DCEU Timeline Tango: Untangling the Mess Before Gunn's DCU Reboot
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
IGN South Africa broke down the DCEU timeline, and frankly, it's a mess. But hey, if you're keen to dive into the pre-Gunn DCU chaos, this list will at least help you keep track of when everyone's punching each other.
Alright, so the DC Extended Universe... well, let's just say it didn't quite stick the landing like Marvel, did it? (No shade, just observation.) According to IGN South Africa, the DCEU's films started as a grand plan, but slowly morphed into more standalone stories with only a few Easter eggs connecting them all. Now that James Gunn is at the helm for a fresh start with his DCU reboot, it’s a fair question to ask whether the DCEU is even worth diving into. But, if you're like me and enjoy a bit of chaotic storytelling (and who doesn't?), there's still some fun to be had.
The question becomes: How do you even watch these things? Do you go by release date, or try to piece together some kind of chronological order? IGN South Africa put together a list to help navigate this superheroic soup, and fair dinkum, it's more complicated than a wizard's tax return. Buckle up, because we're about to untangle this timeline tango.
**The DCEU in Chronological Order (According to IGN South Africa):**
1. **Wonder Woman (2017):** Yep, even though it was the *fourth* film released, it's actually the first chronologically, set during World War I. Think of it as Diana's origin story, with a dash of Steve Trevor and a whole lot of Amazonian kicking butt.
2. **Wonder Woman 1984 (2020):** The neon-soaked sequel jumps ahead to the... well, 1984. Cheetah and Maxwell Lord make things interesting, and there are even more aerobics, but plot-wise, it stays pretty self-contained. Perfect if you like your superhero films with a side of synthwave.
3. **Man of Steel (2013):** The film that started it all (or at least tried to). Henry Cavill's Superman punches his way onto the scene, bringing along Lois Lane, General Zod, and a whole lot of Kryptonian drama. This is the foundation, mate, even if it's a bit shaky.
4. **Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016):** Eighteen months after *Man of Steel*, Batman (Ben Affleck) isn't too thrilled about an alien with god-like powers roaming around. This film is the first time we see the big two clash in live-action, with Wonder Woman also thrown into the mix, plus sneak peeks at Aquaman, Flash, and Cyborg. Oh, and Doomsday shows up to ruin everyone's day.
5. **Suicide Squad (2016):** A year after *BvS*, Amanda Waller decides the world needs a team of supervillains to do the dirty work. Enter Task Force X, featuring Deadshot, Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie’s first go at the character), and a bunch of other colourful criminals with explosive neck implants. Jared Leto's Joker makes his debut here, too (controversially, I might add).
6. **Justice League (2017):** Superman's dead (spoiler alert?), and Steppenwolf is trying to destroy the world. Batman and Wonder Woman team up to assemble a league of heroes to stop him. This is where things get messy, with Zack Snyder leaving the project and Joss Whedon stepping in to finish it, resulting in a film that's...well, a bit of a Frankenstein's monster.
7. **Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021):** You know, the one we all thought would never see the light of day? It's mostly the same story as the 2017 *Justice League*, but with a *lot* more Snyder-isms, a dash of Jared Leto's Joker, and the introduction of Martian Manhunter.
8. **Aquaman (2018):** Jason Momoa's Aquaman gets his own solo outing, diving deep into his origin story and the politics of Atlantis. Mera, Vulko, and Black Manta also make their first appearances.
9. **Shazam! (2019):** A teenager gets magical superpowers and transforms into a grown-up superhero. It's mostly a standalone story, with only a few nods to the wider DCEU. Think *Big*, but with superpowers and slightly less Tom Hanks.
10. **Birds of Prey (2020):** Harley Quinn breaks up with the Joker and teams up with a group of vigilantes to take down a crime lord. It’s a loose sequel to *Suicide Squad*, but still fairly disconnected from the rest of the DCEU.
11. **Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023):** According to the original article, Shazam 2 takes place two years after the first film, so somewhere between late 2020 and early 2021.
12. **The Suicide Squad (2021):** James Gunn takes a crack at Task Force X, bringing in a new cast of characters (Bloodsport, Peacemaker) alongside some returning faces (Harley Quinn, Rick Flag). It's still separate from the DCEU's main storyline, but it does feature a giant, mind-controlling starfish from space. Because why not?
13. **Black Adam (2022):** This one was meant to usher in a new era, but it didn't quite stick. Reviews were lukewarm and now with Gunn taking over the universe, it's unlikely we'll see Dwayne Johnson back in this role. Chronologically, it's set after *Justice League* and *The Suicide Squad*.
14. **The Flash (2023):** Barry Allen messes with time, causing all sorts of chaos. It's set after *Justice League*, but also jumps around the timeline, so... good luck keeping track.
15. **Blue Beetle (2023):** This is a mostly standalone tale, and Xolo Maridueña's Blue Beetle will be part of the new DCU despite this movie being part of the old DCEU.
16. **Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023):** The end of the DCEU. Arthur Curry has to save Atlantis (again) and deal with Black Manta (again). It's a fitting end to this era, even if it wasn't exactly a grand finale.
**Bonus Round:**
* **Joker (2019):** Joaquin Phoenix's take on the Joker is entirely separate from the DCEU, so you can watch it whenever you want. Think of it as a dark, gritty character study rather than a superhero film.
* **The Batman (2022):** Another standalone film, this time starring Robert Pattinson as a younger, grungier Batman. It's a detective story with a noir vibe, and it's completely disconnected from the DCEU.
So, there you have it, mate. According to IGN South Africa, the DCEU timeline, untangled (sort of). Whether you choose to watch them in chronological order, release order, or just pick and choose the ones that sound interesting, remember to have fun and don't take it too seriously. After all, it's just a bunch of superheroes punching things.
Tags: DCEU, DCU, Movie Timeline, Superhero Movies, James Gunn
Original article: IGN South Africa