Additionally, DC’s 2025 projects may actually work well in tandem despite their differing subject material. The release of Superman only one month earlier could give Peacemaker Season 2 a boost of popularity if the movie impresses viewers.

The Sandman‘s first run on Netflix in 2022 was a major hit. Earning an 88% Rotten Tomatoes critic approval rating and 81% audience score, the series starring Tom Sturridge as the personification of dreams carries a ton of potential as its second season nears. Moreover, The Sandman Season 1 recorded encouraging viewership numbers, so it’s possible that Netflix will continue the show beyond a second season if it can repeat its feats.

Why the Performance of DC Studios’ Projects in 2025 Matters So Much

The degree to which Gunn’s Superman succeeds will decide a lot concerning the DC Universe’s future. The film’s critical and financial performances will likely determine which, as well as how many, projects DC Studios greenlight in the coming years. Superman could even prompt Gunn to end Matt Reeves’ The Batman universe and instead bring the Caped Crusader to the DCU, however, there has been no official indication that such a change will take place, and the speculation largely results from The Batman Part II‘s delay to 2027.

Superman‘s success might also offer insight into how Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, which hits theaters in 2026, will be received. The upcoming title stars House of the Dragon‘s Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El, also known as Supergirl. Matthias Schoenaerts and Eve Ridley have also been cast in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, set to play Krem of the Yellow Hills and Ruthye Marye Knoll, respectively.

The stakes for DC Studios can not be higher in 2025, and time will tell if Gunn, Safran, and co. are up for the challenge of restoring fans’ faith in the franchise.