Goodwin's Universe (franchise)

For other shared universes of DC Comics publications, see DC Universe (disambiguation).

Goodwin's Universe
File:Goodwin's Universe logo.png DC Comics logo, used since 2016
Created by	DC Studios James Gunn Peter Safran
Owner	Warner Bros. Discovery
Based on	Characters from DC Comics and Marvel Comics

The Goodwin's Universe (GWU) is an upcoming American media franchise and shared cinematic universe featuring characters from both DC Comics and Marvel Comics, alongside original creations developed specifically for the franchise. Spearheaded by Freddie Goodwin, who also serves as the lead producer, the GWU employs a unique "universe director" system. This system designates a creative lead to oversee all directors and writers, ensuring a consistent quality and tone that aligns with the GWU’s overarching standards. Blending iconic characters from both comic universes with fresh, original additions, the GWU aims to deliver a distinctive and innovative approach to the shared universe concept.

After completing work on the television series School Warrior, which aired on Netflix from 2016 to 2022, Mob Productions' CEO Freddie Goodwin began planning a film slated for a 2024 release. However, due to restrictions on the type of content he could produce for the streaming platform, Goodwin pivoted toward creating theatrical releases within a shared cinematic universe, drawing inspiration from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This marked the inception of the Goodwin's Universe (GWU), with Goodwin taking the helm as its overseer. Work on the GWU slowed during 2019 and 2020 but resumed with significant revisions to its structure. Goodwin introduced the concept of a "universe director," a guiding creative role to ensure consistency across the interconnected films. He explained that this approach would maintain a cohesive tone across the GWU while allowing individual projects to retain their originality and distinctiveness. This strategy became a cornerstone of the GWU's development philosophy.

The first film in the GWU is Superman and is scheduled to be released on March 17, 2026.

Films

Upcoming

Film	U.S. release date	Director	Screenwriter(s)	Producer(s)	Status
Superman: Return to Krypton	March 17, 2026	Denis Villeneuve	Jonathan Nolan & Alex Brow	Freddie Goodwin and Emma Thomas	Post-production
Batman: Shadows of Gotham	June 23, 2026	Alex Brow		Freddie Goodwin

Superman (2025)

Main article: Superman: Return to Krypton

Emma Thomas joined as a producer alongside Freddie Goodwin.

After discovering remnants of Kryptonian technology on Earth, Superman embarks on a journey to rediscover his origins, encountering new challenges and enemies.

In March 2021, reports emerged that a film based on Superman was in development as part of the upcoming DCU. Producer Freddie Goodwin announced that he will be working with Emma Thomas to produce the film and announced the films title as Superman: Return to Krypton, and confirmed that the film is set to be released in early 2026. By 2023, Goodwin announced the development of a new cinematic universe that would incorporate characters from both DC and Marvel Comics, moving away from traditional single-franchise constraints. In December 2024, it was revealed that the Superman film would be set in 2025.

In June 2023, Goodwin unveiled the first three projects within his newly dubbed GWU (Goodwin's Universe), starting with Superman: Return to Krypton, which was confirmed to directly tie into a Batman-focused film in the same continuity. However, Mob Productions later removed Superman: Return to Krypton from its release schedule, with Goodwin clarifying that the film would not debut until 2026.

Planned films

Film	U.S. release date	Director	Screenwriter(s)	Producer(s)	Status
Wonder Woman: Age of Gods	2027	TBA	TBA	Freddie Goodwin	In-development
Aquaman: Throne of Atlantis	TBA	TBA	TBA
Green Lantern: Light of the Corps	TBA	TBA	Freddie Goodwin

Batman: Shadows of Gotham (2027)

Batman investigates a series of crimes that lead to a deeper conspiracy involving Gotham's elite, pushing him into a clash with a powerful secret society.

Goodwin stated that the film was originally planned to be the second to last film in the first slate of announced films, however believed he could tell a much better story if he introduced Batman earlier than he planned. Batman: Shadows of Gotham is scheduled to be released in 2027.

Wonder Woman: Age of Gods (2029)

Wonder Woman faces a resurgence of ancient gods and creatures causing chaos, leading her to confront her own destiny among the gods of Olympus.

In developing a film that focused on Wonder Woman, Goodwin looked at making the film be set in the past, whilst having Wonder Woman appear in the present in the upcoming Aquaman: Throne of Atlantis. Wonder Woman: Age of Gods is planned to be released in 2029.

Aquaman: Throne of Atlantis (TBA)

Aquaman struggles to secure his rule over Atlantis as internal dissent and surface world politics threaten to plunge both realms into war.

Wonder Woman is set to appear. Aquaman: Throne of Atlantis is scheduled for release in the United States.

Green Lantern: Light of the Corp (TBA)

A newly recruited Green Lantern is thrust into the cosmic duty of protecting his sector of space from emerging threats, exploring the vast universe and the diverse members of the Green Lantern Corps.

Although the GWU does not include a traditional "team-up" film, Green Lantern: Light of the Corp is expected to serve as a significant crossover event, with Tyler Hoechlin confirmed to reprise his role in the film. In November 2024, Mob Productions announced that the movie would conclude the first slate of GWU films, but emphasized that it would not mark the end of the cinematic universe. Throughout November, Freddie Goodwin reiterated that Green Lantern: Light of the Corp would play a pivotal role in shaping the GWU and its future storylines.

Green Lantern: Light of the Corp is scheduled for release in the United States.

Unknown release date films/confirmed but not garanteeed

These films have been confirmed to be in some sort of development or plans and are either set to release after the first slate of films, or are just ideas that may be cancelled; or are never entering the pre-production phase.

Film	U.S. release date	Director	Screenwriter(s)	Producer(s)	Status
Untitled The Flash film	TBA	TBA	TBA	Freddie Goodwin	In-development
Primal Crisis	TBA	TBA	TBA
Untitled Batman: Shadows of Gotham sequel	TBA	Alex Brow

Untitled The Flash film (TBA)

In early October 2024, rumors began circulating that a film centered on The Flash was in development as part of the first release slate of the GWU. However, Freddie Goodwin publicly denied these claims, stating that any new films involving unintroduced characters would be announced officially when appropriate.

In November 2024, Goodwin revealed that a Flash film was indeed in development, though progress would be gradual as the creative teams prioritized other upcoming projects. He also confirmed that the film's title would not simply be The Flash.

Primal Crisis (TBA)

In September 2023, early discussions began regarding the development of a film inspired by a large-scale event similar to the Crisis on Infinite Earths storyline from the comics.

Cancelled projects

As of December 4, 2024, the following project(s) have been either removed from release dates or cancelled:

• Gold & Jokes: Goodwin announced that "Gold & Jokes" is a placeholder name and will be focused on Booster Gold and the Joker. The film was planned to be released in 2026; but was cancelled.

Development

Background

In 2017, Freddie Goodwin envisioned working on multiple films simultaneously and releasing them biennially, starting in 2024. Following the completion of the Netflix television series School Warrior, which aired from 2016 to 2022, Goodwin, the CEO of Mob Productions, began planning the first film for his new project. However, restrictions on the type of content allowed on Netflix prompted Goodwin to pivot toward theatrical releases within a shared cinematic universe, inspired by the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This shift marked the inception of the Goodwin's Universe (GWU), with Goodwin serving as its chief architect.

Progress on the GWU slowed during 2019 and 2020 but resumed with significant structural revisions. Goodwin introduced the role of "universe director," a creative position responsible for overseeing the interconnected films to ensure consistency and quality. This approach aimed to maintain a unified tone across the GWU while allowing each film to retain its originality and distinctive style. The "universe director" concept became a cornerstone of the GWU's development philosophy, shaping its foundation as a cohesive yet creatively diverse cinematic universe.

Films in "Chapter One"

The initial phase of the Goodwin's Universe (GWU) is not formally referred to as a "chapter" but rather as an ongoing period marked by the release of films, beginning in 2025 and extending to an unspecified end date. The first film in the GWU, originally announced in 2023 as Superman: Return to Krypton, was initially slated for a late 2026 release. However, the release date was later moved forward, with the film scheduled to premiere on August 1, 2025. During production, the title was simplified to Superman.

Unlike other cinematic universes, the GWU adopts a unique approach by releasing one film every two years, a strategy intended to ensure that each entry in the franchise maintains "top-tier" quality, prioritizing thorough development and polished execution over rapid output.