It took over a decade for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to finally make his debut as Black Adam in the DCU, but now that he’s here, his energy and appeal may have given the franchise the boost she needed. Only time will tell if DC Studios can top its shaky performance over the past few years. Still, the continued interest in upcoming projects and news of the hiring of James Gunn and Peter Safran has many fans holding out hope. Even in 2023, there’s a big increase in production with the likes of Shazam! Fury of the Gods, The Flash, Blue Beetle and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
Fans certainly have their own ideas of what they want to see in the future of DCU Studios, with some wanting it to return to the tone and aesthetic of Zack Snyder from Man of Steel and Justice League, while others want a fresh start and more stuff like The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker. As such, there are plenty of good opinions on who should or shouldn’t get their movie – especially since no official plans have been announced for 2024 and beyond. Whether they’ve been introduced or teased before in the DCU or are new introductions, fans on Reddit would love to see these characters headline their movie.
Fate Doctor
One character that’s been garnering incredible fan interest recently is Doctor Fate, thanks to his standout appearance in Black Adam. u/Daviddv1202 makes this clear by writing “We seriously need a Doctor Fate movie”. From the creative design of his costume and magical abilities to his intriguing story, Doctor Fate is a perfect candidate for a new movie.
The big caveat is that Pierce Brosnan’s Kent Nelson died in Black Adam, but death isn’t an issue in comic book stories. It could work like Black Widow introducing Kent as Doctor Fate before Black Adam, showcasing his origins and life over the years as a hero – though that might be better for an HBO Max miniseries. Alternatively, it could focus on Kent’s successor and nephew Khalid Nassour as the new Doctor Fate and Brosnan could still appear as a mystical advisor, a spirit in the helmet, so there’s a big star attached to the project.
Hawkman
The other JSA character who deserves his movie after Black Adam is Aldis Hodge’s Hawkman. He has already been introduced as the leader of the JSA, a man who has become rich and powerful thanks to the Nth metal he possesses. However, its true origins remain a mystery to most – they’ve been explored in related comics, but sadly most DCU audiences are likely unaware of their existence.
u/msk21shoaib wrote, “Give Hawkman a movie with Hawkgirl and a presentation of Thanagar. A Hawkman movie would therefore examine their bizarre love story through the ages, reaching all the way back to ancient Egypt, and even linking their alternate origins to the planet Thanagar. It could incorporate other cosmic characters like the Green Lanterns and/or Adam Strange.
Martian Manhunter
While Superman was the first superhero introduced to the DCU, and Wonder Woman is the first chronologically, there was another significant DC character lurking since the franchise began in Man of Steel. Zack Snyder’s Justice League revealed that Harry Lennix’s Calvin Swanwick is the Martian Manhunter, observing humanity and heroes in secret. However, there hasn’t been any reference to him since, so fans aren’t sure if he’ll ever play a role in the DCU’s future.
u/TvManiac5 wrote: “The fact that Harry Lennix still hasn’t had a theatrical movie Martian Manhunter is a crime. He’s a prominent and founding member of the Justice League in the comics and anime adaptations, so he has the popularity to draw in audiences. Plus, a Martian Manhunter movie would also be a great excuse to expand the DCU’s stories out into the cosmos.
Katana
Katana is another established DCU character that many fans would love to see back in their movie. She was a standout character in Suicide Squad, so some audiences were surprised when she didn’t appear in The Suicide Squad at all. Interest in more Katanas hasn’t waned, it’s been fueled by Karen Fukuhara’s stellar performance in The Boys.
u/Chronokix wants a Katana movie, saying, “It would be so cool to see his backstory in an epic, action-packed, and maybe heartbreaking movie. This could involve Katana as she searches for a new life, but she finds herself drawn into a fight against the Yakuza, forcing her to relive her tragic origins. It could be a perfect option for a future HBO Max movie like Black Canary, as long as it’s not dropped like Batgirl.
Green Lantern Corps
One of the largest and most legendary factions of DC Comics characters still lurks behind the scenes in the DCU. The Green Lantern Corps only appeared in the opening fight against Darkseid and his army in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, but otherwise disappeared. There was a scene meant to introduce Jon Stewart and Kilowog in this movie, but it was scrapped and swapped for the Martian Manhunter one.
A Green Lantern Corps movie has been in development for years, but there hasn’t been any public news about it recently. Despite the poor response to Green Lantern, it’s still something many fans are desperate for in the DCU, with u/True_Leadership_2362 wanting a “Green Lantern Corp movie that leads into the JL sequel where Darkseid attacks.” This could be a way to incorporate both Hal Jordan and John Stewart as protagonists, along with other popular Green Lanterns and even members of the other Lantern Corps.
Lobo
If there’s one DC character fans are looking for, it’s Lobo, the Czarnian bounty hunter. Even James Gunn seems interested, given that his first Mastodon post was from Lobo. u/No-Consideration8132 thinks “Lobo is a must. TBH that would be brutal and comedic fun. With the 4th wall broken, that would be amazing. Plus, his travels across galaxies would be epic.
He could be featured as an antagonist, whether main or secondary, in a future movie or TV show if a deal brings him to Earth – potentially allowing him to take on Superman even. Alternatively, Lobo is a perfect candidate for his animated series on HBO Max in the vein of Harley Quinn.
foreigners
With the Suicide Squad, Justice League, and perhaps the Justice Society now taking center stage, other high-profile teams would be welcome in the DCU. Interestingly, Black Adam sets up a potential option for the Outsiders, a team created by Batman to operate outside of the Justice League. If the Justice Society became the first team in the DCU, working with Amanda Waller and world governments, that could be what Batman is up to.
An Outsiders movie would feature a team of non-traditional heroes, such as Katana, Black Lightning, Metamorpho, and Looker. u/MX2419 wrote, “They come back together because of an old enemy they thought was dead and he threatens their town. Something like that. It might work as a great movie if Batman plays a prominent role, but otherwise it might otherwise work as an HBO Max movie or even a show.
Vixen
Of the Justice League members absent from the DCU, the one who might do well with his film is Vixen. She is magically able to mimic the abilities of all kinds of animals, allowing her to be as strong as a gorilla, fast as a cheetah, and fly like an eagle. This alone offers great prospects for action sequences and cool visual effects.
u/DominicBSaint wrote, “I could imagine it being set in the Zambezi and being a bit more on the edgy, artsy side of the tones. Yet, staying true to the source material. They go on to say that it might even show an alternative perspective to Black Panther on Afrofuturism and mysticism.
Etrigan the demon
Another good option for showcasing DC Comics’ varied take on spirituality and magic is to introduce the Justice League Dark and characters like John Constantine, Zatanna, and Etrigan the Demon. There are supposedly projects in development for the first two – in addition to a Constantine sequel starring Keanu Reeves – so u/Bsquared02 would like an Etrigan movie.
They wrote, “A Jason Blood/Etrigan movie would be intriguing, especially with a medieval England setting, and maybe even Mordred and Morgan le Fay as antagonists. Such framing would allow it to be a solid, isolated origin story like Wonder Woman, establishing the character on her own before any team-ups.
The thieves
With Black Adam and Birds of Prey, the DCU made a name for itself by focusing heavily on villains, portraying them as hero ants. Other movie-worthy villains are The Rogues, a collection of The Flash’s greatest adversaries. Those who suggested such a project compared it to Oceans 11 and Now You See Me as they all work together, showcasing their uncanny talents, in a heist movie.
u/BVTheEpic wrote, “Imagine a heist movie starring the Flash Rogues (Captain Cold, Heatwave, Weather Wizard, Mirror Master, Trickster, and Golden Glider.” Sounds like a cool band to follow, and such a movie It wouldn’t have to involve The Flash or the classic third act big fight. Interestingly, if The Flash reboots the DCU as many theorize, such a movie could also incorporate Jai Courtney’s Captain Boomerang.
DCU: 10 characters who deserve their own movie, according to Reddit | Pretty Reel