DC Studios boss James Gunn has given fans a new reason to get excited. He recently confirmed that two major villains will join the DC Universe (DCU) in the near future. Gunn made the announcement on May 28, 2026, while answering questions on his Threads account. A fan asked if characters like General Zod, Doomsday, Doctor Fate, Black Adam, Ultraman, or Darkseid would ever appear. Gunn gave a short but exciting reply: “Two of them in not too long…”
This news has spread quickly across social media. Fans are now trying to figure out which two villains Gunn means. The answer is not completely clear, but several clues point to strong possibilities.
Darkseid and Doctor Fate Are the Top Guesses
Most fans and entertainment news sites believe Darkseid is one of the two villains. DC Studios already confirmed that Darkseid will appear in the animated Mister Miracle series. Writer Tom King previously revealed that the character has been officially cast for the show. The series adapts King’s popular comic run about Scott Free, also known as Mister Miracle. Darkseid plays a big role in that story as the ruler of Apokolips and one of the most powerful beings in the DC universe.
The second villain is harder to pin down. Many signs point to Doctor Fate. Actor Pierce Brosnan played Doctor Fate in the DCEU movie Black Adam from 2022. But Brosnan said something interesting back in November 2025. He claimed he had heard that Doctor Fate “was going to have his own show, or his own movie” and that the character would appear in the “next Superman” movie. Gunn’s DCU is separate from the old DCEU, so a new actor would likely take over the role. Still, Brosnan’s words suggest DC has plans for the magical hero.
Ultraman is another strong candidate. The 2025 Superman movie introduced a version of Ultraman as a clone of the Man of Steel. The character got sucked into a black hole at the end of the film, leaving his fate unclear. Many fans think this sets up a return for Ultraman, possibly alongside the Crime Syndicate—an evil version of the Justice League from an alternate universe.
Which Villains Probably Will Not Show Up Soon
Some characters from the fan’s list are unlikely to appear anytime soon. Black Adam seems like a long shot. The DCEU’s Black Adam movie starring Dwayne Johnson did not perform well with critics or audiences. Gunn is trying to build a fresh universe, and bringing back a character tied to that failure would be risky.
General Zod and Doomsday also face problems. Both characters have appeared heavily in live-action projects over the past ten years. Zod was the main villain in Man of Steel (2013) and also showed up in The Flash (2023). Doomsday fought Superman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016). Gunn may want to give audiences something new instead of reusing villains that have been on screen so recently.
The DCU Already Has Many New Villains in the Works
James Gunn’s DCU is already building a large collection of bad guys. The Supergirl movie, which arrives in theaters on June 26, 2026, will introduce Krem of the Yellow Hills (played by Matthias Schoenaerts) and his second-in-command Drom Baxton (played by Diarmaid Murtagh). These space pirates serve as the main antagonists in the film, which follows Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El on a mission to avenge a murder.
Creature Commandos introduced Ilana Rostovic as the main villain of its first season. Peacemaker Season 2 featured Red St. Wild, an original character played by Michael Rooker who hunts eagles. The Superman movie gave audiences The Hammer of Boravia, which turned out to be a clone of Superman himself.
The Clayface movie, scheduled for release on October 23, 2026, will bring even more villains into the DCU. Set photos have hinted at the existence of Joker, Black Mask, The Penguin, King Snake and his Ghost Dragons gang, The Mad Bomber, and crime boss Jimmy “Red” McCoy. This film will be the first DCU project set in Gotham City and will establish many of Batman’s famous enemies.
Bane and Deathstroke Could Get Their Own Movie
Another villain project is also moving forward. Reports from May 2026 suggest that DC Studios wants to pair Bane and Deathstroke together in their own movie. Both characters are well-known Batman villains. Bane famously broke Batman’s back in the comics, while Deathstroke is a highly skilled assassin who has fought the Teen Titans and the Justice League. Joe Manganiello played Deathstroke in the DCEU, but the DCU version will likely feature a new actor. Gunn himself has also hinted at plans for Deathstroke. When a fan asked if the character would appear in the DCU, Gunn responded with a wink emoji.
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Fans React to Gunn’s Announcement
Social media lit up after Gunn’s Threads post. Many fans expressed excitement about seeing Darkseid finally get proper treatment on screen. Others hoped that Doctor Fate would return in a bigger role than before. Some fans expressed disappointment that Black Adam seemed left out, but most understood the reasoning.
One fan on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, “Darkseid has been teased for years. Give us the real Lord of Apokolips already.” Another said, “Doctor Fate deserves his own movie. Pierce Brosnan was great, but I want to see the helmet passed to a new actor.” The debate over which two villains Gunn picked will likely continue until DC makes an official announcement.
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