The bad news keeps coming for DC fans as DC FanDome 2022 has been canceled. Introduced in 2020, DC FanDome was a virtual event that showcased major announcements and updates on all DC projects to fans all over the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was such a massive hit that in 2021, DC FanDome returned for a second year. Due to the immense hype the event received, it seemed like this would become a yearly tradition.
The previous two DC FanDomes treated audiences to some exciting news, including the debut of the first two trailers for The Batman, a look at Blue Beetle and Batgirl concept art, and confirmations of various series renewals. With DC having a smaller presence at San Diego Comic-Con in 2022, only showcasing Black Adam and Shazam! Fury of the Gods, many assumed the studio was saving more big announcements for DC FanDome. However, shortly after Comic-Con came the news that Warner Bros. Discovery was canceling Batgirl, which led to a tidal wave of bad news for DC fans. This includes HBO Max passing on the new animated series Batman: Caped Crusader and release date delays for Shazam! Fury of the Gods and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
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Anyone looking forward to DC FanDome 2022 will be disappointed to hear the event has been canceled. DC Entertainment confirms the news and offers a brief statement from Warner Bros. Discovery explaining the decision. Read what the studio has to say below:
"With the return of in person events, Warner Bros. Discovery is excited to be able to engage with our fans live at numerous comic-cons around the world and will not be scheduling DC FanDome for 2022.”
While the statement claims the reason for canceling is a renewed focus on in-person events, it is worth noting that the decision could just be the overall uncertainty surrounding DC these days. While Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said they have a 10-year plan developed for DC and have reportedly courted producer Dan Lin to run DC Films after Walter Hamada's impending exit, it appears nothing is official, and the studio is still trying to figure out what happens next. Combine that with the troubling headlines regarding The Flash star Ezra Miller and controversy both in favor and against Amber Heard starring in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, and Warner Bros. Discovery likely does not want to put any more attention on those projects than they need to right now.
DC FanDome has been a celebration of DC in comics, film, television, and video games, so the cancelation of the event certainly comes at a bad time for fans. There has been some good news, like the renewal of Harley Quinn season 4, and The Sandman is a hit on Netflix, but the good news seems few and far between compared to the bad. The cancelation of Batgirl, the likely end of the Arrowverse, and the unknown fate of series like Doom Patrol and Stargirl all weigh on audiences. DC FanDome could have possibly eased those concerns, but now its cancelation is just another in a long line of disappointments DC fans have experienced in the past month.