Who should be a part of Warner Bros.’ 10-year plan for DC and the DCEU?
DC Comics hasn’t had a great decade when it comes to their movies. Sure, The Batman, Shazam, Wonder Woman and Aquaman were all revered. Plus Batman v. Superman and both Wonder Woman films made a ton of money. At the end of the day, that would be enough for some companies, but not for Warner Bros.
During the Q2 2022 earnings call, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said, “We’re not going to release any film before it’s ready. We’re not going to release a film to make a quarter.” An incredible sign to go with their ten year plan for a better DC Entertainment Universe. Now, instead of rushing out movies, more time will be taken to build up the franchise.
Now comes the crucial part. What characters should be used to bring this franchise to the top? Of course the creative team is the most important part of the ten year plan for the DCEU. Without them, even classic characters won’t work. The opposite of that is true as well. This writer is choosing to believe that Warner Bros. will bring in the right team to create more popular movies. Furthermore, they should use these characters to do it.
20. The Justice League
You can’t have a DC Comics franchise without the Justice League. They’re the premiere superhero team, consisting of the most iconic heroes ever. We can assume that Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman are all part of the plan for the DCEU going forward. However, they aren’t the only members of the original team.
Who the original team is has changed a couple of times. Nevertheless, Martian Manhunter, Cyborg, Hal Jordan, and The Flash (not Ezra Miller) are usually part of the team. They should get solo projects, and all of them need to be years before a Justice League movie is released. This is how moviegoers will learn about their lesser-known members before the big movie.
19. Bane
Batman will always battle The Joker at some point. The Clown Prince of Crime is his main villain. More than that, he’s a huge money maker – so much so that he didn’t even need Batman in his self-titled solo movie to be successful. Because it isn’t about money, maybe another villain should be Batman’s biggest antagonist going forward. This writer votes that it should be Bane.
It’s been ten years since The Dark Knight Rises was released in theaters. As much as this writer may have loved Tom Hardy as Bane, he wasn’t beloved by everyone. Not everyone loved the grounded approach that the film took with the character and his voice found itself on the wrong end of many internet jokes – which may have become the main focus of the character. This is despite beating and breaking Batman and taking over Gotham. This time around, Bane should go back to being the most dominant and strategic Batman villain ever – something he certainly is in the comics.
18. Sinestro
Mark Strong was supposed to be Sinestro after Ryan Reynolds’ Green Lantern. The end-credit scene showed him powering up the yellow Sinestro Corps ring for the first time. This would have led to an epic battle between two of the strongest forces in DC Comics, the Green Lanterns and the Sinestro Corps. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be.
Since we can’t go back into the past, we can still look into the future. A future that should still have Sinestro and the Yellow Lantern Corps. With the right creative team behind him, Sinestro would show the world that he’s one of the best and most arrogant villains ever.
17. Doomsday
For those of you who saw Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, ignore the Ninja Turtle looking abomination that was supposed to be Doomsday. He may have had some of the power the character is known for, but he lacked the essence of the character.
In his comic book debut, the entire Justice League and more tried to stop Doomsday. One by one they were all brutally defeated. This is what he should be in a live-action DC Comics project. A force of nature that takes more than a single movie to defeat. Not a bad plot device to kill Superman and bring him back a couple of years later.
16. Booster Gold
If you don’t know much about Booster Gold, then you’d assume he wasn’t hero material. He jokes a lot and loves to brag about being the best. All of that is his way of protecting himself. He’s actually incredibly insecure and feels like he doesn’t deserve to be a hero. However, time and again, he’s proven to be one of the universe’s best heroes.
What makes it even better is that he does it without looking for the credit. Most of the time, people don’t know he’s saved the day. All of this would make for a great show or movie for HBO Max. Everyone loves a hero that’s unsure of himself, but saves the day.
15. John Constantine
There isn’t a character like John Constantine. The things he’s done in his life make him one of the worst people in any existence. He’s done a lot of good too, but it doesn’t outweigh the atrocities. Constantine has sold people out to save himself. He’s also gambled parts of his soul to demons and devils to keep the world safe. It’s what makes him who he is.
Constantine being a terrible person with a good heart is enough to be a selling point, but he brings even more to the table. The villains he fights are evil and will look amazing on screen. The spells he uses will do unbelievable things. Then there’s his cynical nature. That will keep people entertained. Hopefully Justice League Dark is still in the works. It’s the right way to display everything that he is.
However, we are set to get a Constantine series on HBO Max, believed to be set in the DCEU. Here’s hoping it’s still happening.
14. Mr. Freeze
It’s a shame that the only live-action movie version of Victor Fries came in Batman & Robin. It was a poor representation of the character on every level. Mr. Freeze doesn’t make puns while he’s attacking people. What’s funny is the version we saw on Harley Quinn (a comedy) was a better representation. They captured everything that made Mr. Freeze popular.
Mr. Freeze has been a fan favorite antagonist since Batman: The Animated Series. Viewers could see why someone in his position would do everything they could to save the love of their life. It made them feel connected to him. Bringing this storyline into a DC movie would make for an unforgettable and incredibly emotional project. It’s shocking that this hasn’t happened already.
13. Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor is Superman’s biggest antagonist. Depending on the writer, Luthor is jealous of Superman because he doesn’t get admired like the Man of Steel. At other times he just hates Superman and wants him dead. And in other stories, he hates him simply because he’s an alien from another planet. Regardless of the reason, Luthor finds a way to torment his nemesis.
Even though he’s just a man, Lex Luthor’s genius intellect makes him a threat. He’s created mech-suits, set intricate plans in motion, and put together teams to defeat both Superman and the entire Justice League. Hopefully, that is the Lex Luthor used in the next phase of DC Comics movies.
12. Deathstroke
Deathstroke is one of the greatest fighters of all time in any comics universe. He’s taken on the whole Justice League by himself and he almost won. Most of his wins can be attributed to him not being overly arrogant. He knows he’s one of the best (he thinks he is the best), but doesn’t let it go to his head. It’s what kept him alive. Well, that and his healing factor.
The world needs to see a live action fight on the big screen with Deathstroke involved, especially one in which he fights Batman. It has the potential to be one of the most incredible battles in movie history. That’s not an exaggeration.
We’ve seen some great portrayals of Deathstroke on the small screen over the years. Now it’s time to see him on the big screen.
11. Red Hood
This writer will admit a lot of bias with this pick. He loves Jason Todd as Red Hood. Jason is like Deadpool but with more discipline. All of the fighting skills, quips, and unresolved anger issues are there. He’s also a good leader and protector despite thinking that he isn’t.
Beyond this writer’s feelings, Red Hood has what’s needed to get fans invested; a tragic past. An Under the Red Hood live-action movie doesn’t need to start with too much of Jason being Robin. A brief scene worked in the animated feature, no reason to think it won’t in live action. A brief intro of him stealing the rims off the Batmobile then becoming Boy Wonder is more than enough. Then, it’s off to him becoming a kingpin and eventually a hero.
Give us the Red Hood movie we’ve been waiting for!
10. Poison Ivy
Poison Ivy is underrated. The uninformed may think all she does is control plants and people when she kisses them. She’s more than that. She’s so powerful that she once mind controlled the entire world except Batman and Catwoman (Batman No. 41-44). Not even Superman and Wonder Woman were exempt from her mind control. It was this moment where she went from being just a Batman antagonist to the big leagues.
Poison Ivy should be more than a Gotham City villain. She has the potential to be the lead villain in any DC Comics movie. She doesn’t discriminate when it comes to protecting plant-life. Since she goes to extreme measures, any hero may try and take her down. This writer would like to see her in a Wonder Woman movie.
9. Black Lightning
Black Lightning’s run on The CW lasted 4 seasons with 58 episodes. The show had its ups and downs but Cress Williams knocked it out of the park as both Jefferson Pierce and his heroic alter ego. The series also showed the character as he is in the comics – someone who cares about his community above all else.
Bringing Black Lightning to the DCEU would add something that DC Comics lacks on the big screen. There aren’t a lot of Black heroes. But Black Lightning isn’t just a Black superhero, he’s interesting, powerful, and can get creative with his powers. He also prides himself on being an upstanding person. Bringing him into the ten year plan would show the world how amazing he is.
8. Nightwing
It would be nice to see a live-action Nightwing that doesn’t have unsettled daddy issues. Dick Grayson may have his fights with Bruce Wayne, but not like he does in Titans. He’s not running around saying “***k Batman”. While Brenton Thwaites is doing an amazing job on the HBO Max series, if the DCEU introduces the character, it should be a different Nightwing.
Since Dick Grayson’s history as Robin is well known, that can be skipped in the movies if necessary. Nightwing should already be an established hero who’s saved people in Gotham and Bludhaven and been leader of the Teen Titans. In fact, it would be nice to see an adult and PG-13 version of the Titans in a movie format. That can’t happen if Nightwing is still Robin.
7. Harley Quinn
People aren’t tired of Harley Quinn and they shouldn’t be. She’s an original character with a hilarious personality and she continues to show incredible strength. Leaving her abusive relationship with The Joker took courage. Since then, she’s become a better character as time goes on. You can’t exactly call her a hero, but she’s done heroic things.
Harley’s introduction in Batman: The Animated Series started her momentum and she hasn’t slowed down since. Margot Robbie’s portrayal of her in the DCEU movies Suicide Squad, Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of one Harley Quinn) and The Suicide Squad were excellent and the HBO Max animated series Harley Quinn is even better. It would be foolish to not include Harley in this ten year plan.
We know Lady Gaga will likely play the character in Joker 2 but will Margot Robbie return in another DCEU film? It must happen.
6. Kate Kane
Everyone loves Batman. He’s the epitome of doing the most with a lot less. No superpowers, intergalactic rings, or immortality. Just a man with a giant bank account and an even bigger desire to help people. Even without his vast fortune (which he’s currently going through in the comics), Batman still manages to be incredible. Nevertheless, he can’t be around forever. That’s where Batwoman comes in. She should be the one to become the one and only Bat-person in the DCEU.
Kate Kane can do everything Batman can and she may even be a better leader. Batwoman leads by example and is more than willing to make the hard decisions. No hypocrisy in her speeches or actions. That includes killing. Bruce and some of the other Bat-Family members may not like it, but it may be the way the world works now. This writer believes that fans will love her for it.
5. Jessica Cruz
Jessica Cruz showed what willpower truly is. She was a recluse who, on the surface, didn’t have what it takes to be a Green Lantern. What she did showed that even people who are terrified can be even braver than they realize – and in the process proved that she does have what it takes. In fact, she was so good that she ended up training the first Green Lanterns (Green Lanterns: Out of Time) and eventually got over her anxiety and agoraphobia.
Fans love Hal Jordan and this writer would love to see John Stewart, but Jessica Cruz is the way to go. She has a story to tell that everyone needs to hear. That regardless of your past, you can come out on the other side.
4. Lobo
Lobo is the deadliest mercenary in the universe. Not only is his power level on the same playing field of Superman, he’s basically immortal. He’s also a deplorable son of a so-and-so that would kill anything and anybody if you paid him. As awful as Lobo is, he’s a fantastic character.
The idea of Lobo fighting any of the members of the Justice League (or all of them at once) is worth purchasing a ticket to see. He’d put up a heck of a fight and be funny while he’s doing it. There’s also the chance that this could lead to his daughter Crush joining the DCEU. She may be a better character than he is and she’s a member of the Teen Titans – another group that should be in DC Comics ten year plan.
Lobo previously appeared in Syfy’s Krypton series and was set to headline his own spin-off before it was sadly canceled. Now is the time to make things right and bring him to the DCEU.
3. The Huntress
The Huntress didn’t get the spotlight she deserved in Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). One of the main reasons for that is down to the fact that Mary Elizabeth Winstead didn’t get enough screen time. And yet, in the short amount of time, Huntress became this writer’s favorite character in the movie. She’s even better in the comics.
Huntress constantly proves to be greater than even her biggest fans realize. She’s an amazing detective, incredible fighter, and impresses everyone she teams with. The best part about all of this is that Helena works in a team dynamic or a solo show. This writer hopes for the latter.
2. Darkseid
Here’s another example of why the previous DCEU needs to be forgotten. As great as the gods are in DC Comics, he just wasn’t represented right in Justice League. Darkseid was defeated and carted off the battlefield like he was just another goon. It was insulting. Darkseid is one of the scariest villains in any genre. Instead, the movie depicted him as all bark and no bite.
Darkseid needs a hard reboot. He should start off being an arrogant sadist that can back up his talk because that’s what he is. This is someone that can defeat Superman on his own and his omega beams are almost impossible to dodge. He should never be just another villain. He should be the villain.
1. Green Arrow & Black Canary
If Warner Bros. Discovery doesn’t add Green Arrow and Black Canary to their plan for DC it will show an incredible lack of foresight. Apart, they’re phenomenal. It’s been proven on multiple occasions. Together they can create a hundred million dollar franchise. They’re incredible together. Funny, loving, and Black Canary keeps Oliver (Green Arrow) on his toes.
The duo doesn’t need the Justice League to be popular. In actuality, the Justice League needs them more than they do. It’s like that in the comics as well. The two are more than content with protecting people on their own. When they’re in the Justice League, they don’t blindly take orders unless it’s life threatening. Even then, if something seems off, they have each other’s backs. Putting them together is an absolute must. Maybe more than most people on this list.
Bring this iconic couple to the DCEU.
What do you think, readers? What are some characters that have to be involved in DC Comics’ ten year plan? Let us know in the comments below.