The DC Extended Universe is coming! Aquaman 2 The Lost Kingdom is a thing of the past, which marks the end of the series. However, there are still 13 major unsolved mysteries left in the movie.
From 2013's Superman: Man of Steel to 2023's Aquaman sequel, the DC Extended Universe has been a controversial decade with many highlights and twists and turns.
After several leadership changes at Warner Bros. and DC, the final release of Aquaman 2 finally comes to an end to the DC Extended Universe as James Gunn and Peter Safran prepare to launch a new reboot series, Creture Commandos, in 2024.
But since the four films released last year were all box office dismal, the universe didn't end as originally planned, so the DC Expanded Universe was left with many unanswered questions and suspense, most of which were destined to never be resolved:
Rex Luthor assembles the team (Justice League).
With a strong fan appeal, Joe Mangeniro made his debut in the end credits of Justice League as Slade Wilson, aka Deathknell. The notorious assassin meets Jesse Eisenberg's Rex Luthor on a yacht to prepare for some ** plans after the first assembly of the Alliance.
Having just escaped from prison, Luthor proposes that the two form "an alliance of their own" to lay the groundwork for an Injustice Alliance or Legion of Destruction. This team may include the duo who appear on the scene, as well as characters such as the Joker, Black Manta Ray, and Cheetah.
Since the DCU reboots the universe with Rex Luthor, played by Nicholas Hoult, the suspense may not be explored anymore. After all, it's been six years since this scene happened, and neither villain has continued to appear or make further appearances, except in 2021's Zack Snyder's version of Justice League.
Knell vs. Batman (Zack Snyder's version of Justice League).
Curiously, there is a different (but similar) end credits in the Schneider cut, starring Jesse Eisenberg as Rex Luthor and Joe Mangenielo as Deathbell.
This exciting easter egg still sees a Luthor, who had just escaped from prison, meeting the Assassin on a yacht. But this time, Luthor hires Deathstroke to "destroy the bats" instead of targeting the Justice League as a whole.
This scene makes it clear that the mission is a personal vendetta for Slade Wilson – implying that Batman is the one who blinded him in one eye – and then Luthor reveals that the Dark Knight is Bruce Wayne.
Since the end credits egg was meant to teaser that the assassin would be the villain in the Batman movie that Ben Affleck had abandoned, the trailer would not have been resolved. The Schneider cut version of Justice League remains the only time Mangenielo appears as Deathbell.
Darkseid invades Earth (Zack Snyder's version of the Justice League).
Perhaps the biggest attraction of Zack Snyder's version of Justice League compared to Joss Whedon's 2017 cut is how Darkseid comes to find Earth and its heroes after defeating Steppenwolf, looking for the anti-life equation.
Darkseid ordered his legion to "prepare the fleet, we will use the old ways" as he prepared to begin the conquest of Earth. This was originally intended to set the stage for a showdown in Justice League 2 and 3, but the plan was quickly abandoned after Zack Snyder left the project before release.
Martian Manhunter debut (Zack Snyder's version of the Justice League).
Martian Manhunter first appeared in the DC Extended Universe only at the end of Zack Snyder's version of Justice League, when he met with Bruce Wayne. The film confirms that Harry Lenix plays General Swanwick, who also appeared in Superman: Man of Steel and Batman v Superman, as a superhero disguised as Superman on Mars.
The iconic figure of the Justice League made it clear to the Dark Knight that the battle was not over and that Darkseid was about to invade Earth. It looks like Martian Manhunter will join the superhero team in the future and play a major role in the canceled DC sequel.
Looking ahead, fans hope to see Martian Manhunter again in live-action movies soon, and perhaps he can finally have his own solo role. But that will almost certainly not be this version of Martian Manhunter, and it is likely that Lenix will be recast.
Knight's Fall Timeline (Zack Snyder's version of Justice League).
In his own DC movie, Zack Snyder lays the groundwork for the Knightfall timeline, a possible future in which Superman becomes the Greatest on Earth and Batman's rebels rebel against Louise Lane after his death.
The heroes of the future use a cosmic treadmill to send Barry Allen back in time, warning the present Batman of the impending dangers and the importance of Louise Lane.
The Knightfall timeline was supposed to be the focus of Justice League 2, but this future will never be explored due to the plan's failure to materialize.
The original Wonder Woman is alive (Wonder Woman 1984).
Wonder Woman 1984 mentions an ancient Amazonian warrior named Asteria who supposedly sacrificed herself to save her people. The original owner of Diana Prince's Golden Armor is revealed to be alive in the end credits, played by former Wonder Woman actress Linda Carter.
While some may have speculated that the scene was all about serving fans, Gadot confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter in November 2021 that Linda Carter would appear in Wonder Woman 3:
First of all, Linda has been mentoring me from the moment I was first cast as Wonder Woman. She was there all the time, talking to me, giving me advice and everything. She's a true advocate of what we've done and it's great that we managed to find the right opportunity to bring her into the last film, now the third. This time it will be better. I love her very much. I love her very much. ”
Of course, with the trilogy canceled and Gadot likely to be recast as an Amazon Justice League Hero, any hope of seeing the two Wonder Woman actresses on the same page is now dashed.
The weasel is rescued from the water (Suicide Squad).
At the beginning of Suicide Squad, the two teams of villains land on the beach in Coto Maltes, which turns out to be a bloody **. The weasel was one of the people who died in this **, drowning in the sea before the team landed.
But the ending credits reveal an uplifting turn for this child-killing mammal, with the weasel waking up from his apparent death and escaping on the beach in Coto Maltes, setting up more future appearances.
Since James Gunn, the current co-CEO of DC Studios, directed the film, it will be one of the few cliffhangers in the DC Extended Universe. Weasel will return later this year for Max's animated series Creat Commandos, which will feature a new DCU, a character still played by the director's brother, Sean Gunn.
Waller was taken all over the world ** (Messenger of Peace).
Following the events of Peacemaker, Amanda Waller's daughter, Adebayo, gave her to the world. At a press conference, Adebayo cleared the names of the Messengers of Peace and unveiled Project Butterfly and Einsatzgrappre X to the world, exposing what the United States** and Waller were doing.
Viola Davis' Amanda Waller is one of the few DC Extended Universe characters confirmed to be returning in a reboot, meaning the suspense is likely to be explored further in the coming years. Between the second season of Peacemaker and Waller, the public appearance of Argus' leaders in multiple DCU projects could be crucial.
This is especially important in Waller, which will bring out the Argus boss in the Max solo episode, who may not be able to hide in the shadows as she used to due to Adebayo's actions.
Black Adam vs. Superman (Black Adam).
In what will become one of the most infamous DC Extended Universe suspensefuls, Black Adam's end credits egg sets the stage for Henry Cavill's return to play Superman five years after his last appearance in the Justice League. All this was meant to set the stage for the conflict between these two heroes with great power years later.
But alas, with Cavill replaced by a new, younger Superman, and Dwayne Johnson announcing that he would no longer be starring in DC movies, DC Studios ended the project, and Black Adam's story ended just as it began.
Shazam joins the Justice Society (Thunder Shazam!) Wrath of the Gods).
Shazam has been a hero for several years and has saved the world many times, Thunder Shazam! In the end credits of Wrath of the Gods, Argus ** Emilia Harcourt and John Economos recruit Billy Batson to the Justice Society.
But fans have never seen Shazam accept the Argus duo's offer to join the roster of the likes of Hawkman, Whirlwind, and Atom Smasher, so it has never been made clear whether he will eventually join the Justice Society.
In the future, this will become a bit confusing, as Economos and Harcourt will remain in the DCU through the second season of Peacemaker. But that doesn't necessarily mean that Levy will stay as well, as Shazam's future remains uncertain.
Dr. Sivanna and the Heartworm (Thunder Shazam!) Wrath of the Gods).
Fury of the Gods' second ending credits egg is very similar to the one from the first film in 2019. Dr. Sivana, played by Mark Strong, is once again in a relationship with Heartworm (by Shazam!) series director David Sandberg) face to face, hinting at a future collaboration between the two.
As one of Shazam's biggest villains in Thunder, most people thought Heartworm would be the villain in the sequel, as he appeared in the 2019 film, but the honor goes to Atlas's daughters. And, this ending credits egg once again makes most people think that Sandberg plans to revisit Heartworm in Shazam 3.
So far, despite Zachary Levy's close relationship with DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran, most don't expect the hero to return for a reboot. As a result, Shazam 3 seems unlikely, meaning that the two villains may not be coming back anytime soon.
George Clooney is Batman (The Flash).
After Michael Keaton's adventures and Ben Affleck's cameo, The Flash ends with Ezra Miller's Barry Allen arriving in a new world in which Batman is played by George Clooney from Batman & Robin.
While this may feel like a foreshadowing for Clooney to play Batman in The Flash 2 or other DC projects, it never seemed like a plan.
An updated ending was filmed after Gunn and Safran made plans for a reboot, while the former made it clear that Clooney was not the DCU's new Batman.
So far, the heroes confirmed to exist in that world include Miller's Flash, Clooney's Batman, and Jason Momoa's Aquaman. As DC focuses on a new universe of recast actors, it seems like they'll continue to live there.
Ted Cod is still alive (Blue Beetle).
Before Jaime Reyes' first adventure began, the original blue beetle, Ted Cod, had long since disappeared and was thought dead. But the end credits turn the idea off, a distorted ** message is sent to his empty superhero lair, and Codd sends a message to his daughter Jenny, revealing that he's still alive.
As James Gunn described the Blue Beetle as "the first DCU character", suggesting that Solo Maduuna will continue to play his superhero role in the reboot, Ted Cod could return. After all, this scenario could set the stage for the upcoming DCU Max series, Booster Gold.
Will any DC Extended Universe suspense be resolved?
Unfortunately, over the years, the DC Extended Universe has struggled to keep fans interested in any form of larger storyline, especially since Zack Snyder left the series after Justice League and any coherence has evaporated.
This decline in interest becomes even more pronounced when turning attention to the four DC Extended Universe movies that failed at the box office last year. Of course, this may be due in part to the news of the impending reboot, and this is just the beginning of the disappointing end for these characters.
As a result, there is little that will be resolved beyond those suspense created by James Gunn, as he holds the keys to DC's future. Also, probably because he is a newly launched character with no connection to past failures, the Blue Beetle seems ready to continue his adventure.
The suspense in Zack Snyder's Justice League will undoubtedly continue to be a hot topic, as his fan base remains outspoken in its propaganda demanding that his DC saga be revived to this day. But alas, that seems unlikely to happen, as the DCU, led by Gunn and Schneider, continues to advance the Netflix project.