James Gunn, co-head of DC Studios, recently hinted on social media that two major figures from a list of iconic characters will debut in the DC Universe soon. The list includes heavy hitters like Darkseid and Doomsday, fueling speculation about the franchise's early trajectory.

Moving past the underperforming Black Adam era

The current restructuring of the DC Universe represents a hard pivot away from the previous DCEU. As reported in the source, James Gunn and Peter Safran are working to establish a cohesive and distinct narrative that separates their new vision from the fragmented storytelling of the past. This transition is particularly critical given that previous attempts to launch certain franchises, such as the Black Adam film, underperformed at the box office.

By resetting the continuity, DC Studios can avoid the baggage of previous casting and plot holes. this strategic shift allows the creative team to introduce characters on their own terms, ensuring that the world-building feels intentional rather than reactive to previous failures.

Darkseid and the looming cosmic threat of Salvation

Among the candidates for the upcoming debuts, Darkseid stands out as a primary suspect for the first major antagonist. According to the report, Darkseid is often viewed as the DC equivalent to Marvel's Thanos, providing the kind of high-stakes, cosmic threat necessary to anchor a cinematic universe. The introduction of a character named Salvation in Creature Commandos Season 2 has already suggested that a massive cosmic danger is approaching.

However, James Gunn is known for subverting expectations. While the narrative setup seems to point toward Darkseid, Gunn may choose to introduce the tyrant in a way that differs significantly from the version seen in Zack Snyder's previous films, potentially delaying the full reveal to build more tension across multiple projects.

Doomsday and General Zod as catalysts for Superman: Legacy

The mention of Doomsday and General Zod suggests that DC Studios may be prioritizing the rogues gallery for the upcoming 2025 film, Superman: Legacy. Doomsday, famous in the comics for killing the Man of Steel, and General Zod, a formidable Kryptonian adversary, would provide the physical and ideological challenges necessary to define the new Superman's character arc.

Integrating these villains early would allow the DC Universe to establish the power scale of its heroes immediately. By pitting the new Superman against established threats like Doomsday, James Gunn can signal to the audience that the stakes in this new era are just as high as they were in previous iterations, but with a refreshed creeative approach.

Will Ultraman or Dr. Fate make the final cut?

While the cosmic and Kryptonian threats are likely, the presence of Ultraman and Dr. Fate on the list introduces more complex possibilities.. Ultraman, an evil version of Superman from an alternate Earth, would introduce multiversal elements into the DC Universe very early in its lifecycle. as the report notes, such a storyline might be too complex for an audience that has not yet bonded with the primary heroes of the new continuity.

There are still several unknowns regarding the timing of these reveals. James Gunn's phrase "not too long" is ambiguous; in the context of film production, this could mean a release within the next two years. Furthermore, the source only provides Gunn's cryptic response, leaving it unclear whether these characters will appear in the 2025 Superman film, the 2026 The Batman Part II, or an unannounced television series.