The DC Universe is currently undergoing a major reboot, with James Gunn and Peter Safron taking the helm as co-CEOs of DC Studios. James Gunn has already announced a fresh slate of films, starting with Superman: Legacy.
Additionally, there are other movies placed separately from the main DC Universe (DCU) under the Elseworld category, such as Joker 2 and The Batman Part II.
Anticipation is building among fans for the upcoming DC films, particularly surrounding the villains set to appear in these films.
DC boasts a rich array of formidable and astonishing supervillains who often clash with its iconic superheroes, sometimes even outsmarting them.
Currently, there is limited official information regarding the villains set to make an appearance in the films within the new DCU. Nevertheless, here is a list of rumored supervillains who are likely to wreak havoc in these upcoming DC films.
Two-Face In Joker: Folie á Deux
Joker: Folie à Deux is the highly-anticipated sequel to the successful 2019 film “Joker.” The original movie was a psychological thriller that reimagined the backstory of the famous villain, Arthur Fleck, a failed clown and comedian.
It portrayed his descent into madness and the chaos he unleashed in Gotham City. While Joker took a different approach compared to traditional comic book versions, it was well-received by audiences.
This positive reception has generated significant excitement and anticipation for the upcoming sequel.
Set photos of Joker’s sequel, posted on Instagram by the account “hypefilo,” appear to suggest that the alter-ego of Batman’s villain, Two-Face, may be featured in Joker 2.
These images depict protesters holding signs with slogans that reference the DC character Harvey Dent, who initially serves as a Gotham district attorney but eventually undergoes a transformation into the villainous Two-Face.
Harvey Dent has previously appeared in many Batman adaptations, such as the Tim Burton films and Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy.
While the nature and style of Joker 2 may not provide a comprehensive exploration of Dent’s descent from a symbol of justice to his violent and unhinged criminal persona, his inclusion in the project adds an intriguing dimension to the narrative.
Clayface in The Batman Part 2
The Batman, released in 2022, delivered a fresh take on Gotham’s caped crusader, introducing a dark and gritty world. The film featured The Riddler as the primary villain, portrayed brilliantly by Paul Dano.
According to Deadline, the shape-shifting supervillain Clayface may potentially play a major role in The Batman 2, which is set to be released in 2025.
In the comics, the most prominent version of Clayface is Matthew Hagen, a treasure hunter who comes into contact with a radioactive pool of protoplasm, transforming him into a clay-like substance.
This transformation grants him the ability to alter his physical appearance at will. However, to sustain these abilities, he must periodically return to the source of protoplasm for a recharge.
Although no actor has been officially chosen for the role, Clayface will reportedly join the ranks of villains like the Riddler and the Penguin in this sequel to Matt Reeves’ The Batman.
Brainiac & Lex Luthor In Superman: Legacy
James Gunn’s Superman: Legacy is primed to reboot the DC universe with David Corenswet stepping into Henry Cavill’s Superman shoes. Although the main cast is locked in, there is no information available about the supervillain in the film.
Notably, The Authority, an antihero group, is confirmed to make an appearance in the film, though it seems unlikely that they will be the main supervillains.
The official Superman Twitter account recently revealed three comic storylines that served as inspiration for James Gunn’s upcoming reboot, Superman: Legacy. One of these selections strongly hints at the possibility of Brainiac being the film’s main villain.
Often depicted as a green-skinned android or a sentient computer program, Brainiac’s icy demeaner and emotionless personality make him a powerful Supervillain.
His primary motive is to gather and catalogue knowledge from diverse civilizations across the universe, achieved by shrinking and bottling entire cities.
This obsession frequently pits him against Superman, as he seeks to defeat the Man of Steel and add Metropolis to his vast collection.
Brainiac promises to breathe new life into the realm of Superman’s adversaries, delivering a unique storyline that breaks away from the familiar lineup of the Man of Steel’s villains.
Just like a Batman franchise needs the Joker, a Superman franchise wouldn’t be complete without Lex Luthor. In Superman: Legacy, while Brainiac is hinted to have a role in the storyline, it’s probable that Luthor will be the main antagonist, with Brainiac possibly playing a supporting role.
This assumption gains support from other related comics, especially the first one, which heavily focuses on the bald billionaire’s intense animosity towards Superman.
Black Glove In Batman’s Brave and the Bold
Andy Muschietti’s “The Brave and The Bold” will feature Batman and his son Damian Robin teaming up to fight crime in Gotham City. There are currently no official details available about the film’s storyline or cast.
The Brave and the Bold has the potential to introduce the Black Glove’s influence into the DC Universe. This supervillain organization ranks among the most formidable groups of adversaries Batman has encountered in his lore.
Considering that the film draws inspiration from Grant Morrison’s Batman source material, the possibility of adapting The Black Glove may already be under consideration.
This villainous international cabal played a central role in the initial story arc of Morrison’s extensive seven-year journey with the Caped Crusader, posing a compelling psychological menace to the enigmatic vigilante.
The Brave and the Bold might explore the evolving but tumultuous relationship between Bruce and Damian as they unite against a distinct adversary, like Ra’s al Ghul. Concurrently, the story could skilfully set the stage for the looming and foreboding arrival of the Black Glove.
Several other projects have been announced as part of DCU: Chapter 1, including Supergirl: The Woman of Tomorrow, The Authority and more. However, due to paucity of the information, they are not covered here.
You can find the comprehensive lineup of upcoming DC Projects here.
