It's no secret that Superman has some great villains. In this article I will give my opinion of which one's I think should make it to the silver screen. I will also tell you what film they would be best utilized in and in what capacity they should appear. Also, a few suggestions of who I think should portray them or what type of actor is needed. This article is about unconfirmed villains ONLY so no Lex Luthor (duh).
Conversely, I think there are some villains that just wouldn't work well in a film consistent with Man of Steel's tone so keep an eye out for Superman villains that shouldn't be used in the DCCU. If I get enough positive feedback, I'll make similar articles for other DC heroes.
Villains to Consider:
Darkseid
What will you do when your friends, your enemies, your lover, are all Darkseid? When there is one body. One mind. One will. One life that is Darkseid. Will you be the enemy of all existence, then?
Real Name: Uxas
Best Utilization: Justice League Sequel (main villain), small appearances in other films
Capacity: Big Bad, main antagonist throughout the DC Cinematic Universe
Who should play him: Andre Braugher, Ron Perlman, Michael Ironside
Arguably Superman's most dangerous foe and perhaps the most powerful being in the entire DC universe, it's no secret that the tyrant ruler of Apokolips is capable of doing some remarkable damage. Bringing Darseid into the mix opens up some great story possibilities. (an Invasion of Earth, Superman/Batman: Apokolips). I don't necessarily want to see the same stories we've already enjoyed play out on screen but some familiar situations would be nice. Darkseid is also a good opportunity to introduce Supergirl in some way.
Darseid should appear at the end of several films similar to Thanos in the MCU but in a larger speaking role. Witnessing Darseid monolog on his throne engulfed in the fires Apokolips is a site to behold. We should really get a sense of who he is and what his motivations are as well as what's to come. Apokolpis should be showcased.
Brainiac
I will be everything there has ever been, Kryptonian. I will be evolved into perfection.
Real Name: Vril Drox
Best Utilization: Justice League, Man of Steel 2
Capacity: Main Antagonist
Who should play him: Malcolm McDowell (voice), Jason Isaacs, Benedict Cumberbatch,
Brainiac is easily a top 5 Superman villain yet we haven't seen him in film yet. This AI evildoer will journey through space, acquiring knowledge while using his robotic drones to capture living organisms. This purpose eventually leads him to earth where he and the Justice League square off in an epic battle.
My favorite origin story for Brainiac is already perfectly set up in Man of Steel. In Superman: The Animated Series Brainiac is the Kryptonian artificial intelligence responsible for the destruction of Kal-El's home world. In Man of Steel, Brainiac's symbol is briefly seen when Superman battles the device over the Indian Ocean. In the film it could be explained that Brainiac made it to earth in Zod's ship. Another posibility is he survived the destruction of Krypton by launching himself into space before the explosion.
Metallo
Oh, yes. I know who you are. Lois Lane and Clark Kent. Crusading writers for the Daily Planet. Well, you've both lucked into the ultimate story, this time. The story of Metallo! The man who's gonna kill Superman!!
Real Name: John Corben
Best Utilization: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Capacity: Secondary antagonist
Who should play him: Any decent actor with some physical presence
Metallo is a physical villain who could throw down with both Batman and Superman in a way that Lex Luthor can't. His Kryptonite "heart" gives a reason why Superman can't defeat him alone and in turn teams up with Batman. Lex is the brains, Corben is the muscle. His Metallic body being the result of an injury audiences are able to sympathize with Corben, who can be redeemed.
Metallo's origins have been changed over the years in various forms of media and the follow up to Man of Steel should be no different. Keep things relatively the same but alter his back story to fit into Man of Steel's story. John Corben is a professional con man badly injured in Zod's attack on Metropolis. Lex Luthor approaches him with an experimental medical procedure that Lexcorp is working on. A deal of some kind is made which involves him killing Superman. blaming Superman for his condition, Corben agrees.
Livewire
I always had a thing for electricity. Call it a mutual crush-on. I like it. It likes me. We're stinkbuddies, you know?
Real Name: Leslie Willis
Best Utilization: Man of Steel 2
Capacity: Main antagonist
Who should play her: a relatively unknown actress
Livewire is perhaps Superman's next best female villain after Faora-Ul and after seeing Faora do some damage in Man of Steel I'm ready to see a bad ass female villain take over as a main antagonist. If Zack Snyder is involved as at least a producer (which is likely) we can rest easy knowing she'll be well represented. Not to mention her powers could be visually spectacular.
A shock Jock who has a taste for the controversial, Leslie uses her air time to bash Superman, claiming that he only saves people (yes, Superman will save people) to show off. Born with the ability to control electricity, she is struck by lightening on the roof of the radio station she was just fired from because her boss's wife was saved by Superman and she refused to stop bashing him. The lightening charges her powers instead of killing her. She decides to use her new powers to take revenge on the Man of Steel.
Bizarro
Where cartoons? Where not funny animals? Bizarro want smash stuff. No want cartoons!
Real Name: Bizarro/Subject B-0
Best Utilization: Man of Steel 3
Capacity: Secondary antagonist
Who should play him: Henry Cavill (duh), Matt Bomer
Bizarro is one of Superman's best known villains and he's gotten no love on the big screen. He is also Superman's most sympathetic and lovable villains. Although there might be a problem with his innate goofiness, I think DC could benefit from a lighter villain if done well. He also has a kick ass roller coaster at Six Flags!
Lex Luthor returns as the main villain. He is Superman's greatest villain after all. Lex attempts to create a clone of Superman. At first it seems to have worked. The clone even believes he's the real Superman. There can be a fun scene where Clark is "saved" by "Superman." As time passes though, his condition quickly deteriorates. Bizarro can be sympathetic and at the end of the film he should turn against Luthor (because he believes he is Superman) to help Clark defeat him. Bizarro gives his life in the process while saving countless lives.
What all these villains have in common is they have NEVER been realized on film and with the promise of a shared cinematic universe on the horizon for DC that could very well change. I hope you enjoyed reading this article as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Leave a comment below and let me know what you think.