The new DCU, run by James Gunn and Peter Saffran, is set to begin with Superman: Legacy in 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.
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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.
7 Gorilla Grodd
An Intelligent Ape That No One Expected To Work In Live Action
- First Appearance: Flash #206 (1959)
- Created by: John Broome and Carmine Infantino
Gorilla Grodd is one of the silliest characters to appear in DC 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 be difficult 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.
6 Atrocitus
A Green Lantern Villain Who Controls Anger
- First Appearance: Green Lantern (Volume 4) #25 (2008)
- Created by: Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver
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 at DC seem reluctant to bring this character back to live action. He was even left out of Zack Snyder's version of Justice League.
This absence seems to be coming to an end, though, as James Gunn has already announced that a new Green Lantern show is coming and that a famous Green Lantern, Guy Gardner, will be making an appearance in Superman: Legacy. If the studio wants to avoid any association with the 2011 Green Lantern movie, 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 to clash with the Green Lantern Corps and anyone else in the universe.
5 Reverse Flash
The Arch Nemesis Of The Scarlet Speedster
- First Appearance: Flash #139 (1963)
- Created by: John Broome and Carmine Infantino
The decision to omit Reverse Flash from The Flash movie that was set in the DCEU seemed like an odd decision. This yellow-suited villain is the most 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 the CW's Flash TV show.
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Therefore, it only makes sense that Reverse Flash should be given another chance in live action. If Flash gets another movie set in the DCU, it would be great to see his relationship with this villain explored.
4 Despero
An Intergalactic Tyrant
- First Appearance: Justice League of America #1 (1960)
- Created by: Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky
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 much DC's equivalent of Thanos. As such, the franchise needs to pit the team against a smaller villain first, and Despero fits that role perfectly.
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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 of DC's primary team. All of these traits make Despero perfect to adapt to a future Justice League project in the DCU.
3 Braniac
The Smartest Being In The Universe
- First Appearance: Action Comics #242 (1958)
- Created by: Otto Binder and artist Al Plastino
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, the DCU changes this by including him as a Superman villain or having him fight the Justice League.
2 Bane
A Batman Foe No Live Action Appearance Has Done Right
- First Appearance: Batman: Vengeance of Bane #1 (1993)
- Created by: Chuck Dixon and Graham Nolan
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-fated Batman 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, a DCU that is more open to embracing some of the more fantastical elements of the comics may finally be able to get this villain right.
1 The Joker
Batman Cannot Appear Without His Main Antagonist
- First Appearance: Batman #1 (1940)
- Created by: Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and Jerry Robinson
The Joker and Batman are the Yin and Yang of the DC universe. 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 titled Batman: The Brave and the Bold, fans can only assume that a new version of The Joker will be coming to the DCU.