The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) is a shared universe centered on a group of film franchises based on characters by DC Comics and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
As the film franchises are adapted from a variety of DC Comics properties, there are multiple lead actors. Henry Cavill stars as Kal-El / Clark Kent / Superman in the films Man of Steel (2013) and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), while Ben Affleck and Gal Gadot portray Bruce Wayne / Batman and Diana Prince / Wonder Woman, respectively, in the latter film, along with Ezra Miller as Barry Allen / The Flash, Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry / Aquaman, and Ray Fisher as Victor Stone / Cyborg. Affleck and Miller reprise their roles in Suicide Squad (2016), while Gadot reprises her role in Wonder Woman (2017) and Wonder Woman 1984 (2020). All six actors reprise their roles in Justice League (2017), as well as in its 2021 director's cut. Momoa stars in Aquaman (2018) and its sequel Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023), while Miller stars in The Flash (2023) in which Affleck, Gadot, and Momoa make cameo appearances.
Margot Robbie portrays Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad and reprises her role in Birds of Prey (2020) and The Suicide Squad (2021). Will Smith and Idris Elba also star as Floyd Lawton / Deadshot and Robert DuBois / Bloodsport in Suicide Squad and The Suicide Squad, respectively. Zachary Levi portrays the eponymous protagonist in Shazam! (2019), with Asher Angel playing the character's alter-ego Billy Batson; both return in Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023), where Gadot makes a cameo appearance. After being introduced in The Suicide Squad, John Cena stars as Christopher Smith / Peacemaker in the first season of the television series Peacemaker (2022), with cameo appearances of Miller and Momoa. Dwayne Johnson portrays Teth-Adam / Black Adam in Black Adam (2022), which features a cameo appearance by Cavill, and Xolo Maridueña headlines Blue Beetle (2023) as Jaime Reyes / Blue Beetle.
Other recurring cast members within the DCEU include Amy Adams, Kiersey Clemons, Kevin Costner, Willem Dafoe, Viola Davis, Laurence Fishburne, Amber Heard, Jeremy Irons, Nicole Kidman, Joel Kinnaman, Diane Lane, Jared Leto, Joe Morton, Connie Nielsen, Chris Pine, Michael Shannon, Mark Strong, Patrick Wilson, and Robin Wright.
2013–2020
Character 2013 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Man of Steel Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Suicide Squad Wonder Woman Justice League Aquaman Shazam! Birds of Prey Wonder Woman 1984Introduced in Man of Steel Tor-An Richard Cetrone colspan="8" Kenny Braverman Rowen Kahn colspan="8" Jor-El Russell Crowe colspan="3" Russell Crowe colspan="4" Kal-El / Clark Kent Henry Cavill Dylan Sprayberry Cooper Timberline Henry Cavill colspan="2" Henry Cavill Ryan Hadley(stand-in) colspan="2" Dev-Em Revard Dufresne colspan="8" Lor-Em Julian Richings colspan="8" Faora-Ul Antje Traue colspan="8" Carrie Farris Christina Wren colspan="7" Emil Hamilton Richard Schiff colspan="8" Nathan Hardy Christopher Meloni colspan="8" Jenny Jurwich Rebecca Buller colspan="7" Kelor Carla Gugino colspan="2" Carla Gugino colspan="4" Jonathan Kent Kevin Costner Kevin Costner colspan="2" Kevin Costner colspan="4" Martha Kent Diane Lane colspan="2" Diane Lane colspan="4" Lois Lane Amy Adams colspan="2" Amy Adams colspan="4" Lana Lang Jadin Gould colspan="8" Father Leone Coburn Goss Coburn Goss colspan="7" Steve Lombard Michael Kelly colspan="8" Lara Lor-Van Ayelet Zurer colspan="8" Nadira Apollonia Vanova colspan="8" Nam-Ek Michael Justus colspan="8" Pete Ross Joseph Cranford Joseph Cranford colspan="7" Calvin Swanwick Harry Lennix colspan="2" Harry Lennix colspan="4" Jax-Ur Mackenzie Gray colspan="8" Car-Vex Samantha Win colspan="8" Perry White Laurence Fishburne colspan="7" General Zod Michael Shannon Michael Shannon colspan="7" Introduced in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Barry Allen Ezra Miller Ezra Miller colspan="4" Charlie Ewen Bremner Ewen Bremner colspan="4" Ewen Bremner Chief Eugene Brave Rock Eugene Brave Rock colspan="4" Eugene Brave Rock Joe Chill Damon Caro colspan="7" Arthur Curry Jason Momoa Jason Momoa Jason Momoa Jason Momoa Kaan Guldur Otis Dhanji Kekoa Kekumano colspan="3" Doomsday Robin Atkin Downes colspan="7" June Finch Holly Hunter colspan="7" Mercy Graves Tao Okamoto colspan="7" Wallace Keefe Scoot McNairy colspan="7" Jenet Klyburn Jena Malone colspan="7" Anatoli Knyazev Callan Mulvey colspan="7" Lex Luthor Jesse Eisenberg colspan="2" Jesse Eisenberg colspan="4" Jimmy Olsen Michael Cassidy colspan="7" Alfred Pennyworth Jeremy Irons colspan="2" Jeremy Irons colspan="4" Diana Prince Gal Gadot Gal Gadot Lilly Aspell Emily Carey Gal Gadot colspan="3" Gal Gadot Lilly Aspell Senator Purrington Patrick Leahy colspan="7" Sameer Saïd Taghmaoui Saïd Taghmaoui colspan="4" Saïd Taghmaoui Steppenwolf colspan="2" Ciarán Hinds colspan="4" Silas Stone Joe Morton colspan="2" Joe Morton colspan="4" Victor Stone Ray Fisher colspan="2" Ray Fisher colspan="4" Steve Trevor Chris Pine Chris Pine colspan="4" Chris Pine Emmet Vale Ralph Lister colspan="7" Bruce Wayne Ben Affleck Brandon Spink Ben Affleck Ben Affleck colspan="4" Martha Wayne Lauren Cohan colspan="7" Thomas Wayne Jeffrey Dean Morgan colspan="7" Parademons Michael Owusu colspan="7" POTUS Patrick Wilson colspan="6" Stuart MilliganIntroduced in Suicide Squad Rick Flag colspan="2" Joel Kinnaman colspan="6" Jonny Frost colspan="2" Jim Parrack colspan="6" George Harkness colspan="2" Jai Courtney colspan="4" Jai Courtney Incubus colspan="2" Alain Chanoine colspan="6" Joker colspan="2" Jared Leto Jared Leto colspan="2" Jared Leto John Goth Waylon Jones colspan="2" Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje colspan="6" Floyd Lawton colspan="2" Will Smith colspan="6" Zoe Lawton colspan="2" Shailyn Pierre-Dixon colspan="6" June Moone colspan="2" Cara Delevingne colspan="6" Harleen Quinzel colspan="2" Margot Robbie colspan="4" Margot Robbie Chato Santana colspan="2" Jay Hernandez colspan="6" Dexter Tolliver colspan="2" David Harbour colspan="6" Amanda Waller colspan="2" Viola Davis colspan="6" Christopher Weiss colspan="2" Adam Beach colspan="6" Tatsu Yamashiro colspan="2" Karen Fukuhara colspan="6" Introduced in Wonder Woman Acantha colspan="3" Florence Kasumba colspan="5" Antiope colspan="3" Robin Wright Robin Wright colspan="3" Robin Wright Ares colspan="3" David Thewlis David Thewlis colspan="4" Artemis colspan="3" Ann Wolfe colspan="5" Etta Candy colspan="3" Lucy Davis colspan="4" Lucy Davis Egeria colspan="3" Madeleine Vall Beijner colspan="5" Epione colspan="3" Eleanor Matsuura colspan="4" Euboea colspan="3" Samantha Win colspan="4" Queen Hippolyta colspan="3" Connie Nielsen colspan="3" Connie Nielsen Erich Ludendorff colspan="3" Danny Huston colspan="5" Isabel Maru colspan="3" Elena Anaya colspan="5" Menalippe colspan="3" Lisa Loven Kongsli colspan="4" Mnemosyne colspan="3" Josette Simon colspan="5" Orana colspan="3" Mayling Ng colspan="5" Penthesilea colspan="3" Brooke Ence colspan="4" Philippus colspan="3" Ann Ogbomo colspan="4" Trigona colspan="3" Hari James colspan="3" Hari James Venelia colspan="3" Doutzen Kroes colspan="3" Doutzen Kroes Zeus colspan="3" Sergi Constance colspan="4" Introduced in Justice League Artemis colspan="4" Aurore Lauzeral colspan="4" Ancient Atlantean King colspan="4" Julian Lewis Jones colspan="4" Crispus Allen colspan="4" Kobna Holdbrook-Smith colspan="4" Henry Allen colspan="4" Billy Crudup colspan="4" Ryan Choi colspan="4" Ryan Zheng colspan="4" Darkseid colspan="4" Ray Porter colspan="4" DeSaad colspan="4" Peter Guinness colspan="4" Goodness colspan="4" colspan="4" James Gordon colspan="4" J. K. Simmons colspan="4" Kilowog colspan="4" colspan="4" Mera colspan="4" Amber Heard colspan="3" Elinore Stone colspan="4" Karen Bryson colspan="4" Nuidis Vulko colspan="4" Willem Dafoe Willem Dafoe colspan="3" Iris West colspan="4" Kiersey Clemons colspan="4" Slade Wilson colspan="4" Joe Manganiello colspan="4" Introduced in Aquaman King Atlan colspan="5" Graham McTavish colspan="3" Queen Atlanna colspan="5" Nicole Kidman colspan="3" The Brine King colspan="5" John Rhys-Davies colspan="3" Thomas Curry colspan="5" Temuera Morrison colspan="3" David Kane colspan="5" Yahya Abdul-Mateen II colspan="3" The Karathen colspan="5" Julie Andrews colspan="3" Jesse Kane colspan="5" Michael Beach colspan="3" King Orm colspan="5" Patrick Wilson colspan="3" Murk colspan="5" Ludi Lin colspan="3" King Nereus colspan="5" Dolph Lundgren colspan="3" Ricou colspan="5" Djimon Hounsou colspan="3" Rina colspan="5" Natalia Safran colspan="3" Scales colspan="5" Sophia Forrest colspan="3" Stephen Shin colspan="5" Randall Park colspan="3" Introduced in Shazam! Teth-Adam colspan="6" Dwayne Johnson colspan="2" Billy Batson colspan="6" Asher Angel Zachary Levi colspan="2" Mary Bromfield colspan="6" Grace Caroline Currey Michelle Borth colspan="2" Marilyn Batson colspan="6" Caroline Palmer colspan="2" Eugene Choi colspan="6" Ian Chen Ross Butler colspan="2" Darla Dudley colspan="6" Faithe Herman Meagan Good colspan="2" Freddy Freeman colspan="6" Jack Dylan Grazer Adam Brody colspan="2" Mister Mind colspan="6" David F. Sandberg colspan="2" Pedro Peña colspan="6" Jovan Armand D. J. Cotrona colspan="2" Shazam colspan="6" Djimon Hounsou colspan="2" Thaddeus Sivana colspan="6" Mark Strong Ethan Pugiotto colspan="2" Mr. Sivana colspan="6" John Glover colspan="2" Rosa Vásquez colspan="6" Marta Milans colspan="2" Víctor Vásquez colspan="6" Cooper Andrews colspan="2" Seven Deadly Sins colspan="6" Steve BlumDarin De PaulFred Tatasciore colspan="2" Introduced in Birds of Prey Maria Bertinelli colspan="7" Charlene Amoia Happy colspan="7" Matt Willig Helena Bertinelli colspan="7" Mary Elizabeth Winstead Ella Mika Cassandra Cain colspan="7" Ella Jay Basco Dinah Lance colspan="7" Jurnee Smollett Renee Montoya colspan="7" Rosie Perez Roman Sionis colspan="7" Ewan McGregor Victor Zsasz colspan="7" Chris Messina Introduced in Wonder Woman 1984 Barbara Ann Minerva colspan="8" Kristen Wiig Maxwell Lorenzano colspan="8" Pedro Pascal Alistair Lord colspan="8" Lucian Perez Asteria colspan="8" Lynda Carter Raquel colspan="8" Gabriella WildeSimon Stagg colspan="8" Oliver Cotton
2021–2023
Character 2021 2022 2023 The Suicide Squad Black Adam Shazam! Fury of the Gods The Flash Blue Beetle Aquaman and the Lost KingdomIntroduced in earlier films Teth-Adam Dwayne Johnson colspan="4" Barry Allen colspan="3" Ezra Miller Ian Loh colspan="2" Henry Allen colspan="3" Ron Livingston colspan="2" King Atlan colspan="5" Vincent Regan Queen Atlanna colspan="5" Nicole Kidman Billy Batson colspan="2" Asher Angel Zachary Levi colspan="3" The Brine King colspan="5" John Rhys-Davies Mary Bromfield colspan="2" Grace Caroline Currey colspan="3" Eugene Choi colspan="2" Ian Chen Ross Butler colspan="3" Arthur Curry colspan="3" Jason Momoa Jason Momoa Thomas Curry colspan="3" Temuera Morrison Temuera Morrison Darla Dudley colspan="2" Faithe Herman Meagan Good colspan="3" Faora colspan="3" Antje Traue colspan="2" Rick Flag Joel Kinnaman colspan="5" Freddy Freeman colspan="2" Jack Dylan Grazer Adam Brody colspan="3" George Harkness Jai Courtney colspan="2" Jai Courtney colspan="2" Kal-El / Clark Kent Henry Cavill Henry Cavill colspan="2" David Kane colspan="5" Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Jesse Kane colspan="5" Michael Beach Mera colspan="5" Amber Heard Mister Mind colspan="2" David F. Sandberg colspan="3" Nam-Ek colspan="3" colspan="2" King Nereus colspan="5" Dolph Lundgren King Orm colspan="5" Patrick Wilson Parademons colspan="3" Michael Owusu colspan="2" Alfred Pennyworth colspan="3" Jeremy Irons colspan="2" Pedro Peña colspan="2" Jovan Armand