James Gunn and Peter Safran have named the four most important cities for the first chapter of their DC Universe. This information came from a new behind-the-scenes book about the Superman film, where the DC Studios heads detailed their plans. The list includes the expected Metropolis and Gotham City, the legendary Themyscira, and one major surprise: Palmera City, the home of Blue Beetle.
This reveal shows the planned roadmap for the DCU, officially called Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters. While other famous DC Comics locations will appear, these four cities are set to be central hubs for the ongoing story.
Why Metropolis Is Still the Heart of the DCU
It is no shock that Metropolis is a key location. It was the main setting for Superman, the first DCU movie, and will be featured again in the upcoming Man of Tomorrow sequel in 2027. In the film, Metropolis is more than just Superman’s city; it’s also home to the Hall of Justice, the base for heroes like Mister Terrific and Metamorpho. This establishes it as a center for superhero activity from the very beginning.
Gotham City’s Looming Debut in Live-Action
Gotham City has not had a full live-action reveal in the DCU yet, but it’s coming soon. Fans caught a quick glimpse of it in the animated series Creature Commandos and saw a road sign pointing to Gotham in Superman. The city will make its proper debut in the Clayface movie, scheduled for September 11, 2026.
“Batman’s my biggest issue in all of DC right now, personally… he’s incredibly important to DC,” James Gunn said in a June 2025 interview, highlighting the careful planning going into the character and his city.
The solo Batman film, The Brave and the Bold, is still in development, but Gotham will start to take shape through its villains first.
The Surprising Importance of Palmera City
The most unexpected name on the list is Palmera City. This location was actually created for the 2023 Blue Beetle film starring Xolo Mariduena and later added to the comics. Its inclusion as a top-tier DCU location strongly suggests that Jaime Reyes, the Blue Beetle, will have a much larger role to play in the future than many fans assumed.
This move signals that the new DCU is willing to elevate newer and less traditional characters into central positions. It also provides a clear direction for Mariduena’s hero after his solo movie.
Themyscira and the Future of Wonder Woman
The home of the Amazons, Themyscira (also called Paradise Island), rounds out the list. While it hasn’t been shown on screen yet, it was mentioned in Creature Commandos. Its importance is locked in due to two major projects: a new Wonder Woman movie and the HBO Max series Paradise Lost, both currently in development. These projects will explore the mythology and politics of the Amazonian island.
Other Major Locations in the Expanding DCU
While these four cities are highlighted as the most important, other critical places have already been established. Superman introduced the Fortress of Solitude and the high-tech prison Belle Reve, where Lex Luthor is taken at the end of the film. The series Peacemaker also introduced Salvation, a mysterious metahuman prison that is expected to be a major plot point in future shows like Lanterns.
The fictional European nations of Boravia and Jarhanpur, which were central to the conflict in Superman, show that the DCU’s world-building extends beyond just cities to include entire countries.
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