DC's Justice League Reboot Was Reportedly Planned for 2030

James Gunn and Peter Safran reportedly wanted to conclude the first chapter of the new DC Universe with a major Justice League film, potentially directed by Gunn himself.

DC Studios had “big plans” for its new cinematic universe, including a Justice League reboot in 2030 as the finale of Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters. However, those plans may no longer be moving forward as originally envisaged due to the alleged dismissal of James Gunn from his leadership role. 

New information about the old plan for DC Studios reveals that the studio would have assembled its new Justice League after introducing numerous major characters through solo projects. James Gunn and Peter Safran apparently envisioned the superhero team-up as the big event that would close the book on the first chapter of their DC Universe.

Interestingly, it was allegedly anticipated that Gunn himself would helm the Justice League picture.

That would mean DC Studios was well into planning its long-term cinematic slate and that the project was seemingly close to an announcement. These plans also give a clearer picture of how the studio had intended to schedule its key releases. According to DC, the idea was to build up a few key characters before launching its first big team-up, rather than simply throwing together its most famous superheroes.

A core part of the stated release strategy was Batman: The Brave and the Bold. The movie was set to appear in 2029, which would be about the same time as Matt Reeves’ The Batman Part II, which will presumably feature an alternate version of the Dark Knight. This way, the two Batman franchises could’ve co-existed without too much box-office competition.

Then in 2030 we would have had the Justice League relaunch, which would have brought together the heroes presented in the first chapter. That slate, as reported, shows DC Studios was building toward a big cinematic event with a pretty easy release timetable. Man of Tomorrow was slated for 2027, with a Wonder Woman project set for 2028.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold would then get his time in the spotlight in 2029 before Justice League ultimately brought the heroes together in 2030.

But questions remain about whether this was always the original direction for the DC Universe. For example, Wonder Woman apparently wasn't a priority, with earlier plans being a prequel set around Amazonian mythology instead. The company apparently changed its strategy and began introducing more familiar characters through major theatrical films.

The rationale behind this alleged approach may have been to focus on DC properties with built-in audiences that could attract higher viewership. Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman remain some of the company's most recognizable characters, making a Justice League movie a natural long-term goal. But reports say Gunn and Safran aren’t heading up DC Studios anymore, and the future of those plans is in doubt.

Gunn is still under contract as director of “Man of Tomorrow,” but whether other projects from the original roadmap will move forward remains to be seen. The rumored Justice League remake for 2030 hints at what DC Studios might have been working toward. It remains to be seen whether the new leadership continues that concept or takes the brand in a different direction.