Following the mixed response from fans and critics to Justice League and the subsequent release of Zack Snyder’s Justice League, there has been very little news revealed on a potential sequel in the future. Nevertheless, the DC Extended Universe forges onward with Black Adam up next, hitting theaters on October 21st.
It would seem strange, therefore, that there wouldn’t be an attempt at another Justice League film given their importance, history, and popularity in the comics. Thankfully, there are plenty of incredible and entertaining storylines to adapt, and with them many interesting villains to feature, such as those who were suggested by fans on Reddit.
Legion of Doom
Based on the end of Justice League, a villainous team-up may be in the works. Lex Luthor has recruited Deathstroke, played by Joe Manganiello, to destroy the newly formed Justice League. This villainous team could go by several different names, whether it be the Injustice League, Secret Society of Super Villains, or the Legion of Doom.
u/West-Cardiologist180 suggests, “the Legion of Doom. An organized team of Super-Villains vs a team of Superheroes is something not even the MCU has don’t yet.” This seems to be the most likely situation, with the Legion serving as the main antagonists for the sequel, perhaps to be followed by Darkseid in the third.
Brainiac
One of the best Superman characters not in the DCEU is Brainiac, one of The Man of Steel's greatest foes. Brainiac would also make a great fit for a Justice League film. He is incredibly powerful and intelligent, so he’d make for a complicated adversary. Per ScreenRant, Zack Snyder has even stated that Brainiac was among his plans for future Superman films, and he could be adapted to whatever role Sasha Calle’s Supergirl takes on in the DCEU.
Specifically, many fans claim Brainiac as a good villain for a sequel ahead of Darkseid’s arrival as the franchise’s Thanos-level big bad. u/radubs writes, “He wants to collect Metropolis, Themyscira, and Atlantis as he knows Darkseid is coming to destroy Earth and wants to make sure that it isn’t lost completely.”
Grail
Interestingly, subsequent Justice League films could solely utilize characters from Apokolips and Darkseid’s army as their antagonists. Some fans who were underwhelmed or disappointed by Steppenwolf – even following some alteration in Zack Snyder’s Justice League – suggest alternative villains. One of the most popular ideas was Grail, Darkseid’s daughter, who actually opposes her father.
u/Indomin says, "Out of all the villains there are, one that I would really want to see on the big screen is Grail (Daughter of Darkseid) in the DCEU.” Grail is relatively new to comics, having been introduced in 2015 and she is importantly linked to Wonder Woman as her mother is an Amazonian named Myrina the Black.
Vandal Savage
An important aspect of DC comics and the Justice League is that so many of the heroes are godlike, and such incredible power invites equal potential from their adversaries. While that might make fans and creators look to the cosmos for villains, like Darkseid and Brainiac, there are plenty of Earthbound characters to utilize too, including Vandal Savage.
He is an ancient warrior granted immortality by a strange meteorite, and as u/Adekis writes, “he’s a cerebral character whose scheme is unlikely just to involve unleashing an army at the planet.” He has been a common enemy to the Justice League, specifically Hawkman and Hawkgirl – with the former being played by Aldis Dodge in Black Adam, Vandal Savage’s arrival in the DCEU could be sooner than expected.
Amazo
A Justice League sequel will likely incorporate several heroes who have been introduced following the first film, including Shazam, Supergirl, Batgirl, and Blue Beetle. Thus, there are plenty of cool and complex abilities to feature, and who better to use those against them than Amazo. The android was created by the evil scientist, Professor Ivo, and can copy the powers and strengths of his opponents.
Many fans will remember him as a formidable and terrifying enemy in the Justice League animated series, with u/Coast_watcher claiming, “I always the thought Amazo was one of their toughest villains in the animated series.” Given his reliance on a maker and their motivations, Amazo wouldn’t likely serve as a film’s main antagonist, but he could certainly be featured as a secondary character.
Anti-Monitor
It is commonly agreed upon and assumed that Darkseid is the main antagonist of the entire DC Extended Universe, but it seems unlikely that the franchise will end there. Following the MCU method, this Darkseid-centric arc could be just the beginning, and thus this could incorporate another incredibly powerful, cosmic figure, the Anti-Monitor.
Specifically, u/touchingthebutt writes, “I would like if everything pointed towards the anti-monitor…the anti-monitor seems like a better ‘end of the universe before a reboot’ threat.” As seen in the Arrowverse, the Anti-Monitor is connected to the Crisis on Infinite Earth cross-over arc – that also incorporated Peacemaker, Blue Beetle, and other Charlton Comics heroes into DC’s main continuity – and as such, he could play an important role down the line.
White Martians
An incredibly exciting and important addition to the DCEU from Zack Snyder’s Justice League came in the reveal that Herny Lennix’s character, Calvin Swanwick was actually J’onn J’onzz, aka Martian Manhunter. Hopefully, this reveal will carry over into future projects in the DCEU, and with him could come one of his most classic enemies, the White Martians.
Importantly, they were the initial antagonists in the Justice League animated series and as u/JonnTheMartian writes, “it would be a great J’onn introduction, as well as an introduction to a threat that can beat the Justice League at almost every turn.” However, a Justice League sequel likely wouldn’t want to use another alien invasion, so White Martians’ may be reserved for a Martian Manhunter film or tv show.
Crime Syndicate
With The Flash set to expand on DC’s multiverse and introduce different versions of characters, it’s important to note that in some universes, these popular superheroes are actually villains. For example, on Earth-3, instead of the Justice League, there is the Crime Syndicate, made up of Ultraman, Owlman, Superwoman, Johnny Quick, Power Ring, and more.
u/agbats thinks, “it would be cool to explore the characters on an HBO Max show, then have them cross over with the movie universe in a JL movie (like a Forever Evil adaptation).” A show featuring the Crime Syndicate could also incorporate other adaptations of DCEU heroes, like Sea King, Grid, Scarab, Atomica, Ultragirl, and White Cat.
Felix Faust
An important aspect of the DC universe in comics, magic, has yet to be really explored in the DCEU. These abilities vary vastly from Marvel’s sorcery and witchcraft as shown recently in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and it might be incorporated more in Black Adam and Shazam! Fury of the Gods. There are several powerful magical heroes in the comics, like Zatanna and Constantine, who fans hope will get their own projects in the DCEU.
Facing off against them and the expected team-up with the Justice League Dark could be Felix Faust. u/ZayYaLinTun plainly states, “Felix Faust is probably the best villain to start.” He is an ancient sorcerer who's opposed numerous iterations of the Justice League, and he seems to be a safe bet for the proposed Justice League Dark series.
Despero
An alternative villain from the cosmos that would make for an interesting antagonist in a Justice League sequel would be Despero. The villain was first introduced in 1960 and remained a consistent enemy to the Justice League and related teams like Young Justice ever since. Despero is a conqueror from the planet Kalanor, often recognized by this third eye.
His strength could rival that of Wonder Woman, Shazam, and even Superman, and adding in his mind-control and psionic abilities, he can easily tear apart the Justice League, pitting the heroes against one another. u/TheStrayCatBurglar suggests a story pitting the JL against the JSA with Despero pulling the strings, writing, “The main seven JLA members (Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, & Aquaman) are taken to a parallel dimension to team up with its own superhero team in order to stop an alien invasion.”