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Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Studios
Zack Snyder has by no means been shy about sharing his ideas on the characters he delivered to life within the DC Extended Universe, and he nonetheless seems to enjoy revisiting his time main the franchise. The filmmaker typically posts behind-the-scenes particulars or throwback images from the fictional world he constructed and, this week, he did precisely that with a brand new submit highlighting one of many franchise’s most intimidating villains. But together with the picture got here a daring declare I’m undecided I can absolutely get behind.
The director lately took to Instagram to share a picture of Darkseid from Zack Snyder’s Justice League lower, together with a robust assertion concerning the character’s place in DC lore. In the caption, Snyder made it clear he believes the ruler of Apokolips is the ultimate big bad of the DC universe:
It’s a robust declare, and one which undoubtedly displays Snyder’s original long-term plans for the DCEU. Darkseid was meant to loom over the franchise because the overarching antagonist, basically filling the identical function Thanos performed throughout Marvel’s Infinity Saga. Justice League solely provided a glimpse of that story, exhibiting the character getting ready his invasion of Earth after Steppenwolf’s defeat.
Of course, the concept that Darkseid is “the” definitive DC villain may be the place some followers push again somewhat. I know I do. Darkseid is undeniably probably the most highly effective and iconic villains in DC Comics historical past, however he shares that house with a number of different legendary baddies. Characters just like the Joker, Lex Luthor, and Brainiac have all performed main roles throughout a long time of storytelling. Joker, particularly, has arguably turn into the most recognizable DC villain in standard tradition because of quite a few movie variations and Oscar-winning performances.
Still, Snyder’s remark is smart when considered by the lens of the story he was constructing. Darkseid was at all times positioned as the final word menace behind the occasions of Zack Snyder’s Justice League, which is accessible to stream with an HBO Max subscription. The movie exhibits him briefly throughout a flashback battle with historic heroes and once more on the finish, when he vows to beat Earth utilizing the Anti-Life Equation.
Credit: Warner Bros.
Snyder was setting the stage for one thing a lot larger, and followers of the so-called “SnyderVerse” have lengthy speculated about what that bigger storyline might need seemed like. Storyboards and interviews over time have revealed plans for a multi-film arc that may have seen Darkseid finally invade Earth, forcing the Justice League right into a determined remaining stand. Batman and Superman had been each anticipated to play main roles in that battle, with the story culminating in an all-out warfare towards Apokolips.
Instead, the DC movie universe shifted route after the theatrical launch of Justice League in 2017 and once more after Snyder’s director’s lower debuted on streaming in 2021. A new DC Universe has taken form beneath the management of James Gunn and Peter Safran, with a wholly totally different long-term narrative roadmap. Superman dropped final 12 months, and the upcoming Supergirl and Clayface are set for the 2026 movie schedule.
That doesn’t imply followers have stopped revisiting Snyder’s model of the story, although. Posts like this one proceed to gasoline dialog about what might need been and about the place characters like Darkseid rank among DC’s greatest villains. Whether or not he’s “the” best villain within the DC universe could also be up for debate. But one factor’s onerous to argue with: Darkseid’s transient look in Zack Snyder’s Justice League left followers very interested in what may have been.
