In relation to Marvel Studios’ well-oiled machine, much has been made of the fact that Warner Bros. has yet to roll out a cohesive superhero universe making use of its extensive DC Comics archives.  After last year’s Man of Steel though, the studio appears to have gotten themselves together.  Instead of another Superman sequel, Zack Snyder is gearing up to direct Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice for a July 2016 release, which he will shoot back-to-back with a full-blown Justice League movie.  However, a new report claims to reveal the studio’s tentative schedule for its DC properties, including a 2017 release date for Justice League, a Wonder Woman movie, and a The Flash/Green Lantern team-up film.  More after the jump.

According to NikkiFinke.com, she’s gotten her hands on Warner Bros.’ plans for Comic-Con next month, which include release dates for DC films that looks a little something like this:

  • Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice – May 2016
  • Shazam – July 2016
  • Sandman – Christmas 2016
  • Justice League – May 2017
  • Wonder Woman – July 2017
  • The Flash and Green Lantern Team-Up – Christmas 2017
  • Man of Steel 2 – May 2018

That’s quite a lineup, but not entirely out of the realm of possibility given that WB shocked Hall H last year by announcing a Batman/Superman movie instead of simply a Man of Steel sequel.  The 2017 release date for Justice League was rumored when the story broke that Snyder would be taking the helm of the follow-up, and since he’s directing Batman v Superman and Justice League back-to-back, that date is feasible.  Moreover, Finke says that the reason production on BvS was pushed back a few months is that Warner Bros. wants to have a bunch of Justice League cameos in the film and needed to finalize contracts for those actors before moving forward.

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We’ve heard pretty much nothing about Shazam, so that one’s a surprise, but Joseph Gordon-Levitt is attached to star in and direct the Neil Gaiman adaptation of Sandman, so that Christmas 2016 release date seems about right.  2017 is a pretty ambitious year, though, especially closing it out with a big The Flash/Green Lantern movie.  If this slate is indeed real, one imagines WB is working overtime to attach directors to those properties so they’ll be ready to announce at Comic-Con next month, then development can ramp up.  Curious absent from this list, though, is another standalone Batman movie.  Perhaps Ben Affleck's iteration of the character will only play a supporting role in this DC Universe?

Gal Gadot is already cast as Wonder Woman in BvS, but the report notes that Ryan Reynolds will not be reprising his role in Green Lantern, so that film will essentially be a reboot with The Flash thrown in for good measure.  And then in 2018, we finally have a Man of Steel sequel—five years after the first film.

Again, this report is unconfirmed and even if it is true, WB certainly reserves the right to change its mind.  George Miller’s Justice League got all the way to costuming before the plug was pulled, so there may yet be more bumps in the road.  If this is the slate that Warner Bros. is announcing at Comic-Con next month, though, man.

What do you think, readers?  Who should direct Wonder Woman, Shazam, the Flash/Green Lantern movie, and Man of Steel 2?  Sound off in the comments below.