What is the Canon with the DCEU?

I don't think this can be solved. ZSJL conflicts too much with Aquaman. Wonder Woman 1984 conflicts too much with BvS.

Best to just move forward and do it correctly from here on out.

 

I honestly think it's pointless to try to define a canon in the DCEU.
Because as soon as things went off the rail (so after 3 releases...), these movies were not conceived with a real concern to work in the same universe anymore. Except for superficial things like keeping the cast, there were no will to create a common timeline.
I also have serious doubts about The Flash serving as a new "inking point" when you hear how much things have moved since this film was made, and continue to evolve. Even now, things are still very loose as WB is still trying to find their formula by throwing what they can to the wall... (Hello mr.Cavill...)

 

There seem to be more conflicts with canon in the DCEU than confirmations of it.

 

The only canon is the "fans canon" as DC would probably say.

It's a very loose canon where everything is canon like they have been trying to push in the comics

 

This for me. My DCEU canon is simply Shazam and Wonder Woman. I just like to pretend that the rest of the films don't exist and continue to hold out in hope for a full reboot.

 

For me, all theaterical DCEU films are canon. Synder Cut of JL isn't.

Go with your preference. The continuity isn't as messed up as FoX-Men.

 

I mean, its actually pretty easy to resolve, people just don't like the answer: "ZSJL isn't and never was canon, and his own prior movies were retconned".

 

Aquaman clearly follows the Whedon cut for continuity. WW broke with the films from the get go.

 

Yeah, even the original WW was already distancing itself from the implied backstory and tone in BvS.

 

The DCEU has even less canon than the Fox X-Men films. Not going to be fixed until a full reboot IMO as it’s all over the place at the moment. No way GA people would understand what’s what without talking to a geek or researching themselves.

 

I have to agree despite the Joss Whedon version of Justice League not being very good. Let’s face it the basic story is still the same in that Steppenwolf attacks Earth to steal the Mother Boxes.

You could soft reboot the franchise by having someone read a Comic book at the start of a movie (a homage in itself to Superman The Movie), telling a VERY brief background to the story so far (especially if done after The Flash movie). Something like this…

‘Born on doomed Planet Krypton, baby Kal-El was sent to Earth by his parents. Raised by the kindly Jonathan and Martha Kent, he goes onto become Earth’s greatest protector ‘Superman’. Having 18 months earlier saved the Earth from destructive Kryptonian forces led by General Zod, he would later succumb to the monster Doomsday.

Following Superman’s death the mysterious ancient Mother Boxes would become reactivated, attracting the attention of Steppenwolf, lieutenant of Apokoliptian warlord Darkseid. The Boxes also gain the recognition of the fledging Justice League headed by Batman and Wonder Woman. Realising the incredible power of the Mother Boxes, the Justice League are able to revive Superman to help them defeat Steppenwolf. Following the defeat of Steppenwolf, Darkseid vows to one day return to Earth.’

Oh and I want BOTH Zimmer and Williams music!

 

I think the current continuity all stands (Joker and The Batman are outside this universe).

Just don’t focus on the bad.

The Justice League came together to stop an Apokolips invasion. Don’t worry that the story and characters were bonkers, just remember that those characters met and saved the world.

Batman and Superman started on rocky terms but now there’s mutual respect. Don’t revisit specificities from BvS. Just the macro detail.

Wonder Woman has been in man’s world since WWI. She fought Cheetah in the 80s.

Recast Flash.
Recast Joker (or omit entirely).

Feature Batman (Ben Affleck) in supporting roles, like an eventual Justice League retry. Batman solo films can be relegated to Pattinson & that expanding universe.

 

Curious as to where Constantine will fit into all this.

 

Francis Lawrence retroactively started the DCEU.

 

I agree with both approaches. Treat past DCEU entries like the Marvel Netflix shows. Keep the continuity loose and start fresh with a much more focussed connected approach like Marvel has perfected. Don't contradict what came before but no need to be lavishly faithful to the past either.

If the movies are good, the audience will come along for the ride.

 

The friends we made along the way.

 

What’s canon? There’s a Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Aquaman, Shazam family, Cyborg, etc., and they all exist in the same universe. Anything else is just too much to try and make sense of. And that’s probably for the best. Let them play fast and loose until there’s a reason for a grand, overarching narrative with a few crossovers here and there.

 

The continuity is not even bad. Maybe I'm just not that paying attention to every detail. But so far there's only 1 actor playing Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Harley, Flash, Joker and Amanda. There's two actors playing Batman, one is from another universe which would be explained next year in The Flash.

This continuity isn't complicated especially if you have seen all 13 FoXverse movies (which contradicted a lot). While Zack Snyder's Jl imo was just an alternate version of a finished film and was used to attract more people to Hbo Max.

 

I suspect the new Superman movie will come after The Flash so some of the story could be different by that point. No BvS storyline etc. You then have Superman (and Supergirl?) defeating Zod & Co just like Donner’s original version in Superman 2.