Zack Snyder Shares Darkseid Throwback And Makes A Bold Claim About The DC Villain (And I’m Not Sure I Agree)

When you purchase via hyperlinks on our articles, Future and its syndication companions could earn a fee.

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 usually behind-the-scenes posts particulars or throwback images from the fictional world he constructed and, this week, he did precisely that with a brand new publish highlighting one of many franchise’s most intimidating villains. But together with the picture got here a daring declare I’m unsure I can absolutely get behind.

The director just lately took to Instagram to share a picture of Darkseid from Zack Snyder’s Justice League reduce, together with a robust assertion in regards to 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 positively displays Snyder’s original long-term plans for the DCEU. Darkseid was meant to loom over the franchise because the overarching antagonist, primarily filling the identical position Thanos performed throughout Marvel’s Infinity Saga. Justice League solely provided a glimpse of that story, exhibiting the character making ready his invasion of Earth after Steppenwolf’s defeat.

Of course, the concept 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 area with a number of different legendary baddies. Characters just like the Joker, Lex Luthor, and Brainiac have all performed main roles throughout many years of storytelling. Joker, specifically, has arguably turn out to be the most recognizable DC villain in standard tradition because of quite a few movie diversifications and Oscar-winning performances.

Still, Snyder’s remark is smart when seen via the lens of the story he was constructing. Darkseid was all the time positioned as the last word menace behind the occasions of Zack Snyder’s Justice Leaguewhich is obtainable to stream with an HBO Max subscription. The movie reveals him briefly throughout a flashback battle with historical heroes and once more on the finish, when he vows to overcome Earth utilizing the Anti-Life Equation.

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 regarded like. Storyboards and interviews through the years have revealed plans for a multi-film arc that might have seen Darkseid ultimately invade Earth, forcing the Justice League right into a determined remaining stand. Batman and Superman have been each anticipated to play main roles in that battle, with the story culminating in an all-out conflict in opposition to Apokolips.

Instead, the DC movie universe shifted path after the theatrical launch of Justice League in 2017 and once more after Snyder’s director’s reduce debuted on streaming in 2021. A new DC Universe has taken form below 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 does not 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 is “the” biggest villain within the DC universe could also be up for debate. But one factor’s laborious to argue with: Darkseid’s transient look in Zack Snyder’s Justice League left followers very interested by what might have been.