When James Gunn took over as the creative head of DC Studios, fans knew one thing for certain: change was coming. After years of uneven films, behind-the-scenes chaos, and unrealized potential, the DC Extended Universe came to a quiet, uncertain end in 2023.
However, while the DCEU’s final days were messy, there’s one thing even its critics can agree on: Zack Snyder had a clear vision.
Zack Snyder’s Vision For Darkseid Was Ahead Of Its Time
Zack Snyder’s ambitious plans for the DC characters may never have been fully realized. However, they left behind ideas that are still influencing DC’s creative direction today. That’s why it’s refreshing to know that James Gunn’s DC Universe is taking inspiration from Snyder’s villain philosophy. Gunn recently revealed that his decision not to make Darkseid the DCU’s central antagonist was partly out of respect for what Snyder achieved in ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’.
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And honestly, that’s the smartest move DC could make right now. Snyder’s films might have been divisive, but they were undeniably bold. His DCEU was aiming for a cinematic epic on the scale of Marvel’s Infinity Saga, with Darkseid as the looming cosmic threat comparable to Thanos. Sadly, that vision was never fully brought to life. In the theatrical version of ‘Justice League’, Darkseid was almost entirely erased, replaced by the forgettable Steppenwolf, who couldn’t carry the film’s weight at all.
It wasn’t until ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League‘ debuted in 2021 that fans finally saw what had been missing. Snyder’s Darkseid, portrayed by Ray Porter, wasn’t just another supervillain. He was the embodiment of domination and despair, wielding the Anti-Life Equation to enslave entire worlds. Snyder planned to use Darkseid as the DCEU’s connective thread, with his actions leading to the apocalyptic “Knightmare” timeline glimpsed in ‘Batman v Superman’.
In Snyder’s unfinished trilogy, Darkseid would have killed Lois Lane, corrupted Superman, and forced Batman to sacrifice himself to restore hope to humanity. That storyline would have been devastating, operatic, and unforgettable. It could’ve been a genuine comic book epic. However, DC never let it reach its conclusion. With Snyder’s departure, the DCEU lost its central spine. Still, his handling of Darkseid proved that the DC Universe could handle long-form storytelling. And James Gunn clearly took note.
James Gunn Confirms Zack Snyder Inspired His DCU Villain Plans
Fast forward to today, and James Gunn’s new DCU is underway. His Chapter One: Gods and Monsters has already begun with ‘Superman’, and ‘Peacemaker’ season 2. However, notably, Darkseid won’t be the central villain of this rebooted universe. Additionally, Gunn says that’s a deliberate choice inspired by Snyder himself. In ‘Peacemaker’ season 2, Chris is exiled to a planet called Salvation, a setting loosely based on the DC Comics storyline Salvation Run, which involved Darkseid and the New Gods.
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However, Gunn revealed that Darkseid won’t be the puppet master behind Salvation in his version of the story. “Zack Snyder did it so cool in his way,” Gunn said, explaining that he didn’t want to retread the same ground. And he’s right. Snyder already gave fans a compelling Darkseid arc. Repeating that formula would feel redundant, especially so soon after the MCU’s Infinity Saga. Instead, Gunn seems more interested in exploring a web of interconnected villains rather than a single all-powerful one.
That approach feels refreshing and distinctly DC. After all, this is a universe rich with morally complex figures like Amanda Waller, Lex Luthor, and Brainiac, among others. Gunn’s DCU appears to be embracing that chaos, letting multiple factions and ideologies clash rather than funneling everything toward one inevitable “big bad.” It’s also a smart, creative move for the franchise’s tone. In his DCU, the villains are as compelling as the heroes, and no one fits neatly into “good” or “evil.”
