James Gunn’s DCU Just Canonized 1 Major Villain from Zack Snyder’s DCEU

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A villain first seen in Zack Snyder’s DC movies will now be part of the story James Gunn is building for the new DC Universe. After Gunn became co-CEO of DC Studios with Peter Safran, they announced a fresh start following Snyder’s previous DC films. While most characters and actors will be new, some elements from the old storyline will carry over.

The third episode of *Peacemaker* Season 2 officially established June Moon, also known as the Enchantress, as part of the new DC Universe. Cara Delevingne played the character in the 2016 film *Suicide Squad*, where she served as the main villain and caused widespread destruction in Midway City. Although the events of *Suicide Squad* are no longer considered the primary DC storyline, James Gunn appears willing to incorporate some aspects of it into his new DC Universe franchise.

The latest season of *Peacemaker* begins with a flashback to three years earlier, showing Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) and Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman) in a romantic relationship. The scene establishes they were having an affair while both worked at ARGUS, and that Dr. June Moone (aka Enchantress) existed within this version of the DC Universe. Harcourt confesses she dislikes being dishonest, while Flag jokingly exaggerates how intensely she would react if they were to split up.

Here are four villains originally created for Zack Snyder’s DC movies that fans hope James Gunn will use in his new DC Universe.

Other DCEU Villains Who Should Migrate Into James Gunn’s DCU

Black Manta

Both Aquaman films directed by James Wan featured the villain Black Manta, whose real name is David Kane. Actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who will soon be appearing in Marvel movies, played Black Manta, driven by a desire to avenge his father’s death at the hands of Aquaman. To achieve this, he used advanced technology from Atlantis, modifying an Atlantean military suit for his own plans. In the second film, he continued to pursue Aquaman, seeking the Black Trident to increase his power.

Now that Jason Momoa is switching roles to play Lobo in the *Supergirl* movie, Aquaman will likely be recast. This gives James Gunn a great chance to feature Black Manta in future stories. Although Black Manta might not appear in the new DC Universe until a new Aquaman is cast, the two characters could deliver exciting battles both on land and at sea.

Harley Quinn

Despite the mixed success of the DCEU, Margot Robbie’s portrayal of Harley Quinn was consistently praised. Many consider it one of the most perfect actor-role pairings in superhero movie history, as Robbie skillfully captured both the character’s wild, chaotic nature and her surprisingly vulnerable side, delivering memorable action and heartfelt moments.

Currently, there aren’t any official plans to bring Harley Quinn back into the DC Universe after her appearance in James Gunn’s *The Suicide Squad*. However, because James Gunn spoke so highly of Margot Robbie during their collaboration, it’s possible she could reprise the role with a fresh take on the character, especially as the DCU continues to develop its roster of memorable villains.

Bloodsport

After a successful period working with Marvel, Idris Elba took on the role of Robert DuBois, also known as Bloodsport, in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad. Bloodsport is a skilled expert in weapons and technology, and a key member of Task Force X. However, he finds it challenging to lead a team of such unpredictable individuals.

With the new DC Universe including teams like the Creature Commandos and characters like Peacemaker, there’s a possibility Bloodsport could return. Especially since Peacemaker survived being shot by Bloodsport, the two could have a dramatic rematch or team-up in the future.

Victor Zsasz

Chris Messina was the first actor to play the villain Victor Zsasz in a live-action adaptation, appearing in the 2020 film *Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey*. He portrayed Zsasz as a disturbed hitman working for Black Mask (played by Ewan McGregor), and he notably carved a mark on his skin for every person he killed.

Now that Zsasz was killed in the Harley Quinn movie, the new DC Universe has an opportunity to revive him, particularly with plans for more Batman-focused stories underway. Bringing him back could also pave the way for introducing even more significant Gotham villains later on, while still allowing him to be a compelling force in the city himself.

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2025-10-06 09:05