The DC Extended Universe will soon reach its tenth anniversary and despite its overall rocky reception by fans and critics, it’s successfully showcased several prominent characters and stories from comics history. While it has upheld the passion for classics, the DCEU has more importantly launched some less popular heroes and franchises to fame status.
Nevertheless, in these epic tales, not every role that makes an impact is the protagonist or antagonist, and throughout eleven movies and one TV show, there have been many incredible cameos. Though brief, these appearances certainly made a lasting impact.
Julie Andrews - Aquaman
One of the most unexpected and relatively unknown inclusions into DCEU cameos comes in 2018’s Aquaman. Hollywood legend, Julie Andrews provided her voice to the Karathen, the colossal creature that protects the Trident of Atlan in the Hidden Sea until Aquaman comes to claim it and in turn recruits her to his cause too.
As an unexpected addition to her extensive resume, this came as a major surprise to see her name pop up in the credits – but upon rewatching, her distinct timbre can be recognized in the monster’s menacing speech. Although unannounced to be returning, there is still hope we could hear Andrews again as the Karathen in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
Lauren Cohan & Jeffrey Dean Morgan - Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Matt Reeve’s The Batman presented a unique interpretation of the caped crusader by not showcasing the tragic murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne. Zack Snyder took a different approach in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, not only making it an integral part of Bruce’s story but also establishing it as a deeper connection between him and Superman.
At the very top of the film, we see Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Lauren Cohan, both from The Walking Dead, as Thomas and Martha Wayne on that dreadful night. It was a welcome sight to see these popular actors even for a fleeting moment in the DCEU with fans hoping perhaps more The Walking Dead stars will cross over soon too.
Ezra Miller - Suicide Squad
In what is still considered a bizarre choice by fans and critics alike, Suicide Squad was selected as the third installment in the DC Extended Universe and it, unfortunately, continued the growing mixed reviews for the franchise. Despite the shaky response, it was still full of many exciting and entertaining sequences.
In a particularly thrilling montage, Jai Courtney’s Captain Boomerang is seen taken down swiftly by Ezra Miller’s Flash. This does entail a single line – “No honor among thieves, eh?” – but it importantly marks the first time the Flash was seen in full costume in the DCEU, following his introduction in Batman v Superman which will be discussed soon.
Ben Affleck - Suicide Squad
Although he does appear in a few sequences throughout Suicide Squad, Ben Affleck’s Bruce Wayne/Batman is given his sole moment to shine the post-credits stinger. In it, he has a conversation with Amanda Waller and she hands over information regarding the Flash, Aquaman, and the Enchantress, thus setting up the next movie, Justice League or Zack Snyder’s Justice League.
However, this cameo is even more important to demonstrate just how different Bruce and Amanda are as leaders – with him relying on trust, and her with leverage. Of course, she also revealed that she knows he is Batman in an unanticipated twist whose implications have still yet to be explored.
Ezra Miller - Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice
As stated before, Ezra Miller’s introduction into the DCEU was with a cameo in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice along with Jason Mamoa and Ray Fisher. Unlike Mamoa and Fisher, he did not solely appear in Lex Luthor’s database. The Flash from the dystopian future known as the Knightmare was able to deliver a message to Bruce through time.
This moment sows the seeds early in the film for the eventual creation of the Justice League and highlights how Lois Lane is to the future and fate of the world. However, with recent regime changes in the DCEU and speculation that The Flash will essentially reset the DCEU, viewers will likely have to wait a long while to see how this cameo truly pans out.
Taika Waititi - The Suicide Squad
Following his mass success with Guardians of the Galaxy, James Gunn did the unexpected again by breathing new life into the DCEU with The Suicide Squad. He united a large ensemble cast of distinct and popular actors to make a story with the emotional core that many have criticized the DCEU for lacking in the past.
Many consider Daniela Melchior as Ratcatcher II to be the true heart of the film and this is only reinforced during the climax. While she commands Sebastian and his fellow rats to take down Starro, she revisits a memory with her father played by Taika Waititi, in which he delivers the fundamental message that everyone has a purpose. There is hope that she could get her own HBO Max TV show like Peacemaker, so perhaps this is the last we’ve seen of both Ratcatchers.
Lynda Carter - Wonder Woman 1984
Not all the best cameos need to make lasting impacts on the future of the franchise – sometimes they are simple references to the past like all of Stan Lee’s hilarious cameos throughout the MCU. One such cameo comes in Wonder Woman 1984’s post-credit scene wherein a mysterious woman casually saves a baby from a falling pole.
It turns out to be Asteria, the legendary Amazon referenced throughout the film, who is played by none other than Lynda Carter. She is of course, famously recognized for playing Wonder Woman in the 1970s TV series, and she is supposedly set to return for the third installment of Wonder Woman’s story in the DCEU.
Joe Manganiello - Justice League & Zack Snyder's Justice League
Zack Snyder began making long-term plans for the franchise in Justice League and Zack Snyder’s Justice League, but due to the changing landscape, some of them might not come to fruition. One such example is the introduction of Joe Manganiello as Slade Wilson aka Deathstroke, assassin extraordinaire, during which he teams up with Lex Luthor against the newly-formed Justice League.
Manganiello further reappeared in the Knightmare sequence in Synder’s cut and was slated to be in Affleck’s solo Batman movie, which never took off. Nevertheless, rumors and hope abound over how Manganiello will continue to be a part of the evolving DCEU after this small cameo.
Harry Lennix - Zack Snyder's Justice League
One of the many great things that the Synder Cut officially added to the DCEU was the reveal that Calvin Swanwick, played by Harry Lennix, is actually J’onn J’onzz aka Martian Manhunter. Lennix has been in the DCEU since its conception with Man of Steel, and interestingly this was actually theorized by many fans before its confirmation.
In Zack Snyder’s Justice League, he first appears to Lois Lane – though in the form of Martha Clark – but his true role comes at the film’s end when he declares his loyalty to Earth against Darkseid. With the DCEU’s future still wide open, Lennix will likely take on a more significant role soon.
Jason Mamoa & Ezra Miller - Peacemaker
Of course, no other cameo is as epic and entertaining as the one at the end of Peacemaker Season 1 in which the Justice League finally shows up to find Peacemaker having beat the butterflies already. Only Ezra Miller and Jason Mamoa actually return – with stand-ins for Superman and Wonder Woman – and they hilariously discuss the unsavory rumor that keeps plaguing Aquaman.
This truly came as a huge surprise to many fans as it shows how the DCEU can effectively make fun of itself – since it's been criticized for being too serious in the past. It also perfectly signifies the hopeful harmony in which the DC Extended Universe is set to operate with going forward, uniting the distinct films and TV shows.