'Such a weird choice': DC comic book fans react to new report that appears to reveal which DCU movie will be made after…

Another Batman villain-led DC Universe movie is said to be in the works

It could be the next film to arrive after James Gunn's Superman sequel

There's bewilderment among fans over which projects are being prioritized by DC Studios

DC fans have expressed confusion and concern over the wider plan for the DC Universe (DCU) amid reports that another Batman villain-led film is being prioritized over one starring The Dark Knight.

With Supergirl enduring a calamitous debut in theaters, pulling in a measly $68 million worldwide, all eyes are on DC Studios co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran to see if they'll make any sweeping changes to their DCU Chapter One lineup.

Anyone hoping to see or hear that a Batman and/or Wonder Woman movie will be fast-tracked, though, should temper their expectations. That's because, according to The Wrap, the next film set to enter production after Man of Tomorrow, aka the sequel to last year's Superman film, will be... one starring Batman foes Bane and Deathstroke. Yes, really.

The Wrap's sources aren't the only ones who've heard that this movie could soon be a reality. Indeed, X/Twitter user and reliable industry insider Apocalyptic Horseman has also indicated that a Bane-and-Deathstroke flick is shaping up to be the next big-screen project from the Warner Bros. subsidiary.

This isn't the first time that rumors of such a movie have circulated online. In May, Deadline claimed that the project was not only in early development, but that Greg Mottola (Superbad, Peacemaker) had been tapped to direct it.

Should Messrs Gunn and Safran officially greenlight a Bane and Deathstroke movie, it'll be the third one to feature characters associated with Batman before the Caped Crusader even gets a standalone film.

A project starring shapeshifting Batman enemy Clayface, which lands in theaters this October, is the first of that trio. Meanwhile, a puppet animated flick currently titled Dynamic Duo will introduce the DCU's versions of Dick Grayson and Jason Todd, aka individuals who assume the mantle of iconic Batman sidekick Robin in DC Comics.

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Why Supergirl's calamitous debut has put serious pressure on DC Studios' co-chiefs

Amid the discourse maelstrom that's enveloped DC Studios and Supergirl since the latter's disastrous launch, fans have wondered if Gunn and Safran will go back to the drawing board and rework their entire release strategy.

It appears, though, that they're remaining steadfast in their current approach to their nascent cinematic franchise — and that's certainly riled up some sections of the fanbase.

Indeed, in numerous threads on r/DCULeaks and r/DC_Cinematic, people have expressed their confusion and frustration about the duo focusing their efforts on developing projects that won't star DC Comics' most famous and popular characters.

Some believe that it's now more important than ever to introduce and establish Batman and Wonder Woman in the DCU, and that if it doesn't, DC Studios will face a uphill battle in attracting newcomers to its fledgling universe. Meanwhile, others say that DC Studios should learn from Sony's on-hiatus Spider-Man Universe (SSU), which prioritized stories centered on members of the titular webslinger's rogues gallery and, despite initially doing well, eventually paid the price amid increasingly negative reviews and diminishing box-office returns.

Then there's the small matter of Paramount Skydance's potential buyout of Warner Bros. Pictures. Should it go ahead, some think that the DCU could be axed before it's truly become estabilshed, especially if Clayface underperforms later this year and Lanterns, which comes to HBO Max in August, similarly doesn't do as well as predicted. The pressure would then certainly be on Man of Tomorrow to save the day and ensure the DCU's survival, for however long that might be.

For more DCU coverage, check out the latest casting rumor for the DCU's Batman, and read my Supergirl review to see if I think it's as bad as everyone's making it out to be.

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As TechRadar's senior entertainment reporter, Tom covers all of the latest movies, TV shows, and streaming service news that you need to know about. You'll regularly find him writing about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and many other topics of interest.

An NCTJ-accredited journalist, Tom also writes reviews, analytical articles, opinion pieces, and interview-led features on the biggest franchises, actors, directors and other industry leaders. You may see his quotes pop up in the odd official Marvel Studios video, too, such as this Moon Knight TV spot.

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