James Gunn Admits The MCU’s Thanos Is Preventing The DCU From Introducing This Major Villain

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James Gunn, head of DC Studios, explained how Marvel’s Thanos is influencing decisions about villains in the new DC Universe. The character Thanos was first introduced in the 2012 film The Avengers and built up over several movies to become the main threat in the Avengers: Infinity War storyline, ultimately succeeding in defeating Earth’s heroes. Because Thanos was such a prominent villain, comparisons have been made to Darkseid, a similarly powerful and dangerous villain from DC Comics.

The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) hinted strongly at the arrival of the villain Darkseid, who finally appeared in Zack Snyder’s Justice League as a possible future threat to the Justice League. However, those plans were abandoned when the DC Universe (DCU) was rebooted. Now, with the DCU starting fresh with both new and returning characters, many fans thought Darkseid might be the main villain in the first chapter, “Gods and Monsters.” But recent comments from James Gunn suggest that won’t be the case.

In a recent interview with New Rockstars, James Gunn, co-CEO of DC Studios, revealed that Darkseid won’t be the primary villain of the new DC Universe. He explained that both Thanos from Marvel and Zack Snyder’s previous portrayal of Darkseid are factors in the decision to hold off on introducing the character as a major antagonist right away.

Right now, using Darkseid as the main villain feels a bit uninspired. There are several reasons for this, but it’s partly because Zack Snyder handled the character so well, and also because Marvel already did something similar with Thanos.

Honestly, it didn’t shock me to hear Gunn mention Thanos. A lot of fans, myself included, feel like Darkseid is just too similar to Thanos as a villain for our DC heroes to face right now. It feels like we’d be revisiting familiar territory, and I’m hoping for something fresh!

His comment that Darkseid won’t be the primary villain “right now” is a chance for the DC Universe to feature lesser-known villains like Vandal Savage and other New Gods in live-action films and shows, before introducing Darkseid as a truly major threat.

The first chapter of the DC Universe, titled Gods and Monsters, will feature several projects launching in 2026. These include the series Lanterns on HBO Max, and the films Supergirl and Clayface. (You can find details on all 11 movies planned for this first chapter of the DCU.)

Why Darkseid Not Being the DCU’s Big Bad Is the Right Move

Although Darkseid is DC’s biggest villain, it’s smart for James Gunn’s new DC Universe to hold him back for now. The focus should be on introducing the main heroes and building the world before tackling a huge, universe-level threat like the ruler of Apokolips.

Marvel did a great job of establishing Thanos as a truly scary villain, making the stakes feel high when heroes like Iron Man and Captain America were at risk in Infinity War. DC needs to focus on building its universe and making audiences connect with its characters before introducing a powerful threat like Darkseid. It’s about creating that emotional investment first.

Bringing Darkseid into the DC Universe is a delicate undertaking, and his character needs to be written very carefully. The creative team needs to avoid common pitfalls – one wrong move could make him a weak villain or just another typical bad guy. In fact, developing Darkseid might be the biggest challenge for the DCU, as they need to present a fresh take that doesn’t feel too similar to previous versions, like those seen in Zack Snyder’s films or Marvel’s Thanos.

Most fans see Darkseid as the biggest villain the DC Universe could face. To make him truly terrifying, it’s best to introduce him later in the series – well after the initial stories – so his threat can grow naturally and feel overwhelming.

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2025-10-24 17:05