According to a new report, all six cast members from Zack Snyder‘s Justice League era of the DC Extended Universe will not return to reprise their roles in the new DC Universe spearheaded by James Gunn and Peter Safran. As the co-CEOs of DC Studios, Gunn and Safran are overseeing the relaunch of the DCEU into the new DCU, which includes deciding what to do with actors cast by Snyder for the DCEU: Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller and Ray Fisher. While it was known that Cavill was out due to Superman: Legacy casting a new actor, now the status of the other five Justice League actors is clearer.
In a new report from Variety on the behind-the-scenes drama of final DCEU movie, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, the trade notes that “none of the stars cast by Zack Snyder […] will reprise their roles in the new DC universe in character.” Variety goes on to report that Momoa, who starred in the DCEU as Aquaman, has had talks to play a new DC character in either Gunn‘s Superman: Legacy or a solo film. The trade makes no mention whether the other actors might have engaged in similar discussions prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike.
What’s Going On With The Justice League In The New DC Universe
Without the DCEU actors reprising their roles in Gunn and Safran‘s DC Universe, it might be unclear what will become of the Justice League. A new Superman has already been cast for Gunn‘s Superman: Legacy movie, with David Corenswet officially taking over the role from Cavill. Batman will also be recast, with a new actor donning the cape and cowl for The Brave and the Bold. The other characters of the DCEU‘s Justice League—The Flash, Aquaman, Wonder Woman and Cyborg—don’t have any confirmed appearances in the upcoming DCU plans, so it’s not known when or if the heroes will be recast.
Since The Flash, Aquaman and Wonder Woman all starred or appeared in at least one of 2023’s DCEU movies, it might be the case that Gunn and Safran haven’t announced their plans for the DCU‘s Justice League because it will be a major change. After all, it’s difficult to drum up excitement for a character’s solo movie if it’s known they don’t have a future in the franchise. The uncertainty over the DCEU‘s future already contributed to low box office performances of Shazam! Fury of the Gods, The Flash and Blue Beetle, and may affect Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. If The Flash and Aquaman’s dismal DCU future were confirmed earlier, it may have hurt the DCEU 2023 box office even more.
Of course, this still leaves the new DCU without a majority of the Justice League—at least, for now. Since Superman: Legacy is introducing a version of Green Lantern, and the DCU plans include a Green Lantern TV show, a new superhero team could include one of the Green Lantern heroes. Gunn has also said he and Safran haven’t unveiled the full plan for the DCU‘s Chapter 1, title Gods & Monsters, so other characters who may join the DCU‘s Justice League could become clearer once more is known. For now, it seems the era of the DCEU‘s Justice League is officially over.