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The old continuity dissolved into cosmic dust. The multiverse spun, the gods fell, and from the rubble, something new was born: James Gunn’s DC Universe (DCU).
It’s not enough to wear the cape or carry the shield. To understand this new era, you need to know what really counts. What survived the reboot? Which heroes, villains, and monsters are still in play? And where exactly does the timeline of this evolving story begin?
In this timeline, we’ve gathered everything officially declared canon in the new DCU, so you know where you stand before the next big adventure and how it all connects to what came before in the DCEU.
What counts as canon in James Gunn’s DCU
Not everything from the old DCEU survived the explosion that reshaped this universe. It's like James Gunn handpicked what deserved to live on.
First up is Creature Commandos (2024), the animated series that officially kicks off the DCU timeline. Amanda Waller’s team of monsters, led by Rick Flag Sr. and Frankenstein, lays the first brick in a new foundation.
Then there’s Peacemaker season 1 (2022). Most of its wild, bloody ride is canon, though the Justice League cameo at the end has been quietly erased. Gunn has promised season 2 will face this head-on, keeping Peacemaker firmly planted in the new DCU.
Parts of The Suicide Squad (2021) also carry weight here, but only the pieces Gunn has chosen. For example, the death of Rick Flag Jr. is now part of DCU history, referenced directly in Creature Commandos. That doesn’t mean the entire DCEU comes along for the ride. Only what’s named, what’s woven into the current fabric, counts.
This is a surgical cut, shaping the DCU into something tighter, leaner, and ready to strike.
How the DCU timeline is built so far
The timeline of James Gunn’s DCU doesn’t start from scratch but from careful, deliberate points that connect past and present. It begins with Creature Commandos (2024), the animated series that sets the official first step of this new era. Here, we learn about the covert operations run by Amanda Waller and meet Rick Flag Sr., Frankenstein, the Bride of Frankenstein, and other key players who shape the foundation of the DCU.
Peacemaker season 1 (2022), which, despite premiering before the official reboot, has most of its events intact in this timeline. The season’s chaotic, violent energy and sharp humor remain essential. Season 2 will pick up with full awareness of the DCU’s evolving shape.
Pieces of The Suicide Squad (2021) also matter here, especially the death of Rick Flag Jr. at the hands of the Peacemaker, which is explicitly referenced in Creature Commandos. But only those pieces James Gunn has chosen are part of the story.
Together, these projects form the bones of the DCU timeline, a careful weave of old and new, building a universe that respects what matters while cutting away the excess.
What’s left behind from the old DCEU
Much of the old DCEU, the Snyderverse films like Man of Steel (2013), Batman v Superman (2016), and Justice League (2017), has been left behind. These stories no longer shape the current timeline unless specifically referenced in the new projects.
James Gunn has been intentional, carrying forward only the elements that serve the DCU’s new identity. This approach lets the DCU move forward with a clear vision, free from the tangled weight of every previous chapter.
Fans looking for a direct continuation will have to adjust because the new DCU is not a full revival of the past but a fresh start shaped by careful choices.
What’s next for the DCU
The road ahead for the DCU is packed with ambitious projects that will expand this universe in bold new directions. Leading the charge is Superman (2025), starring David Corenswet as the Man of Steel in a story designed to set the tone for the entire DCU.
After that, Peacemaker season 2 will return, continuing the character’s journey with full awareness of the DCU’s reshaped landscape. Other exciting titles on the horizon include Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, the cosmic series Lanterns, the antihero team-up The Authority, the dark, supernatural Swamp Thing, and a fresh take on Batman with The Brave and the Bold.
Each of these projects has been handpicked to form a connected, intentional universe, blending familiar icons with fresh faces. Together, they promise a DCU that is streamlined, energized, and ready to build a legacy distinct from the DCEU that came before.
Same actors, new timeline: not everything is what it seems
One of the trickiest parts of this DCU reboot is how familiar faces show up with entirely different narrative baggage. Viola Davis is still Amanda Waller. John Cena is still Peacemaker. Xolo Maridueña is still Blue Beetle.
But don’t be fooled into thinking these are clean continuations. These are recontextualized versions of their characters, same actors, different universe, like echoes bouncing through a new chamber.
Waller’s ruthless pragmatism remains, but now she operates under a different history. Peacemaker still shoots first and monologues later, but the world he inhabits has shifted.
Gunn isn’t doing a clean slate or a full reboot. He’s crafting what he calls a fractured memory, where select performances survive the purge but continuity does not. It’s a bold move that lets fan-favorite actors carry their momentum forward without being chained to the mess of past canon.
This isn’t nostalgia. It’s reclamation.
Elseworlds and the beauty of not needing to fit in
Not everything with a DC logo is part of the DCU, and that’s a feature, not a bug. James Gunn made it clear: Elseworlds stories still exist, they just don’t share canon with the mainline continuity.
That means The Batman – Part II and Joker: Folie à Deux can keep their distinct tones, aesthetics, and timelines without needing to serve a bigger narrative puzzle. No cameos, no multiversal math homework. Just good stories doing their own thing.
In a world where every cinematic universe feels like it’s sprinting toward the next crossover event, DC’s decision to let some stories breathe outside the canon is radical. It gives auteurs room to stretch, lets weirdness thrive, and keeps the DCU from bloating into the narrative overload that crushed the DCEU.
So if you see Pattinson’s Batman brooding in a rainstorm, don’t expect Superman to drop in from the clouds. Different world. Same cape. And that’s the point.
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Gunn doesn’t want that. He’s said it outright. The DCU is being built around standalone stories that reward attention but don’t punish casual viewers. This isn’t about continuity for continuity’s sake. It’s about making every story count on its terms.
Sure, characters will cross over, timelines will thread, and long arcs will unfold. But you won’t need a spreadsheet or a dozen rewatches to care. That’s a huge philosophical shift. It’s not just structure, it’s tone. The DCU is aiming for coherence, not codependency. Think Star Wars at its best, connected but modular, mythic but approachable.
You can watch Swamp Thing and get a full, contained horror film. You can follow Lanterns and dive into cosmic mystery without needing to remember a single detail from The Authority. This is superhero storytelling unshackled, and it might be exactly what the genre needs.
Why knowing the canon matters: following the threads of a reborn DC Universe
The DCU isn’t just a random collection of shows, movies, and characters. It’s a carefully built world, where each project strengthens the foundation for what comes next. Knowing what’s canon means knowing which stories matter, which character arcs carry weight, and where the emotional stakes truly lie.
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As James Gunn’s vision unfolds, the DCU is rebuilding to redefine what superhero storytelling can be. This new era cuts away the noise and steps forward with purpose, promising stories that hit harder, characters that matter more, and a universe designed to stand the test of time.
For fans ready to dive in, the message is clear: pay attention, because every piece of this canon shapes the future.
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