5 Villains Who Could Be In James Gunn's Superman Movie

Apr 16

It’s official, James Gunn will write and direct Superman: Legacy. But aside from the occasional tweet or comment to the press, Gunn has kept the official plot under wraps. As we wait in anticipation for more details, in no particular order, here are five villains we believe could be in the film, or be set up for a future appearance.

5. The Intergang

When people think of Superman villains, aside from Lex Luthor, they think god-like figures similar in strength and powers to the hero. Fans often look to the skies for the Man of Steel’s foes that they forget about the villains who run the streets. They may not be as well known as those that plague Gotham, but the Intergang has proven that even the city of Metropolis isn’t safe from organized crime.

Equipped with weapons from Apokolips and a direct line to Darkseid/Desaad, the Intergang’s original purpose in the comics was to help Darkseid locate the anti-life equation. Their inclusion at an early stage could show Superman’s boots-on-the-ground operations while helping to build up to a larger threat within the DCU. And speaking of larger threats…

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4. Brainiac

It may be too early in the franchise for this villain, but it isn’t out of the question. Once set to be the villain of Kevin Smith’s canceled film Superman Lives, there has been little love for Brainiac in live-action. Peter Safran has stated that Superman: Legacy won’t be another origin story of the character, rather he will be “balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing.” If Gunn is looking to take a direct approach to this without treading the old ground of facing off against General Zod, the city-stealing villain could be a good substitute.

In the comics, Brainiac is often shown as in possession of Kandor which originates from Krypton. Unbeknownst to Supergirl, this city in a bottle is home to her parents whom she believed to have perished. With Supergirl Woman of Tomorrow also slated for Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters, Brainiac could help plant the seeds for her introduction. Even if he doesn’t appear in Superman: Legacy, it is highly likely we’ll see him in the future.

3. Manchester Black

This next entry isn’t a household name, but James Gunn has been known to turn unknowns into fan favorites. Manchester Black is an anti-hero that seeks to enact justice through forceful and violent means, believing that the only way to truly defeat a villain is by killing them. His team, The Elite, delivers justice through violence akin to that of the new “heroes” of Kingdom Come and believes Superman’s unwavering faith in humanity to be nothing but a pipe dream.

Black consistently pushes Superman to the edge, even using his powers to give the Man of Steel a stroke. Eventually, Superman defeats them and temporarily takes away Black’s powers by using his heat ray to remove a growth in the anti-hero’s brain. Gunn is exploring “a world that sees kindness as old fashioned” and Black embodies that sentiment.

2. Bloodsport

Without Will Smith, Gunn was unable to use Deadshot in The Suicide Squad, so he decided to use his Superman villain counterpart Bloodsport (played by Idris Elba). The assassin unsuccessfully attempted to kill Superman with a kryptonite bullet, which led to his arrest and eventual membership in the Suicide Squad. The assassin could make for a good side villain in the new film, perhaps showing his defeat early on and teasing a future for Taskforce X in the new DCU.

Since it looks like some actors will carry over with their characters following the reboot with Amanda Waller having her own show and Gunn saying he hopes to work with Margot Robbie in the future, perhaps Idris Elba could stick around as well.

1. Lobo

If there is one character that DC fans have been chomping at the bits to see hit the big screen, it’s Lobo. The intergalactic bounty hunter is a favorite among readers including Marvel’s very own Stan Lee. Lobo’s interactions with Superman are typically out of an attempt to prove he is better than the Kryptonian or just because he’s been paid to take him out. Similar to Brainiac, it might be too early for a full-fledged fight, but his inclusion in the film, even for a post-credits scene, would be enough to send DC fans into a frenzy.

Rumors have been swirling for some time now that Jason Mamoa will be recast as Lobo following Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, though time will only tell if this fan cast will come to fruition.

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