How ‘Justice League’s Ending Sets Up Future DC Movies

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS!

Justice League is now in theaters, finally bringing DC’s superhero team to the big screen. Now that Justice League has run its course, we can talk about how the film (and especially its ending) sets up the future of the DC Films Universe!

Read on below for a sample of what’s next for the individual Justice League heroes and their future as a team, as well as what the fallout from their battle with Steppenwolf will bring:

Superman

At the end of Justice League, Superman has been resurrected using a combination of the Mother Box and the embryonic chamber aboard the crashed Kryptonian ship that created Doomsday. At the end of Justice League, Superman is rebuilding his life as both Kal-El/Superman and Clark Kent. The film ends with him tentatively standing outside the Daily Planet, until the sound of evildoing makes him take to the sky, inspiring the world through his return. Man of Steel 2 is now set to explore Superman’s journey to be a better, brighter, world icon. 

Batman

Ben Affleck’s Batman exhibits a hopeful new outlook in Justice League, inspired by the example and sacrifice of Superman. When the film ends, Batman is happy to have Superman back, but at the same time, his age and status as a mortal man make his future in a superpowered world seem very uncertain. There’s already talk of him retiring from active duty in future DC Films. 

Wonder Woman

Justice League forced Wonder Woman into some hard introspective examination, as she was questioned by Batman as to why someone of her power hasn’t stepped up to be a world leader and icon. At the end of Justice League, Diana has fully reopened her heart to man’s world, acting as a full-fleged superhero. Wonder Woman 2 could explore the complexity of that decision in a modern world setting, or flashback to any time between WWI and BvS during Diana’s period of semi-exile. 

Aquaman

Justice League forced Arthur Curry to finally travel to Atlantis to explore the part of his heritage he had never really been willing to confront. We only got vague brushstrokes of the backstory (thanks to Steppenwolf’s attack on Atlantis), but Arthur’s conversation with Mera set up the Aquman solo film’s story for the Shakespearean ramifications of Arhtur returning to Atlantis to claim the throne – a crowning that might bring him into  serious conflict with his half-brother, Orm. 

The Flash

When Justice League begins, Barry Allen has been doing some amateur-level superhero work, but by the end, he’s learned what being a hero is truly all about. Another subplot of Barry’s JL storyline is the young hero’s attempt to free his father, Henry Allen, from being wrongfully jailed for the murder of Barry’s mother; Harry wants Barry to stop living in the past and move forward with his promising life, but Barry just can’t let it go. In the end, Barry achieves the first steps to being a professional crime scene investigator in Central City, to hopefully track down his mother’s real killer. DC Comics fans can clearly see how Barry’s obsession with his own personal tragedy will lead to the time-altering events of the Flashpoint movie. 

Cyborg

In Justice League, Vic Stone is still acclimating to his Cyborg life and power set, and has to learn on a very fast curve, in order to stop the world-ending threat of The Mother Boxes’ “Unity” fusion. At the end of the film, Vic has embraced his new existence, gradually mastering the alien tech that his now his body, while working with his father, Silas Stone, at S.T.A.R. labs. However, with the Mother Box technology still a wild unknown variable, Vic’s fear that he could be the next big alien threat may be on the horizon in the Cyborg solo movie. 

Injustice Rising

As a result of Superman’s resurrection and the defeat of Steppenwolf, the Justice League members are embraced as worldly heroes. That shining beacon of light doesn’t come without a shadow: it inspires the DC villains to step their game up, in turn. During Justice League‘s end credits scene, we see Joe Manganiello’s Slade Wilson / Deathstroke meet with Lex Luthor to discuss a new endeavor: forming an Injustice League to rival the new superhero alliance. 

The Dark Lord

Darkseid doesn’t appear in Justice League (despite rumors), but the film definitely paves the way for his introduction. Steppenwolf’s entire motivation for conquering Earth is to end his own exile from Apokolips – a punishment for Steppenwolf failing to conquer earth back in ancient times. At the end of the film, Steppenwolf is teleported away from earth by “Boom Tube” portal; he will presumably be returned to Apokolips, to let Darkseid know that earth now has champions that could rival Darkseid’s reign. Bring on Justice League 2. 

Justice League is now in theaters; Aquaman arrives on December 21, 2018; Shazam on April 5, 2019; Wonder Woman 2 on November 1st, 2019; Cyborg on April 3, 2020; and Green Lantern Corps on July 24, 2020