Few other universes have embodied that idea better than the classic DC Animated Universe, which simultaneously told the modern day Justice League story, while also offering up Batman Beyond — a story set in the same universe, following Bruce Wayne decades after hanging up the cape and cowl.
With only a few exceptions, the Marvel Cinematic Universe and DCEU have both taken to telling straightforward stories that take place on a single timeline.
However, when you have characters who exist across the span of generations, there’s a lot more room to keep things flexible.
Many fans have clamored for a Batman Beyond movie for years, and while that’s not the only option on the table for creating a DCEU that hops around the timeline, it shows the appetite for stories that don’t just move forward linearly.