7 DC Comics character who may present up in James Gunn’s DCU

James Gunn is busy remaking the DC Universe in his picture, with Superman providing a contemporary, family-friendly place to begin whereas Peacemaker season 2 continues the darkish absurdity. Each initiatives have additionally launched surprising characters from the comics, starting from newly minted fan-favorite Mr. Terrific in Superman to Captain Triumph serving because the emotional core of Peacemaker season 2. So with a protracted listing of DCU films and TV reveals within the works, we are able to’t assist however surprise once we’ll see a few of our favourite characters once more — and what different D-listers Gunn will elevate to greatness.

Gunn and producer Peter Safran have already confirmed the return of Xolo Maridueña as Blue Beetle in an animated collection and the recasting of Marvel Girl, in addition to some deeper cuts like a collection starring the time-traveling wannabe hero Booster Gold. However who else is coming to the DCU? We’re digging into seven of the characters that we may see becoming into Gunn’s imaginative and prescient, ranked from probably to too foolish to noticeably contemplate for anybody however Gunn.

7

Brainiac

Probability: Extraordinarily excessive

Gunn made a shock announcement this month that Superman will return to theaters in July 2027 for Man of Tomorrow, revealing that Lex Luthor and Superman will staff as much as battle a good larger risk. If there’s one villain archetype Hollywood loves greater than tech bros, it’s evil AIs. Brainiac could be an awesome dangerous man for the second and precisely the form of risk that would pressure the Man of Metal to depend on Luthor’s genius.

Brainiac suits particularly effectively with the path that Gunn has chosen to take Krypton, with Jor-El encouraging his son to take over Earth versus simply being a noble protector. A number of Superman tales like My Adventures with Superman and Superman: The Animated Sequence have depicted Brainiac as a program developed by Kryptonians. If Superman isn’t keen to beat the planet within the title of Krypton, Brainiac definitely could be.

6

Mister Mxyzptlk

Probability: Very excessive

Gunn has spent plenty of time organising interdimensional imps, from the one which the Justice Gang fights within the background of Superman, to the one which Peacemaker’s dad Auggie shoots in episode 4 of Peacemaker season 2. On condition that Gunn has emphasised the significance of Peacemaker to the way forward for the DCU, that could possibly be a touch that these imps are going to play an even bigger position.

Hailing from the Fifth Dimension, Mister Mxyzptlk is an immensely highly effective trickster with a penchant for harassing Superman and infrequently Supergirl. His antics are usually playful, however he can veer into the territory of pure evil. He’s additionally a villain that may solely actually be defeated with crafty, which could possibly be one more reason for Luthor to get entangled.

5

Mongul

Probability: Excessive

Not a lot is understood concerning the upcoming Supergirl: Girl of Tomorrow movie in addition to the truth that Jason Momoa will play the bounty hunter Lobo. However Lobo’s extra of an antihero than a real villain. On condition that Supergirl tends to spend a bunch of time occurring benders in house, and that the comedian the movie takes its title from is an interstellar journey, she’s going to wish a extra nefarious alien to battle.

Mongul would match the invoice properly. He’s one of many few dangerous guys powerful sufficient to go toe-to-toe with a Kryptonian and will make use of Lobo to choose up gladiators for him. He’s a personality that comes with loads of assets and underbosses, however he doesn’t have the complicated mythology and Snyderverse baggage of Darkseid, making him a simple addition to the DCU.

4

Gorilla Grodd

Probability: Excessive

James Gunn has shared his love for DC Comics’ gorilla obsession, paying tribute to the development by having an ape almost kill Peacemaker in Peacemaker season 1. DC Comics has quite a few ape villains, together with the Extremely-Humanite and Monsieur Mallah, however Gorilla Grodd is probably the most sinister of them due to his psychic powers and goals of world domination. He’s typically portrayed as a key member of the Legion of Doom, which I nonetheless suppose Luthor will assemble to conflict with the Justice Gang.

3

Etrigan the Demon

Probability: Considerably

Jack Kirby created the poetry-reciting demon Etrigan and his alter ego Jason Blood, who was an Arthurian knight. The bizarre character is surprisingly versatile due to his lengthy life, robust fight expertise, and data of the occult, popping up in quite a few tales to assist magic-wielding characters like John Constantine and clarify issues to extra skeptical sorts like Batman. He may simply seem in Creature Commandos or another venture involving the supernatural.

2

Jarro

Probability: Perhaps an Easter egg fairly than a full character

Gunn already launched Starro the Conqueror in The Suicide Squad so it will be simple to introduce his a lot nicer offspring, Jarro. Within the comics, Batman used tissue from Starro to develop Jarro in a jar, and the telepathic starfish got here to view the Darkish Knight as his father and battle on behalf of the Justice League. This positively isn’t the form of Batman story we’ll see from Matt Reeves, however another science-minded hero may presumably have gotten a pattern from Corto Maltese to boost their very own psychic sidekick.

1

Dex-Starr

Probability: Unlikely however we are able to hope

Making Man Gardner’s Inexperienced Lantern a key a part of the Justice Gang introduces an entire world of intergalactic heroes and villains. I doubt Gunn is in any rush to deliver again Parallax or Sinestro after they appeared within the much-maligned 2011 Inexperienced Lantern movie, however a rage-fueled Crimson Lantern could be an ideal foe for Gardner. Given how huge an animal lover Gunn is, I’m guessing he’d look proper previous Crimson Lantern Corps chief Atrocitus and choose Dex-Starr, a cat whose anger is fueled by the demise of his proprietor.