Top 10 DC Animated Universe Theories That Turned Out to Be TRUE

#10: Batman’s Justice League Contingency Plans

“Justice League Unlimited” (2004-06)

In the “Justice League Unlimited” episode, “Grudge Match,” Roulette and Lex Luthor brainwash the Justice League. This led to a popular fan theory that Batman had created a backdoor in the League’s communications as a contingency plan. A pretty typical Batman thing. While the show never explicitly stated it, it was known that Project Cadmus had a contingency plan to defeat the League. The show also played on a closer relationship between Batman and Amanda Waller, who runs Cadmus, than what was initially shown. Bruce Timm, the show’s creator, even mentioned that he considered having Batman join Cadmus!

#9: Wonder Woman & Batman

“Justice League” (2001-04)

Throughout “Justice League” and “Justice League Unlimited,” a simmering romantic tension between Batman and Wonder Woman was starting to build up. It had turned fans into speculating about a ‘will they or won’t they’ kind of deal. Their dynamic seemed to go beyond simple friendship, and obviously, they have been a thing in the comics. These days, they’re more platonic in terms of modern comic storylines. Bruce Timm confirmed in various DVD commentaries and articles, though, that he and Paul Dini intentionally developed them to have romantic feelings for one another. It’s easy enough to say, “Of course they were,” in hindsight, but the people who guessed it first were correct!

#8: Harley & Ivy

“Batman: The Animated Series” (1992-95)

For a long time, the relationship between Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy was a source of some heated debates. Were they just best friends, or was there something more? The shows were aimed at a younger demographic, which came with certain limitations in the 90s. Yet, the writers gave numerous subtle hints of sexual tension. The romance was always there in the subtext, and it was validated by co-creator Paul Dini himself. Due to network restrictions at the time, they weren’t able to explicitly state it or let them say the words. It’s nice to see it become canonized later for the people who spotted it early.

#7: Justice League vs. The Fatal Five Canon to DCAU

“Justice League vs. the Fatal Five” (2019)

At the time of “Justice League Unlimited’s” ending, people thought that was that. More than a decade later, we got a blast from the past in the form of “Justice League vs. The Fatal Five!” This was something people had been wanting and theorizing about for ages, as evident by the #JLReunion hashtag on X. People were absolutely shocked when it worked, and that Bruce Timm would be on as producer, using his character designs with “Justice League” voice actors reprising their roles again. Even crazier, he went on to say in interviews shortly after its announcement that the movie took place one to three years after “Justice League Unlimited!”

#6: Reformed Harley

“Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker” (2000)

Early signs of Harley Quinn’s reformation were already present in “Batman: The Animated Series.” Before the episode “Harley’s Holiday,” she was primarily Joker’s dependent sidekick. However, that episode showed she was capable of ‘going straight,’ sparking fan theories that she would eventually reform. This theory was finally confirmed in the movie “Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker,” which revealed an elderly, reformed Harley who had survived her fight with Batgirl. Showrunners successfully maintained this character arc throughout the DCAU, so her redemption was always an intentional, core part of her journey.

#5: Cadmus Was a Government Op from the Start

“Justice League Unlimited” (2004-06)

For years, viewers speculated about a secret government initiative in the DCAU, linking various genetic experiments and cloning incidents from “Superman: The Animated Series” and the original “Justice League.” This fan theorizing suggested the government was actively trying to deal with metahumans. All of this would be laid to rest and confirmed in the “Justice League Unlimited” episode, “Ultimatum,” with the official reveal of Project Cadmus and the introduction of Amanda Waller. The episode established Cadmus as a shadow organization created to keep the Justice League in check. Turns out fan speculation was right!

#4: “Legacy” Sets Up “Justice League”

“Superman: The Animated Series” (1996-2000)

The two-part “Superman: The Animated Series” finale, “Legacy,” ended with Superman free from Darkseid’s brainwashing, but the public’s trust in him was shattered. Immediately, there was speculation on the lasting consequences it could have. The event directly set up major plotlines in “Justice League” and “Justice League Unlimited.” Superman’s shaken character arc continued. The finale’s fallout even became the justification for the entire creation of Project Cadmus, a major storyline in “Justice League Unlimited.” The showrunners brilliantly used the ending as a long-term catalyst for one of the most well-written arcs in the entire DCAU.

#3: “Static Shock” Is An Official Part Of The Timmverse

“Static Shock” (2000-04)

Initial episodes of “Static Shock” treated major DC heroes like Superman as fictional, leading fans to question if the series was part of the larger DCAU, which it apparently wasn’t at first. This changed in the second season premiere, “The Big Leagues,” when Static meets Batman. The crossover was a request from Warner Bros., and it successfully integrated the show into the DCAU timeline, confirming the theories. From that point on, Static became a recurring character in the wider universe. He teamed up with Justice League members in the “Static Shock” episode “A League of Their Own” and even appeared in two episodes of “Justice League Unlimited,” solidifying his place in the continuity.

#2: Tim Drake Was the New Joker

“Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker” (2000)

Fans always wondered about the fate of Tim Drake, the second Robin, given the connection between “Batman Beyond” and the DCAU. A popular theory arose that the new Joker in “Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker” was, in fact, a brainwashed Tim. This horrifying speculation was confirmed in a flashback, where the original Joker tortures Tim and turns him into “Joker Jr.” Years later, the Joker’s consciousness, implanted on a microchip in Tim’s head, takes over and transforms him into the new Joker. The reveal was a dark twist that proved fans correct, but not in a way anyone found especially joyful.

#1: Everything Is In Batman’s Head

“Batman: The Animated Series” (1992-95)

The notion that Bruce Wayne is just as unhinged as his rogues’ gallery is the most classic Batman fan theory. The DCAU leaned into this idea in a brilliantly subtle way. In the “Batman: The Animated Series” episode “Dreams in Darkness,” Batman is exposed to Scarecrow’s fear toxin and institutionalized in Arkham Asylum. Exactly like the theory, the doctor overseeing his case believes that Batman’s persona is a dangerous delusion and that his villains are nothing more than manifestations of his own trauma. The doctor decides to leave Batman’s cowl on, out of fear that removing it would cause Bruce to completely shatter. While Batman does break out in the end, it leaves us with one question… What if the doctor was right?

What about your DCAU theories? Let us know in the comments.