The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) is an American media franchise and shared fictional universe that is centered on a series of superhero films, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, based on characters that appear in publications by DC Comics. The shared universe, much like the original DC Universe in comic books, was established by crossing over common plot elements, settings, cast and characters. The films have been in production since 2011, and in that time Warner Bros. has distributed three films, with more than ten in various stages of production. The series has grossed over $2.2 billion at the global box office.