Gunn's Great Escape: Why Darkseid's On The Sidelines For Now (And Who's Filling His Massive Boots)
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
James Gunn is strategically benching Darkseid for the DCU's initial phases, citing similarities to Marvel's Thanos and the character's recent appearance in Zack Snyder's Justice League. Instead, *Man of Tomorrow* is setting up a team-up between Superman and Lex Luthor against a likely Brainiac, offering fresh villainy and establishing the DCU's unique path.
Right, so you know that feeling when you're crafting a truly epic spell, and you’ve got all the ingredients – the rare reagents, the ancient incantations – but then you pause, scratch your head, and think, 'Hold on, maybe a fire blast *isn't* the best idea right after the last bloke incinerated the town square'? Well, apparently, that’s precisely the cosmic quandary James Gunn found himself in with the DCU and one of its biggest, baddest baddies: Darkseid.
Turns out, the Lord of Apokolips isn't getting his big DCU debut anytime soon, mate. And honestly, after digging into James Gunn’s recent sit-downs with the likes of New Rockstars and ScreenCrush, it actually makes a surprising amount of sense. It's a strategic benching, not a permanent exile, and frankly, I'm finding myself nodding along with his reasoning more than I expected.
First up, there's the giant, purple, universe-ending elephant in the room: Thanos. Gunn openly admitted there are “aspects of Darkseid and Thanos that are obviously very similar.” And fair dinkum, he’s not wrong, is he? Both are colossal, immensely powerful alien overlords with a penchant for universal conquest or, at the very least, a good old-fashioned genocide. Hell, Thanos's co-creator, Jim Starlin, even fessed up that Darkseid was a direct inspiration for the Mad Titan's look. Now, if you’ve just sat through a decade of cinematic universe building culminating in a snap heard ‘round the galaxy, bringing in a character who's basically 'Thanos, but DC' might feel a tad...déjà vu, wouldn't you say? It's like showing up to a gaming convention with a groundbreaking new mechanic, only to realise another dev just shipped a game with something almost identical. You don't want your big bad to feel like a reskin, do ya?
But the Thanos comparison is only half the story. The other, perhaps even more potent, reason for Darkseid's temporary retirement plan harks back to Zack Snyder's *Justice League*. Gunn put it simply: "Zach did it so cool in his way." Now, whether you’re in the camp that thought Snyder’s take on Darkseid was the pinnacle of cinematic menace or you had a few quibbles – and let’s be honest, there are plenty of lively debates to be had there – the fact remains: it happened. It’s still relatively fresh in the collective memory of a significant chunk of the fanbase. To bring him back now, or even in the near future, would be to invite direct, side-by-side comparisons. And when you’re trying to launch an entirely new cinematic universe, you really want to forge your own path, not constantly look over your shoulder at what came before. It’s like trying to start a new MMO, but every conversation is just players talking about the ‘good old days’ of a server that just shut down. Bit of a buzzkill, that.
So, if Darkseid’s chilling out on Apokolips, sipping a cosmic smoothie (probably), who’s left to wreak havoc? Well, Gunn also pointed out that the DC Comics universe is absolutely jam-packed with phenomenal heroes and villains. There’s no desperate need to pull out the biggest gun in the arsenal straight away. Currently, Lex Luthor seems to be doing most of the villainous heavy lifting, but that’s about to get a shake-up in the next Superman film, *Man of Tomorrow*.
And here’s where my curiosity really started pinging. Gunn has been dropping hints about *Man of Tomorrow*, suggesting we'll get to know more of Lex as a "human being" – which sounds fascinating, actually. Even better, he let slip that Superman and Lex will be forced to “work together to a certain degree against a much, much bigger threat.” Now, if that doesn't sound like a high-stakes co-op mission with a bizarre party composition, I don’t know what does! And who, pray tell, could be so terrifyingly potent that sworn enemies have to temporarily put aside their differences? My digital tea leaves (and a quick scan of social media) point strongly to Brainiac.
See, Gunn, the clever sod, posted an image of the script cover for *Man of Tomorrow*, featuring a human brain. He knew *exactly* what he was doing, telling EW he wasn’t “unaware that when I posted the cover of the script that there was going to be discussion around that particular topic.” That’s a wizard's trick if I ever saw one – a subtle nudge that sends the fandom spiralling into delightful speculation. And Brainiac, with his superintelligence, synthetic might, and penchant for shrinking cities, is the perfect candidate. He’s one of DC’s most powerful villains, a cosmic-level threat that could absolutely necessitate a Superman-Lex team-up. Imagine the tension, the forced banter! It’s far more intriguing than just another punch-up with a familiar face.
So, while Darkseid fans might feel a pang of disappointment, I reckon this is a genuinely smart play by Gunn. It allows the DCU to establish its own identity, bring fresh villains to the forefront, and build up to Darkseid's inevitable, truly impactful return much further down the line. It's about pacing, setting the stage, and ensuring that when the big guns *do* come out, they feel earned and distinct. Sometimes, the most powerful move is knowing when to hold back. Here’s hoping this strategic retreat leads to an even more spectacular magical explosion later, eh?
Tags: DCU, Superhero Films, James Gunn, Brainiac, Comic Book Adaptations
Original article: Polygon