If rumors are to be believed, Warner Bros. Pictures' current planned release dates for the upcoming DC Extended Universe sequels Shazam! Fury of the Gods and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom may not be set in stone.
Per The Hollywood Reporter, a lot is going on ahead of Warner Bros. Discovery's earnings call on Thursday, Aug. 4. Amid the abrupt cancellation of Batgirl and the newly-announced release date for Joker: Folie a Deux, rumors are "swirling" that Warner Bros. is "considering moving the release dates" for Shazam! Fury of the Gods and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Currently, the Shazam! sequel is scheduled to premiere in theaters later this year on Dec. 21, while the Aquaman sequel is expected to bow on March 17, 2023.
Meanwhile, fellow DCEU film The Flash, starring controversial actor Ezra Miller, is scheduled for release on June 23, 2023. The film will see Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992) star Michael Keaton reprise his role as Bruce Wayne/Batman. This is of note, as Keaton also reportedly filmed a scene for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom -- a scene test audiences are said to have found confusing, according to THR. It recently came to light that the DCEU's main Batman actor, Ben Affleck, was involved in Lost Kingdom, suggesting that his version of Bruce Wayne would replace Keaton's in the Aquaman sequel.
The DCEU's Future Is Uncertain
Keaton was also expected to appear as his version of Batman in the HBO Max-exclusive DCEU film Batgirl, which would have starred Leslie Grace in the lead role of Barbara Gordon/Batgirl. However, it was recently confirmed that Warner Bros. had pulled the plug on Batgirl, and that the film would not release on HBO Max, in theaters or otherwise. This move has been called unprecedented, given how close Batgirl was to completion.
"The decision to not release Batgirl reflects our leadership's strategic shift as it relates to the DC universe and HBO Max," Warner Bros. said in an official statement. "Leslie Grace is an incredibly talented actor and this decision is not a reflection of her performance. We are incredibly grateful to the filmmakers of Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt and their respective casts and we hope to collaborate with everyone again in the near future."
Outside the DCEU, the aforementioned Joker: Folie a Deux is scheduled for release on Oct. 4, 2024. The film is a sequel to director Todd Phillips' standalone DC film Joker, which released in 2019.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter