James Gunn recently clarified why Darkseid, the iconic villain, will not appear prominently in the current DC Universe (DCU) anytime soon, highlighting two main reasons that connect closely to the Zack Snyder Darkseid comparison. Gunn cited both the previous portrayal by Zack Snyder and similarities with Marvel’s Thanos as deciding factors for this approach.
The Challenges of Using Darkseid Compared to Snyder’s Portrayal and Marvel’s Villains
During a YouTube roundtable, Gunn pointed out the obvious resemblance between Darkseid and Thanos.
“Aspects of Darkseid and Thanos are obviously very similar,”
he said.
“They look very similar, and because of that I think that to give you probably more of an answer than you expected, using Darkseid as the big bad right now is not necessarily the thing, for a lot of reasons. Because Zack did it so cool in his way and because of Thanos and Marvel.”
This comparison is rooted in the characters’ shared physical features and story goals. Darkseid, who was introduced much earlier in comic lore, heavily inspired Thanos. Both possess formidable physiques and a hunger for ultimate power: Darkseid aims to control the Anti-Life Equation, which eradicates hope and free will across the multiverse, similar to Thanos’s quest for the Infinity Stones in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Darkseid’s Role in Previous DCEU Films and His Connection to the New Gods
Darkseid was famously introduced in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, portrayed by Ray Porter. Before this appearance, the villain had only been alluded to in several DCEU projects. Gunn expanded the discussion by emphasizing the wider interest in the New Gods mythology, to which Darkseid belongs.
“It’s the New Gods in general that is so interesting to me, which we’re dealing with with Mister Miracle,”
Gunn explained.
In the comics, Darkseid rules the harsh planet Apokolips and is the adoptive father of Scott Free, better known as the superhero Mister Miracle. Scott Free’s story, from his origins on Apokolips to his escape to Earth, is central to the New Gods narrative. Tom King, the showrunner for an upcoming animated Mister Miracle series, has crafted a teleplay that Gunn revealed he has on hand but has yet to read.
The series’ premise teases the remarkable escapologist’s struggles:
“No prison can hold him. No trap can contain him. He is Scott Free, the worldwide celebrity sensation known as Mister Miracle, and he is the greatest escape artist who ever lived. But can he pull off the ultimate trick – and escape death itself?”
Upcoming DCU Projects and the Future of Darkseid
While Darkseid’s direct involvement remains limited for now, the DCU continues to expand with other projects. “Lanterns,” slated for release on HBO in early 2026, is next in the lineup. Fans eager to follow the evolution of DC’s Chapter One can expect the universe to develop gradually and in unique directions under Gunn’s guidance, distinguishing itself from the MCU and Snyder’s earlier work.
Gunn’s focus on building DCU’s foundation piece by piece suggests that, although Darkseid’s moment has not yet arrived, the character remains significant within the broader mythos. The comparison between Zack Snyder’s Darkseid and future interpretations will likely persist, especially as new stories and series bring different facets of the New Gods and other DC legends into the spotlight.
