The DCEU is a massive movie franchise that includes heroes like Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Shazam as well as villains like Doomsday, Starro, Ares, and the Joker. Unlike the MCU, which is designed to resemble one close to the real world, the DC Universe is a vastly different place. It is in many ways an alternate reality that features major cities that do not exist in the real world that fundamentally alter the landscape of the world. The DCEU has brought in many iconic fantastical locations from the comics to the films, and at one point they tried rebranding the franchise Worlds of DC.
These vast worlds stretch from fictional countries to magical dimensions to even alien planets. The world of the DCEU is a vast one, and after 12 entries there is a lot to keep track of. The DCEU is about to make way for the DCU but before it does here is a list of every fictional location introduced in the DCEU in order of when they were introduced.
Krypton
The first location shown in the DCEU is the planet Krypton in Man of Steel. Scientist Jor-El decides to send his son Kal-El off the planet realizing Krypton will be destroyed. At the same time, General Zod begins a coup of the planet. Krytpon’s destruction is a major catalyst for many moments in the DCEU as not only does it result in Superman arriving on Earth but also General Zod’s eventual attack on Earth.
Smallville
Kal-El’s ship landed in Smallville where he was raised by Jonathan and Martha Kent as Clark Kent. Clark returns to his hometown after his time exploring the world to find his true identity. Clark has a massive battle with many Kryptonians in downtown Smallville resulting in the destruction of many buildings including an IHOP and a Sears. Smallville is also the location where Clark Kent was buried after his fight with Doomsday.
Metropolis
Metropolis is a major city in the DC Universe and home of the Daily Planet, the newspaper where Clark Kent and Lois Lane work. The city is also the location of General Zod’s attack on the planet Earth with his world engine machine which resulted in the death of thousands of lives. Bruce Wayne had a building in the city and watched it crumble during Superman’s fight with Zod. The city was also the location of Doomsday’s attack and S.T.A.R. Labs which was made using the crashed Kryptonian scout ship.
Gotham City
Gotham City is home to Batman and many of his rogue galleries including Joker, Harley Quinn, Killer Croc, Deadshot, and Black Mask. The city is located across the bay from Metropolis. The Gotham City police department also includes Commissioner Gordon, Renne Montoya, and Crispen Allen. The city has been featured in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, Justice League, and most recently Birds of Prey.
Midway City
Midway City is the primary location of the Enchantress attack in Suicide Squad. In the comics, Midway City is located in Michigan and is the home of superheroes Hawkman, Hawkgirl, and the Doom Patrol. Hawkman would later appear in the DCEU in Black Adam but his base of operations was a separate fictional city.
Themyscira
Themyscira is the home of the Amazon and the birthplace of Wonder Woman. The island appears to be located somewhere in the Mediterian sea and is closed off from the outside world by a mystical invisible field that Zeus made. Once Wonder Woman leaves it, she can never return home. The civilization is also one of the locations of a Mother Box.
Central City
Central City is the home of Barry Allen aka The Flash. It has been glimpsed briefly in Suicide Squad and Justice League and will likely get a more expanded role in the upcoming film The Flash. The location is also the home of Iris West and where the Flash captured Captain Boomerang before he became a member of the Suicide Squad.
Pozharnov
Pozharnov is a location unique to the DCEU and not from the comics. The Russian city is the location of Steppenwolf’s base in Justice League as well as where the heroes fought off the villain. The location appears to be similar to the real-world location of Chernobyl, as the nuclear plant of the town had a meltdown which resulted in the abandonment and slow decay of the city.
Atlantis
Atlantis was first glimpsed in Justice League but was fully expanded upon in Aquaman. Atlantis once resided on the surface before experimenting with technology resulting in them sinking into the ocean. Their advanced technology allowed them to master the ability to breathe underwater. Atlantis is a kingdom composed of seven different separate kingdoms: Atlantis, Xebel, the Kingdom of the Trench, the Kingdom of the Brine, the Kingdom of the Fishermen, the Kingdom of the Deserters, and the Lost Kingdom. Atlantis is also the location of one of the three Mother Boxes left by Darkseid’s invasion.
Amnesty Bay
Amnesty Bay is a coastal town in Maine. The city is the home of Tom Curry while working at a lighthouse meets Queen Atlanna. The two fall in love and have a child, Arthur Curry who will grow up to be Aquaman. Tom Curry continues to live there, and every morning gets up early and waits at the docks hoping for the love of his life to return. Amnesty Bay is damaged heavily by a tidal wave sent by Orm against the surface world.
The Center of the Earth
The Center of the Earth can be accessed through a wormhole under the ocean in the Kingdom of the Trench. The location is populated by dinosaurs and a mythical leviathan named Karathen who guards the remains and the trident of Atlantis’ first king, Atlan. The Center of the Earth is a popular location in fiction and the DCEU version might be a homage to Dinosaur Island, most famously seen in Darwyn Cook’s DC: New Frontier.
Rock of Eternity
Shazam! takes place in a real city, Philadelphia as opposed to the comics of Fawcett City. Yet the location where Billy meets the Wizard is The Rock of Eternity which is a key location in the comics. In both the comics and the films the Rock of Eternity is the source of all the magic in the universe. The location is filled with magical artifacts and portals to other realms with a series of doors and is the lair of the Shazam family.
The Seven Realms
Shazam! ends with an end credit scene hinting at future films with the villainous Mister Mind telling Doctor Sivana the Seven Realms will be theirs to conquer. While not shown in the films the seven realms are seven magical lands: The Wildlands, The Funlands, The Wozerlands, The Gamelands, The Darklands, The Monsterlands, and the Earthlands. Shazam! Fury of the Gods indicates a third Shazam! would deal with that, but with the poor box office reaction of the sequel will be one unexplored concept.
Bialya
In DC Comics Bialya is a country located in the Middle East. The fictional country makes its debut in Wonder Woman 1984 when Maxwell Lord grants the wish of Emir Said Byn Abydos. Emir wishes that he could once again lay claim to his ancestral homeland of Bialya which results in a massive wall separating the new Bialya from the rest of Egypt, preventing many Egyptians from access to fresh water. When Emir renounced his wish, the wall fell and the new Bialya was no more.
Corto Maltese
Corto Maltese is an island nation in South America. The government was overthrown by an anti-American regime resulting in Amanda Waller sending in Task Force X in The Suicide Squad. It is revealed that Task Force X’s real mission is to cover up the fact United States government captured the alien conqueror Starro and stored the creature in a Corto Maltese laboratory called Jötunheim. The collaboration between The United States government and the Corto Maltese government resulted in them experimenting on Corto Maltese citizens. Starro eventually escapes and begins a massive attack but the Suicide Squad defeats him.
Apokolips
Apokolips is the home of the DC villain Darkseid who was set up as the primary villain in the original plans for the DCEU. The planet was cut out of the theatrical cut of Justice League but restored in Zack Snyder’s Justice League. The planet is home to Darkseid, his army of Parademons as well as top lieutenants Desaad and Granny Goodness.
Kahndaq
Kahndaq is the central location of the film Black Adam. Kahndaq is a nation in the Middle East that is being occupied by the criminal organization Intergang and is also the location of a rare material known as Eternium, derived from the Rock of Eternity. It is also the resting place of Teth-Adam aka Black Adam who when he awakens reclaims his homeland from invaders and becomes the protector of the nation.
St. Rock
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St. Rock, Louisiana is the location of Hawkman’s estate in Black Adam. It also serves as the primary location of the Justice Society of America. Interestingly, Louisiana in the DCEU is also where Belle Reve Penitentiary is located which is run by Amanda Waller and the home base of the Suicide Squad. Amanda Waller’s close connections to the Justice Society might indicate why Hawkman is set up in Louisiana.
Rock of Finality
The Rock of Eternity is the location of the council of Wizards, but in the DCEU there is an opposite to it which is the Rock of Finality, located in a hell dimension. Ishmael Gregor purposely allows himself to be killed by Black Adam while wearing the crown of Sabaac and is transported to the Rock of Finality. There the six demon lords grant him their powers to turn him into Sabbac. The dimension is very similar to Hell, and Sabaac even draws some of his powers from Satan.
Gods Realms
The latest location introduced in the DCEU is the Gods Realm. This location saw many ancient god-like figures and titans sealed off from the rest of the world thanks to the Wizard that gave Shazam and Black Adam their powers. However, when Shazam broke the Wizard’s staff the barrier closed and that is how the Daughters of Atlas escaped and began their attack on Earth. The sisters wish to restore their land and make it prosper once again. At the end of Shazam! Fury of the Gods, thanks to the help of a Justice League ally, the Gods Realm is restored once more.
