With plans for a DC Multiverse growing more and more heroic by the day , theDCEUhas last   take on the use of a completely distinct entity from theMarvel Cinematic Universe . News recently break ofMichael Keaton being in talks to come back as BatmaninThe Flash , which itself is being sold as a retelling of theFlashpointcomic Word story . Though it is n’t yet a done deal for Keaton to come back to Gotham City X after resign the part , this is just the former growth in what has been a blizzard of cackle , rumour , and announcements that would have seemed ludicrous mere months ago .

All of it was arguably set up in motion by Ezra Miller ’s surprisal cameo on the CW’sCrisis On Infinite Earthscrossover , while May 20th brought with it the announcement of theJustice LeagueSnyder Cut debuting on HBO Max in 2021 . In the time since then , there ’s apparently been small room to breath between one net - stopping DC picture show - associate story and the next . However , it ’s the   Michael Keaton news that has push matter past the point of no counter .

plainly put , the DCEU has essentially transmute in the last few months . Where rumour of go actors , director drama , and shifting liberation date once dominated media coverage of the dealership , DC   now has   the internet   constantly on pins and needles , thirstily look what casting rumor or story item will trickle through the word of mouth next , and all of it greatly feeding the anticipation forAugust ’s DC Fandome online event . The literal variety of it all is that , by betray itself as vast Multiverse with legion parallel continuities for fans to latch onto , DC at last stands asunder from Marvel .

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The DCEU Tried To Catch Up To Marvel

Though the DCEU began   in 2013 withMan of Steel , it truly kicked off in solemn with 2016’sBatman v Superman : Dawn of Justice . In the lead up to the flick ’s unveiling , Warner Bros. made efforts to position the DCEU as the studio apartment ’s response to the MCU . While   both held the common trait of a shared world in which numerous superheroes co - existed , Zack Snyder had a very different visual sensation in mind of a five - movie arc   with Superman ’s story that had begin inMan of Steelas its core , and which was to let in the death and return of Superman , the death of Ben Affleck ’s Batman , and more .

WhileMan of Steelhad been subject to a quite split reception , Batman v Superman ’s was as divisive as any superhero movie ’s has ever been , take at once to Warner Bros.   act to heavily micromanage the DCEU , withSuicide Squadand laterJustice Leagueundergoing notorious reshoots and retooling in an effort to align them with Marvel ’s path to success . With the release of the Snyder Cut , the DCEU has effectively begun rolling back to the clock on the midstream mandate to retroactively agree the MCU formula into its own ( with   the Ayer Cut ’s release also now being a possibility . ) However , even this absolutely historical development does n’t paint the full picture of where DC is headed now .

Future DC Movies Are Standalone (But Can Connect Later)

In the   time sinceJustice League ’s theatrical debut , the four DC movies to have been released have occupied a fairly nebulous place , withAquaman , Shazam ! , andBirds of Preyall being standalone film that nevertheless do maintain varying levels of connective tissue paper with the plastic film that preceded them . At the same time , Todd Phillips’Jokeroperated as an out - of - continuity one - off , while the upcomingWonder Woman 1984takes spot before , and is therefore not inform by , the events of the first five DCEU films . While DC ’s slating of upcoming movies do n’t look to be directly feeding into one another , this hardly lay out a continuity job .

In fact ,   the standalone nature of DC ’s next slate offers them a great lot of freedom in the big role they ’ll wager in what has become DC ’s Multiverse . Hypothetically , the eventsBlack Adamwill likely have little unmediated ties withThe Suicide Squad , but both being part of the DC stain allows their role to connect at whatever time and under whatever circumstance they elect to take . what is more , even if one DC motion picture clearly pose itself as an independent entity , asJokerdid and Matt Reeves’The Batmanis doing , DC now function as a Multiverse affords an entire hatful of advantage that it never would have had at its garbage disposal had the DCEU been a direct latitude to the MCU ’s interconnected continuity .

The Multiverse Makes The DCEU The Anti-MCU

By even the most skeptical of recital , the DCEU is presently showering the cyberspace with one bombshell   news story after another , from the Snyder Cut ’s announcement andHenry Cavill ’s prospective replication as Supermanto the ongoing parade of news show aboutThe Flash(itself a thoroughgoing about - brass from that picture ’s developmental stagnation . ) At the same clip , the idea of Michael Keaton mayhap returning as Batman , along with Ezra Miller’sCrisis On Infinite Earthscameo , solidifies that DC has throw the floodgates undefendable on its full bragging and small - screen door canyon . Not only that , but it also at long last positions DC ’s pic slate as a   genuine counterpoint to the MCU .

With so many disparate continuities under the Multiverse umbrella , DC film and television shows alike are now far less tethered to the parameters of inhabiting a remarkable continuity . This basically leaves movie maker liberal to tell   any stories they want with whichever eccentric or stage set of characters they wish . At this dot , Robert Pattinson ’s Batmandoesn’t invalidate out or unmake Ben Affleck ’s , or any other Caped Crusader , while Brandon Routh ’s Superman is just one more Man of Steel alongside Henry Cavill ’s andTyler Hoechlin ’s . At the same time , DC ’s properties technicallydoconnect with one another by   co - existing in   a larger Multiverse - and , in the case of Keaton ’s potential return as Batman inThe Flash , there ’s nothing to stop characters from one movie or series geezerhood or decades take from each other from crossing paths with those of a different continuity .

The level of engagement and excitement   towards   DC ’s   futurity right now has completely captivated the care of the superhero movie aspect . All of that can be traced to the visible efforts that have been made to re - position   the DCEU not as another endeavor at a shared world   following the MCU ’s undeniable success story , but an ambitious strive all its own at   bringing   DC properties new and old under one roof with the freedom to tie in or stand alone as they choose . To be sure , Marvel is also set to dip its toe into the Multiverse water withDoctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness , but with the new scheme it has espouse , theDCEUis not only clear diving headfirst into it , but it has also finally shaken off the brand of being a 2nd - string MCU while finding a means to unite its fan base and graph its own itinerary .   Thanks to its strong-growing new approach shot of selling its own distinctness from Marvel , DC is now sincerely no longer baby-sit in Marvel ’s shadow .

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NEXT : The DCEU Multiverse explain : Which Movies & appearance Are Canon

Sidious, Tyranus, Maul, and Vader.

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Ezra Miller as The Flash and Michael Keaton as Batman

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