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==Development==
Upon announcement, the universe was commonly been called the "DC Cinematic Universe" by fans and the media, in keeping with the naming convention of the already established [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillbarr/2014/04/09/will-warner-brothers-dc-ever-catch-up-to-marvel-television-after-last-nights-agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d/ |title=Will Warner Brothers & DC Ever Catch Up To Marvel Television After Last Night's 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'? |publisher=Forbes |date= |accessdate=May 25, 2014 |first=Merrill |last=Barr}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://screen.yahoo.com/dc-cinematic-universe-launched-small-034445140.html |title=DC Cinematic Universe Launched From Small Screen? - It's A Wrap! | Clevver Movies - Yahoo Screen |publisher=Screen.yahoo.com |date= |accessdate=May 25, 2014}}</ref> In November 2014, [[Newsarama]] referred to the universe as the "DC Cinematic Multiverse",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsarama.com/22674-dc-cinematic-multiverse-news-yeah-robbie-is-harley-guess-who-s-coming-to-gotham.html|title=DC Cinematic Multiverse News: Yeah, Robbie is Harley, & Guess Who's Coming to GOTHAM|last=Siegel|first=Lucas|publisher=Newsarama|date=November 10, 2014|accessdate=November 20, 2014}}</ref> while the DC Comics website informally referred to the universe as the "DC Cinematic Universe" in December 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2014/12/23/ten-moments-that-mattered-warner-bros-announces-its-dc-entertainment-film-slate|title=Ten Moments that Mattered: Warner Bros. Announces its DC Entertainment Film Slate|last=Beedle|first=Tim|publisher=DC Comics|date=December 23, 2014|accessdate=December 25, 2014}}</ref> In July 2015, in an announcement for their [[San Diego Comic-Con International]] preview issue online, ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' referred to the films as existing in the "DC Extended Universe".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2015/07/01/first-look-batman-v-superman-dawn-justice-ews-cover|title=This Week's Cover: First look at Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice's ultimate superhero showdown|last=Staskiewicz|first=Keith|work=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=July 2, 2015|accessdate=July 17, 2015}}</ref> However, in the issue, ''Entertainment Weekly'' did not use the term, instead called the October 2014 reveal of 10 films over the next five years "a blueprint for an extended universe."<ref>{{cite journal|title=Capes of Wrath|last=Staskiewicz|first=Keith|journal=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|publisher=[[Time Inc.]]|issue=1371/1372|pages=22–30 (26 for cited material)|date=July 10–17, 2015}}</ref> At the end of July, the release of the September 2015 issue of ''[[Empire (film magazine)|Empire]]'' confirmed the universe name as the "DC Extended Universe".<ref>{{cite journal|title=They Are Legend|last=Nathan|first=Ian|journal=[[Empire (film magazine)|Empire]]|publisher=[[Bauer Media Group]]|issue=September 2015|pages=77–89 (80 for cited material)}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://screenrant.com/batman-v-superman-empire-cover-september-2015/|title=‘Batman V Superman’ Empire Cover Revealed; Zack Snyder On The DCEU|last=Owens|first=Jeremy|publisher=Screen Rant|date=July 26, 2015|accessdate=July 31, 2015}}</ref> WhereasWhile the Marvel Cinematic Universe includes television productions, the DC Extended Universe is a shared continuity for films. Several television series featuring DC characters and storylines have their own shared continuity, frequently referred to as the [[Arrowverse]].
The first attempt at a cinematic universe began in 1998 for ''[[Superman in film#Superman Lives|Superman Lives]]''. The film was supposed to be written by [[Kevin Smith]]<ref name=boom!>{{cite news|author=[[Kevin Smith]]|title=Superman Lives Script|work=Script-O-Rama|date=March 27, 1997|url=http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scripts/superman-lives-script.html|accessdate=February 3, 2008}}</ref> and directed by [[Tim Burton]]. The film was set to feature [[Nicolas Cage]] as Superman.<ref name=effort>{{cite book|author=Mark Salisbury, [[Tim Burton]]|title=Burton on Burton: Revised Edition|year=2006|publisher=[[Faber and Faber]]|page=154|isbn=0-571-22926-3}}</ref> The script had [[Brainiac (comics)|Brainiac]] sending [[Doomsday (comics)|Doomsday]] to kill Superman, as well as blocking out the sun to make Superman powerless, as Superman is fueled by sunlight. Brainiac teams up with [[Lex Luthor]], but Superman is resurrected by a Kryptonian robot, [[Eradicator (comics)|the Eradicator]]. Brainiac wishes to possess the Eradicator and its technology. Powerless, the resurrected Superman is sheathed in armor formed from the Eradicator itself until his powers return, courtesy of sunbeams, and defeats Brainiac. [[Michael Keaton]] was originally set to reprise his role as [[Batman]] from Burton's ''Batman'' films, making the attempt at a shared universe.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kevin Spacey and Courtney Cox in ''Superman Lives''?|work=Superman Homepage|date=March 4, 1998|url=http://www.supermanhomepage.com/news/1998-news/1998-news-movie.php?topic=1998-news-movie/0304|accessdate=February 4, 2008}}</ref> The film was later cancelled.
On January 1, 2014, it was revealed that Warner Bros. intended to launch another attempt at a cinematic universe a few years earlier, which would have started with the 2011 film ''[[Green Lantern (film)|Green Lantern]]''. The script for ''The Flash'' was being written in 2011 by ''Green Lantern'' writers [[Michael Green (writer)|Michael Green]] and [[Marc Guggenheim]], with the [[post-credits scene]] featuring [[Hal Jordan]] ([[Ryan Reynolds]]) meeting The Flash.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sciencefiction.com/2013/12/31/leaked-script-flash-movie-reveals-surprise-cameo/|title=Leaked Script For 'The Flash' Movie Reveals A Surprise Cameo|work=sciencefiction.com|accessdate=December 4, 2014}}</ref> The film was then cancelled due to the critical and box office disappointment of ''Green Lantern''.
After the 2011 ''Green Lantern'' film underperformed, a reboot of [[Superman in film|''Superman'']] was greenlit, which resulted in 2013's ''[[Man of Steel (film)|Man of Steel]]''. Plans were made to have the film contain references to other characters in the [[DC Universe]], so if the film was a success, it could launch a shared universe, similar to the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://screenrant.com/superman-man-of-steel-shared-universe/ |title=Will 'Man of Steel' Will Launch DC Shared Universe|publisher=screerant |date= |accessdate=2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/DCCinematicUniverse|title=DC Cinematic Universe|work=tvtropes.org}}</ref> In June 2013, it was announced that director Zack Snyder and screenwriter David S. Goyer would be returning for a ''Man of Steel'' sequel, fast tracked by Warner Bros. ''[[Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice]]'' was released in March 2016. Goyer had previously signed a three-film deal, which includes ''Man of Steel'', ''Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice'', and a ''[[Justice League (film)|Justice League]]'' film featuring Superman.
In October 2014, Warner Bros. announced the titles and release dates for nine films, along with some casting information.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slashfilm.com/dc-movie-slate-revealed/|title=Warner Bros Massive DC Movie Slate Revealed|publisher=/Film|date=October 15, 2014|accessdate=December 4, 2014}}</ref> Also in the month, DC Comics' [[chief creative officer]] [[Geoff Johns]] explained DC's difference in approach to [[Marvel Studios]] and their [[Marvel Cinematic Universe|cinematic universe]], saying, "We look at it as the [[multiverse]]. We have our TV universe and our film universe, but they all co-exist. For us, creatively, it’s about allowing everyone to make the best possible product, to tell the best story, to do the best world. Everyone has a vision and you really want to let the visions shine through ... It’s just a different approach."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.buzzfeed.com/jarettwieselman/the-man-at-the-center-of-dcs-tv-multiverse|title=The Man At The Center Of DC’s TV Multiverse|last=Wieselman|first=Jarett|work=BuzzFeed|date=October 23, 2014|accessdate=October 30, 2014}}</ref> In June 2015, Greg Silverman expanded on DC's approach to their cinematic universe, saying, "We have a great strategy for the DC films, which is to take these beloved characters and put them in the hands of master filmmakers and make sure they all coordinate with each other. You'll see the difference when you see ''Batman v Superman'', ''Suicide Squad'', ''Justice League'' and all the things that we are working on." Additionally, Silverman explained DC's method of hiring multiple writers for upcoming projects by stating, "Every project is different. On some projects, we have multiple writers working together. In some cases, we put writers together who have never been a team together. And sometimes, there is only one writer whose voice is right.".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/warner-bros-film-chief-wonder-799408|title=Warner Bros. Film Chief on 'Wonder Woman,' J.K. Rowling's 'Fantastic Beasts' Script and How DC Will Compete With Marvel|last=McClintock|first=Pamela|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=June 3, 2015|accessdate=June 3, 2015}}</ref>
In May 2016, it was announced that Warner Bros was undergoing a massive restructuring behind the scenes of the DC Extended Universe.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/robsalkowitz/2016/05/20/will-the-big-changes-at-dc-films-bring-a-glimpse-of-light/#4e6024da4b8b|title=Will The Big Changes At DC Films Bring A Glimpse Of Light?|last=Salkowitz|first=Rob|work=Forbes|date=May 20, 2016|accessdate=May 27, 2016}}</ref> While the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]] also functions as a film studio with [[Kevin Feige]] as its head and creative lead, the DC Extended Universe did not with the DC Films banner being purely ceremonial in nature.<ref name="Warner Bros Responding">{{cite news |url=http://deadline.com/2016/05/dc-films-batman-v-superman-geoff-johns-jon-berg-1201758630/|title=Warner Bros Responding To Fans & Critics With DC Films Shakeup|last=Lincoln|first=Ross|work=Deadline|date=May 17, 2016|accessdate=May 27, 2016}}</ref> Prior to May 2016, Warner Bros did not have an individual or team at the center of creative control for the DC Extended Universe with only ''Batman v Superman'' director [[Zack Snyder]] serving in unofficial capacity as creative lead, something that was a frequent source of criticism.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://variety.com/2016/film/opinion/batman-v-superman-warner-bros-superhero-suit-1201749164/|title=‘Batman v Superman’: Where’s the Superhero Suit at Warner Bros.?|last=Tapley|first=Kristopher|work=Variety|date=April 8, 2016|accessdate=May 27, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.vox.com/2016/4/9/11392508/batman-v-superman-dawn-of-justice-zack-snyder|title=Batman v Superman should make Warner Bros rethink Zack Snyder. It isn't (yet)|last=Abad-Santos|first=Alex|work=Vox|date=April 9, 2016|accessdate=May 27, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://collider.com/dc-movie-universe-brain-trust-includes-zack-snyder-but-still-leaderless/|title=What Does the DC Movie Universe Brain Trust Look Like?|last=Chitwood|first=Adam|work=Collider|date=April 29, 2015|accessdate=May 27, 2016}}</ref> Listening to criticism after ''Batman v Superman'',<ref name="Warner Bros Responding"/> Warner Bros established a DC Films unit in May 2016 with [[Geoff Johns]], DC's chief content officer, and Warner Bros executive vice president Jon Berg as its heads.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.vulture.com/2016/05/geoff-johns-dc-films.html?mid=twitter_vulture|title=The New Co-Chief of DC Superhero Movies Is Big On Hope and Optimism|last=Riesman|first=Abraham|work=Vulture|date=May 18, 2016|accessdate=May 27, 2016}}</ref> The DC Films production unit will serve to oversee production and form a cohesive creative direction for the DC Extended Universe. As so, Johns and Berg will serve as producers on future films. Unlike the Marvel Studios, however, DC Films will not be fully autonomous with Geoff Johns reporting to DC president [[Diane Nelson (comics)|Diane Nelson]] and Jon Berg reporting to Warner Bros president of creative development Greg Silverman.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/batman-v-superman-fallout-warner-895174|title='Batman v. Superman' Fallout: Warner Bros. Shakes Up Executive Roles (Exclusive)|last=Kit|first=Borys|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 17, 2016|accessdate=May 27, 2016}}</ref> Later in May 2016, it was announced that as part of the restructuring of DC Films, [[Charles Roven]] would no longer serve as producer of DC-based films at Warner Bros, a role he had served since 2005's [[''Batman Begins]]'', but would be bumpedmoved to an administrative executive producer role.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/batman-v-superman-fallout-producer-897071|title='Batman v. Superman' Fallout: Producer Charles Roven to Shift Role on DC Movies (Exclusive)|last=Kit|first=Borys|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 24, 2016|accessdate=May 27, 2016}}</ref>
==Released Films==
* In May 2016, it was announced that [[Zack Stentz]] would write a ''[[Booster Gold]]'' movie with [[Greg Berlanti]] producing the film, as well as currently being attached as director.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://birthmoviesdeath.com/2016/05/11/zack-stentz-is-writing-a-booster-gold-movie|title=Zack Stentz Is Writing A BOOSTER GOLD Movie|publisher=Birth.Movies.Death|last=Faraci|first=Devin|date=May 11, 2016}}</ref>
* In May 2016, it was announced that a ''[[Harley Quinn]]'' spin-off film, which will feature other DC Comics female characters, was in development. Robbie will reprise her role and serve as a producer as well.<ref>{{cite news|title=Harley Quinn Movie in the Works at Warner Bros. With Margot Robbie (Exclusive)|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/margot-robbies-harley-quinn-movie-894486|accessdate=May 16, 2016|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 16, 2016}}</ref>
* In May 2016, ''[[Paranormal Activity (film series)|Paranormal Activity]]'' actress Natasha Blasick announced that she will purportedly be portraying [[Phantom Girl]], in an upcoming DC superhero film.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://io9.gizmodo.com/justice-league-confirms-a-returning-villain-1779413624|title=Justice League Confirms a Returning Villain|last=Whitbrook|first=James|website=io9|language=en-US|access-date=2016-05-31}}</ref>
* In May 2016, it was announced that Natasha Blasick will be portrayed as [[Phantom Girl]], in a entitled DC superhero film.
===Canceled and inactive projects===
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