Zack Snyder's DC Extended Universe movies introduce a number of powerful beings from outer space that are known as the NewGods. These aliens are ruled over by Darkseid, and include his underlings such as Steppenwolf and De Saad, as well as those that would resist him. Snyder never got to fully explore this more cosmic side of the DC Universe, but the comics help to expand on the New Gods and their role in the universe.
Snyder provides the first glimpse of the New Gods in Batman's prophetic vision in Batman v. Superman, before they take center stage in Justice League. Much of the material involving the New Gods was cut from the theatrical version of Justice League, but the Snyder Cut provides a fuller glimpse of the alien race. Snyder's plans for Justice League 2 and 3 also heavily featured Darkseid, but it now seems unlikely that these movies will be completed. The New Gods were first created by legendary artist Jack Kirby after he jumped from Marvel to DC in 1970. In Kirby's Fourth World saga, the New Gods come from two planets, the idyllic New Genesis and dystopian Apokolips. While the original comics were not commercially successful to the extent DC hoped, the characters have appeared many times throughout the years and interacted with the more well-known DC heroes, especially Darkseid, who has become a universe-spanning villain akin to Marvel's Thanos.
The New Gods were originally set to star in their own DC movie, directed by Ava DuVernay and written by Tom King, but this project was also canceled. Based on how long DuVernay's New Gods was in development, it may have been originally intended to tie into Snyder's continuity and had to change creative direction. As it stands, the Snyder Cut provides the most detailed glimpse into who the New Gods are in the DC Extended Universe.
Darkseid
The Snyder Cut reveals Darkseid to be the archvillain of the DCEU. The lord of Apokolips, he aims to conquer the entire multiverse using the Anti-Life Equation. Darkseid initially tries to conquer Earth 5000 years before the present day, but he is turned back by an alliance of Atlanteans, Amazons, humans, and even the Green Lantern Corps. In this battle, the New Gods are defeated by the Old Gods, traditional figures like Zeus, Ares, and Artemis.
Darkseid is called to return to Earth millennia later due to Superman's death at the end of Batman v. Superman, which awakens the Mother Boxes he had left behind. He orders Steppenwolf to pave the way for his arrival on Earth, but even after his minion's failure, he is ready to conquer Earth, the only planet that had successfully repelled him before. This conflict would have played out over Justice League 2 and 3. The glimpses of Darkseid in battle during Wonder Woman's "history lesson" show that he has superhuman strength, speed, and toughness, and is able to fire red energy beams from his eyes.
DeSaad
DeSaad appears at Darkseid's side as his most loyal advisor and henchman. He is known to have lived for thousands of years and was one of the priests trying to command the Mother Boxes in the first battle for Earth. In Snyder's original five-movie Justice League arc, DeSaad would have likely played a larger part in the plot, leading Darkseid's armies of parademons and other New Gods. In the comics, DeSaad is Darkseid's chief torturer, named after the infamous French author Marquis deSade. He has also appeared on-screen alongside Darkseid on Smallville.
Granny Goodness
Granny Goodness has more of a cameo appearance in Justice League as another one of Darkseid's generals. Despite her name, Goodness is a villain known in the original comics for running one of Apokalips' brutal orphanages. She later becomes part of Darkseid's elite Female Furies groups alongside Big Barda. Based on what has been revealed about Snyder's Justice League plans, Granny Goodness likely would have appeared in the final movie invading Earth, and was also involved in the "Knightmare" timeline that Batman glimpses.
Steppenwolf
Steppenwolf serves as the primary villain of Justice League, and as Darkseid's "Herald." Originally Darkseid's uncle, Steppenwolf became one of his top generals. However, at some point in the past Steppenwolf betrayed Darkseid to his galactic enemies, who made a failed push to claim Darkseid's throne. For his betrayal, Steppenwolf was exiled and given the task of conquering 150, 000 worlds before he could return to Darkseid's side. At the start of Zack Snyder's Justice League, DeSaad comments that Steppenwolf still has 50, 000 worlds to go - meaning that he has already devastated 100, 000 planets before coming to Earth.
The power and appearance of Steppenwolf changed considerably between the theatrical and director's cut of Justice League. The Snyder Cut provides Steppenwolf greater motivation by explaining his backstory and gives him spiked armor instead of his bony look in the theatrical version. Earlier films in the DCEU were originally meant to introduce Steppenwolf and build up to Justice League, in particular Suicide Squad, where Steppenwolf was meant to be controlling Enchantress, but this was later changed as DC execs turned against Snyder's direction for the franchise.
In either version, Steppenwolf is extremely powerful, requiring the full efforts of the Justice League to bring him down. He seeks to bring together the Mother Boxes to discover the Anti-Life Equation, thus proving his worth to Darkseid by doing what Darkseid himself could not. In the end, Superman's resurrection tips the scale in favor of humanity, but not before Steppenwolf comes perilously close to victory.
Apokoliptian Priests
The "history lesson" flashback also depicts Apokoliptian priests working alongside Darkseid during the initial invasion of Earth. Three priests command each Mother Box and aim to create the Unity to transform Earth's surface into a barren wasteland like Apokolips. However, they were foiled in their plans by Zeus and the other Old Gods. DeSaad was a member of this group. As they hail from Apokolips, they are also members of the race of New Gods but were likely not as powerful as Steppenwolf, let alone Darkseid.
The New Gods which appear in Zack Snyder's version of the DCEU just scratch the surface of the rich and frequently strange cast of Kirby's Fourth World comics. The now-canceled DuVernay New Gods, or future films involving these characters, could involve their heroic counterparts such as Highfather, Mister Miracle, and Big Barda. For now, fans will have to content themselves with these intriguing characters' appearances in the existing movies.
