Is the DC Universe doing streaming right? HBO head Casey Bloys speaks on how he handles greenlighting a series compared to Marvel’s plan for the MCU.
One of the DC Universe’s biggest struggles right now is timing. Last year, it seemed every few months had some goodies on HBO, from Peacemaker to Creature Commandos, and even projects like Superman landing on streaming. In contrast to this year, where Marvel is going to put out at least five projects within and outside of the MCU before DC even drops Lanterns.
Though it seems this may be deliberate. Sitting down with Variety, HBO chairman Casey Bloys spoke on the service’s current strategy going through and beyond 2026. During the chat, he remarked that the thing he is most focused on when it comes to DC Universe projects is quality, and that he tries to avoid the tapestry mentality of Marvel Studios.
“[The slower pace] was deliberate because I do it based on the script, ” Bloys explains to the outlet. “More than anything else – forget about anybody, any plan or anything like that – you have to do it based script by script. Is it a good script? Do we think it’s interesting creatively? Do we think it makes sense as a show?”
“So for me, personally, I think anytime you lay out a thing dictating in advance how many shows you’re going to have per year, it sets up an opportunity where you might compromise creatively.”
“And so I think it’s always better just start every project ‘What do we think of what’s in front of us here?’ versus, well, ‘If we don’t have this one, we can’t have that one.’ You’ve got to start with what’s in front of you.”
The DC Universe’s Plan For 2026
Currently, Lanterns is still the only DC Universe project slated to hit HBO in 2026. However, with San Diego Comic-Con just around the corner, it’s possible that both Marvel Studios and DC will announce a few projects to fill in the back half of the year. For DC specifically, one should watch out for the next season of My Adventures With Superman.
That being said, the DC Universe’s HBO offerings will likely be rather bountiful in 2027. The big show set to start filming soon is the untitled Jimmy Olsen spin-off, which will almost certainly debut late next year. Creature Commandos season 2 and Mister Miracle are also solid candidates to drop next year, alongside the long-dormant Blue Beetle animated series.
Stay tuned for the latest news regarding the future of the DC Universe!
