Detached from physical conventions, virtual fan events have become all the rage the past two years. This past weekend saw the streaming of the second-ever DC FanDome, covering all things DC Comics, from blockbuster superhero movies to TV series adaptations, video games and animated offerings. A few comic book announcements were squeezed in too.
You can watch the full 4-hour DC FanDome stream here, or read the far more digestible DC Comics blog breakdown of every announcement. Here’s what stood out for us.
Film
Many projects are still in development, or currently being filmed, so when it came to DC movie news at FanDome, there was an emphasis on behind-the-scenes looks.
While it’s also still in progress, Black Adam is big enough – Dwayne Johnson is playing the lightning-charged anti-hero, after all – to open this year’s DC FanDome with a first look teaser trailer for the July 2022 release. The cast also includes Aldis Hodge as Hawkman, Pierce Brosnan as Doctor Fate, Noah Centineo as Atom Smasher, and Quintessa Swindell as Cyclone. For the record, Black Adam began life as an arch nemesis for Shazam!, previously known as Captain Marvel.
Speaking of Shazam!, we’ve already seen the new sleeker suit design for the Marvel family. The FanDome behind the scenes segment on Shazam! Fury of the Gods gave a better look at the movie’s villains, Hespera (Helen Mirren) and Kalypso (Lucy Liu), daughters of Greek Titan Atlas. The Shazam! sequel is out June 2023.
Proving that Marvel doesn’t own the Multiverse concept is The Flash, the first solo movie for Ezra Miller’s Scarlet Speedster. Barry Allen’s attempt to travel back in time and stop his mother’s murder has an impact on multiple timelines. That brings our hero into contact with both Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton’s versions of Batman, and Sasha Calle as a non-blonde Supergirl. The Flash is out November 4, 2022.
DC FanDome 2021 closed out with the Main Trailer for Matt Reeves’s The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson as a much younger, unseasoned version of the vigilante. The Batman is out March 4, 2022, and also stars Zoë Kravitz as Catwoman, Paul Dano as the Riddler, and Colin Farrell as the Penguin. In key supporting roles, Jeffrey Wright is James Gordon and Andy Serkis plays Alfred Pennyworth.
In terms of upcoming DC animated movies, the biggie looks to be Catwoman: Hunted, an anime-style globe-trotting adventure where cat burglar Selina Kyle clashes with a powerful consortium of villains, Interpol, and Batwoman. Catwoman: Hunted releases February 8, 2022.
Television
There were loads of fresh looks at, and news about, existing series based on DC properties, like Superman & Lois, Supergirl, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Doom Patrol, Batwoman, Harley Quinn and Sweet Tooth.
Of most interest to us was the first official image of Gwendoline Christie as a suitably cherubic-looking Lucifer in Netflix’s The Sandman, which starts streaming in 2022.
Meanwhile, the most hyped new TV series was definitely Jon Cena’s Peacemaker, a The Suicide Squad spin-off, also written and directed by James Gunn. Peacemaker comes to HBO Max on January 13, 2022.
Comics
If a certain contingent of society was upset by a bisexual Superman, they’ll no doubt be extra outraged by an update to Superman’s slogan – to be more representative. No longer does the Man of Steel stand for “Truth, Justice and the American Way.” From now on, in our globalised world, he’ll be striving for “Truth, Justice and a Better Tomorrow.”
It’s Wonder Woman’s 80th anniversary this year, and part of the celebration efforts include Trial of the Amazons, DC’s first Wonder Woman crossover in 30 years. The action kicks off in Nubia & The Amazons #1, on sale October 19.
The synopsis of this multi-series storyline? Diana and Queen Hippolyta leave Nubia to lead the Amazons of Themyscira, which triggers a power struggle that will redefine the future of all the Amazonian tribes. Yara Flor, aka Wonder Girl, and Artemis all have a part to play.
Gaming
We are so there for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League from Rocksteady Studios, the same developers responsible for the majority of the Arkham games. DC FanDome 2021 revealed the story trailer for the open-world action game, where Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, and King Shark are sent to Metropolis to stop the Justice League, who have been brainwashed by Brainiac.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League looks like wicked, irreverent fun, and is coming in 2022 to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The game has both single player and four-player cooperative modes.
Far more serious, meanwhile, is Gotham Knights, from Batman: Arkham Origins studio WB Games Montréal. With Batman apparently dead, Nightwing, Batgirl, Robin, and Red Hood attempt to restore order to Gotham City, which brings them up against the Court of Owls, a secret criminal society and their legion of brainwashed assassins called Talons.
Single player and co-op Gotham Knights is due for release in 2022, and expected to hit Playstation 4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC. Watch the story trailer here.
