What does Justice League’s post-credits scene mean?

Justice League had a post-credits scene that was well worth the wait. Who appeared and what happened?

When Justice League hit theaters on Friday, Nov. 17, we already knew there would be a post-credits scene. Jason Momoa spilled the beans days before the movie came out. That wasn’t anything bad, as it provided a reason for the viewer to stick around for an extra minute or two.

Almost every superhero movie has a post-credits scene, at least the most recent ones (Wonder Woman is the exception). It’s a running gag for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including the five that happened after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.

With that said, let’s look at what happened in the post-credits scene for Justice League and if it meant anything. Spoiler alert: it did.

If you waited out the credits, Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor makes his first and only appearance in Justice League. He’s on a yacht, having escaped from prison (someone stood in his place and provided a sinister laugh).

Meanwhile, a smaller boat approaches Luthor’s, with a masked and armored man on board. He has two weapons on his back and dramatically approaches the classic Superman villain. It’s Slade “Deathstroke” Wilson, played by Joe Manganiello, who received this role about one year ago. This was confirmed when Deathstroke’s mask was removed.

To close this scene, Luthor spoke of a desire to form his own group — a play toward the villainous Injustice League. Hello, Justice League 2?

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Manganiello was cast as this DC mercenary for The Batman. With this film potentially never happening, it left the 40-year-old actor’s status in doubt, and if we would ever see Deathstroke in the DCEU.

Between this and the post-credits scene, just three weeks ago, a Deathstroke solo film, according to The Hollywood Reporter, was reported to be in the works. Slade’s arrival doesn’t confirm this movie will happen, but it points in the right direction.

As for the potential Injustice League, it would be a unique group for the Justice League to face. That’s if Darkseid isn’t their imminent future. Everyone from The Joker to Sinestro, Bane, Harley Quinn, Two-Face, Deathstroke and Reverse Flash are in the comic book version of this faction. With Green Lantern Corps and Flashpoint movies lined up, Sinestro and Reverse Flash, the arch-rivals of the Green Lantern and Flash, respectively, could have the best chance of joining a live-action sequel.

Next: Every DCEU movie after Justice League, ranked

Justice League is in theaters now.