James Gunn Rules Out Darkseid as the 'Big Bad' for His DC Universe Because Zack Snyder 'Did It So Cool in His Way,' and Thanos in Marvel

James Gunn has officially ruled retired his fledgling DC Universe gathering towards Darkseid arsenic the “big bad.”

In a associated interrogation with a fig of YouTube channels that absorption connected Easter ovum breakdowns of superhero franchises, Gunn said that due to the fact that manager Zack Snyder had intended — and adjacent concisely featured — Darkseid arsenic the DCEU’s overarching enemy, and due to the fact that of the character’s similarity to Marvel’s Thanos, the DCU was looking elsewhere.

Responding to questions from New Rockstars’ Erik Voss and ScreenCrush’s Heather Antos and Ryan Arey, Gunn said "using Darkseid arsenic the large atrocious close present is not needfully the thing."

The proposition that Darkseid mightiness person been the DCU’s “big bad” emerged aft the ending of Peacemaker Season 2.

Warning! Spoilers for the extremity of Peacemaker Season 2 follow:

Season 2 ends with Peacemaker trapped connected Salvation, a satellite successful different magnitude that acts arsenic a situation for metahumans. In the DC comics, Planet Salvation has acted arsenic a Parademon grooming ground, watched implicit by Darkseid himself. But this isn’t what Gunn is going for here. In fact, Darkseid isn’t the force Gunn’s DCU is gathering towards either. And determination are assorted reasons for this, helium said, including the information Darkseid made an quality successful Zack Snyder’s DCEU, and besides the character’s similarity to Marvel’s Thanos, who was the main villain up to Avengers: Endgame.

“First of all, there's Kirby's full satellite which helium created which is wholly fascinating,” Gunn began erstwhile asked what helium thought of Darkseid arsenic a character. “So, that's a immense portion of it. It's the New Gods successful wide that is to maine truthful interesting, which we're dealing with with Mister Miracle. And I person the screenplay that I haven't work yet connected my support close now. So there's that facet of it.

“And past determination are aspects of Darkseid successful Thanos, who are evidently precise similar. They look precise similar. And due to the fact that of that — to springiness you astir apt much of an reply than you expected — utilizing Darkseid arsenic the large atrocious close present is not needfully the thing. For a batch of reasons, due to the fact that Zack did it truthful chill successful his way, and due to the fact that of Thanos successful Marvel.”

So, we tin regularisation retired Planet Salvation heading towards Darkseid and the Final Crisis storyline from the comics. That prompts different question: if Darkseid isn't the DCU's "big bad," who is?

It'll astir apt beryllium immoderate clip earlier we find out. But it does look similar Man of Tomorrow, the 2027 follow-up to Gunn’s Superman, volition spot Brainiac participate the fray. Indeed, Superman and bitter rival Lex Luthor look acceptable to enactment their differences speech (temporarily) to fend Brainiac off.

That notation to Mister Miracle, by the way, is the big animated bid based connected DC’s 12-issue comic publication bid from Tom King and Mitch Gerads. It’s the 2nd big animated bid from Warner Bros. Animation and DC Studios pursuing Creature Commandos Season 1. Season 2 is presently successful accumulation for HBO Max. Other caller bid greenlights from DC Studios and Warner Bros. Animation see Starfire!, My Adventures with Green Lantern, and DC Super Powers.

Earlier this month, during a roundtable Q&A with property up of the Peacemaker Season 2 finale, Gunn was asked if helium was readying a Peacemaker Season 3. The reply was large and clear.

“No, this is astir the wider DCU and different stories successful which this [the ending of Season 2] volition play retired close now,” Gunn replied. “So that doesn't mean that determination won't be. I don't privation to… ne'er accidental never. But close now, no. This is astir the aboriginal of the DCU.”

So if there’s nary Peacemaker Season 3, what’s Gunn’s program for Peacemaker himself? Gunn revealed that the decision of Season 2 sets up Peacemaker, played by John Cena, to instrumentality connected a broader relation successful the DCU moving forward.

“He's truly important to me,” Gunn said of the character. “Peacemaker is an important character. And I said from the opening erstwhile we took connected this job, it's astir truly propping up and maintaining and repositioning the large diamond properties that DC has, the Batmans and Wonder Womans and Supermans, and past creating diamond properties retired of the smaller characters similar Peacemaker.”

James Gunn has ruled retired Darkseid arsenic the DCU's "big bad." Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images.

Will Peacemaker himself look successful 2026 DCU movie Supergirl oregon 2027’s Man of Tomorrow? “Well we’ll person to see,” Gunn teased. “That's a secret!”

The DCU is acceptable to proceed successful 2026 with the aforementioned Supergirl and a Clayface movie, alongside a Lanterns TV show. 2027 volition spot Man of Tomorrow. Matt Reeves’ The Batman 2, which is portion of the abstracted 'Batman Epic Crime Saga,' is owed retired October 1, 2027.

While we hold to find retired what Gunn has up his sleeve, cheque retired IGN's Peacemaker Season 2 finale review.

Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images.

Wesley is Director, News astatine IGN. Find him connected Twitter astatine @wyp100. You tin scope Wesley astatine [email protected] oregon confidentially astatine [email protected].