7 DC Characters That Could Pop Up In ‘Superman’ (2025)
In an era where audiences have begun to express fatigue at the current state of the superhero genre, Superman marks an exciting new era in the genre’s history.
After a decade of playing second fiddle to their creative rivals at Marvel, DC seems poised to recapture their place in the pop culture zeitgeist, ushering in a wave of exciting new releases in the immediate years ahead.
As DC Studios’ co-CEO James Gunn lays the groundwork for his ambitious new series, audiences can look forward to the imminent release of several noteworthy superhero epics, starting with the summer debut of Gunn’s Superman reboot. Fittingly leading the charge for the DCU, Superman also introduces audiences to the next incarnation of the Man of Steel, side-by-side with other classic DC characters like Lex Luthor, Lois Lane, Hawkgirl, and Kal-El’s loyal canine companion, Krypto. As audiences count down the days to the film’s release, it’s worth wondering which other characters might leap from the pages of Superman comics and join their rightful place in Gunn’s live-action DC Universe.
Bizarro
Bizarro doesn’t exactly pose as serious a threat as fellow Superman baddies like Lex Luthor or Brainiac. Still, there is an undeniable charm around this imperfect clone of the Man of Steel. Hailing from the upside-down planet of Bizarro World, Bizarro possesses the superhuman might of Superman himself, sans the intelligence or basic self-control famously associated with the Man of Tomorrow. Though he’s never been portrayed in live-action before, we can’t help but wonder what marvelous things James Gunn can do with a tragic anti-villain like Bizarro in a full-fledged film.
Gorilla Grodd
With the release of Superman’s first trailer, comic book aficionados have been obsessively poring over every last shot of the two minute preview for clues about which DC characters appear in the film. Above all else, many fans seem confident that the trailer features subtle allusions to Gorilla Grodd, the hyper-intelligent mutant gorilla who primarily serves as an enemy of The Flash. A deadly combination of physical strength and peak mental capabilities, Grodd has the intelligence of Lex Luthor, the strength of Bane, and the dexterity of Spider-Man, making him one of the most uniquely dangerous foes in the DC comic book universe.
Doomsday
Lex Luthor might be the most deadly intellectual adversary Superman has ever faced, but Doomsday assuredly remains the most notorious physical threat to ever confront the Man of Steel. A prehistoric creature genetically created on Krypton, the scientists behind Doomsday’s construction literally pieced him together with the intention of making the ultimate weapon in the universe. Wandering from planet to planet with only death and destruction motivating his every step, Doomsday’s imposing physicality makes him an incredibly lethal adversary for the Man of Steel. With that in mind, it’s worth wondering if Doomsday might appear in some capacity in Superman. (Perhaps he’s the one who left Supes a bleeding, broken mess in the frozen tundra, as seen in the initial trailer for the film.)
Wonder Woman
Just as it remains almost inevitable that Batman makes an appearance at some point in the DCU’s future, it’s also safe to assume that Wonder Woman will one day appear in a DC project. Just as fans are holding out hope of potentially seeing the Dark Knight in Superman, viewers are also crossing their fingers for a chance to see Superman’s Justice League ally, Wonder Woman, figure into Superman in some way, shape, or form. Whether she makes a cameo in a post-credit sequence or occupies a supporting role in the film, any appearance from the Amazonian warrior-princess in Superman would certainly be a welcome sight.
Darkseid
As Marvel has routinely shown us, any expansive universe needs an overarching villain to unite the series’ heroes together. Just as Thanos, Kang, and Doctor Doom act as the centerpiece of the MCU, so too will Gunn’s DCU need a main antagonist for the collective forces of the Justice League to contend with. That being said, it’s hard to think of a more significant threat to the universe’s well-being than the merciless ruler of Apokolips, Darkseid. Forever seeking the Anti-Life Equation in order to subjugate the multiverse to his iron-fisted rule, Gunn could feasibly introduce Darkseid as the central villain of the DC Universe with Superman, even if he only appears in a small cameo following the film’s end credits.
Supergirl
Anticipation is an all-time high for the upcoming release of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, the DCU’s next major project following the summertime release of Superman. Set to make its theatrical debut in June 2026, Supergirl will star Milly Alcock as Kal-El’s Kryptonian cousin, Kara Zor-El, better known by her heroic alter ego, Supergirl. While details about the film remain predictably scarce thus far, it’s highly likely that Alcock’s version of Supergirl figures into the plot of Superman in some capacity, either via a cameo appearance or a supporting role alongside fellow DC heroes like the Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, and Mister Terrific.
Batman
As Gunn cements the foundation for the DCU, most superhero fans can only wonder when exactly Batman will make his debut in the series. Quite possibly the most famous and celebrated character in DC’s comic book canon, Batman’s addition to the DCU is practically a given, with mainstream viewers left to ponder which actor Gunn will cast as Gotham City’s Caped Crusader ahead of The Brave and the Bold. Of course, what better way to introduce the character than with a cameo appearance in Superman, pitting the Dark Knight alongside his closest ally in the Man of Steel.
