The newDCU, run by James Gunn and Peter Saffran, is set to begin withSuperman: Legacyin 2025. A host of other movies and TV shows set in this same universe has also been announced, with a new team, called The Authority, rumored to be used as the villains for this first chapter of the DCU. Lex Luthor and Maxwell Lord have also been cast in this shared universe, but DC has a huge pantheon of other villains.
Therefore, it is time to think about what other DC villains should appear in this new version of the DC universe. Some of these villains are always expected to make an appearance next to the heroes, while there are some characters who are yet to make their live-action debut.
7Gorilla Grodd
An Intelligent Ape That No One Expected To Work In Live Action
Gorilla Grodd is one of the silliest characters to appear inDC Comics. This hyper-intelligent gorilla is a science experiment gone wrong, that aims to wipe out humanity and let the apes take over. Both his heightened intellect and natural strength allow him to concoct his schemes while also acting as the leader of his own society of apes, known as Gorilla City.
In fairness, this is a ridiculous concept that would bedifficult to present to the public. However, James Gunn has proven with Rocket Racoon, Groot, and Peacemaker that he can make these outlandish characters work. Plus, Gorilla Grodd could work as a villain in a solo Flash movie, or act as a threat to the entire Justice League.
6Atrocitus
A Green Lantern Villain Who Controls Anger
Green Lantern has been away from the big screen for far too long. Ever since his first solo movie bombed in 2011, Warner Bros and the rest of the people working atDCseem reluctant to bring this character back to live action. He was even left out of Zack Snyder’s version ofJustice League.
This absence seems to be coming to an end, though, as James Gunn has already announced that a newGreen Lanternshow is coming and that a famous Green Lantern, Guy Gardner, will be making an appearance inSuperman: Legacy.If the studio wants to avoid any association with the 2011Green Lanternmovie, they could include a villain that was not seen in that film. Atrocitus is the perfect candidate for such a role. As the leader of the Red Lanterns, he is often using his anger-driven power toclash with the Green Lantern Corpsand anyone else in the universe.
5Reverse Flash
The Arch Nemesis Of The Scarlet Speedster
The decision to omit Reverse Flash fromThe Flashmovie that was set in theDCEUseemed like an odd decision. This yellow-suited villain is themost famous villain in Flash’s rogues gallery,and his messing with the timeline is responsible for the origin of the fastest man alive. Plus, this character had a big role as one of the central villains in theCW’s FlashTV show.
Therefore, it only makes sense that Reverse Flash should be given another chance in live action. If Flash gets another movie set in theDCU, it would be great to see his relationship with this villain explored.
4Despero
An Intergalactic Tyrant
The ultimate villain for the Justice League to face in a movie is Darkseid, but this powerful God is someone the franchise needs to build up to. In many ways, Darkseid is very muchDC’sequivalent of Thanos.As such, the franchise needs to pit the team against a smaller villain first, and Despero fits that role perfectly.
This pink-skinned brute is the tyrannical ruler of the planet Kalanor. When two fugitives escape his planet, they land on Earth, which puts Despero in direct conflict with the Justice League. Despero has a third eye that he can use to hypnotize and enslave his enemies, even the members ofDC’sprimary team. All of these traits make Despero perfect to adapt to a future Justice League project in the DCU.
3Braniac
The Smartest Being In The Universe
With seven live-action Superman movies released at the time of writing, it seems odd that Brainiac has not made an appearance in any of them. This super-intelligent alien is a collector, who shrinks various civilizations to keep as part of his collection. As one of the smartest beings in the universe, Brainiac often sees all other life forms as beneath him. In fact, it is this attitude, and the fact that Brainiac was once in possession of Krypton’s capital city, that means he is often fought and foiled by Superman.
Brainiac has been in many cartoons and video games but has not appeared in a live-action movie. Hopefully, theDCUchanges this by including him as a Superman villain or having him fight the Justice League.
2Bane
A Batman Foe No Live Action Appearance Has Done Right
Bane is a Batman villain that almost everyone can recognize. He has appeared in two live-action movies so far. His first appearance was in the ill-fatedBatman and Robin, and he appeared again in Christopher Nolan’s,The Dark Night Rises.The first adaptation of Bane portrayed the character as a mindless brute, while the second saw him take on a more calculating villain role before being revealed to be the pawn of a much larger threat. Although the second version of Bane is more in line with the villain in the comics, neither one of these portrayals gets the character right.
Bane is a Batman villain who is almost as smart as he is strong. His knowledge of martial arts is only enhanced by a toxin known as Venom. Therefore, aDCUthat is more open to embracing some of the more fantastical elements of the comics may finally be able to get this villain right.
1The Joker
Batman Cannot Appear Without His Main Antagonist
The Joker and Batman are the Yin and Yang of theDCuniverse. One could not exist without the other, which is why every live-action version of Batman has included this villain in some way. Even Matt Reeves' most recent Batman movie has set up The Joker for future installments.
Therefore, it would be strange to see a new version of the DC universe exist without the appearance of the clown prince of crime. With a new Batman debuting in a new movie titledBatman: The Brave and the Bold,fans can only assume that a new version of The Joker will be coming to theDCU.
MORE:Comic Characters Who Deserve A Second Chance On The Big Screen
