James Gunn has dismissed the idea of introducing Darkseid as a major villain in the current DC Universe (DCU), citing Zack Snyder’s extensive previous use of the character and similarities to Marvel’s Thanos. This clarification came following speculation after the Peacemaker Season 2 finale, where the planet Salvation, known in DC Comics as a staging ground for Darkseid’s Parademons, was featured. Gunn’s remarks outline his creative direction for the DCU and explain why “Zack Snyder Darkseid plans” will not carry over.
Why Darkseid Is Not the Next Big Threat in the DCU
During a roundtable interview hosted by New Rockstars and Screen Crush, James Gunn addressed questions about Darkseid’s place in the DCU following his mention of the New Gods in the upcoming animated series Mister Miracle. When asked about the connection between Salvation and Darkseid’s forces, Gunn cautioned against expecting the situation to mirror the comics exactly, stating,
“Don’t expect that to be exactly what it is.”
He further elaborated on why Darkseid won’t feature as the primary antagonist under his direction: due to the iconic villain’s visual and thematic resemblance to Thanos, the major villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, combined with Snyder’s prior emphasis on the character in his version of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).
Gunn commented,
“Aspects of Darkseid and Thanos are very similar, they look very similar and because of that, to give you more of an answer than you expected, using Darkseid as the big bad is not necessarily the thing. For a lot of reasons, because Zack [Snyder] did it so cool in his way and because of Thanos and Marvel.”
Historical Origins and Legacy of Darkseid Versus Thanos
Darkseid, created by Jack Kirby, first appeared in Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #134 in December 1970. Thanos debuted three years later in February 1973, in Invincible Iron Man #55, created by Jim Starlin and Mike Friedrich. Although Darkseid predates Thanos in comics, the latter gained wider popular recognition earlier due to his prominent role in Marvel films like Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. As a result, many in the general public view Darkseid as derivative of Thanos despite his prior existence.
Zack Snyder had built his DCEU vision heavily around Darkseid, introducing him through Ray Porter’s portrayal in the original cut of Justice League. Darkseid was intended to be the overarching villain throughout a planned trilogy, corrupting Superman in the second film, with a third installment exploring an alternate future under Darkseid’s dominion. This extensive use entrenched Darkseid as a core element of Snyder’s narrative, which has influenced Gunn’s choice to step away from the character to avoid redundancy and direct comparison.
James Gunn’s New Vision for DC Villains
Rather than following Snyder’s approach of a singular, omnipresent villain like Darkseid or mirroring Marvel’s use of Thanos, Gunn is developing the DCU with multiple villains appearing across projects. Characters such as Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor, Ulrich Thomsen’s Sinestro in Lanterns, and Frank Grillo’s Rick Flag Sr. are establishing a diversified villain landscape. This strategy offers a layered approach, distributing conflict among several antagonists instead of focusing on a single dominating force.
If Darkseid is to appear, it will happen within the Mister Miracle animated series, which is based on Tom King’s critically acclaimed comic run. Whether Mister Miracle is considered part of the DCU canon remains unclear, but framing Darkseid as a personal threat to a hero rather than a global menace differentiates this portrayal from both Snyder’s interpretation and Marvel’s characterizations in the MCU.
Legacy of Snyder’s Justice League and Cast Highlights
Zack Snyder’s Justice League remains a significant benchmark for Darkseid’s presence in DC adaptations, providing a detailed depiction of the villain and his influence on the broader storyline. Ben Affleck’s Batman/Bruce Wayne and Henry Cavill’s Superman/Clark Kent led the film’s ensemble cast, setting the stage for Darkseid’s impact on the narrative and tying into Snyder’s larger plans, which are now diverging from the path James Gunn is charting for the DCU.
With Gunn at the helm, the DCU appears poised for fresh storytelling directions that avoid direct overlap with Snyder’s Darkseid narrative, while still embracing the rich character history established by creators like Jack Kirby and exploring new dynamics among iconic heroes and villains.
