With James Gunn’s Superman: Legacy ushering in a new era of the DC Universe, fans are all abuzz speculating who will fill the boots and capes of some of DC’s most iconic characters. From classic villains to reimagined antiheroes, the new DCU reboot is set to bring renewed energy, daring casting, and a few surprises in tow. Here are ten roles that are due for a next-gen revival, and the actors that could make them unforgettable.
10. Lex Luthor – Nicholas Hoult
One of the reasons why Nick Hoult’s name is associated with Superman: Legacy is the talk about Lex Luthor popping up as a major character. After turning the Beast from X-Men into a brilliant mixture of charm and intelligence, Hoult may deliver an unsettling, yet brainy, version of Superman’s nemesis. Once, he was the first pick for Bruce Wayne, but seriously, his brand of sinister calm is more suitable for Lex.
9. General Zod – Hugo Weaving
Zod is nothing new, but maybe Weaving will give the character a fresh take. With the precise, cold authority that has been his trademark in The Matrix and Captain America: The First Avenger, Weaving could make Zod a scary mastermind. He has the seriousness and the fire that could turn the foe who has always been Superman’s strongest into the most terrifying one ever.
8. The Joker – Bill Skarsgård
Wherever Batman is, the Joker is sure to follow. Bill Skarsgård’s unnerving presence in IT makes him the go-to actor for Gotham’s clown of anarchy. He’s creepy, volatile, and compelling, and with his IT director Andy Muschietti now at the helm of the DCU’s Batman movie, the planets could finally be aligning for this inspired casting.
7. Vandal Savage – Gerard Butler
An immortal bad guy must have a presence that’s just as eternal. Gerard Butler can infuse rugged charm and ancient rage into Vandal Savage, a character who has been manipulating human history for thousands of years. Butler’s battle-worn intensity would make Savage a seamless pivot between DC’s mythic past and present heroes.
6. The Riddler – Neil Patrick Harris
Intriguing, bold, and partially crazy, Neil Patrick Harris has everything to turn the Riddler upside down. He might showcase the character of the insane genius in a witty yet scary way for a version that is both funny and terrifying. It is a new interpretation that could make Batman’s most clever adversary even more unpredictable than before.
5. Brainiac – Mark Hamill
That Brainiac would come to theaters had been a question asked by DC fans over the decades, but the answer is that nobody else but Mark Hamill is better suited to bring the cold, calculating alien to life. Apart from being the Joker’s voice, Hamill can make one of the scariest mechanized beings through one voice, namely by combining intellect, creepiness, and the trademark Hamill intensity that never fails to leave a mark.
4. Bane – Dave Bautista
Dave Bautista has always been very direct that he would love to play Bane, and in fact, he is perfectly suitable for the role. First of all, with his huge appearance and solid acting skills, the actor can turn the character not only smarter but also keep his raw power intact. It would be really excellent to see a more cunning and more strategic way of using Bane in the new Batman villains’ gallery program.
3. Sinestro – Luke Evans
Sinestro, as Green Lantern’s corrupted mentor, stands as DC’s most complex villain, and the choice of Luke Evans for the role can’t be more perfect. His over-the-top villainy that audiences saw on the screen and his solid academic background,d for the stuff that might discourage fans from liking the character so much, would make Sinestro powerful as well as creepy, particularly while the Lantern series is spreading to the DC cosmic universe.
2. Poison Ivy – Jessica Chastain
Not only does Poison Ivy need to get back to her peak, but she also needs the excellence of Jessica Chastain. The combination of refinement and passion of the actress would make her a perfect casting for the environmentally friendly villain and Batman’s anti-heroine. Chastain has the gravitas, the look, and the emotional scope with which she can turn Ivy into a forceful character rather than a side villain.
1. Ra’s al Ghul – Oded Fehr
Out of all the actors, Oded Fehr is possibly the most capable of conveying not only the time and menace but also the depth of Ra’s al Ghul. With his imposing presence and deep voice, Fehr could make the head of the League of Shadows feel truly timeless. He would be able to refurbish the image of Ra’s as the one to survive in the darkest time of the world: a mentor, a fighter, and a philosopher.
From cosmic masterminds to Gotham’s most iconic villains, these dream castings reveal just how much potential DCU’s next chapter has. From heroes reborn or villains reinvented, one thing is certain: the future of DC is brighter and darker than ever.