8 DC Comics villains that could dominate the box office like the Joker

Joker’s success proves that Warner Bros should start a standalone DC film universe — and they have the villains to do it.

Joker once again dominated the box office, as fans continue to praise its take on the Clown Prince of Crime. Audiences have spoken, and it’s time Warner Bros. listen to them. No, it’s not time to make Joker canon with the DCEU. It’s time for Warner Bros to take that rumored Todd Phillips DC Universe and make it official by focusing on DC Comics villains.

The potential for one-off films or those that can span across multiple movies and universes is limitless. The pages of DC Comics are filled with interesting characters to build separate universes around. People love villains, and making them three-dimensional makes them that much more interesting, which is what Joker did for its lead.

Joker’s success poses the question: Should Warner Bros have a universe featuring villains? The answer is “Yes.”  After all, they have the villains to do it. Joker gave fans a detailed look into the life of a character whose comic book origins were convoluted, to say the least. Nevertheless, Todd Phillips found a way to take some parts of Joker from the comics and weave together a great original story.

Phillips’ approach works for a universe, a world all its own. Other films based on DC villains can do the same. As Warner Bros. did with Phillips, they should allow directors and writers to take these characters and make them into something more, with one commonality — they are the heroes of their own villainous stories.

Fans are behind the idea, with some speculating and/or clamoring for a Lex Luthor movie. However, Lex is just one of the many DC villains ready for a solo movie. There are characters like Maxwell Lord, Zod, and Two-Face who would make for some interesting choices. However, they didn’t make the cut for this list of villains who would dominate the box office.

8. Vandal Savage – Historical Drama

A historical drama following the immortal Vandal Savage is a great opportunity for Warner Bros. Savage existed before the modern human race, as he lived in prehistoric times, during which a meteor granted him advanced intellect and abilities. Despite this, his genocidal tactics make him a villain. There’s enough flexibility here to provide creative freedom for a solo movie, one where he comes off as a hero for his people.

A Vandal Savage film is Planet of the Apes meets Dracula Untold. Warner Bros could humanize and depower the immortal Savage by giving him something worth fighting for.

Vandal Savage could be a man living in a world where his people are thought of as less than, a group of people living in unbearable conditions with no hope in sight. He could then receive this power that would lead to him to become the immortal conqueror we love to hate.